Cable briefs

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 10

Cable briefs

Oldest at the top A millionaire, aged 55, from Dallas, Texas, has become the oldest man to climb Mount Everest. Mr Dick Bass reached the top of the 8848-metre mountain on the Nepal-China border on Monday after a 10-hour climb from his highest assault camp.—Katmandu. Ship attacked A Turkish tanker was hit in an apparent Iraqi air attack in the northern Gulf yesterday, shipping sources said. The sources did not immediately identify the vessel by name, but said it was heading for Dubai. The extent of damage was not immediately known.— Bahrain. Somalia appeals Somalia has appealed for relief to stave off famine threatening 3 million people. Twelve of Somalia’s 18 regions have been seriously affected by drought. Somalia is unable to feed the more than 1 million mainly Ethiopian refugees whose presence has made the food situation critical officials say.—Nairobi. Budget win President Ronald Reagan has won an important firstin the Republi-

can-controlled Senate over his plan to cut nearly SUS3OO billion ($660 billion) from the Budget deficit over three years. The Senate voted 50 to 49 for the plan, which faced more amendments before final approval. The Reagan plan, worked out with Senate Republican leaders, is expected to be changed. Republicans and Democrats want to restore a controversial plan to cut social security cost-of-living benefits.— Washington. Pol Pot ill? The Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, is in a Peking hospital undergoing treatment for "high blood pressure, malignant malaria and other diseases,” a Hong Kong Leftist magazine reports. The May issue of the Chineselanguage “Cheng Ming” said Pol Pot was admitted to the hospital under an assumed name. It did not identify the hospital. The report could not be confirmed in Hong Kong—Hong Kong. Another hold-up Three masked gunmen robbed a Wells Fargo armoured car in Miami a day after thieves in New York stole SUSB million ($17.6 million) from the firm. The robbers surprised the guards and then fled on foot.— g