Europe Intelligence Wire articles from August 2009

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from August 2009

Thousands flock to flower and veg show.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: lori.reid THOUSANDS of green-fingered enthusiasts flocked to an Aberdeen park at the weekend to see colourful displays of flowers and vegetables. About 4,000 people attended the annual summer...

Where there's a will, dealing with inheritance issues is much simpler.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ian.forsyth I recently came across some eye-opening statistics regarding wills and UK Government borrowing. Two-thirds of us do not have a will. Meanwhile, the UK Government is planning to...

Opting to fix rate may be worth considering.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ian.forsyth I don't see interest rates going up soon, but once inflation rises beyond 2% we could see a swift response from the Bank of England's monetary policy committee. Rates could...

Keep your eyes on the road or risk the financial penalty.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: ian.forsyth The top distraction for drivers is a nice view, a survey has found, with three-quarters of drivers saying their eyes are drawn to the vista beyond the car window, rather than the...

Letters Page.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tom.forsyth Extending compassion SIR, -- Reading through the diverse opinions on whether or not Megrahi should have been released on 'compassionate" grounds, one wonders if the bandwagon set...

Scots society forced to raise mortgage rate.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer THE Scottish Building Society has raised its standard variable rate of interest on mortgages by 0.25 percentage points to 5.29%. The society has written to members saying this is...

Warning to city revellers after young woman attacked.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: declan.harte REVELLERS in Aberdeen's city centre have been urged not to walk alone when travelling home from nights out after a woman was attacked at the weekend. The 21-year-old woman was in...

Lochinver primary's report card shows good teamwork.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd STAFF teamwork is improving the positive atmosphere at Lochinver Primary School, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education says. In a follow-through HMIE report inspectors...

Flats plan at yard in Peterhead is backed.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A DERELICT builders yard on the edge of a north-east town centre could soon be transformed into a luxury block of flats. The contentious scheme to build 17 two-bedroom apartments...

Pressure grows over maternity unit.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan Health chiefs have come under increased pressure to give assurances on the future of a north-east maternity unit, which was forced to close because of a staff shortage. Deliveries...

Record entry makes carties race wheelie special.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden A RECORD number of entries helped make the fourth annual Stonehaven carties race one of the best so far. A total of 30 carties -- 22 junior and eight senior -- thundered down the...

Traders urged to back regeneration scheme in Elgin.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: emma.christie A MORAY business leader warned it would be 'a tragedy' if traders in Elgin rejected a proposed regeneration scheme for the town centre. The area's Chamber of Commerce executive...

Celebration of Scotland at Crathes Castle.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden GOLF, Rabbie Burns, Highland Games and Scottish food and music were among the highlights of the annual Flowers and Music Festival, held at Crathes Castle over the weekend. The...

Artists refused visas for distillery posts.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: emma.christie Two foreign artists due to take up residency at a Moray distillery have been forced to submit their work from home after they were refused visas, it has emerged. American painter...

Council faces homeless 'challenge'.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: emma.christie Moray Council will need to overcome 'a major challenge' to meet Scottish Government targets ensuring homeless people have a permanent place to stay by 2012. The local authority's...

County show their Premier potential.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin Paul Di Giacomo does not believe Ross County can yet be seen as First Division title contenders -- despite sweeping aside Caley Thistle in the first Highland derby of the new...

Hayes perplexed by loss.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin Inverness winger Jonny Hayes was left stunned after Ross County handed Caley Thistle their first defeat of the season on Saturday. The 22-year-old Dubliner scored his first goal...

Festival set to make a splash.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden STONEHAVEN'S Maritime Rescue Institute is holding its annual harbour day on Sunday. The fundraiser, now in its seventh year, attracted around 10,000 people last year and organisers...

Seaside visitors warned not to feed gulls.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: mark.dowie Seaside visitors in Angus are being warned to avoid feeding gulls in an effort to cut down on problems created by the birds. Around 24 signs are to be erected in Arbroath and...

Thousands to delve into past at festival.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: mark.dowie THOUSANDS of people from across the world will descend on Angus and Dundee next month in a bid to trace their ancestors in the area. Every year thousands of international tourists...

