Europe Intelligence Wire articles from April 2012, page 654

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from April 2012

Viasat inks Endemol CEE deals.
April 1, 2012... (From Broadband TV News) BROADBAND TV NEWS-April 1, 2012-Viasat inks Endemol CEE deals (C)2012 - Broadband TV News - office@broadbandtvnews.com Endemol has signed multiple deals with Viasat across Central and Eastern Europe. Announced...

New Energy Technologies Inc hires business partnering and scientific experts.
April 1, 2012... (From M2 Equity Bites) M2 EQUITYBITES-April 1, 2012-New Energy Technologies Inc hires business partnering and scientific experts (C)1994-2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com Electricity technology company New Energy Technologies Inc...

New minimum 12 month duration for all apprenticeships.
April 1, 2012... (From Central Office of Information - News Distribution Service) Tougher standards introduced by Skills Minister to drive up quality Apprenticeships will last for a minimum of 12 months guaranteeing improvements in training and workplace...

Sundance Channel acquires series, festival films.
April 1, 2012... (From Broadband TV News) BROADBAND TV NEWS-April 1, 2012-Sundance Channel acquires series, festival films (C)2012 - Broadband TV News - office@broadbandtvnews.com MIPTV 2012 - CANNES. AMC/Sundance Channel Global is bolstering its...

Three minor quakes recorded in Thrakomakedones, Attical prefecture.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Three minor earthquakes were recorded in early Sunday in the wider Athens area. The three tremblers were registered between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with their epicentre in the Thrakomakedones area in Attica...

The Global Insurance Week.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) This week, the vote on Solvency II by the European Parliament was put back three months to September, and a white paper from IBM-company Algorithmics said Pillars 1, 2, and 3 need to be addressed together. Conning...

Insurance fraud in the UK totals AGBP2.1bn says report.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Following the release of The Annual Fraud Indicator 2012 by the National Fraud Authority, what really stood out was that the Insurance fraud, totaling GBP2.1bn was the biggest instance of fraud in UK financial...

PwC outlines top issues for insurers.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) If 2011 was the year of retrenchment, then 2012 is the year of the customer, finds PwC's "Top Issues: The Insurance Industry in 2012." Leading insurers are keenly focusing on improving the customer experience to...

KPMG urges the IASB to finalise new standard for insurance accounting.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The major insurers have largely completed reporting their annual results, providing a timely reminder of the diversity in accounting practices that currently exist around the globe in the insurance industry. As...

Ageas announces further simplification of structure.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Ageas has announced the final step in its plan to simplify its legal structure by proposing to its shareholders the merger of ageas N.V. and ageas SA/NV and a 10 to 1 reverse stock split. These transactions are...

Allied World centralises global reinsurance operations.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Allied World Assurance Company Holdings has announced the centralization of its global reinsurance operations to meet the continually evolving needs of its cedents. The global reinsurance platform is led by John...

Airline insurance market overviewed by Aon.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Aon Risk Solutions, the risk management business of Aon Corporation, has released the Airline Insurance Market Outlook 2012. This is the eighth year that Aon has published its market leading report, which is...

Swiss Re sigma study reviews catastrophic year.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Swiss Re’s latest sigma study reveals unprecedented economic losses of $370bn from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2011. Despite immense insured losses of $116bn (a 142% increase over the...

Liberty Mutual enters Russian market through acquisition.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Liberty Mutual Insurance Group has announced the acquisition of Russian insurance company KIT Finance Insurance from KIT Finance Holding Company, the ultimate owners of which are JSC "Russian Railways" and NPF...

Underwriting-art or science?
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The insurance market may increasingly be dependent on data, statistical analysis and catastrophe modelling, but underwriting at Lloyd's remains an art rather than a science– but only just. That's...

Fearn to take up new position at Covea.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Effective from September 2012 Garry Fearn, currently ceo of MMA Insurance, will take on a new role as executive deputy chairman of Covea Insurance. In his new role Garry will be reporting to and working closely...

CII launches first good practice guide for internships.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has launched its first good practice guide for internships in the general insurance and financial services professions. The guide outlines how well-structured internships...

MIB reveals halving of uninsured young drivers in the UK.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) New figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) reveals the number of 17–20 year olds estimated to be driving without insurance has decreased by half over the last three years. In...

US commercial insurance sector should improve on 2011 says Fitch.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) After suffering through a year of elevated property losses and poor underwriting results in 2011, US commercial lines insurers are in a position to deliver improved operating results this year. Fitch Ratings...

Universal chooses Guidewire again.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Universal Group, a commercial and personal lines carrier with operations in Puerto Rico and the US, and Guidewire Software, have announced that Universal has extended its Guidewire InsuranceSuite implementation....

CSC claims solutions chosen by Co-operative Insurance Companies.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) CSC has announced that Co-operative Insurance Companies of Vermont has licensed CSC software to enhance its claims operations. The firm, which insures farms, homes, automobiles and businesses in Vermont and New...

IFA platform adoption reviewed.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) New analysis from MyTouchstone, a market leading IFA database which is operated by the wealth and investment intelligence services division of Equifax, provides a clear indication that platforms are going to play...

Innovation Group release Insurer Configurator.
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) The Innovation Group has released Insurer Configurator, a new component of the Innovation Insurer suite. Insurer Configurator is a suite of programmes and services, along with a configuration toolset, that...

Vienna increases profit.(Financial report)
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Vienna Insurance Group has reported a record result for in 2011. Highlights are: -Standard & Poor’s confirms A+“ with stable outlook -Increase in Group profit (before taxes) by 10.1%...

