July 1, 2000

Top policy-making body of Presbyterian Church (USA), in close vote, approves amendment to church's constitution forbidding ministers from conducting same-sex unions; decision, which will take effect next June if it is ratified by two-thirds of church's regional jurisdictions, comes after emotional debate on issue that has been quite contentious among other Protestant denominations (M)

Leading candidates in Mexican presidential election are seen close on major issues; Francsico Labastida Ochoa of governing party and Vicente Fox Quesada of right-of-center opposition, who have been running neck and neck, are so close on economic issues that they use same slogan: 'An economy with a human face'; both candidates play down nationalism that used to be a campaign mainstay and favor good relations with United States (M)

Agriculture Department survey finds American farmers are not significantly scaling back planting of genetically altered crops, despite growing controversy over use of biotechnology in agriculture; estimates genetically altered crops were planted on some 69 million acres last spring, down from 71 million acres a year ago (M)

Signs of vitality and renewal are evident on 125th Street in New York City, as Harlem USA, six-story shopping and entertainment complex, brings large national chain stores and multiplex theater to low-income, minority neighborhood; after years of disappointments, development in Harlem proceeds at fast pace, generating hundreds of jobs and providing services and retail outlets; photo (M)

Hong Kong, marking third anniversary of reversion to Chinese sovereignty, is still wrestling with legacy of colonial rule, including system of land auctions in which goverment effectively set property prices; middle-class homeowners are blaming government for 50 percent drop in home prices in recent years, lingering effect of Asian financial crisis; collapse in property prices is also rippling through economy in form of weak consumer spending; photo (M)h