Europe Intelligence Wire articles from April 2010

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from April 2010

Perth stronghold a key battleground.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: michael.farrell The count for Ochil and South Perthshire at Alloa Town Hall is likely to be a tense affair. It is one of the SNP's top target seats, but Labour is determined to hold on to this...

Will islands lead the way for Lib Dems?
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: morag.lindsay While the rest of the country reels from the 'Clegg Bounce' and the realisation that there is a third party with a credible chance of forming at least part of a UK Government,...

Everything to play for.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: calum.ross The south of Aberdeen is playing host to an intriguing four-way battle which could provide a defining moment in the 2010 general election. In one of the closest UK elections for...

Enjoying the rewards of community spirit.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross IN RECENT years, the undoubted corporate social responsibility (CSR) boom has had a major effect on instilling within organisations -- of all sizes and sectors -- a sense of duty to...

Getting involved in the oil and gas industry.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross THE Aberdeen operation of global engineering and construction services group Aker Solutions has received a record number of applications for graduate placements from around the globe...

Impressive milestones.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross SIX local men have been recognised for collectively clocking up an impressive 150 years of service with construction company Mansell. The firm held a special lunch at its Granite...

All roads lead to Houston.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross BUSINESS people from across the world are travelling to the US for the annual OTC meeting -- the world's most important oil and gas show, being held in Houston during May 3-6. ...

Debate date.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross LAW firm McGrigors is hosting a debate with leading human-resources and occupational-health experts at the Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen, on May 19. McGrigors says many clients are...

Grammar aim to end season on high note.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: paul.third Aberdeen Grammar complete their season in the Borders tonight when the club faces Gala knowing victory at Netherdale will ensure a fifth-place finish in Premier Division 2. Coach...

Letters Page.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ron.plowman 'Dismay' at delays to bypass SIR, -- It was with a sense of dismay that I read (the Press and Journal, April 26) that the much-needed bypass for Aberdeen could be delayed by up to...

Anger at briefing to scrap GBP30m care homes pledge.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: iain.ramage HIGHLAND councillors have eight weeks to decide if they will go back on their pledge to the elderly to build and run five more care homes. The decision, triggered by the council...

Election impact on employment law.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.ross WITH voting day fast approaching, reports suggest that many are still undecided who to vote for in the general election. While, by now, you are likely to have heard much about...

Review of football banning orders.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ryan.crighton LEGISLATION which bans unruly fans from football grounds is to be reviewed by the Scottish Government. Football Banning Orders were introduced in Scotland in September 2006 to...

Alarms broken for months, OAPs claim.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: calum.ross PENSIONERS who were left trapped when a fire broke out at an Aberdeen sheltered housing complex have had no personal alarm systems in place for almost three months. The...

Grampian force leads the way with new policing model.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: shona.gossip A new policing model that will involve north-east officers working with communities in a 'meaningful way' was revealed yesterday. The Grampian force will be split into 24...

Pernod Ricard toasts rise in sales and higher profits.(Financial report)
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer FRENCH alcoholic drinks giant Pernod Ricard reported yesterday a marked upturn in sales in the quarter to March 31 and increased its profits guidance for the full year to the end of...

Transport bosses demand that A90 billboard is torn down.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie Road bosses have demanded that a billboard advertising a housing development at Fraserburgh be torn down over fears it is a safety hazard for passing motorists. The 10ft by...

Flood crisis shelter may become new housing.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.macallister A GBP1.2MILLION former care home, used to house people whose homes were devastated by flooding last September, is now empty and is being closed. Moray Council said all...

Warning of tax increase on holiday homes.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.perry A LABOUR government would revive plans to increase tax on holiday home businesses across the north and north-east, Liberal Democrat Scottish spokesman Alistair Carmichael claimed last...

Raiders of protected birds' nests targeted.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail A stay-away warning is being issued to would-be raiders of protected birds' nests in the Highlands. Police have again joined forces with conservation bodies, estate workers and...

Stagecoach in running for awards.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer TRANSPORT giant Stagecoach's UK bus and rail companies will compete for a host of top transport honours after receiving 10 shortlisted nominations for the 2010 National Transport...

Tesco accused of buying Thurso site to keep competitors out.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail TESCO has been accused of buying the former auction mart site at Thurso to prevent a rival supermarket opening in the town. The charge of land-banking was yesterday scotched by...

