Cable Briefs (Press, 1 August 1984)

The news from 1 August 1984 highlights several significant events, both in the UK and around the world. A male prostitute, Michael Rauch, aged 38, was found dead in a North London flat, reportedly from a drug overdose. Rauch was known for his involvement in a scandal that led to the downfall of Michael Trestrail, the former bodyguard of the Queen. Trestrail, aged 53, had to resign two years prior after Rauch attempted to sell the story of their twelve-year affair. In Israeli politics, a spokesman for Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir dismissed a Soviet proposal for an international conference on the Middle East, labelling it as a "propaganda ploy." The spokesperson emphasised that the Soviet Union, having severed ties with Israel in 1967, cannot be trusted as an impartial facilitator in negotiations and clearly sides with the Arab nations. In Zaire, President Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko looks set to retain control after a poll indicated overwhelming support for him as the sole candidate in the upcoming elections. Although the official results will not be released until August 7, government sources claim nearly 100 percent approval. Mobutu has led the country since coming to power in a coup in 1965 and is expected to be sworn in again on December 5. In Sudan, a government minister, Mamoun Mahamadi Ahmed, was dismissed and sentenced to 40 lashes after being found drunk at a presidential reception. This punishment aligns with Islamic law, which prohibits alcohol. The minister will first undergo a medical examination before facing the lashings. A remarkable medical case emerged from Pakistan, where surgeons removed a 20kg tumour from a 55-year-old man’s stomach, which had significantly impacted his health. The chief surgeon reported that the patient was recovering well after the operation. In entertainment, Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall announced he signed a recording contract with Triad Records. Following his recent Academy Award win for "Tender Mercies," Duvall has begun work on his debut album in Nashville, featuring appearances by prominent country artists. A tragic incident involving a Norwegian sailor, Bjorn Pedersen, came to light as investigators reported he was tortured to death by Libyan authorities while aboard the ship Germa Lionel in Tripoli. Last seen on May 13 when taken ashore, the circumstances of his death became murky, with Libyan authorities changing their narrative from an escape attempt to a claim of suicide. Finally, in Sydney, a rally addressed by British morals campaigner Mary Whitehouse focused on censorship and its relation to pornography. Despite her views, a counter-demonstration led by various advocacy groups highlighted differing perspectives on pornography and censorship, revealing divisions within the wider community.

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