US urged to cut oil imports

The International Energy Agency (IEA) opened a two-day conference on energy saving measures with an appeal to the US to cut oil imports. The European Economic Community (EEC) Energy Commissioner, Guido Brunner, told the group of 20 western industrial nations: The waste society, based on surplus availability of cheap energy, has come to an end.

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Fahd blames oil giants for price hikes

Crown Prince Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia called for co-ordination between oil producers and consumers to check the power of international oil companies, which he blamed for recent oil price increases. 'The major companies are mainly responsible for price hikes because of the huge profits they make to the detriment of the consumers, while the producing countries are blamed for it,' he said.

Petrol: not on Sundays

Petrol stations in Japan will be closed on Sundays and national holidays as part of government plans to conserve fuel, a spokesman for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said. Japanese petroleum dealers have agreed to the government's request to close the country's 59,000 petrol stations on holidays to support its five per cent energy conservation programme adopted last month.

A new page in naval history

The British and US navies have carried out the first underwater link up between two submarines, writing a new page in naval history, the Royal Navy said. The venture took the form of a simulated accident during exercises off Scotland.

Western powers at the crossroads in Africa

Western powers are at a critical crossroads in Southern Africa, facing decisions that could lead to confrontations either with the powerful south or with black states to the north. Before long, probably within a month, the United States and Britain must decide whether to recognize the Muzorewa government in Zimbabwe Rhodesia and how to deal with the stalemate on the future of South-West Africa (Namibia).