Cable briefs

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 6

Cable briefs

Record fraud A boxing promoter, Harold Rossfields Smith, who spent millions on fight purses, and a co-defendant have been convicted of embezzling SUS2I.3 million in the biggest bank-fraud scheme in American history. Smith, aged 38. who was also known as Ross Fields, was found guilty after a seven-week trial on 29 counts. He could be sentenced up to a total of 200 years in prison. The former world heavyweight champion. Muhammad Ali. had allowed Smith to use his name in promoting some boxing matches, but the police said there was no evidence that he was involved in any wrongdoing.Los Angeles.

New jetliner Boeing unveiled its fuelsaving 757 airliner yesterday amid crashing cymbals, blaring music, and flashing lights. In the only reference to the crash of an Air Florida Boeing 737 three hours earlier, the president of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company (Mr Richard Welch) said that the president of Air Florida was to have attended the unveiling ceremony, “but was de tained." Some 12,000 employees and guests, including representatives of 60 airlines, jammed an assembly factory to cheer, stamp their feet and clap as a curtain swept back to reveal the 757.— Seattle. Veto expected Jordan has asked the United Nations Security Council to apply mandatory sanctions against Israel for annexing the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967, but the resolution could be vetoed. The Jordanian Ambassador (Mr Hazem Nuseibeh) told reporters he was sure of the nine votes needed for adoption by the 15-nation council, but said he expected two or three vetoes — by the United States and possibly by Britain and France.—New York. Peking warning China said yesterday that its relations with the United States were facing a rigorous test over Washington’s continued arms sales to Taiwan. The warning was issued as a United States Assistant Secretary of State, John Holdridge, left Peking after three days of talks with Chinese officials. The New China News Agency said in a signed commentary that the dispute had reached a point which called for an immediate solution. The United States this week decided to continue sales of relatively unsophisticated combat aircraft to Taiwan, while refusing to supply more advanced weaponry. The statement indicated that China held open the possibility of reducing relations if the issue was not settled in future talks due to take place in Washington and Peking.—Peking. Aust, jobless up Unemployment in Australia jumped almost 60,000 in December to 431,000 as school leavers began their hunt for work. Australia's unemployment is now at 6.2 per cent of the workforce. The figure shows little inroad into unemployment since a year ago when 432,000 people were jobless—Canberra. 3M jobless forecast Unemployment in Britain will remain at or around three million until 1986, according to Manpower Services Commission planners. The commission is assuming that adult unemployment in Britain will rise gradually from 2,782,000 to a “plateau" of three million next year and will not fall much below that for the next three years. A confidential draft of the commission’s corporate plan also predicts that for most of ■ that period, 40 per cent of the unemployed will have been without a job for more than a year.—London. Lie tests taken The United States Deputy Defence Secretary (Mr Frank Carlucci) and other officials have taken voluntary lie detector tests as part of an investigation into the leak of a secret report. A Pentagon spokesman said that the investigation began when the “Washington Post” quoted a secret Pentagon report as saying President Reagans strategic weapons plan could cost $750 billion more than the $l5OO billion now estimated. The official said that tests would also be administered to others who attended a meeting at which the re- . port was presented.—Washington. Envoy to Nicaragua : President Reagan has nominated an anti-terrorist expert. Anthony Quainton. as ; the United States Ambassador to Nicaragua’s Leftist Sandinist Government. Mr ” Quainton, a career diplomat • whose nomination is subject ' to Senate confirmation, is director of the State Department’s office of combating ” terrorism. His appointment was the latest Administra- ’ tion signal of a willingness to ■ keep open channels of com- * munication despite its allega- ; tions that the revolutionary ■ Nicaraguan Government has ‘ been aiding Leftists battling ■ El Salvador’s United States- ; backed Government.—Washington.