News stories from Sunday June 27, 1976

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

President Ford, at a summit meeting of seven major industrial nations in Puerto Rico, said that governments had overcommitted themselves economically in order to improve social conditions and raise their citizens' standard of living. He told the other leaders in a private session that the industrialized nations must set more "realistic" social and economic goals that would be acceptable to the people of their countries. [New York Times] Six armed men, believed to be members of a radical Palestinian group, hijacked an Air France jetliner with more than 257 passengers aboard, including at least nine Americans and many Israelis, soon after it took off from Athens for Paris. The pilot was forced to fly to Benghazi, Libya, and after refueling the plane then flew to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Air France officials said the plane had only enough fuel to last 20 minutes when it was forced to land. The flight originated in Tel Aviv. [New York Times] The team of six agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that burglarized the Socialist Workers Party's offices in New York in 1964 and 1965 were nominated for commendations and bonuses by the bureau's officials in the city. This became known when documents surrendered by the bureau to the party, which is suing the government, were made public. "The agents involved were extremely careful to make these contacts in such a manner as not to embarrass the F.B.I.," a recommendation said. The six agents were praised for "constant alertness, swift reaction, sound judgment and great discretion." [New York Times] Republican mayors, many from smaller cities, at the 44th annual meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Milwaukee, joined Democratic mayors in urging President Ford not to veto the $4 billion public works bill sent to him by Congress last week. The bill, the Public Works Employment Act of 1976, is considered crucial by many big-city mayors facing serious budget problems. President Ford earlier this year vetoed a similar bill he said was inflationary. Another veto, it was apparent at the meeting, would not be politically advantageous for the President. [New York Times] Beirut's airport, which was reopened late last week, was closed again indefinitely when artillery blasted a Middle East Airlines 707 jetliner that had arrived from Jordan with a three-man crew but no passengers. A half dozen shells fell in and around the airport. The plane burned to its frame. Its first officer and flight engineer were injured and the pilot was believed to have been killed. The engineer was said to be an American but was not identified. The terminal building was crowded with hundreds of people waiting for flights out of the country. Its roof was struck by a shell, but no one inside was said to have been injured. [New York Times] The Portuguese turned out in large numbers in the presidential election and most, according to nearly complete returns, voted Gen. Antonio Ramalho Eanes, a law-and-order candidate, dealing the Communist Party a severe setback. General Eanes had the backing of Portugal's three largest non-Communist parties, as well as several leftist groups. In second place, with just under 17 percent, was Maj. Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, a far-left candidate. [New York Times]