News stories from Saturday November 12, 1977

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

A boycott of major convention cities by professional groups supporting the equal rights amendment may mean the loss of millions of dollars of convention-spending revenues in such cities as Chicago, Miami Beach, Atlanta and New Orleans. Nearly 50 groups, including the National Education Association, the American Psychological Association and the Modern Language Association, which hold some of the nation's biggest conventions, have voted not to meet in states whose legislatures have not approved the proposed amendment. In addition, the National Organization for Women is preparing an all-out campaign for the boycott. [New York Times] Minority-owned businesses are getting the biggest boost they have ever had from the government. The newest federal effort, which is proceeding despite legal challenges and other serious obstacles, is focused on the construction industry. The government is insisting that a specific proportion of the work on major federal projects be awarded to minority contractors, even if they are neither the most qualified nor the lowest bidders. More than 8,500 federal projects are involved. [New York Times] Imminent danger of house fires faces Americans living in the 1.5 million homes and mobile homes that have aluminum electrical wiring, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has charged in a lawsuit. The commission is asking the Federal District Court in Washington to order 26 companies that manufactured the wire and its components to warn the public of the danger. The houses and mobile homes were built from 1966 to 1972. [New York Times] Arab foreign ministers made pleas for solidarity among the 22 members of the Arab League at the opening of a three-day meeting in Tunis. They are deeply concerned about two potentially divisive issues: Egypt's urging of a new Middle East conference despite differences with Israel over procedural matters, and the confrontation looming between Morocco and Algeria over the guerrilla war in the Western Sahara. "The Arab world is in a very difficult situation," said the Tunisian Prime Minister, Hedi Nouira, "the most difficult we have ever known." [New York Times] Cuba is increasing its involvement in Angola instead of cutting it back, disappointing Carter administration officials who would like to establish normal relations with both countries. The number of Cuban civilian technicians in Angola would be doubled in 1978, Ramiro Valdes, vice president of Cuba's Council of State, said in Luanda last week. The Angolan Press Agency said 2,600 more Cubans would go to Angola. This would provide a total of 5,000 Cuban technicians, but the Havana radio said Cuba would send 10,000 technicians to help with Angola's development programs. [New York Times] A promise to resign as Panama's leader was made by Gen. Omar Torrijos if United States Senators feel he is an obstacle to ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. He also promised to end human rights violations in his country, and to abolish immediately martial law provisions that have been in effect since 1969. [New York Times] An Israeli scholar's interpretation of the most recently discovered Dead Sea scroll provides insights into ancient Judaism and early Christianity that seem certain to stir much interest and controversy among theologians and biblical scholars. The scholar, Yigal Yadin, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, became well known for his earlier research into other Dead Sea scrolls. He said the latest one, a 27-foot-long document, was perhaps the most important of the lot. His findings were published in Jerusalem last week. [New York Times]