Europe Intelligence Wire articles from August 2004

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from August 2004

Ferenc Gyurcsany offers resignation after sending off Olympic.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Minister for Sports Ferenc Gyurcsany, who on Sunday told MTI he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, earlier attended a send-off ceremony for Hungarian...

Sports Minister Gyurcsany tenders resignation - extended.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Minister for Sports Ferenc Gyurcsany on Sunday contacted MTI to announce he had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy. The prime minister's office has not...

BUX closes up 1.71pc in past week.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - The Budapest Stock Exchange BUX index closed Friday at 11,680.65 points, rising 1.71pc last week. Turnover amounted to HUF 30.62bn over the week, compared to HUF 19.10bn a...

Traffic normal at Hegyeshalom border station.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Traffic is now normal in both directions at the west Hungarian Hegyeshalom station on the Austrian border, the Border Guard spokesman told MTI on Sunday. On Saturday,...

Thousands of swimmers enter cross-Balaton race.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Around 5,000 swimmers entered the 24th race across Lake Balaton, covering the 5.2 kilometre distance between Revfulop on the northern shore and Balatonboglar in the south. ...

Cycling: Slovak cyclist Remak wins Tour de Hongrie.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Title holder Zoltan Remak of Slovakia won the 2004 Tour de Hongrie cycling race, although victory in the last stage went to Coby Stevenson of Australia. Results: OpreU ...

Opposition parties criticise sport minister's resignation.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Both opposition parties were critical in their evaluation of Sports Minister Gyurcsany Ferenc, who told MTI on Sunday he had tendered his resignation. "More and more...

Residents evacuated from areas flooded by Hernad river.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Twenty-eight people have been evacuated from villages along the central section of the flooded Hernad river, and more residents face evacuation in the Hungarian-Slovak border...

MTI's news schedule for August 2 to 8.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - MTI's daily news service in English expects to include coverage of the following events from August 2 to 8: Monday, August 2: ----------------- - silent vigil in...

Roma vigil for relative marred by incidents.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - A vigil was held by more than 100 Roma from Kecskemet, central Hungary, who were joined by protestors from Budapest, for a young man who died last Sunday during a police arrest...

Sports minister on reasons for resignation.
August 1, 2004... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, August 1 (MTI) - Minister of Sport Ferenc Gyurcsany said political conflicts between him and Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, which he said could stand in the way of the government's stable...

DOUGLAS SHILLITO INTERVIEWS TROIKA.
August 1, 2004... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) I dropped in recently to the London West End offices of consultants Troika to catch up with managing director, Andrew Stewart. Troika was originally set up six years ago by three consultants who were previously...

Explosion in downtown Prague leaves several people injured.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - An explosion occurred in the Na Prikopech street in the centre of Prague today, a fire brigade officer told CTK. Several people have been injured. Ambulances, firefighters and police are...

Czech tourist dies in Tyrolian Alps.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) INNSBRUCK, Austria, Aug 1 (CTK) - The body of a 65-year-old Czech tourist from Most, north Bohemia, was found in the Tyrolian Alps on Saturday evening. The man who has recently been doing individual...

Gas distributor JCP sales up by Kc326m at Kc1.44bn in H1.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) CESKE BUDEJOVICE, South Bohemia, Aug 1 (CTK) - First-half sales at regional gas distributor Jihoceska plynarenska (JCP) rose by roughly Kc326m to Kc1.44bn and profit grew by 20.1 per cent year-on-year to Kc169.9m,...

Zuzana Cingelova starts protest march to Bratislava.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) MOLDAVA NAD BODVOU, East Slovakia, Aug 1 (CTK) - Former crane operator of the U.S. Steel Kosice company Zuzana Cingelova started this morning a protest march from east Slovakia to Bratislava to point to the...

Most Czech old people are cared for by their families.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - Most non-self-sufficient old people in the Czech Republic (80 percent) are cared for by their families, Iva Holmerova from the Czech Gerontological and Geriatrical Society told CTK. The...

Prague explosion allegedly settling accounts by Israeli criminals.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE/TEL AVIV, Aug 1 (CTK) - The explosion in Prague which occurred today is part of a wide-scaled settling of accounts in the Israeli underworld, the Israeli military radio said today. According to the...