Move to new venue has big impact on flower show.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd INVERNESS was in bloom at the weekend as the city hosted its annual flower show. The show was bigger than ever after moving to a new venue at Inverness High School from its...

Cosalt clinches GBP25million deal for BP's North Sea lifting equipment.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Cosalt Offshore, a provider of lifting, tooling and marine services to the oil and gas industry, has secured work with BP worth up to GBP25million to supply all lifting equipment in...

Haul of drugs seized from Perth home.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: mark.dowie Drugs with a street value of GBP25,000 have been seized from a house in Perth, police confirmed yesterday. The class A drugs were recovered during a raid in the city centre on...

Science project leader.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer SCOTLAND'S flagship life sciences commercialisation project at Edinburgh's BioQuarter, based at the city's royal infirmary, has attracted one of the world's leading life science...

Triton group to unveil its latest Rov at oil and gas show.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Oil and gas subsea technology and services firm Triton Group will unveil its latest generation remotely operated vehicle (Rov) during Europe's largest oil and gas show. The launch...

Community policing in the spotlight.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: mark.dowie THE relationships between communities and their police forces will come under the spotlight at a conference in Dundee tomorrow. Police, politicians and academics from across the...

Evergreenchart-topper.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: richard.neville DAME Vera Lynn will always be remembered for her role in keeping morale high in wartime Britain. She will now also be remembered for the remarkable feat of becoming the oldest...

Gordon Highlanders in Afghanistan.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: lori.reid A SERIES of talks detailing the role of the Gordon Highlanders in Afghanistan will take place in Aberdeen throughout September. Historian and author Allan Carswell will host the...

Time to look again at closure policy.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: richard.neville THAT membership of the National Trust for Scotland has soared to an all-time high should be good news for the north-east of Scotland. With more members generating more income, the...

Pressing ahead with referendum bill.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: tom.forsyth IT IS FAIR to imagine that Scottish ministers took into account the impact of the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber when deciding on the format of their legislative programme...

Over 200 pupils sign up for Masterclass.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer PROMISING young entrepreneurs from schools throughout Grampian will learn key business skills tomorrow at a Masterclass event organised by Young Enterprise Grampian. More than 200...

Lairg crofters weather the 'storm'.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Despite blustery weather with frequent squalls of heavy rain in between blinks of sunshine, Lairg Crofters Show on Saturday had a good entry of 45 sheep, slightly up on last year,...

Drugs alert after islander found dead.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A MAN died and his brother was left critically ill in a suspected drugs-related incident in the Western Isles at the weekend. Donald Macleod is believed to have taken a...

Thieves target farm vehicles.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: mark.dowie FARMERS in Angus are being urged to secure their farm vehicles after a spate of thefts in the Kirriemuir area. Thieves have been targeting agricultural machinery which has been left...

Ex-teacher marks her 100th birthday.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: lori.reid A FORMER Aberdeenshire teacher celebrated her centenary on Saturday. Jean Buchan marked her 100th birthday with family and friends at Grove Nursing Home at Kemnay, where she has been...

Funding warning by island council.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd WESTERN Isles community groups are being warned that council funding is going to be tight in the coming years. The islands' council will now insert a 12-month break or 'get...

Fishermen in backlash over prawn quotas.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd Fishermen on the west coast have questioned marine scientists, after they recommended a 50% cut in the prawn quota. The fishermen have queried the credibility of the...

Tesco planning Thurso move.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd Tesco is gearing up to redevelop the derelict auction mart site in Thurso, after being given final planning clearance. The supermarket giant has made clear that it will sell...

Peter Pan figures will come alive in Tain Woods.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: marjo.hallowell LOST boys, crocodiles and pirates will be lurking in Tain Woods next month as the Peter Pan characters feature in a fundraiser organised by local Cub Scouts. Now in its second...

Relay for Life raises thousands for cancer charity.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: marjo.hallowell THE annual 24-hour Relay for Life came to an end in Inverness yesterday, with thousands of pounds being raised for cancer research. More than GBP16,000 will be handed over,...

Community up in arms over moorings move.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A COMMUNITY has been left angered after a local businessman applied for moorings in a picturesque bay. For years fishermen, yachtsmen and other boat owners enjoyed free...

