Europe Intelligence Wire articles from December 2006, page 5

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from December 2006

Volunteers needed to help birds.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Green-fingered volunteers are being recruited for a series of nature events. A Building For Birds family fun day shows people how to make bird and bat boxes, bird tables and feeders. Council...

Funeral of accident victim, 39.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The funeral of a dad who was killed in a North-east road crash was to be held today. George Watt, 39, of Peterhead, died on December 23. The fisherman was struck by a car on the busy...

Let the new year bells ring out.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Aberdeen is getting geared up for a fantastic Hogmanay street party. Preparations are under way for a night of New Year celebrations at the city's Castlegate tomorrow. Thousands of revellers...

True love by invitation.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Hearing the news that she had been named the final Evening Express Bride of the Week for 2006 was just the tonic Jill Mitchell needed. For nursery nurse Jill hasn't enjoyed the best of health...

All aboard for station new look.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Multi-million pound revamp of Aberdeen train station is set to go full steam ahead. Work on the scheme is expected to start early in the new year and could take until January 2008. The GBP6...

'I Don't believe we deserve this love cheat title'.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The Granite City is home to the biggest love cheats in the UK. A new survey found almost half of all Aberdeen men questioned admitted they had played away. And one in 10 claimed they had slept...

Celebrate in blaze of tradition.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Thousands of revellers are expected to pack into Stonehaven tomorrow to watch the annual fireballs celebrations. Around 7,000 people are likely to attend the world- famous Hogmanay display, which...

Who could follow tennant?
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) I was horrified to read about rumours David Tennant might be quitting as Doctor Who (Evening Express, December 28). Anyone who saw the Christmas special will know that David is quite simply the...

Why we must turn in drink drivers.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Your comment on shopping drink drivers was spot on (Evening Express, December 28). I know that some people might hesitate to turn in a friend or a family member to the police if they booze then...

John was great provost.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) I Think it is sad that Lord Provost John Reynolds will be hanging up his chain at the next election (Evening Express, December 28). He has been a tireless ambassador for this city and a true...

Lovely year in store for N-east.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) There is clearly something in the water here in the North-east. How else can you explain the fact that we keep producing such lovely girls such as Nicola McLean, Nicola Jolly, Morven MacSween and...

Helicopter crash is real tragedy.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The deaths of six men in a helicopter crash is a real tragedy at this time of year. I am sure all our thoughts and prayers are with their families. This accident proves something which we can...

Make booze a luxury to end street violence.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) All right-thinking people will have been horrified by the story of the two thugs who jumped and stamped on a man in a street attack (Evening Express, December 28). At least these two savages have...

Science chief backs use of GM foods.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Scotland's new chief scientific adviser has urged people to embrace so-called "Frankenstein foods". Professor Anne Glover, a genetic engineer based a the University of Aberdeen, said the potential...

Blue Toon boss backs cancer care.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A North-east hospital has scored - thanks to the generosity of a football manager. Big-hearted Peterhead FC boss Steve Paterson put two of the Bell's manager of the month certificates he won...

New owner hoping for best cellar.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The new owner of a landmark Stonehaven hotel has plans for a micro-brewery at the historic pub. Robert Lindsay hopes soon to be producing more than 70 gallons of home brew a week at the harbour's...

Inquiry into death crash continuing.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Grampian Police today said inquiries into a North-east road smash which claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy were continuing. Bridge of Don Academy pupil Graeme Stuart died in the December 5...

GBP18k funding for attractive floral display.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) An GBP18,000 landscaping makeover to create an attractive floral feature will begin in the new year. The scheme will take place at an open area of ground in Macduff. It was proposed by Banff...

New move to tackle fly-posting.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Councils will be issued with guidelines on how to tackle illegal fly-posting. The Scottish Executive guidance is similar to the voluntary code of conduct that Aberdeen City Council has operated...

Memorial in honour of provost.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Plaque has been unveiled in honour of Banchory's only Lady Provost. The memorial, in the town's Scott Skinner Square, commemorates Jean Grant. The late provost's daughter, Lesley Grant,...

Charity in search of volunteers.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The Red Cross is looking for North-east people to become part of its team. The charity wants to recruit and train new volunteers for its many services. Duties could include being on hand at...

Club raises money for township.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Money raised by Aberdeen's Rotary Club has helped its namesake town in West Africa. Thousands of pounds collected by the organisation paid for a new covered market and public toilets in Aberdeen,...

Camilla to open base for research.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The Duchess of Rothesay will open the GBP5.7 million University of Aberdeen health sciences building. Camilla, who is president of the National Osteoporosis Society, will be in the Granite City on...

Business's deal worth up to GBP307m.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) An Aberdeen-based oil and gas firm has awarded a contract worth up to GBP307 million to Norwegian service company Sevan Marine. Sevan will provide a new floating platform for Venture Production in...

