Cable briefs

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 9

Cable briefs

Uranium plans An international consortium has announced plans to build a huge uranium-en-richment plant in Europe to produce enough fuel for 40 nuclear power stations. The French-based group said the plant, to go into production in 1985, would cost an estimated $2.6 billion and be built in France, Melgium. or ! Italy. It would be able to supjpiy 40 atomic power station giving 1000 Megawatts each. —Paris. Ozone threatened A United States national academy of sciences committee has said that some spray-can gases pose a threat to the Earth’s ozone radiation shield, and almost certainly will have to be selectively banned. The 13member study panel, which has studied the ozone problem for the last two years, has recommended that any U.S. Government regulatory action be delayed for up to ■ two years to give scientists i more time to assess the en- ; vironmental danger. — 'Washington. Beirut flare-up A generally positive i atmosphere for political negotiations to end the Leba- : nese civil war has been mari red bv renetved clashes at lone of Beirut’s flashpoints. At the Museum crossing

point on the “Green Line”, which divides Leftist west Beirut from the Rightist east, sniper fire was followed by Rightists mortaring of Leftist positions. — Beirut. Carter ahead A poll taken in seven Southern states gives Mr Jimmy Carter a 22 per cent lead over President Ford, but shows that respondents disagree with Mr Carter on some basic issues. The Darden Research Corporation: poll shows that the 600 per--sons surveyed favoured Mr; Carter over Mr Ford by 53.5: per cent to 31.8 per cent,] with 13.7 per cent undecided. New York. Gear missing The United States Navy! says $400,000 worth of classified electronic parts is missing from two Fl 4 Tomcat jets. The Tomcat is one of the most sophisticated jet 'aircraft in the world. The jtwo planes are stationed at I Oceana naval air station, ■■ Virginia Beach, Virginia. Spokesmen described the missing parts as essential to the planes’ weapons and tracking systems. Navy spokesmen said the components were part of an integrated avionics package that played a role in virtually every important function of the Tomcat — Virginia Beach.