EVENTS
ISRAEL CONTINUES ATTACKS IN LEBANON Israeli warplanes, gunboats, and howitzers blasted suspected guerrilla bases across Lebanon today as Israel's heaviest attack since its 1982 invasion of the country extended into a second day. Israeli leaders met yesterday to discuss the fighting but said the government did not plan to widen the military operation, code-named "Settling Accounts." The attack was a response to the escalation of raids by Lebanese and Palestinian guerrillas on Israel's self-proclaimed "security zone" in southern Lebanon. US Sec retary of State Warren Christopher, who is scheduled to arrive in the region July 31 in an attempt to revive the stalled Middle East peace talks, criticized pro-Iranian Hizbullah guerrillas for trying to sabotage the talks by attacking Israelis. Coal strike burial
The weekend burial in Charleston, West Virginia, of a slain nonunion worker hired during a coal strike failed to temper the war of words between miners and management. Eddie York, a heavy equipment operator, was shot by a sniper as he drove past a United Mine Workers picket line July 22 at the Logan County mine owned by Arch of West Virginia. More than 16,000 union miners are on strike in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. The walkout over job security began May
10. US home sales up
Sales of previously owned homes increased 1.9 percent in June, the third straight advance and the beginning of what a real estate trade group predicts will be a strong summer. The National Association of Realtors said yesterday that sales, which have risen each month since a 2.6 percent decline in March, have been spurred recently by low mortgage rates and relatively stable prices. Yeltsin eases ruble plan
Russian President Boris Yeltsin yesterday softened the Central Bank's sweeping invalidation of billions of old rubles. The Central Bank announced Saturday that only bank notes printed this year would be valid for purchases beginning yesterday. Yeltsin said citizens would be given more time to trade old rubles for new notes. Liberian peace accord
Liberians are to elect a new president next February under a breakthrough peace accord signed July 25 by the three major warring factions in the civil war. Liberia's interim government, the rebel movement led by Charles Taylor, and an anti-Taylor rebel faction all signed the accord. The pact, hammered out under United Nations direction, calls for a cease-fire beginning Aug. 1; a new interim government; and presidential and legislative elections in February.
Mr. Taylor began the fighting in 1989 with a revolt to overthrow then-President Samuel Doe. The fighting disintegrated into factional warfare, leading to the intervention of a five-nation West African force and the deaths of about 150,000 people, mostly refugees. Korean airliner crashes
A Korean airliner carrying 106 passengers and crew crashed yesterday after making three unsuccessful attempts to land in heavy rain and high winds. As many as 39 people reportedly survived.
The Asiana Airlines Boeing 737-500 was en route from Seoul to the southwestern coastal city of Mokpo when it crashed, police and aviation officials said. Three-time winner PHOTO: THE VICTOR: Spaniard Miguel Indurain brandishes the Tour de France winner's cup July 25. This is his third consecutive win of the bicycle race., VINCENT AMALVY/AFP