News stories from Thursday January 1, 1981

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

Pleas by Iranians for spy trials for the American hostages reportedly increased. Ayatollah Alemeh Nouri, a respected revolutionary clergyman, was quoted as saying that the 52 Americans were espionage agents and should be tried. Ayatollah Nouri holds no official post, but the statement reflected a problem that Iran's Parliament must overcome to resolve the issue. [New York Times] Ways to trim Social Security benefits that would be paid eventually to Americans who are now working are being quietly discussed by a few members of Congress and congressional aides. The highly sensitive issue is being explored because, if the present method of financing the system is not revised, it is expected to incur big deficits, perhaps as soon as the second decade of the next century. [New York Times] Modest import aid for speciality steel is expected to be introduced by President Carter. He is likely to protect domestic manufacturers with a series of procedures, which already apply to textiles, that could lead to the imposition of sharply higher duties if any imports were found to be exported below the cost of production. [New York Times] A Frank Sinatra-White House link, which withered during the Carter presidency, is being revived. The singer will plan and perform at a fundraising party in Washington this month in honor of the presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan. When Mr. Sinatra applied for Nevada's approval to publicize and advise a Las Vegas hotel-casino he gave Mr. Reagan's name as a personal reference. [New York Times] The rights of refugees were upheld by a federal district judge who ordered the government to release a Cuban refugee being held as a security risk at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. The refugee and 234 others who fled Cuba have lived for seven months at the maximum-security prison while Washington negotiated with Havana to take them back. [New York Times] A prison revolt ended with no injuries in Lafayette, La. Deputies armed with rifles and tear gas stormed the prison after they had rescued two guards during negotiations with the prisoners, who demanded reforms. The sheriff said he would abide by an agreement not to punish the inmates involved in the six-hour uprising. [New York Times] Open-housing advocates were buoyed by a federal district court's order that Parma, Ohio, an all-white suburb of Cleveland, admit blacks. The outcome of Parma's seven-year struggle with the Justice Department could affect other cities identified by the government as white enclaves that effectively exclude minority groups. [New York Times] Safeguards against hazardous wastes were ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency. It announced new requirements that all companies engaged in the storage, treatment or disposal of such wastes obtain liability insurance or other financial security against the hazards. [New York Times] The Russians could not invade Poland in early December because they were not militarily prepared, according to Representative Les Aspin, the chairman of a House intelligence subcomittee. He said the Soviet forces would not be ready for any intervention until after mid-January. [New York Times] The Afghan government sought unity in an attempt to end the continuing revolt by local chieftains. President Babrak Karmal announced plans for broadening the governing coalition of the Soviet-backed regime as Western diplomats speculated that the recent disappearance from public view of high officials reflected new factional fighting and purges. [New York Times] An expected leadership shift in China was signaled officially. Hua Guofeng did not appear at a New Year's reception given by the Communist leadership and attended by about 100 top officials, strengthening a belief that he has been forced to resign as chairman of the party. Instead, the host was Hu Yaobang, who is believed likely to replace Mr. Hua as the party's senior official. [New York Times] South Africa "banned" two journalists who are leaders of a press union, reflecting concern over the tendency of black unionists to take strong political stands. The two union leaders are barred for three years from attending political or social gatherings and must stay at home every night. [New York Times] The future of The Times of London remains in doubt. The management announced last fall that it was closing the prestigious but unprofitable newspaper and four allied publications in March unless prospective buyers made bids by Dec. 31. The deadline passed with no firm prospect of a new owner, but secret negotiations that have been proceeding with various groups are expected to continue. [New York Times]