News Currents

UNITED STATES

Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder withdrew unexpectedly Wednesday night from the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. He said the economic woes in his home state take precedence over his political ambitions.... The Los Angeles Times will begin printing an East Coast edition on Jan. 28 that will be distributed in New York and Washington.... The federal cabinet-level Endangered Species Committee opened hearings Wednesday in Portland, Ore., on whether to permit timber sales in northern spotted owl habitat blocked by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. EUROPE

An autopsy on Robert Maxwell performed in Israel just hours before he was buried disclosed that he had suffered serious injuries to his body and concluded that he did not die from drowning, the weekly Paris Match reported yesterday.... Russian President Boris Yeltsin is to attend the summit meeting of the 15 members of the UN Security Council in New York on Jan. 30.... UNESCO will sponsor a study to assess damage caused by the oil spilled by Iraq during the Persian Gulf war. ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Officials in Manila report that Swiss authorities have impounded $80 million of Philippines money deposited in Swiss banks by ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.... South Korea will partially lift economic sanctions against South Africa. LOOKING AHEAD

Sunday: Bulgaria's first free and direct presidential elections.