Chanter players still in time.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: marjo.hallowell IT IS not too late for chanter players to enter a popular piping competition, which is now in its 10th year. The Dunrobin Castle Piping Championships for solo pipers is on...

Caithness drinks ban is welcomed.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A CAITHNESS Highland councillor has welcomed the belated confirmation of the local authority's plans to ban alcohol being drunk in public areas in Thurso and Wick. The two...

Jack sees draw as points lost.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin Elgin City manager Ross Jack believes his team should have collected its first league win of the new season. Jack was again disappointed at not having been rewarded with a Third...

Isles mark St Kilda milestone.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A day of commemorative events took place on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the last residents leaving St Kilda. It was 79 years ago the final inhabitants evacuated the...

Report claims benefits inflated.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A conservation charity fears inaccurate claims of long-term economic benefit may lead to the Scottish Government approving a major windfarm on Lewis, despite environmental...

One dead and four injured in Black Isle crash.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A MAN has died and four other people were injured after a crash on a Black Isle road. The accident happened on the A835 Tore-Maryburgh road, near Kilcoy, on Saturday night....

Latest 'weapon' in crime fight.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan BIKES designed by the American gun-maker, Smith and Wesson the firm made famous in the Dirty Harry movies will be used to fight crime on the streets of the north-east, it was...

Gun-maker goes to the aid of police.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan BIKES designed by American gun-maker Smith and Wesson -- the firm made famous in the Dirty Harry movies -- will be used to fight crime on the streets of the north-east, it was...

Bikes designed by Smith and Wesson to fight crime.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan BIKES designed by American gun-makers Smith and Wesson -- the firm made famous in the Dirty Harry movies -- will be used to fight crime on the streets of the north-east, it was...

North-east police take to two wheels.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan Bikes designed by American gun-maker Smith and Wesson -- the firm made famous in the Dirty Harry movies -- will be used to fight crime on the streets of the north-east, it was...

Pets on parade at Fraserburgh.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan CREATURES of all shapes and sizes competed for shields and trophies yesterday at one of the north-east's biggest pet shows. Hundreds of animals and their owners came out for the...

US gun-maker goes to the aid of police.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan Bikes designed by American gun-maker Smith and Wesson -- the firm made famous in the Dirty Harry movies -- will be used to fight crime on the streets of the north-east, it was...

Thunder in the Glens is a roaring success.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd THOUSANDS of motorbike enthusiasts roared through the Highlands at the weekend as a popular Harley-Davidson rally took place. Organisers hailed the Thunder in the Glens event...

Red Arrows among the highlights at Moray airbase.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: emma.christie SLICK displays of skills by fighter pilots and the Red Arrows team helped draw in the crowds to a charity event at a Moray airbase on Saturday. The friends and family day at RAF...

Small firms call for urgent review of licensing laws.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Small business chiefs last night called for a major shake-up of licensing laws to be referred to a body that advises ministers on improving business regulation. Reforms contained...

Traders want drink laws rethink.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Small business chiefs last night called for a major shake-up of licensing laws to be referred to a body that advises ministers on improving business regulation. Reforms contained...

Small businesses call for review of licensing laws shake-up.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer SMALL business chiefs last night called for a major shake-up of licensing laws to be referred to a body that advises ministers on improving business regulation. Reforms contained...

Pressure on health bosses grows over closure of maternity ward.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan Health chiefs have come under increased pressure to give assurances on the future of a north-east maternity unit, which was forced to close because of staff shortages. Deliveries...

Record breakers in north-east.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie TWO brothers who sailed into the Guinness Book of Records after crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest powered craft were expected to dock in Aberdeen last night before...

Wizard Festival hailed a triumph despite wet and windy start.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan SCOTLAND'S fastest growing music festival, which took over part of the Aberdeenshire countryside at the weekend, was hailed a triumph last night despite getting off to a wet and...

Islanders' fears after suspected drugs death.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A MAN died and his brother was left critically ill in a suspected drugs-related incident in the Western Isles at the weekend. Donald Macleod is believed to have taken a...

Youngsters show off their skills to football legend.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd Youngsters in Inverness got the chance to show off their skills to Scottish football legend Kenny Dalglish yesterday. The former Celtic striker was at the ground of Highland...