Faster GDP growth will bring money to support families-Simonovsky.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - Faster economic growth will help the new Czech government secure money for support to families which it has set as one of its main objectives, Transport Minister and future vice-premier Milan...

Slovak banks raise H1 profit by 12 pct to Sk6.9bn.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) BRATISLAVA, Aug 1 (CTK) - Banks operating in Slovakia raised profits by nearly 12 per cent to Sk6.9bn in the first half of the year, according to data released by the central bank NBS. Three largest banks in...

No. of cars with third-party insurance falls in H1.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - The number of cars with third-party liability insurance decreased by 85,000 to 5.092 million over the first six months of the year, according to the Czech Insurers' Office (CKP) database. ...

New government to reduce number of civil servants.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - The new government is planning annually to reduce the number of civil service employees by two percent and the operational costs by five percent, Milan Simonovsky (Christian Democrat,...

Criteria for compensation of Romanies hard - Holomek.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) BRNO, South Moravia, Aug 1 (CTK) - The law allowing Romanies suffering during World War Two to receive compensation is very strict, chairman of the Association of Romanies in Moravia Karel Holomek said today. ...

CzechRep starts losing investors due to its visa policy --press.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - The Czech government's visa policy deprives the country of billions of crowns a year, not only because of a lower number of tourists coming to the country but also owing to a lower interest...

ADRA association compensating Romanies who survived Holocaust.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - The civic association ADRA is preparing, jointly with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), compensation for 850 Romanies who have survived the Holocaust. The aid will be...

Casino Royal owner was to be victim of explosion in Prague.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - Owner of the Casino Royal Assaf Abutbul, a son of Felix Abutbul killed in Prague two years ago, was to be the victim of the explosion in the pedestrian zone in the centre of Prague today. ...

MEI to leave consortium controlling Czech IT firm PVT --press.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - Middle European Investment (MEI), which together with J&T and Poland's Prokom bought more than 90 per cent of Czech software company PVT for Kc1.5bn last year, will leave the consortium...

Hotel chain Orea wants to expand to Austria, Italy, Bulgaria.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (CTK) - The largest Czech hotel chain Orea plans to expand to foreign markets, mainly Austria, Italy and Bulgaria, and wants to take a loan to finance its plans, weekly Euro says in its latest issue...

CTK's Business News In Brief.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) Jean-Pierre Ripoll to be new CEO at Renault CR --press ------------------------------------------------------ PRAGUE - Jean-Pierre Ripoll will in early September replace Philippe Cornet as CEO at Renault CR,...

Summary of the main business news published by CTK on Aug 1:.
August 1, 2004... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE - Faster economic growth will help the new Czech government secure money for support to families which it has set as one of its main objectives, Transport Minister and future vice-premier Milan Simonovsky...

WEATHER FORECAST AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) SARAJEVO, Aug 1 (ONASA) - It will be sunny and warm weather in BiH on Sunday, Meteo BiH reported. The daily highs will range from 23 to 32 degrees Celsius. Due to a race, traffic will be stopped at the highway...

THIS DAY IN HISTORY - AUGUST 1.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) 1498 - Christopher Columbus landed on "Isla Santa" (Venezuela). 1619 - The first black Americans (20) land at Jamestown, VA. 1774 - Oxygen was isolated from air successfully by chemist Carl Wilhelm and scientist...

WEALTHY COUNTRIES BRACE FOR FARMING CUTS AS WTO MAKES HISTORIC STEP.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) GENEVA, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - A historic drive to bring down export subsidies and many other forms of financial support for farmers forms the centrepiece of the agreement struck at the WTO Sunday, touching on a...

FOUR KILLED, 50 WOUNDED IN SUSPECTED IRAQ SUICIDE ATTACK.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) MOSUL, Iraq, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - At least four people were killed and more than 50 wounded when a suspected suicide car bomb exploded in northern Iraq on Sunday, hours after US air strikes and clashes with...

BIH PRESS REVIEW.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) SARAJEVO, Aug 1 (ONASA) - The U.S. will stay in BiH to politically, economically and military help in implementation of the upcoming European and Euro-Atlantic reforms, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on...

