71.   In a bid to ease tensions ahead of the talks, India has eased visa restrictions on Pakistanis and announced steps to improve cultural exchanges.

72.   Docks de France has until Tuesday to announce the steps it intends to take to rebuff the bid.

73.   The steps will be announced some time between the end of this month and mid-February, the source said.

74.   The steps were announced by Defense Secretary William Perry after he and Secretary of State Warren Christopher met here with their Japanese counterparts, Seishiro Eto and Yohei Kono.

75.   Lebanon announced steps on Friday to control the movement of Palestinians leaving and entering the country, following the expulsions from Libya.

76.   Malaysian police announced Thursday steps to strengthen border security to thwart any attempt by thousands of foreigners reportedly massing in Thailand to enter the country illegally.

77.   Mexico announced new steps Thursday aimed at restoring confidence in its battered economy, including increases in taxes and prices, after the peso plummeted to another record low.

78.   President Alberto Fujimori announced steps to suspend international commercial transport activities by the air force and navy as a way of preventing drugs traffickers infiltrating the armed forces.

79.   Rabin announced concrete steps towards a total separation between the Israeli and Palestinian populations as the only way to halt the slaughter.

80.   The Industrial Bank of Japan announced the step, the third consecutive monthly rise in the rate offered to most creditworthy borrowers, on Monday.