Cable briefs

Press, 30 December 1976, Page 5

Cable briefs

Racism inquiry

Officials of the Keysborough golf club, Melbourne, have been called to meet. Race Relations Commissioners to discuss the club’s refusal to admit a Japanese. A recent, survey by an Australian television station reported that Australian sports clubs discriminate against Aborigines. Asians, women, Jews, and others.—Melbourne.

‘Amin, fur. dead'

Reports reaching Nairobi from Kampala say Captain Noor Amin, son of President Idi Amin, died on Sunday after being taken ill during a Christmas celebration. He was 35.—Nairobi. Anti-Christmas

The Zambian Director of Cultural Services wants to abolish Christmas in the country. Mr Alfred Mofya has described the celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ as “colonial,” and urged the ruling United National Independence Party and the Government to abolish the holiday season.—Lusaka. Police stoned

Al. least six members of Uganda’s public safety unit (security police) have been stoned to death by a crowd in Mengo, near Kampala, according to reports reaching Nairobi from the Ugandan capital. The reports said the killing occurred after the policemen had shot dead a taxi driver and two other

I persons while trying to com- [ mandeer the taxi-driver's cab. [President Amin has recently [accused the country’s police[men of using the weapons [issued them to rob citizens of [their property, and instructed [that military police should lake over the duty of enforc ing law in Uganda.—Nairobi.

| Torchlight protest

' About 100 people, including children, have marched in [ a torchlight procession through London to commemorate the “deaths” of more than one million unborn children since Britain’s Abortion Act came into force eight years ago.-—London.

Abortion report

Illegal abortions have virtually ceased in Finland since more liberal abortion laws were adopted in 1976, and the over-all number of legal ones has been falling for the last three years, according to an official medical report just published in Helsinki.— Helsinki.

’Bars lifted’

The Kuwaiti newspaper. “Al Qabas,” says the Syrian Government has decided to lift all restrictions on Syrian Jews, and restore to them the right to travel, own property, and enter Government service. The newspaper quoted official sources in Damascus as saying the decision was reached in the light of the findings of a high-level committee appointed to examine the position of Syria’s 8000 Jews. —Kuwait.

Banker freed

A prominent Neapolitan banker, Mr Lucio Fabrocini, aged 75, who was kidnapped a week ago on his way to work, has been freed after his family paid what is believed to have been a ransom of about sl.lm. — Naples.

Second spill

An oil spill from the Liberian-registered tanker Olympic Games has caused a 20-mile slick on the Delaware River that threatens New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware beaches. About 133.000 gallons of oil has spilled. The tanker carries 17 million gallons.—Philadelphia. Nuclear test

The United States has conducted its 16th announced underground nuclear test of 1976, setting off a device of between 20 and 150 kilotons beneath the Nevada Desert. —Yucca Flat. ‘Killer held’

The murderer of a former French Government Minister., Mr Jean de Broglie, is among< eight persons held by the' Paris police, according to a senior French police officer ! —Paris. j

[ Instrument blamed [ The-captain of the Liberian [tanker Argo Merchant, which I went aground on Decembei 115 off Nantucket, has testi[fied that a’malfunttion in his ; direction-finder, or the misuse of the instrument, put [ his ship aground. The ship [has leaked most of its [7.6 million gallons of oil. the [ biggest oil spill in United [States history.—New York. Cannabis haul I Nine persons have [appeared in court in Perth in connection with the seizure of cannabis sticks I worth almost $600.000.— I Perth. r Helicopter bit Cambodian Khmer Rouge soldiers intruding into Thai territories have shot and damaged a police helicopter near the eastern border at Prachin Buri province, the “Bangkok World” has said. The evening paper says the Thai helicopter was on an inspection flight at the frontier after receiving a report that some Cambodian troops had crossed the border and taken a tractor.—Bangkok.