PEOPLE'S PARTY "WORKING FOR PROSPERITY" HOLDS FIRST ASSEMBLY.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) SARAJEVO, Aug. 1 (ONASA) - The first assembly of the People's Party "Working for Prosperity" was held on Saturday in Sarajevo, in the presence of more than 2,000 citizens. "We are a democratic party, and we...

SEVENTEEN INJURED IN EXPLOSION IN CENTRE OF PRAGUE.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - Seventeen people were injured by an explosion just off Prague's central Wenceslas Square on Sunday, the city's emergency services said. Most of those received only slight injuries...

SNSD DEMANDS SANCTIONS FOR ALL WORKING AGAINST CONSTITUTION.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) BANJA LUKA, Aug 1 (ONASA) - The Union of Independent Social-Democrats issued a statement on Sunday, calling on the High Representative Paddy Ashdown to sanction all entities working against the Dayton Agreement and...

AT LEAST 16 INJURED IN EXPLOSION IN CENTRE OF PRAGUE.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) PRAGUE, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - At least 16 people including one child were injured by an explosion just off Prague's central Wenceslas Square on Sunday, the city's emergency services said. Most of those received...

NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED MOSQUE OPENS IN TRNOPOLJE NEAR KOZARAC.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) TRNOPOLJE, Aug 1 (ONASA) - The newly-constructed mosque that was destroyed in 1992 was opened on Sunday in Trnopolje near Kozarac in the presence of many believers and political and religious officials. The...

SDP RESPONDS TO HIGH REPRESENTATIVE'S ACCUSATIONS.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) SARAJEVO, Aug. 1 (ONASA) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) said in a statement on Sunday that it is "not protecting the interests of a small number of Croats and rich people," but is fighting for the interests of...

FOUR NEAR SIMULTANEOUS CAR BOMBS TARGET IRAQ CHURCHES: POLICE.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) BAGHDAD, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - At least four car bombs exploded in quick succession outside churches in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul, in an apparently targeted assault on Iraq's influential Christian...

AL-QAEDA GIVES ITALY 15 DAYS TO QUIT IRAQ OR FACE ATTACKS: REPORT.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) DUBAI, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - A statement in the name of an Al-Qaeda group has threatened to attack Italians everywhere unless Rome pulls its troops out of Iraq within 15 days, a pan-Arab newspaper said on Sunday....

TERRORIST ALERT LEVEL RAISED IN WASHINGTON.
August 1, 2004... (From ONASA News Agency) WASHINGTON, Aug 1 (ONASA - AFP) - US authorities on Sunday increased the terrorist alert threat level in Washington to "high" following a new warning by New York police of a possible al-Qaeda attack, CNN television...

Danone focuses on bacteria research ("Bon pour la sante", un slogan a n'utiliser qu'avec moderation).
August 1, 2004... (From Le Monde) Danone of France is one of a growing number of European food companies which has decided to cater to the growing market for food products which are thought to promote health. The French group, which claims that its...

Aprilia refuses Ducati and opens talks with Piaggio (Piaggio ritorna in sella all'Aprilia).
August 1, 2004... (From La Stampa) Troubled Italian motorcycle and scooter group Aprilia yesterday refused an offer from Italian motorcycle group Ducati, at the end of their two weeks of exclusive negotiations, opening the way for rival bidder and Italian...

The arbour was designed so there was a handy little shelf on which to put your wine.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: sharon griffiths The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth, - especially when you've got a large glass of wine in...

Where Buddha and the Venus de Milo meet.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: CHRISTEN PEARS Chameleon Mirrors is moving into the great outdoors. CHRISTEN PEARS reports IF you thought garden ornaments were just about gnomes, a visit to Chameleon Exteriors will be a real...

What a plot!
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: BRIGID PRESS Gardening Correspondent BRIGID PRESS is impressed by the community allotment at Blackhall Colliery Location: Blackhall Community Allotment, Blackhall Colliery Age of garden: Opened mid...

me and my wardrobe.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Fashion designer Kate Fearnley has an eclectic style that combines high street and vintage clothes. The 27-year-old set up her own business in Billingham in 2002, winning the Tees Valley New Business Awards in the...

A little bit of water music.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: Nigel Burton A BRITISH student has invented a revolutionary underwater MP3 player called Soundwaves - that can play your favourite tunes beneath the sea or at the pool. Showcased at this year's...

