Cable briefs

Press, 18 May 1982, Page 8

Cable briefs

Woman leader Milka Planinc. aged 58. has become Yugoslavia’s first woman head of Government as the new Federal Executive Council . took office. Parliament has also invested Petar Stambolic, succeeding Sergej Kraigher. as head of the collective presidency which functions as Yugoslavia's head of State. Mrs Planinc is the seventh head of Government under the regime initiated by Tito. Observers said . her nomination was a continual tion of the predominance of Communist Party members over technocrats as Yugoslav Government leaders. — Belgrade. Papal doubts Pope John Paul said yesterday that despite its historic importance, his planned visit to Britain at the end of next week was threatened by the Falklands crisis. But he still hoped that with “the good will of men and the help of God" the crisis would be resolved and the journey, the first by a Pope to Britain, would go ahead. He was addressing a crowd of 50,000 in St Peter’s Square after returning from a fourday visit to Portugal where he escaped an attempt on his life. He looked tired and spoke slowly. — Rome. US Sailor killed

One American sailor has been killed and three others wounded when unknown assailants opened fire on them from a passing car as they walked along a street near their ship. All four victims of the attack were sailorp serving on the U.S.S. Pensacola, a cruiser docked at San Juan. Puerto Rico, for a liberty call. No-one has claimed responsibility for the morning shooting, although United States‘ military personnel and installations have been attacked in-the past by guerrillas demanding independence for Puerto Rico, a United States - commonwealth. — San'Juan.

Mediator acts A‘mediator appointed by Queen Beatrix will today begin official talks with Dutch political parties to solve a Government crisis after the collapse of the three-party Centre-Left coalition. Piet Steenkamp, a professor of law appointed official mediator last week, devoted much of the weekend to studying the background to last week’s coalition break-up after the Labour Party walked out. He . is likely to spend several days discussing options with all main parties, politicians said. He will present a formal plan for setting up a workable government only when he has a clear idea of their views. — The Hague.

Woolwortbs blast An explosion in a Woolworths store at Liverpool, in Sydney's south-western suburbs, early yesterday was similar to other explosions in Woolworths stores in late 1980, says a senior police officer. But he said it was too early to contemplate whether an escaped prisoner, Gregory Norman McHardie, who was on trial for extortion involving Woolworths last year, was involved. McHardie escaped last month during his trial on the charges of conspiracy to demand money with menaces and attempting to steal $500,000 from Woolworths in

January last year. The trial of McHardie and a man charged with him, Larry Burton Danielson, continued in McHardie’s absence and. both were found guilty. — Sydney. War contribution A horse belonging to President Leopoldo Galtieri of Argentina has been sold for about $NZ4257 in an auction to raise money for a Falklands war fund, the independent news agency, Noticias Argentinas, has said. The horse, named “Fomento” was described as a 3% year old purebred show-jumping horse. — Buenos Aires.

Secret broadcast Radio Solidarity has made a brief broadcast-announcing the formation of an organising commission of four fugitive regional leaders of the suspended trade union. The transmission, the radio’s fifth since April 12, was heard only in a restricted area of the city and was drowned out after less than a minute by loud pop music. Reports ef the formation of the commission, established on April 22 at a secret meeting, had already been distribute.d in underground bulletins in the capital. — Warsaw.

Young graduate Jay Luo, a shy,’l2-year-old mathematics whiz, has become the youngest university graduate in United States history, and has said he plans to start graduate work - at Stanford University in a few months. Jay, son of immigrants from Taiwan, had passed his final exams at Boise (Idaho) State University and joined about 1460 others at graduation, gaining a degree in mathematics The book , lists the youngest graduate as William Thomson, later Lord Kelvin, who graduated from Glasgow University in November 1834, at the age of 10 Boise (Idaho;