News Currents

UNITED STATES

New York Congressman Ted Weiss (D) died yesterday. He was an ardent liberal who crusaded for social programs and against increased military spending.... Striking teachers in East St. Louis, Ill., agreed not to picket yesterday as they awaited details of a tentative agreement reached Sunday.... In Detroit, talks fell apart two weeks after 10,500 teachers struck the day before classes were to start. MIDDLE EAST

Lebanese President Elias Hrawi and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad ended two days of talks Sunday, but there was no mention of plans for a Syrian army withdrawal from major cities. The summit's failure to address the issue is expected to aggravate deepening political tensions.... Israel's Cabinet Sunday accused President Bush of accelerating the Middle East arms race by approving the sale of 72 F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. ASIA

Japan does not feel snubbed because Russian President Boris Yeltsin decided to reschedule his abruptly postponed visit to South Korea but not to Japan, a Japanese government spokesman said.... South Korea yesterday denied North Korea's allegations that it allows US nuclear warheads into its territory in violation of a nuclear-arms ban. SPORTS

Stefan Edberg defeated Pete Sampras Sunday to capture his second straight US Open tennis title and reclaim his top tennis ranking.... United States chess star Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky Sunday, putting him 3-2 ahead in their $5 million replay series.