Co-operative Insurance profit up.(Financial report)
April 1, 2012... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) UK-based Co-operative Insurance has reported statutory profits of GBP32.3m for 2011 compared with GBP18.4m. Operating profit was up 42% at GBP45m, with gross written premiums rising 16.5% to GBP668.8m. The...

Talking Horses.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) This is one of the few Sundays in the calendar when it is worth getting out of the scratcher early and perusing the form for racing in Britain. It's the second day of the Doncaster Lincoln meeting which traditionally...

Athens Newspaper Headlines.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance Newspaper interviews by the ND and PASOK leaders ahead of the general elections, speculation of a new storm of austerity measures after the elections, and the ongoing police...

Two opinion polls reflect voter intention ahead of elections.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) The voters' intentions, ahead of the upcoming general elections, are outlined in two opinion polls appearing in an equal number of Sunday newspapers. An 8-party parliament, a seven-point lead of New Democracy...

Second group assumes failed bomb attack at Egaleo Metro station.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) A second group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a failed bomb attack at the Egaleo Metro station in Athens on February 25. In a proclamation that was briefly uploaded on a website but subsequently taken down...

Angry Birds animated TV series to premiere in Autumn 2012.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Rovio Mobile is launching a series of 52 shortform animations for its Angry Birds in Autumn, but has ruled out a movie until after 2014. "We're going to roll out a weekly animation series later this year of...

Ireland will not default on international debts, says Enda Kenny.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Ireland will not default on its international debts or throw the EU's latest reforms into crisis by voting no in the upcoming referendum to the European fiscal pact, the republic's prime minister, Enda Kenny, has...

Papiss Ciss''s double for Newcastle makes more trouble for Liverpool.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) As a substituted Andy Carroll stomped straight off down the tunnel muttering a few choice expletives while neglecting to shake his manager's hand believers in Sabermetrics must have rubbed their hands in glee. The...

Celtic beat St Johnstone but have to wait to capture league title.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Celtic's supporters may have been denied the party they had anticipated this weekend, but a first league win for Neil Lennon's team since 25 February maintained high spirits in Glasgow's east end. On the balance of...

Afghanistan: our modern opium war.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Parween, the opium farmer in Badakhsan province, who supported her ageing husband. Haji Barat, the opium merchant in the provincial capital of Fayzabad, who built a health clinic with 50 beds with his profits....

A fond farewell to the Spirit of Schubert.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) I feel a little bereft today. I've loved Radio 3's Spirit of Schubert. It's been wonderful hearing so many of his works I didn't know - especially the songs, it's been a pleasure getting to know more of his music,...

Farc's move to release hostages raises hopes of peace talks.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Colombia's largest rebel group is preparing to release some of the world's longest-held hostages, in a move many hope could lead to peace talks. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) is to release 10...

Game Group to carry on trading after OpCapita steps in to buy business.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Stricken retailer the Game Group, which went into administration last week, has been given a new lease of life by investment firm OpCapita. The firm will acquire Game's UK assets, retain its remaining 333 UK...

Euronews claims smart TV leadership.
April 1, 2012... (From Broadband TV News) BROADBAND TV NEWS-April 1, 2012-Euronews claims smart TV leadership (C)2012 - Broadband TV News - office@broadbandtvnews.com MIPTV 2012 - CANNES. International Lyons-based news channel Euronews said it has reached...

Euronews claims smart TV leadership.
April 1, 2012... (From Broadband TV News) BROADBAND TV NEWS-April 1, 2012-Euronews claims smart TV leadership (C)2012 - Broadband TV News - office@broadbandtvnews.com MIPTV 2012 - CANNES. International Lyons-based news channel Euronews said it has reached...

The Church of England needs a reboot, not a rebrand.
April 1, 2012... (From Guardian Unlimited) Yesterday, for the third time this year, someone expressed to me genuine concern about involving the church in a project because they feared that dealing with a discriminatory organisation would compromise their...

Earth Hour observed in Greece.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Earth Hour was observed throughout Greece on Saturday evening, with the lights switched off at 8:30 p.m. for one hour at the country's monuments and museums, as well as at state and local government buildings and in...

420 arrests in Athens 'sweep' operation.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) A total of 420 arrests have been made in a major police crackdown on illegal immigration and illicit trade in the wider Athens area launched on Wednesday, the Attica Police Headquarters (GADA) announced on Sunday. ...

Arrests for counterfeiting documents.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Three Albanian nationals have been arrested in Athens on charges of forging certificates and other official documents, police said on Sunday. They said the three Albanians were located on the night of March 29 in...

Amendment for creation of migrant reception facilities to be tabled Monday.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Citizens Protection Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis will on Monday table in parliament an amendment providing for the creation of three illegal immigrant reception facilities were mainland periphery, Chryssohoidis...

Ethiopia's Metaferia wins 7th International Alexander the Great Marathon.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) The 7th International Alexander the Great Marathon was held in northern Greece on Sunday, with Teklu Geto Metaferia from Ethiopia placing first, finishing the 42.195 kilometer course in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 44...

Health certificate a requirement for immigrant work permit, ministers announce.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Health certificates will from here on be a requirement for the acquisition of work permits by immigrants in Greece, according to a new Health Regulation announced by Citizens Protection Minister Mihalis Chryssohoidis...

Immigration problem a 'health bomb ready to explode'.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) The immigration problem is a "health bomb ready to explode" and needs to be dealt with seriously, responsibly and apart from all kinds of populism, health minister Andreas Loverdos and citizens protection minister...

Greek Superleague results.
April 1, 2012... (From Athens News Agency) Ilympiacos Piraeus, with its victory over Panetolikos Agrinio 1-0 away on Sunday, wrapped up the 2011-2012 Greek Superleague championship. Results Xanthi - Doxa Drama 1-0 Asteras Tripoli - OFI Crete 2-2 ...