PLUS NEWS

NO NEW JOBLESS AID: President Bush is unlikely to extend unemploymentbenefits, White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater indicatedtoday, because of "good economic signs" for the nation. House andSenate Democrats ignored administration objections and passed a $5.2billion bill that would extend the benefits by up to 20 weeks forthose who have completed their 26 weeks of eligibility but have notfound jobs. The catch is that the bill cannot go into effect unlessBush issues an order declaring an economic emergency. In dismissingthe likelihood, Fitzwater said: "Our position is quite clear. Thenation is coming out of a recession. We're moving into a recovery.We see good economic signs." MURDER SUSPECT SOUGHT: A murder warrant has been issued for aneighbor of a 38-year-old woman strangled in her home near Fox Lake,Lake County Sheriff Clint Grinnell said today. The suspect, BurlMason, 31, lived across the street from the victim, Susan Pauly, andwas seen driving her missing auto Friday, a day after she died,Grinnell said. Mason was paroled July 26 from a six-year burglarysentence imposed in 1989. He has more than a dozen convictions since1978, according to Grinnell. YOUTHS FOR UNITY: College students from North and South Korea huggedand sang a unification song when they met today at the heavilyfortified border. It was the first such gathering in 46 years. Butnew problems arose when the North called off talks on fielding ajoint Korean team for the 1992 Olympic Games. The Pyongyanggovernment said it will not go back to the table until a North Koreanjudo champion, who defected to Seoul two weeks ago, returns home.That is unlikely. North Korea also accused the Seoul government ofblocking a unification festival in South Korea. The developmentscould jeopardize ongoing prime ministerial talks between the Koreas.The fourth session is scheduled in two weeks. NEW PINATUBO WOES: At least 13,000 residents fled 15 villages in thenorthern Philippines after rains swept volcanic debris off the slopesof Mt. Pinatubo and flooded a river, officials there said today. Theflow destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 homes in Tarlac provinceovernight Sunday, reported Lucia Gutierrez, social work director ofneighboring Pampanga province. The evacuees were housed in publicschools. Pinatubo began erupting June 9, after standing dormant forsix centuries. It forced mass evacuations from the giant Clark AirBase, which the United States will close next year because of thelingering danger from volcanic ash. RESCUE PLANE LEAVES: A Soviet aircraft took off for the Antarctictoday to retrieve 169 members of a scientific expedition trapped on aship in polar ice drifts. Tass said the situation there was notsimple because of "strong winds, frost and the polar night to reckonwith." The news agency said the research ship Somov had beenoperating in the Antarctic for 15 months and had completed its work.But it had proved impossible to unlock the vessel from the ice andreturn home. South Africa allowed the rescue plane, an Ilyushin 76,to stop for refueling. `HELPER' ROBS MAN: An elderly U.S. tourist became a crime victimtwice in a short time, police in Liverpool, England, said today.First, muggers beat Anthony Wilcox, 65, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., andstole his $10,000 Cartier watch. They left him unconscious, with abroken nose. A "good Samaritan" passing by helped get Wilcox to ahospital - but stole about $1,200 from his money belt, authoritiessaid. FERRIS WHEEL FALL: A Kansas boy plunged 60 feet to his death whenhis seat on a Ferris wheel at the Fantasy Island amusement park nearBuffalo, N.Y., slipped off its axle, sheriff's deputies said today.Kenneth Margerum, 14, slid from under his protective bar and diedafterward in a hospital. Authorities said Margerum was visitingrelatives in Silver Springs, N.Y., which is about 50 miles southeastof Buffalo.