EATING OUT HOLLATHAN'S, DURHAM.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: Jenny Needham IF you're shopping in Durham and fancy a relaxed bistro-style lunch while you watch the world go by, Hollathan's is the place to be. Situated on the edge of Elvet Bridge, it's right in the...

A sexy little car for the city.
August 1, 2004... (From The Northern Echo) Byline: Ian Lamming FASHION sells and car makers are fast tuning into this simple fact. Just one look at the TV ad for the new Kia Picanto reveals the target audience - young, trendy, city dwellers; the...

Repsol YPF shares fall following profit drop announcement (Repsol YPF frena las subidas).
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) Leading Spanish petrochemical group Repsol YPF announced earlier this week a year-on-year profit drop of 7.7 per cent for the first half of 2004. This, together with the group's failure to find oil for commercial...

J. Garcia Carrion banks on co-operation with Wal-Mart (G. Carrion apuesta por Wal-Mart).
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) J. Garcia Carrion, the Spanish beverages group, is banking on its co-operation agreement with US company Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail group. The Spanish entity hopes that turnover generated by the partnership will...

Cie Automotive banks on further growth (Multiplicar los resultados).
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) Cie Automotive, the Spanish car supply group based in the autonomous region of the Basque Country, is determined to continue its rapid growth. It is planning to extend its activities in Asia, where it currently operates just...

MOA Groupe BPI finds jobs for employees affected by restructuring measures (El trabajo de MOA).
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) MOA Groupe BPI, the Spanish outplacement specialist, has participated in dozens of company restructuring programmes since 1993 and prides itself on the fact that it finds, on average, alternative employment for 80 per cent...

Starwood to grow in Spain and Portugal ("En tres anos tendremos 20 hoteles mas en Espana").
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) Roeland Vos, chairman of operations at up-market US hotel chain Starwood Hotels & Resorts for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, is banking on his group's expansion plans for Spain and Portugal, two countries for which he...

Five countries account for 82 per cent of Spain's foreign debt caused by failure to pay for Spanish exports (Los morosos del comercio exterior).
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) Five countries currently account for 82 per cent of the foreign debt caused by failure to pay for Spanish exports. The overall foreign debt created by non-payment for Spanish exports amounted to nearly 1.18bn euros at the...

Spanish stock market regulator warns of illegal investment companies (Aviso sobre 'chiringuitos').
August 1, 2004... (From El Pais) Last month alone, Spain's stock market regulator issued eight warnings regarding more than a dozen companies which might be offering investment services without being authorised to do so. Since the beginning of 2004, the...

Is the Broadmarsh effect gripping city retailers?
August 1, 2004... (From Nottingham Evening Post) Retailers are holding back from making long-term commitments to existing shopping centres, with property agents speculating that they may be waiting for the new Broadmarsh to be built. The GBP450m...

The Village proves a demand for out-of-town quality office space.
August 1, 2004... (From Nottingham Evening Post) Three units have already been pre-sold and Sladen told the Post that interest was high. "Three units pre-sold from our initial first phase of 36,000 sq ft, which is being speculatively built, has...

New offices set the standard for modern-day working.
August 1, 2004... (From Nottingham Evening Post) The new 18,000 sq ft building - at the Old Brick Yard in Carlton - was commissioned for Nottingham companies G&M Electrical Contractors Ltd and Peak Aluminium Systems Ltd after a failed search by their...

Fund managers buy a prime slice of the city centre.
August 1, 2004... (From Nottingham Evening Post) That is the amount that the big-hitting development company has banked after an investor bought part of the Cumberland Place development off Maid Marian Way. ISIS, the fund managers of Friends Provident,...

A happy homecoming.
August 1, 2004... (From Nottingham Evening Post) But his role as head of business agency at the firm will continue largely unchanged - and he has some big deals to handle. His team is currently handling the disposal of the Carlton Studios at Lenton...

Athenians get first taste of Olympic measures.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) Athenians on Sunday got their first taste of measures to ease congestion and boost security for the Athens 2004 Olympics, which begin on August 13 In place for the first time were restrictions on movement...

Athens Newspaper Headlines.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) SUNDAY ADESMEFTOS: "7,795 permanent, seasonal workers to be hired in state sector" ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Major changes set for prefectures under gov't bill" SUNDAY APOGEVMATINI: "Gov't planning generous package of...