Artist prepares for long-distance feat in pal's memory.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.macallister An artist is preparing to walk the length of Scotland in memory of her Moray cousin who died of ovarian cancer last year. Karen Logan will spend 27 days walking more than 400...

Moray charge about to welcome its new minister.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.macallister A NEW minister is being inducted at the Keith North, Newmill, Boharm and Rothiemay Church of Scotland at 7pm tonight. The Rev Hutton Steel will step into the role vacated by...

Stranded teachers are to lose pay.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: rita.campbell Teachers in Argyll and Bute late back to work after they were stranded abroad during the Easter holiday volcanic ash travel chaos will have their pay docked. While other...

Councillor says future of community centres safe.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: iain.ramage A veteran Inverness councillor claimed last night he had secured a future for all six community centres that were being considered for possible closure as part of drastic budget cuts....

Broch lifeboat crew hits GBP40,000 memorial fundraising target.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie A massive fundraising campaign by a north-east lifeboat crew to build a memorial in honour of their fallen colleagues has reached its GBP40,000 target less than a year after it...

Woman denies charges.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A NORTH-EAST woman has continued to deny allegations that she allowed teenagers to drink alcohol at a party where a 14-year-old girl died. Christine Stewart, of 2 Marconi Terrace,...

Jail warning for teen over snowball.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A teenager who threw a snowball at a passing pick-up truck was handed a supervised attendance order by a court yesterday -- and warned he faces being locked up if he breaks it. ...

Balintore man can't get over break-up.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: marjo.hallowell A BALINTORE man who had not been able to accept the break-up of his seven-year relationship with his girlfriend pleaded guilty to breach of the peace when he appeared at Dingwall...

Peterhead OAP admits benefits fraud.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A NORTH-EAST pensioner yesterday admitted claiming nearly GBP14,000 worth of benefits that he was not entitled to. Richard Irvine lied on official forms to the Department for Work...

Wine flowinglike water.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tom.forsyth THERE was great excitement about the discovery of an old Tudor wine fountain during excavations. What a wonderful contraption, which shows the Tudors certainly knew how to enjoy...

Altra Energy lands GBP100million deal for new Forties platform.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Altra Energy has secured a contract said by industry sources to be worth around GBP100million to deliver front-end engineering design (FEED) for a new satellite production platform...

Highlighting issues of pupil behaviour.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tom.forsyth THE case of teacher Peter Harvey, who snapped after severe goading by students and bludgeoned a boy with a heavy weight, will again highlight issues surrounding school discipline, the...

Chief constable's bold new approach.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tom.forsyth LOCAL communities have been pleading for years for police to adopt a more proactive approach in solving day-to-day issues which bother ordinary people, but it seemed to fall on deaf...

Council keeps up Thurso bypass fight.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail THURSO Community Council is continuing its dogged efforts to win support for a town bypass. It follows rejection by the Scottish Government for the proposed multimillion-pound...

Residents turn out in force to fight plan for Dallachy travellers' site.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.macallister A Moray community has turned out in force to show staunch opposition to plans for a site for travellers. More than 200 people teamed together at the Spey Bay Community Hall...

Legal challenge to find jobs for Dounreay 16 to be laid off.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail A legal challenge is being mounted in a bid to win an 11th-hour reprieve for a group of long-serving workers who are due to lose their jobs at Dounreay today. The Unite union is...

Rescuers to cash in on Energy Ball.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: morag.lindsay The days when mountain rescue teams existed simply to find climbers and walkers stranded in the hills -- and, of course, the occasional crashed aircraft and its crew -- are long...

Man left scarred for life after gala attack.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A MAN was left scarred for life after an attack at a north-east village's summer gala, a court heard yesterday. Gordon Smith struck his head when he was knocked down at Davidson...

Crash driver was over the limit.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A YOUNG drink-driver careered off a road and crashed into a bridge, a court heard yesterday. Daniel Ritchie, 22, drove home to Mintlaw after drinking two alcopops, two beers and...

Receivers lay off 62 at Dundee door firm.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: michael.farrell A DUNDEE-BASED door company has made 62 employees redundant after going into receivership. McTavish Ramsay and Co, which has a factory in West Pitkerro Industrial Estate, has...

Salmond will not be drawn on alcohol price.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tim.pauling First Minister Alex Salmond resisted concerted opposition pressure yesterday to reveal the Scottish Government's preferred minimum price for alcohol. MSPs demanded he 'name the...

