Cable Briefs

Press, 10 January 1981, Page 8

Cable Briefs

i Fire reignited Fire-fighters have extinguished a fire that raged for a month in an exploratory oil bore near Poland’s Baltic coast, but ignited it again because they feared an explosion. The official Pap news agency, said the fire at Karlino had been put out by water-cannon and foam. It was later reignited because increasing gas pressure threatened an explosion while the pipe-head was repaired. Residents of four villages were evacuated while the fire was out because of pollution caused by the oil and gas spewing 40 metres into the air. The strength of the blow-out raised hopes of a significant oil find in the region. — Warsaw. 270 drowned

At least 270 people have drowned when a boat sank in the River .lari near Macapa in North Brazil. Rescue launches had picked up 126 bodies and the police said it was feared that many more people were trapped in the sunken The boat carried passengers and cargo from Macapa on the River Jari, a tributary of the Amazon, to Monte Dorado close to the huge Amazon estate of the reclusive United States shipping billionaire, Daniel Ludwig. — Macapa, Brazil.

‘Shah’ appeals to Iran The 20-year-old selfproclaimed Shah Reza of Iran has sought the aid of Iranian women in overthrowing the Islamic Government of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny. In a message to Iran, his first since coming of age last October, the son of the late Shah Mohammed Pahlavi contrasted “the chains of slavery imposed on women by fanatical reactionaries” with the equality guaranteed by his father’s constitution. The “Shah’s” secretariat in Kubbeh Palace in Cairo, where the “Shah” lives, released the message on the anniversary of Iranian women’s emancipation day. — Cairo.

Broadcaster dies The veteran 8.8. C. broadcaster, Alvar Lidell, the man whose measured voice reassured millions of Britons as he read the news during the Second World War, has died aged 72. His was the voice which announced the abdication of King Edward VIII to the British public, and in 1939 introduced the historic broadcast by Neville Chamberlain that announced that Britain was at war. He told the British people of all the historic events between 1932 and 1972, introducing his news broadcasts with the famous phrase: “Here is the news and this is Alvar Lidell reading it.” He was reported to have departed only once from the 8.8.C.’s rigid rule forbidding comment on the news when he announced the victory at Alamein with the words: “Here is the news — and it is cracking good news as well.” — London. Kidnap thwarted An Italian industrialist has escaped from would-be kidnappers after his brother; fired shots at them. Umberto Gandellini, aged 46, was the first reported kidnap victim of the year in Italy. His brother, Orlando, fired at the kidnappers before running to a nearby police station to raise the alarm when Mr Gandellini was bundled into a ’ car. The kidnappers, surprised by the shooting, pushed their victim from the car and drove away at high speed. — Mantua. Survivors freeze More than 100,000 survivoirs of November’s earthquake, who are living in tents, caravans, and prefabricated homes, now face the worst weather to hit southern Italy for many years. Snow has been falling continuously for three days in some places, blocking roads and interrupting supplies of kerosene for thousands of pedple who have no other means of cooking’ or heating. — Rome.