European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes monday october 14,1991twice Sydney Australia a the Earth a protective Ozone layer shrank twice As fast in the 1980s As it did in the previous decade an International atmospherics expert says. Maurice Verhille the chairman of the european fluorocarbon technical committee said data from ground bases support evidence from satellites last y�3 that the Ozone layer was depleted by 4 world percent in the 1980s. That compared with 2 percent in the 1970s, when scientists first detected the problem of a thinking Ozone layer which absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet radiation has been linked to skin cancer. The findings presented to the australian department of foreign affairs in Canberra on Friday will be Given to the United nations environment program this month. Nasa officials said earlier this month that this years Ozone depletion at the South pole was the fourth highest on record and oct. 6 May be the worst Day Ever recorded. Scientists have been studying thinning Ozone Levels Over the Antarctic for years. Verhille predicted evidence of faster Ozone loss will prompt efforts to end production of chlorofluorocarbons or rfcs which deplete the Ozone. Rfcs Are used primarily in refrigeration and As Spray propellants. Australia and Europe have set a 1997 deadline for Banning rfcs. The United states and Japan have agreed to a ban in 2000.torrential rain storms leave 7 dead in Sicily from wire reports Rome a torrential rain lashed much of the italian Peninsula sunday and at least seven people were killed by storms on the Island of Sicily. In the sicilian capital of Palermo the heavy rain opened up several enormous holes in the roads one of which swallowed four parked cars. City authorities warned the residents not to drink tap water after the floods overwhelmed storm drains. On saturday the rain and High winds brought flooding to Venice where St. Marks Square was covered by 2 feet of water. In the far North Lake Como burst its Banks flooding the Center of the town of como.105 killed in China Beijing a pushing and shoving among those jammed into a Park in a Northern chinese City led to a Melee that left 105 people dead and 99 injured an official newspaper reported. The Friday edition of the Shan i daily said a crowd had gathered in Yingzue Park in the City of Taiyuan to see a lantern exhibition on sept. 24. The newspaper said people began to crush against each other at 8 35 p.m., but it gave no other details of the  toilet explodes Beijing a a Public toilet in a residential area exploded shattering manhole covers and spewing a fireball skyward. Residents of a Small Street in Beijing s Eastern District heard an explosion thursday night and saw flame and smoke coming from the women s Side of their Public toilet the Beijing evening news reported saturday. T an old woman scrambled from the women s Side and a Young Man ran from the other Side the report said. Both suffered minor Burns. A succession of explosions followed in the sewage system. Train runs Over 6 workers Cologne Germany a six workers repairing Railroad tracks near Cologne were killed Early saturday when a speeding train slowed into them. The Accident occurred just outside the City when an empty passenger train slowed into 15 workers. A fire department spokesman said that one Man was hospitalized with serious injuries. The other workers escaped unhurt. Baker seemingly near Success on Mideast peace conference. A i. F _ a a a i i�fca4 h u a i r no Cairo apr Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii apparently near Success in setting up a Middle East peace conference will meet in Jerusalem on Friday with soviet foreign minister Boris Pankin hoping flit Moscow is ready to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel a we have been urging that for some time a a . Official said As Baker flew Here sunday to begin a four nation trip designed to Nail Down terms for Arab israeli negotiations. He will meet today with egyptian president Hosni Mubarak an enthusiastic supporter and hold talks on succeeding Days in Jordan Syria and Israel before linking up with Pankin who is making his own trip through the Region. The key to bakery a Hopes for a peace conference before the end of the month is held by the palestinians the last holdouts. ,. As Baker makes the rounds the palestinians Are expected to announce their willingness to attend the conference As part of a joint delegation with Jordan they evidently agreed on a formula with Baker in talks at the state department on thursday and Friday. However final approval Musi be authorized by the Palestine liberation organization. Baker is steering Clear of the inter palestinian diplomacy especially since any Public recognition of a Flo role would upset israeli prime minister Yitzhak Shamir. Shamir is trying to Block any visible role for the Plo which the jewish state considers a terrorist organization. A but on sunday Plo chairman Yasser Arafat stepped Forward and in a letter published by Wafa the plots news Agency said the Bush administration was backing israelis conditions for negotiations. Specifically Arafat said the administration refused to have Jerusalem a future on the Agenda to permit an Independent palestinian delegation or to persuade Israel to halt or freeze settlements. A i have no comment about the palestinians a said an aide to Baker who spoke briefly to reporters aboard his Jet on the flight from Washington. This Little Piggy went to War a die peeks around a Comer in the croatian Village of left in the devastated Village in Yugoslavia. Nus tar is near Nus tar. Croatian guards tanks and pigs Are All that is Vukovan where heavy fighting has raged for two Monin. Powerful typhoon strikes Japan leaves one dead Tokyo up a a typhoon hurling torrential Rains and powerful winds raked Japan on sunday triggering devastating landslides flooding hundreds of Homes and leaving at least one person dead. Officials at the meteorological Agency said the 21st typhoon of the year carried wind gusts of up to 60 Mph As it moved East Northeast Over the Pacific Ocean past the main Island of Honshu. Police said 43-year-old Toyoko Tsuboi was buried saturday by a landslide near a Field in Miharu Machi in Eastern Japan and declared dead when firefighters re covered her body one hour later. A 50-year-old Man Riding a bicycle near an embankment was reported missing after being swept away by a swollen River officials said and eight other people were injured in Chiba and Fukushima prefectures and in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Officials reported 96 landslides by Early sunday. Since August Japan has been struck by nine typhoons nearly twice the usual number for the typhoon season lasting from july to october 4 sentenced to crucifixion for robbery by Sudan court Khartoum Sudan a a court sentenced four Highway robbers to be hanged and their bodies crucified under Sudan a strict version of Muslim Law the official news Agency reported saturday. The Sudan news Agency said the four were convicted of what it claimed was the islamic crime of a spreading corruption on Earth As Well As armed robbery and firearms offences. The sentences passed thursday in the Western Sudan City of Al Fasher must be endorsed by it. Gen. Omar Hassan Elbashir head of the ruling military Junta in Khartoum. He was expected to approve the sentences. Sudan news Agency said judge Naim Eddin Hamid Al Beshir who sat in judgment with an army major Ana police major convicted four men o stealing $3,665 and personal item from a vehicle. Those crucified in Sudan Are Gener ally Hung on a Cross in their Home i Lages