Cable briefs

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 10

Cable briefs

Giscard returns

The former French President, Mr Valery Giscard d’Estaing, has returned in triumph to the National Assembly, becoming the country’s first head of State to resume his political career in the Assembly. Mr Giscard, aged 58, won a convincing victory in a by-election on September 23, which gave him back his old National Assembly seat in the Puy-de-Dome. — Paris.

Ships scrapped A record number of strips were sold for scrap during 1983, “Lloyd’s Register of Shipping” says. A total of 1310 ships amounting to 16.76 million gross tons was sold for scrap. This represents an increase of 197 ships or 3.13 million gross tons on the previous year, “Lloyd’s” says. Tanker tonnage disposed of amounted to over 70 per cent

of the total sold for demolition. The average size of tanker broken up was 33,796 gross tons. The total number of dry cargo vessels broken up was 569, an increase of 78 per cent compared with 1982. — London.

Help for reporters

The Dutch journalists’ trade union, N.V.J., plans to set up an international centre to help protect journalists on dangerous foreign assignments. At a symposium marking the union’s 100th anniversary the executive said it would appeal to journalists’ organisations in other countries for support. The centre would provide information about the world’s actual and potential troublespots. It would also give practical help to journalists going to work abroad and to those who were in difficulties in a foreign country. — Hilversum.