Cable Items In Brief (Press, 17 June 1972)

On 17 June 1972, several notable news stories were reported. Air France announced significant airline concessions aimed at young travellers and newlyweds. The airline will offer a 50 per cent discount for newly married couples travelling from Paris to Nice or Corsica, and reductions of 60 to 70 per cent for young people flying to destinations such as the Atlantic and the Far East. In a tragic incident off eastern Japan, a crew member tragically died, and four others were injured in an explosion aboard the British freighter Cheshire. The explosion happened during a welding operation, although the damage to the vessel was reported as minimal. A United Nations mission focused on decolonisation left New York to investigate conditions in Papua New Guinea and the New Zealand-administered Pacific Island of Niue. This mission is the first of its kind sent by the Special Committee of 24, which aims to gather information and understand the aspirations of the local populations. The group is led by Mr Salim Ahmed Salim from Tanzania, along with representatives from Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden. In the realm of luxury goods, American wine merchant Peter Morrell acquired a rare double-magnum of Chateau Lafite from 1865 at an auction in London for a staggering £410, equivalent to roughly NZ$900. This wine had originally been bought for the cellars of the fifth Earl of Rosebery. In a lighter incident, a rat caused an interruption during a court session in London. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Rigg, had to briefly adjourn the hearing of an arson case after a juror pointed out the rodent's presence. After a short delay for vermin control to manage the situation, the hearing resumed. Russian scientists conducted investigations of underwater volcanoes in the Mediterranean using a remote-controlled device called a “crab,” which was likened to the Lunokhod that explored the Moon’s surface. The craft was operated through an electric cable. In a significant decision, the UN Security Council approved a six-month extension for its peacekeeping force in Cyprus, set to continue until 15 December 1972. The extension was agreed upon unanimously by all council members except for China, which abstained. UN Secretary-General Dr Kurt Waldheim expressed concerns about the troubling situation on the island after returning from discussions in Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece. In a court ruling in New Orleans, a Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a damages award of US$41,753 to Charles Mobbs who claimed to have lost his sense of taste after consuming a soft drink produced by Hammond Bottling Company. On a cultural note, a rally to commemorate “Gay Pride Week” was planned in Greenwich Village, New York, coinciding with Father’s Day. Organisers included various activities such as a kissing booth, dancing, and fortune telling, culminating in a march through Manhattan to Central Park. Finally, in response to a public health crisis due to illegal liquor sales that resulted in fatalities, officials in New Delhi halved the price of “country liquor” to five rupees a bottle, while imposing an additional tax on imported liquors to offset revenue losses.

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