Olympic ticket sales up.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) More than 80,000 tickets for the Athens 2004 Olympics were sold to the public last week, the games' national organisers said on Sunday The figure was sharply higher than an average of around 4,000 seats sold...

Olympic torch wends through the plains of Thessaly.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) The Olympic flame traversed the deserted plains of Thessaly at the weekend, with the torchbearer tracked in the blistering heat by a cavalcade of cars In residential areas, thousands of Thessalians lined city...

City of Athens Olympic volunteers take to the streets Thursday.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) Olympic volunteers recruited by the City of Athens take to the streets on Thursday to help visitors to the capital find their way around The roughly 3,000 volunteers who rallied to Athens Mayor Dora...

Greece welcomes Cyprus measures to facilitate trade across the ceasefire line.
August 1, 2004... (From Athens News Agency) Greece on Sunday welcomed measures announced by the Cypriot government to boost growth for the island republic's two communities "The new package of measures for growth of economic and trade ties between...

Asian shippers up in arms at threat of security surcharge.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Marcus Hand in Singapore ASIAN shippers say they will fight attempts by container lines to impose a security surcharge. Liner conferences such as the Far Eastern Freight Conference are considering a...

Maersk Sealand boxships to be 'world's biggest'.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Reported engine size suggests vessels with capacity of nearly 11,000 teu. Exclusive by Hugh O'Mahony and Janet Porter MAERSK Sealand is lining up a series of containerships that will approach capacity of...

High-flyer Boardley to quit P'O.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) THE P'O group is to lose one of its high-flyers, with Tom Boardley leaving the company at the end of August, writes Janet Porter. Mr Boardley is at present president and chief executive of P'O Ports Canada, a post he...

Plan for Lloyd's 'consolidator' company put on back burner.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: James Brewer A SCHEME to float a new 'consolidator' company for smaller Lloyd's vehicles has been put on ice for possible revival later in the year. While the plan had impressive backing from Warren...

Black oil and petrochemical volumes boost Kirby earnings.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: John McLaughlin in New York HOUSTON-based barge operator Kirby Corp announced earnings of $13.8m for the second quarter of the year, up from $11.8m in the same 2003 period. Revenues also rose, from...

Demand from China drives record profit at Rio Tinto.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) ENERGY and mining concern Rio Tinto has reported a record half-year profit of $993m ($1.42bn), driven by strong Chinese demand for iron ore and coal and higher commodity prices, reports Lloyd's List DCN in Sydney. ...

Business Briefing.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Hamburg port busy THE port of Hamburg handled 3.4m teu in the first half of the year, a 15.9% increase compared with the same period last year, writes Nora Luttmer in Hamburg. 'Container handling will this year...

LASH service whips International Shipholding's figures into shape.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) INTERNATIONAL Shipholding Corporation had earnings of $1.8m in the second quarter of the year, taking the total for the first six months to $4.7m, writes John Mc-Laughlin in New York. Both totals were down on the...

Healthy results apply welcome balm to Odfjell wounds.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Hugh O'Mahony TERJE Storeng has brought first half-year results to the table as Odfjell's interim president and chief executive, reporting net profits up 36% and the purchase of two ships, but a weaker second...

Exel explores batch of small scale takeovers.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Roger Hailey GLOBAL logistics giant Exel is in early takeover talks with a number of small scale sea freight forwarders, with selective deals expected next year. Exel chief executive John Allan said: 'I...

Strong car sales steer Wilh Wilhelmsen to new record.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: April to June period yielded best quarterly result ever for liner and car carrier business, writes Janet Porter STRONG car sales around the world lifted Wilh Wilhelmsen's second quarter results to a record...

Great Eastern Shipping sees income inch up.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) INDIA'S largest private sector shipowner Great Eastern Shipping has reported a modest 6% increase in net profit on 38% higher operating income for the first quarter of the financial year 2004-05, writes Shirish Nadkarni...

Cash lure to combat maritime staff crisis.
August 2, 2004... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Keith Wallis YOUNGSTERS are being offered cash incentives by the Hong Kong government to go to sea for up to two years to obtain nautical experience in an effort to stem a looming staffing crisis in the...