Newtonmore young gun misses out.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin Newtonmore's talented young defender Andy MacKintosh will be out for five weeks after breaking his thumb in training. He will miss tomorrow's first Badenoch derby of the season...

Fraserburgh retail complex plans collapse.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie PLANS for a multimillion-pound hotel and retail complex at Fraserburgh have collapsed. Edinburgh-based Esk Properties won planning consent for the GBP10million project...

Michaela search stepped up as police check bushes and huts.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: michael.farrell The hunt for a missing Dundee teenage girl intensified yesterday as police officers searched through bushes and huts where she may be hiding. Michaela Hunter, 13, has been...

Sheriff in appeal for no more trial delays.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ken.jones A SHERIFF yesterday sought assurances that there would be no further adjournments in the much-delayed trial of a woman who is alleged to have embezzled more than GBP195,000 from a...

Kirk under pressure to open up church buildings to community.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: cameron.brooks CHURCH of Scotland congregations across the north and north-east are under pressure to open up buildings for community use. A special commission set up to investigate whether...

Prison for bomb hoaxer who brought city to halt.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: joanna.skailes A convicted fraudster who brought Aberdeen to a standstill with a bomb hoax has been jailed for three years. A railway station, two shopping centres and dozens of offices were...

Inverness celebrates link with Russia.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish ROBERT Burns's most famous poems will be recited in Russian at an event to highlight Scottish relations with the country today. The Highland-Russian Connection will stage a...

Housing association tenants in bike-building initiative.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish Housing association tenants in Inverness are being offered the chance to build their own bikes, under a scheme launched yesterday. Albyn Housing Society and New Start Highland...

Caley Thistle manager backs charity walk.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish CALEY Thistle's championship-winning manager Terry Butcher has given his support to women taking part in a night-time walk around Inverness in aid of charity. The Bra Nicht...

For allo allo allo, now read aloe aloe aloe.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail A HIGHLAND policewoman has swapped the beat for beauty therapy with the opening of her own salon. Joan Sutherland, 29, spent six years on the force protecting the people of...

Public backing is claimed for new Ross cyclists' route.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail The prospect of an off-road route linking Strathpeffer and Dingwall has enthusiastic public support, according to a recent survey carried out by Strathpeffer Community Council. A...

Birthday occasion gets their vote.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: neil.macphail INVERNESS schoolgirl Lynne MacKenzie is one of five young people in the Highlands who will be able to mark their 18th birthdays by putting a cross on an election ballot paper. ...

Moray distillerylandsprize.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer ROSEISLE Distillery, near Elgin, has been announced as the winner of the sustainability prize at the RICS Scotland Awards 2010. Also a winner, in the building conservation...

Openness of Montrose pool tendering process questioned.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: michael.farrell The openness of the tendering process for a new GBP10million swimming pool development at Montrose has been questioned. A shortlist of six developers have been asked to put...

Council digs itself into a hole over roads.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stacey.horne AN ABERDEEN man has criticised the city council by claiming they are getting their priorities wrong for carrying out peripheral work on roads before repairing potholes. Alex...

Attacker who bit off tip of his victim's nose is jailed.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ken.jones A MAN was yesterday jailed for 22 months for biting off part of another man's nose. Victim Peter Lloyd has since undergone more than six operations to reconstruct his nose since the...

Moray pair in court after drugs seizure.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: donna.macallister TWO Moray people appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday after police seized heroin worth more than GBP14,000. Sophie Griffiths, 20, from Elgin, and Michael Burrows, 50,...

Minimum wage call is rejected by MSPs.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: cameron.brooks CALLS for the introduction of a national minimum wage rate of GBP7 an hour have been rejected by MSPs. The Liberal Democrats, SNP and Conservatives teamed-up to vote down a...

Support plea to protect sea travel subsidy.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.perry WESTERN Isles SNP candidate Angus MacNeil urged voters last night to vote for him to protect the Road Equivalent Tariff (Ret) subsidy which has slashed the cost of travel by sea to...

Council and union to talk in battle over staff payments.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish Trade union officials will meet with Highland Council this morning in an effort to defuse an escalating row over proposed reductions to early retirement and voluntary severance...

