BEIRUT: Lebanon today [April 13] called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following an Israeli raid last night against six Lebanese villages. … In the raid 24 houses were blown up, 17 civilians were kidnapped and two women killed, an official announcement said here. A Defence Ministry communique said the raid was mounted against six villages by several Israeli units. … The Israelis then withdrew into their territory. … In Tel Aviv, Defence Minister Moshe Dayan declared that the raid was intended to serve as a warning to the Lebanese Government against harbouring Arab guerrillas. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported from Karachi,] Mr Khurshid Hasan Meer, Federal Minister, In charge of Science and Technology, said … that as a highly gifted and trained group, it was only appropriate that the scientists came up with suggestions for a sound energy policy. They should also find alternative sources of energy and save natural gas for petro-chemical industries rather than waste it as a fuel. … Mr Meer said an energy resource cell has been created which is engaged in developing an exhaustive programme to tap resources of oil, gas, coal and hydel and nuclear power.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2024