Cable briefs

Press, 16 August 1985, Page 6

Cable briefs

Writer dies A prize-winning novelist and journalist, Shiva Naipaul, who was born in the West Indies of a family from India, has died at his north London home. Naipaul, younger brother of the writer, Vidiadhar Surajprasad (V.S.) Naipaul was 40. Press reports said that he had suffered a heart attack.—London. S4OM Jackson deal Michael Jackson, the singer, had bought publishing rights to the 1964-1970 Beatles catalogue for more than SUS4O million ($75.35 million), it was reported yesterday. The collection of 260 John Lennon-Paul McCartney tunes had been acquired in London during the week-end by representatives of Jackson, who completed a deal with ATV Music, said “Variety,” the entertainment trade newspaper—Los Angeles. Blacks killed Two more blacks have been killed in South Africa’s township violence. A black policeman died in hospital after a crowd stoned him and a black man was killed when the police used birdshot to quell a stone-throwing crowd, the police said.— Johannesburg. Beirut toll The casualty toll of a carbomb that exploded outside an apartment building in Christian east Beirut on Wednesday stood yesterday at 13 killed and 122 wounded, the police reported. Rescue work was resumed at daybreak at the scene of the blast that was generated by what a Lebanese Army ordnance expert estimated was 200 kg of nail-studded TNT. The explosion wrecked an eight-storey building, gouged a crater in the street, hurled parked cars into shop windows and ground-floor apartments, and sent nails slashing through the air.—Beirut. Assam treaty India’s Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, has announced a settlement to the five-year-old sectarian conflict in the remote north-east state of Assam. An agreement had , been signed with student ’ leaders of the anti-immigrant agitation, he said. The settlement to one of India’s worst domestic problems came just three weeks after Mr Gandhi signed an accord with moderate Sikh leaders in Punjab—New Delhi. Remains given Vietnam has turned over what may be the remains of 26 Americans missing in the war that ended 10 years ago. Vietnamese officials have also indicated the acceptance of a United States proposal that senior officials visit Hanoi. Last month it suggested a high-level visit as a means of resolving the emotional issue of M.I.A.S — Americans still listed as missing in action. An American delegation took custody of the remains.—Hanoi. Reports denied Uganda’s new rulers have denied reports that National Resistance Army rebels had captured the key town of Masaka. Brigadier Zedi Maruru, a member of the ruling Military Council set up after the July 27 coup, told a news conference that the rebels had not captured any town—Kampala. Bad vodka news The Soviet Union has announced a sharp reduction in the price of fruit juice and a steep rise in the cost of yeast as another step to lure drinkers away from alcohol. The cost of fruit juice will go down an average of 23 per cent. Yeast, frequently used for brewing illegal alcohol, will be more than 300 per cent dearer.—Moscow.