World News Reports Summarised (Press, 6 October 1973)

A Miami judge is deliberating a proposal to permit a 19-year-old convicted murderer to go free on probation if he agrees to contribute to the support of his victim's widow and her five children. The widow expressed her frustration during the youth's trial, stating that the courts appeared more concerned with the defendant's rights than her own or those of her children. Judge Daniel Satin will make a decision on the proposal following a pre-sentence investigation. The prosecutor, Mr James Woodard, vehemently opposed the idea, calling it "disgusting, abhorrent, and abominable," and questioned the morality of attaching a financial value to a life. Conversely, defence counsel Mr George Nicholas described the proposal as a "novel and new idea" that should be taken seriously. In international news, Syria has chosen to restore diplomatic relations with Jordan, following Egypt's lead, marking the end of a freeze in relations that began in 1971 over Jordan's stance on Palestinian commandos. Meanwhile, the French airline U.T.A. is returning to normal operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji after lifting an Australian boycott against French nuclear tests. Carnaby Street in London received a £60,000 facelift, introducing a vibrant multi-coloured walkway, while the Bohemian Soho area has a more subdued design plan. A global uproar arose when Congressman Leslie Aspin highlighted that over 4,000 letters protested the U.S. military's planned use of beagle hounds in poison gas experiments. The Air Force has ordered 600 beagles for testing, prompting legal action from the National Anti-Vivisection Society. In Libya, new legislation imposes five-year prison terms for homosexual acts and introduces whipping as punishment for breaking the Ramadan fast. In France, investigations into a wine fraud scandal in Bordeaux have resulted in a comprehensive inquiry revealing large-scale tampering of inexpensive white wine to falsely enhance its value. In Nicaragua, a new penal code reform penalises "news abuse and slander," raising concerns among opposition newspapers about attacks on press freedoms. A summary of this reform has led to protests including a 24-hour work stoppage by journalists. A record stamp sale in London saw a block of four unused yellow-green threepenny stamps from 1850 fetch £5,500, while a total of £228,505 was raised from 150 lots of stamps of the old British Empire. Tragedy struck when fishermen in the Canary Islands reported their eight-ton boat was sunk by a swordfish, resulting in one man's death. In economic news, Belgium raised its bank rate to 7% from 6.5%. East Germany has elected Horst Sindermann as Prime Minister following the appointment of Willi Stoph as Head of State. India repatriated 840 prisoners of war to Pakistan, completing a significant phase in the return of captives from the 1971 conflict. In lighter news, a pig named Penny avoiding slaughter by giving birth to piglets at a Luton slaughterhouse has delighted local livestock buyers. Eleven naval ships have arrived in Sydney Harbour to celebrate the opening of the Sydney Opera House, representing both goodwill and military presence. A fact-finding mission led by British union leaders is set to investigate race relations in South Africa, while several notable figures passed away, including the Duke of Buccleuch, actor Paul Hartman, Olympic champion Paavo Nurmi, and others, highlighting a week of significant events and transitions.

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