Warning over Children's Panel.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell Changes to the workings of Scotland's Children's Panel could put vulnerable youngsters at risk, members have claimed. At the moment children's reporters can issue the panel's...

Celtic kings Runrig rule at Scone Palace.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie PERTHSHIRE'S picturesque Scone Palace provided the perfect backdrop for one of Scotland's most famous bands to showcase their Celtic crown at the weekend. Runrig's...

Pressure grows over closure of maternity ward.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan Health chiefs have come under increased pressure to give assurances on the future of a north-east maternity unit, which was forced to close because of a staff shortage. Deliveries...

Pet owners in Broch showdown.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan CREATURES of all shapes and sizes competed for shields and trophies yesterday at one of the north-east's biggest pet shows. Hundreds of animals and their owners came out for the...

Vehicles from a bygone age on display at Banff.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: jamie.buchan A COLOURFUL procession of iconic vehicles from the bygone age of motoring wound its way through the Banffshire countryside yesterday. The spectacular display, between Banff and...

Yacht left stranded in the North Sea after stormy weather.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: declan.harte STORMY weather left a Norwegian yacht stranded off the north-east coast. The vessel was about 13 miles east of Peterhead when strong winds caused her steering to break. The...

Scientists quizzed over 50% cut in prawn quota.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd Fishermen on the west coast have questioned marine scientists after they recommended a 50% cut in the prawn quota. The fishermen have queried the credibility of the...

Downhill all the way at annual carties race.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden A RECORD number of entries helped make the fourth annual Stonehaven carties race one of the best so far. A total of 30 carties -- 22 junior and eight senior -- thundered down the...

Call for licensing laws referral.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer Small business chiefs last night called for a major shake-up of licensing laws to be referred to a body that advises ministers on improving business regulation. Reforms contained...

Young driver killed and four hurt in crash.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: samantha.chetwynd A MAN has died and four other people were injured after a crash on a Ross-shire road. The accident happened on the A835 Tore-Maryburgh road, near Kilcoy, on Saturday night....

Adams taking it one game at a time.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin ROSS County manager Derek Adams refused to look too far ahead after his side comprehensively outplayed rivals Caley Thistle on Saturday. Although delighted with his team's dominant...

Third place for police pipe band.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: lori.reid A NORTH-EAST police pipe band has ended the season on a high note after claiming third place in a major competition. Grampian Police Pipe Band came third out of a field of 17 in the...

Derby tale of the unexpected.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin The first Highland derby in five years produced an unexpected result. Perhaps even more surprising was the manner in which Ross County convincingly defeated their rivals. Caley...

A hat-trick for the old man.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin Forfar remain top of the Third Division as they kept up their unbeaten start to the season with an impressive victory against East Stirling at Station Park. Forward Ross Campbell,...

Butcher baffled by under-par performance.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: alex.martin MANAGER Terry Butcher issued an apology to the Caley Thistle support after his side's dismal display in losing to Highland rivals Ross County. Butcher was at a loss to explain why...

Crathes festival strikes up for Scots celebration.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gary.cruden GOLF, Rabbie Burns, Highland Games and Scottish fayre and music were among the highlights of the annual Flowers and Music Festival, held at Crathes Castle over the weekend. The...

Record level of members join charity.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell Membership of conservation charity National Trust for Scotland has soared to the highest level in the organisation's history. Between February and July this year the trust's...

World's biggest airliner on its way.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: david.telfer THE world's largest commercial airliner, the 525-seat Airbus A380, is scheduled to make its first flying visit to Scotland on Sunday. It will be seen by members of the public and...

Charity relay raises more than GBP16,000.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: marjo.hallowell THE annual 24-hour Relay for Life came to an end in Inverness yesterday, with thousands of poundsbeing raised for cancer research. More than GBP16,000 will be handed over,...

Changes to panel 'could put children at risk'.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: gillian.bell Changes to the workings of Scotland's Children's Panel could put vulnerable youngsters at risk, members have claimed. At the moment children's reporters can issue the panel's...

Record-breaking sailors call in at Peterhead.
August 31, 2009... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal) Byline: stephen.christie TWO brothers who sailed into the Guinness Book of Records after crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest powered craft docked in Peterhead last night . Ralph Brown, 50, and...