IN BRIEF

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 13

IN BRIEF

Airliner Hijacked

An Ecuadorean DC3 airliner carrying between 16 and 20 persons was hijacked by two armed men today while on a flight between Quito and Guayaquil, and ordered to fly to Cuba. The plane belonging to Saeta Airlines, landed at the Colombian airport of Cali for refuelling before flying to Havana, according to an ahnouncement from Eldorado Airport, near Bogota.— Bogota, July 4. Offer To Dockers Hopes have risen for a settlement of the unofficial strike of 11,000 waterside workers at Liverpool who are demanding that only registered port workers should be employed at the £lom container base. Port management and union chiefs last night hammered out an agreement in London that would give registered dockworkers safeguarded jobs at the base. The deal will be submitted to the dockers today.—London, July 4. Flood Havoc About 2300 people and thousands of cattle have been removed by helicopter, canoe and motor-boat from the flooded central Venezuelan region of Calabozo. Officials say that about 35 villages and hamlets have been flooded by the waters of the River Guarico, which burst its banks after heavy rains in the last few days. At least two persons and over 1500 head of cattle are known to have drowned.—Caracas, July 4. Fish Poisoned

Policemen with radio vans patrolled the River Traun near Linz, Austria, today, warning the population against eating trout and other fish believed to have been killed by poisonous chemicals. Thousands of dead trout were found early today floating on the Traun, a small, crystal-clear river, and forest authorities say they believe they were killed by chemicals discharged into the river by a galvanisation plant.— Linz, July 4. ‘Cheese Carnival* October will be “Cheese Month” in Australia, the Dairy Produce Board has decided. In 1968 a similar “cheese carnival” resulted in a 25.8 per cent increase in national cheese sales. Individual cheese manufacturers and retailers increased sales by up to 60 per cent.—Sydney, July 4. U.S. W 00l Tariff The Australian Woolgrowers’ and Graziers’ Council will consider a resolution calling for immediate steps to be taken to lift, or ease, the United States’ tariff on greasy wool. At its 126th con-

ference in Sydney on MonI day, the council will consider ja proposal that the Federal I Government should be asked i to consider the advisability of seeking immediately a conI crete trade agreement with i the United States.—Sydney, I July 4. \ Havoc In London ■ A lightning strike of subway railway signalmen caused havoc in central London yesterday when there were huge traffic jams on the roads and thousands of people were forced to walk to and from work. Bus services and cabs were taxed to their capacity by the two million commuters who swarm into the capital every day. The 253 subway signalmen concerned have voted to strike for 24 hours every Thursday until their pay demands are met. —London, July 4. Helicopters Lost North Vietnamese gunners have shot down two United States light helicopters, killing one American and wounding three. The light observation aircraft crashed within two hours of each other yesterday, 47 miles north-west of Saigon. This brought the number of helicopters shot down over South Vietnam since January 1, 1960, to 1218.—Saigon, July 4. Art Appreciation An abstract water-colour drawing by the French impressionist painter, Fernand Leger, which was first sold for £2 in 1934, today realised £3BOO at a Sotheby's art auction in London. The picture is called “Personage Couche Dans Un Paysage.”—London, July 4. TV Initiative

China plans to flood the Hong Kong market with television sets, and is also modernising its television station in Canton City, about 100 miles north of Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong newspaper, “Sing Tao Jih Pao.” Quoting its own exclusive sources, it says that these actions are aimed at winning the loyalty of the Chinese people in the British colony, and will be completed before China’s National Day (October 1) to beam the celebration to Hong Kong.—Hong Kong, July 4. ‘Bishop* Gaoled The self-styled “Bishop” Kirby Hensley, head of a church which ordains its ministers by mail order, has been sentenced to one year in prison for violating California's education code. Hensley, who is 57 and claims that he has ordained more than 20,000 clergymen into his Universal Life Church by written application, was convicted on charges of illegally* selling doctorate of divinity] degrees for SUS2O each.—San Jose, California, July 4.