Japan's Tidal Wave Scare

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday May 5, 1998

TOKYO.- The tidal wave scare that briefly disrupted one of Japan's most popular holidays yesterday was just business as usual for a nation that always lives under threat of the earth - and sea - moving.

Japan's Meteorological Agency estimates nearly 10 per cent of the energy released worldwide by earthquakes each year is concentrated in and around the string of islands that make up the nation of Japan.

In yesterday's scare, a 7.7 Richter Scale earthquake 20km under the sea off Japan's southernmost Okinawa islands triggered tidal waves that briefly forced authorities to evacuate people from coastal areas.

Visit France without visa

NOUMEA, New Caledonia.- Australians making brief visits to France will no longer need visas, aides to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said yesterday.

The French leader informed Australian parliamentary speaker Ian Sinclair of the decision during a meeting on the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, the aides said.

Mr Jospin told Mr Sinclair the visa decision would be implemented shortly, they said.

Diana advert outrage

SEOUL.- South Korea's giant Kia Group said yesterday it would change and apologise for a television commercial featuring a Princess Diana look-alike that provoked outrage in Britain.

A Kia Group official confirmed reports by London-based tabloids that it was working on a television commercial in the United States, which used a Princess Diana look-alike to promote a sedan made by Kia Motors Corp.

The commercial was meant to recreate the car crash in Paris which killed Princess Diana last August 31.

London tabloids reported the commercial showed the Diana look-alike in a car being chased through streets by paparazzi, then emerging unscathed with a knowing wink at the camera.