Cable briefs

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 10

Cable briefs

32 drown Thirty-two people drowned and 70 were missing after a river ferry capsized in Rangoon. The ferry rolled over and sank when its 376 passengers crowded to one side to get out of 'wind, rain and spray in a freak storm. Six of the known dead were children.—Bangkok. Rabies problem Bangkok is to sterilise thousands of dogs living at Buddhist temples in the city to reduce what Thai health officials say is the highest rabies death rate in the world. Sterilisation would be done on strays cared for by monks at 400 temples in the capital. The city destroys 50,000 strays each year. —Bangkok.

Jail break-out

All 187 inmates of Honiara Jail broke out of prison. Many rampaged through the town. The men begain rioting after they were refused demands for parole. Sixtyfive later returned to the jail and about fifty were recaptured.—Honiara. Work permits Switzerland has agreed to trade union demands not to increase the number of work permits issued to foreigners, although the country enjoys one of the lowest jobless levels among main industrial nations. The number of legal seasonal workers will remain at just over 155,700, with new work permits granted each year remaining at 8250. —Berne.