Cable Briefs (Press, 21 February 1981)

Two deep-sea fishermen, Futoshi Taguchi (55) and Yasuhiro Takashima (35), have been rescued after being trapped for three days in an air pocket inside their small capsized boat, along with the bodies of four friends. The incident occurred while they were aboard the vessel Eifuxul iMarti, which capsized in rough seas. After one man was saved from a liferaft shortly after the accident, eight bodies were subsequently recovered from the water. Taguchi and Takashima were discovered when divers inspecting the upturned boat, which had been towed to a port near Nagasaki, heard faint cries for help. Taguchi was reported to be suffering from pneumonia, while Takashima was in a state of complete exhaustion. In other news, Paul McCartney announced that he is relocating to the eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat to seek a new life following the death of his former bandmate John Lennon. McCartney expressed concern about the dangers of fame after Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment on 8 December 1980. He arrived in Montserrat a week prior with his wife, Linda, and their three children for a recording session at a studio owned by former Beatles producer George Martin. McCartney stated his desire to maintain a low profile for the sake of his family, contrasting it with the high profile that ultimately led to Lennon’s tragic fate. Additionally, a 23-year-old man, Philip Bruce Cline, has been formally charged with first-degree arson and eight counts of murder in connection with a devastating fire at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. The incident, which occurred the previous week, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, seven from asphyxiation and one from injuries sustained when he jumped from a hotel window. The District Attorney's office dismissed Cline's claim that the fire was accidental, allegedly sparked during a homosexual act near an eighth-floor elevator. Furthermore, the Soviet Navy has positioned ships outside Mozambique’s two main ports in response to a South African commando raid near the capital, Maputo, which took place on 30 January 1981. This naval presence is seen as a demonstration of support for Mozambique, as stated by Portuguese State radio, and is linked to a 1977 cooperation and friendship treaty between the Soviet Union and Mozambique, suggesting that the nation can rely on Soviet assistance in the event of further South African incursions.

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