CABLE ITEMS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33111, 29 December 1972, Page 9

CABLE ITEMS IN BRIEF

Fatal ferry mishaps

Seven passengers were drowned when a ferry sank after hitting a reef off the fog-bound south coast of South Korea during the night. The ferry was carrying 115 passengers and a crew of nine when it hit a reef off Hapdong, about 190 miles south of Seoul. As the ship was sinking, people jumped into the sea. They were picked up by a passing ferry, 18 of them injured.—Seoul, Dec. 28.

Netherlands move

Talks have begun in The Hague between the Netherlands and East Germany on procedures leading to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level.—The Hague, Dec. 28.

Japan's fire toll

Deaths by fire in Japan have reached a new post-war record figure of 1598 this year, surpassing the previous peak. —Tokyo, Dec. 28

Longest year This year will be the longest in the history of recorded time. Shortly before midnight on Sunday technicians at the United States National Bureau of Standards in Boulder, Colorado will add one leap second to America’s atomic clock, to correct it to the Earth’s rotation. That leap second, combined with the first ever added to world clocks, on June 30, will make the Leap Year of 1972 exactly two seconds longer than any previously-timed year. — Boulder, Dec. 28. hash fire havoc A bushfire at the Burrinjuck dam in southern New South Wales has caused an estimated $200,000 worth of damage, the state water conservation and irrigation commission reports. A 12,000ftlong cableway and a 600ftlong timber access bridge were nearly destroyed by the fire, which also ruined 25.000 |acres of surrounding bush.— [Sydney, Dec. 28. Freak storm Wide areas of Brisbane, the, Queensland capital, were blacked out last night by a freak storm which broke! power lines, uprooteo trees,, and damaged scores of; houses. The storm covered an' area 80 miles long and 20 miles wide, and brought wind gusts of 67 knots to the city J —Brisbane. Dec. 28.

i emen agreement

North and South Yemen; have reached final agreement on the withdrawal of troops and the re-opening of the border between them within] the next few days.—Aden, I Dec. 28.

Appeal rejected J Morocco’s Supreme Court - has rejected an appeal by 17 s I Air Force officers and men -Icondemned to death for their ■i part in the bid to assassinate > i King Hassan last August ijOnly clemency by the King >i himself could now save them 'from the firing squad. — t Rabat, Dec. 28. !■ [ Curb considered Japan is considering curb_jing shipbulding orders from ' overseas to prevent a heav ; United States-dollar influx which could stimulate pressure for another ven revaluation, Ministry of Transport • officials in Tokyo report. Last '[month the Ministry autho lirised building applications 'or i 30 export vessels, and this [month there have been more [than 70 applications includ ing some for super-tankers of ■ up to 350.000 tons.—Tokyo. oDec 28.