News stories from Sunday October 24, 1971

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

Police in Toronto broke up a plot to assassinate Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin; weapons were seized in 18 raids. Some of the raids were against members of the right-wing Edmund Burke Society. Two people were arrested. In Vancouver, there was a demonstration by eight Eastern European ethnic groups while Kosygin spoke at a hotel. Trouble erupted when Marxist-Leninist counter-pickets showed up. [NBC] Soviet Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev arrives in Paris on Monday amid tight security. 49 would-be troublemakers have been flown to the island of Corsica; the French government paid all their bills. [NBC] The United Nations will begin final debate on the "Two Chinas" policy. Rep. Gerald Ford warned that Congress might not give as much funding to the United Nations if Taiwan is forced out. [NBC] Henry Kissinger wound up his Peking visit, preparing for President Nixon's trip there. Enrollment in Chinese language classes at American universities has jumped since news of the President's visit to China was announced. [NBC] Defense Secretary Melvin Laird left for the NATO meeting in Belgium. One of the issues to be discussed is U.S.-Soviet mutual troop reductions in Europe. Some NATO members want to reduce the number of U.S. troops even before talks with the Soviets begin. Secretary Laird said that the negotiations are likely to be successful if the Warsaw Pact nations realize that NATO allies are serious about keeping up a strong military deterrent; Laird will try to encourage the allies to keep up their troop strength. [NBC] Typhoon Hester has left thousands of South Vietnamese homeless. 36 have been killed as a result of the typhoon, including three Americans. Damage to U.S. bases is estimated to be in the millions. [NBC] In Newry, Northern Ireland, five civilians were shot and killed by British soldiers; three soldiers in Belfast were wounded by guerrillas. Soldiers claim that the civilians were killed while robbing a bank. Newry erupted in violence following the shootings, as soldiers were stoned and fires were started. The town has been sealed off. [NBC] India accused Pakistan of shelling along the border; two people were killed. Premier Indira Gandhi has left for a trip to Western Europe and the United States. [NBC] In Iran, Shah Mohammed Riza Pahlevi has a plan to modernize the country. The Shah is trying to make the Imperial Army an effective force with billions of dollars worth of weapons and American advice. The army also provides people with elementary education, with the goal that all will learn to read; they have also sent doctors to small villages and are educating the people in hygiene. [NBC] A federal judge has ordered further desegregation of schools in and near Detroit; parents are organizing in opposition. Judge Stephen Roth said he found that segregation existed, therefore action was required. Students outside of Wayne County may be included in the Detroit busing/desegregation plan. [NBC] Detroit Lions' wide receiver Chuck Hughes suffered a heart attack and died during today's game against the Chicago Bears in Detroit. [NBC] Swiss auto racing driver Jo Siffert was killed during a race in England when his car crashed and burst into flames; Siffert could not free himself from the burning car. [NBC] Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty arrived in Vienna, Austria, to live; he said that he will never return to Hungary. [NBC] A French street festival celebrated Pablo Picasso's 90th birthday today; he didn't attend. [NBC]