Cable briefs

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 10

Cable briefs

Floods threaten At least 10 people have been evacuated from stations in the Kimberleys region in Western Australia’s far north, as rising flood waters continue to threaten towns and property. — Perth. SIBM bail A leading Malaysian politician has been charged in Singapore with criminal business offences carrying a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. Tan Koon Swan, a member of Parliament and president of Malaysia’s largest ethnic Chinese party, was remanded on bail of 20 million Singaporean dollars ($18.9 million). The six charges against Tan allege he committed criminal breaches of trust in disposing funds totalling 5.34 million Singaporean dollars ($4.9 million) in numerous companies. — Singapore.

Navy plans The United States has notified civilian air traffic officials that fighter planes from Navy aircraft carriers will fly off the Libyan coast next week. — Washington. Uranus closer The Voyager 2 spacecraft yesterday detected radio emissions from Uranus, the first clear evidence of the planet’s extensive magnetic field. — Pasadena. Winners’ protest Twenty-four Nobel Prize winners have sent a telegram to the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, appealing for the release from Internal exile of dissident, Andrei Sakharov. The appeal was co-ordi-nated and announced by the New York-based winners. — New York.

Tribes clash At least 30 people died when a quarrel between two South African tribes erupted in fierce fighting in the shanty town of Umbogentweni. Thousands of Pondo and Zulu tribesmen attacked each other in Umbogentweni with knives, sticks, spears and homemade guns after the local Zulu chief had given his rivals an ultimatum to leave the area, regarded as a Zulu domain, after Christmas clashes.— Umbogentweni. Big present Britain will give Australia a sailing ship as its official gift for the country’s bicentenary of European settlement in 1988. About £850,000 ($2.33 million) has been earmarked for the vessel, a training ship for Australia’s Navy or youth.— London.