Girl, 17, sentenced over Bonfire Night offences at Dyce.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: joanna.skailes A TEENAGE girl who threw a lit firework at community wardens and set fire to a caravan was yesterday put on probation for two years. Hannah Snow was also ordered to carry out...

Staggies tickets go fast.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish ROSS County fans have snapped up more than 11,000 tickets for the Scottish Cup Final in just four days. Agents Ticketmaster, who are handling part of the sales for the club,...

Haddo choir in new bid for crown.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell A NORTH-EAST choir will be singing for a place in the finals of a national competition this weekend. The Haddo Combined Treble Voice Choir narrowly missed out on being crowned the...

Choir in bid for national success.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell A NORTH-EAST choir will be singing for a place in the finals of a national competition this weekend. The Haddo Combined Treble Voice Choir narrowly missed out on being crowned the...

Haddo choir in bid for national success.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell A NORTH-EAST choir will be singing for a place in the finals of a national competition this weekend. The Haddo Combined Treble Voice Choir narrowly missed out on being crowned the...

Portlethen hall trustees' GBP100,000 target.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden PORTLETHEN residents are hoping to raise GBP100,000 to give a community-owned hall a new lease of life. The Jubilee Hall, which is more than 165 years old, is currently used by...

Woman hits out at new Stagecoach timetables.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stacey.horne A Portlethen woman has criticised Stagecoach's new timetables, which come into force on Monday, saying they are not in customers' best interests. Carrie Riddell, 47, travels from...

New bus timetables fall short of commuter's expectations.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stacey.horne New Stagecoach timetables which come into force on Monday have been criticised by a Portlethen woman who commutes to work in Aberdeen. Carrie Riddell, 47, travels from her home...

New York trip will put aspiring north-east actress on fast track.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: shona.gossip AN ASPIRING north-east actress has secured a summer scholarship at a New York drama school. Ellen Aitken 'can't wait' for her trip to the Big Apple, where she will study at the...

Art of recycling mastered for exhibition.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: john.thomson THE arts and crafts skills of pupils at a north-east school will be on show at a major visual arts celebration. Youngsters who attend the curriculum support unit at Banff Academy...

Wartime memories rekindled at Portsoy.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: john.thomson MEMORIES of World War II will be rekindled at a north-east town during a special exhibition over the weekend. The Salmon Bothy community venue at Portsoy has organised a display...

Toulmin inspires writer's work.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alistair.beaton A NEW work by award-winning local playwright Charles Barron will be taken on tour throughout the north-east next month. It will also become a highlight of summer's Garioch...

Mither Tongue inspires writer with stories of the past.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alistair.beaton A NEW work by award-winning local playwright Charles Barron will be taken on tour throughout the north-east next month. It will also feature as one of the highlights of this...

Writer brings Mither Tongue to the stage.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alistair.beaton A NEW work by award-winning local playwright Charles Barron will be taken on tour throughout the north-east next month. It will also feature as one of the highlights of this...

Doric heritage play goes on tour.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alistair.beaton A NEW work by award-winning local playwright Charles Barron will be taken on tour throughout the north-east next month. Mr Barron, of Deeside Gardens, Aberdeen, received a...

Kildrummy gardening 'gem' set to shine again.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alistair.beaton ONE of the north-east's gardening gems will open for a new visitor season today after recovering its sparkle following the worst winter weather damage to the attraction in...

County fans snap up 11,000 tickets in four days.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish ROSS County fans have snapped up more than 11,000 tickets for their Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United in just four days. Agents Ticketmaster, who are handling part of the...

Tony Christie finds the Road to Amarillo also paves the way to Inverness.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: susan.welsh HE KNOWS the way to Amarillo, and now legendary crooner Tony Christie is making his way along the avenues and alleyways to get to Inverness. The Sheffield-born singer will be...

It will be a bra night for a moonlight walk.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jane.candlish Caley Thistle's championship-winning manager Terry Butcher has given his support to women taking part in a night-time walk around Inverness in aid of charity. The Bra Nicht...

Children's Panel volunteers honoured.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell Volunteers who give up their free time to help protect vulnerable youngsters were honoured for their work last night. Fifteen people who have served on Aberdeenshire's Children's...

Children's panel volunteers honoured.
April 30, 2010... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell VOLUNTEERS who give up their free time to help protect vulnerable youngsters were honoured for their work last night. Fifteen people who have served on Aberdeenshire's Children's...