EVENTS
ISRAEL-JORDAN TALKS SNAG ON DETAILS Historic talks between Israel and Jordan ran into major snags July 19 over disputed territory and water. Jordanian officials close to the talks said the head of Israel's negotiating team, Foreign Ministry official Elyakim Rubinstein, refused to entertain Jordan's territorial claims. Two days of negotiations the first public talks between the two countries in the region had opened July 18. No major immediate progress had been expected. Jordan is seeking the return of 150 square miles of territory Israel has held since 1948. The Israelis argue that the border was never demarcated on the ground. But Jordan is basing its claims to territory on landmarks set up by British mandatory powers in 1928. Breyer sails along
Stephen G. Breyer's nomination to become the 108th US Supreme Court justice moved along July 19 when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved it unanimously. Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D) of Delaware said he hoped that the vote would get Judge Breyer's nomination before the full Senate by July 21, where confirm-ation is expected. The committee completed its hearings July 15. Christopher in Syria
Syria reaffirmed its desire to make a ``peace of the brave'' with Israel as Secretary of State Warren Christopher met President Hafez al-Assad July 19 to discuss the deadlock over the Golan Heights, Syrian territory occupied by Israel. Mr. Christopher flew in from Israel on the second leg of a week-long Middle East trip. US officials say they are aiming for an agreement by year-end. With Palestinian self-rule started in the Gaza Strip and Jericho, and Jordan set for a summit with Israel next week, the Jewish-Syrian dispute is the biggest remaining obstacle to a broad peace. US students excel in math
Six US high school students achieved a historic first at the 35th International Mathematical Olympiad in Hong Kong July 19 they all had perfect scores. Officials said never in the history of the competition have all members of a team managed to score the maximum 42-point score in geometry and other mathematical tests. More than 600 students from 70 countries and territories competed in the contest. Clinton `asked advice'
A high-level United States banking regulator says in a confidential memo that President Clinton sought his ``advice and counsel'' on Whitewater last New Year's weekend.
Eugene A. Ludwig, the comptroller of the currency, told the Associated Press that he made clear in the memo that he wasn't comfortable with the request by Mr. Clinton, an old college friend. The memo could be worrisome for Clinton when Whitewater hearings begin next week in both houses of Congress.