Which wild animal would you like to keep?
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) I would keep a tiger because my three-year-old son Angus roars like a tiger so he would like that. Joanne Jack, 33, GP practice manager, West End. A monkey or chimpanzee. I think you could...

Volunteers sought to help kids.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Barnardo's Scotland is calling on North-east people to become volunteers. The children's charity has launched a recruitment campaign. Volunteering is open to people of all ages and abilities....

Dean driver in attempt to appeal murder conviction.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The man who drove Dean Jamieson to his death is bidding to clear his name of murder. Unofficial cabbie Colin Cowie has signalled his intention to appeal against both his conviction and the life...

Still more golden days ahead for the nugget.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Six times snooker world champion Steve Davis has admitted he feared his career was washed up. The Nugget dominated the game in the eighties, racking up 28 ranking titles. The emergence of a...

Aberdeen is just grand, says Steve.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Steve Davis believes Aberdeen can become one of Britain's top snooker venues. Poor crowds marred the Royal London Watches Grand Prix when it was held in the Granite City in October. Former world...

North of Scotland draw.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Preliminary round matches in the Baillies Sports sponsored North of Scotland snooker tournament must be played by Monday, January 15. Ties are: S Oliver (Unat) v P Craig (R Chp), S Paterson (Mug) v E...

A hectic new year for king of the hill.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Course record holder Dan Whitehead (Cosmic Hillbashers) bids to complete a hat-trick of wins in the fourth Lumphanan 'Detox' 10K on Tuesday (January 2). The Scottish hill running international...

Mystery as woman leaves present for cancer battler.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Little Siobhan Shearer didn't expect to have a smile on her face after another gruelling session of chemotherapy. But that's exactly what happened - thanks to an anonymous GBP100 donation left for...

Transport minister urged to intervene.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The fight for a new roundabout on a North-east ring road has been taken to the transport minister. Councillor Sam Coull has urged Tavish Scott to visit Peterhead for talks on creating a new access...

That is the pledge from Dons director Willie Miller as he tells Andrew moir about his plans for a bright new year and exciting future for the Pittodrie club.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) "I will fight to keep Jimmy" GUIDING LIGHT: Willie Miller has transformed Aberdeen's fortunes. I will fight as hard as I can to keep Jimmy and all his team at Pittodrie WILLIE Miller breezed back...

Carol's tears for beloved yorkie killed by motorist.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Disabled grandmother spent Christmas in tears after a heartless hit-and-run driver killed her treasured pet. Tiny Yorkie Rosie had been Carol Milne's constant companion since the terrier was...

Dons' song of praise.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) There has been a rise in interest in the Dons in one unexpected area - the church! I attended the Christmas Eve service at Ferryhill Parish Church and was amused to see they had included the Reds in...

Offenderwhostalkedkidsgoesfree.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Convicted sex offender who stalked North-east children is back on the streets. Frank Reidford, 37, repeatedly followed the two girls, aged 14 and 15, and a 14-year-old boy in Inverurie. ...

Jail for racial abuse, spitting and threats.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Spitting attacker has been jailed for six months for offences "completely beyond the pale". Malcolm Campbell, 41, spat in the face of a shop security guard and spat at and threatened to slash...

Abuse cop should get the sack.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Violent cop Warren Wattie should lose his job, according to a domestic violence support group. The 36-year-old detective constable was convicted of two attacks on his wife at their Aberdeen home....

Wild things!
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Monkeys, leopards cats, bison, ostriches - the North-east is home to a range of wild animals. The Big Cats in Britain organisation has released details of exotic animals kept around the country....

Roadrage shame of radioman.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A North-east radio presenter subjected a woman driver to a six-mile road rage ordeal. The incident followed a confrontation on a dual carriageway. Martyn Smith shouted and swore abuse at the...

Top adviser to speak at breakfast.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Granite City entrepreneur will host a business breakfast next month. Alf Dunbar built his way up from shelf-stacker in the Co-op at Kincorth to adviser for the likes of Marks and Spencer and...

Dame evelyn delighted to be honoured.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) The North-east's first lady of music becomes a Dame in the New Year Honours List. Virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie has risen to become one of the most successful musicians in the world - in...

Barnardo's honours volunteer.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A North-east resident has been honoured with a charity's highest accolade. Mum-of-three Kit Pawson, from Oyne, has been awarded the Barnardo's Founders Medal. It was given to Kit to mark the...

Teenage boy charged over bus driver assault.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an assault on a bus driver in Aberdeen. Ian Hopkins, 61, stopped to pick up passengers in Dyce's Victoria Street on December 15 when youths...

CBE gong for veteran rocker rod.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Host of celebrities from showbusiness and sport have been honoured in the New Year list. Veteran rock star Rod Stewart, who will be 62 next month, gets a CBE. Coronation Street stalwart...

Football.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Coca-cola Championship - Birmingham City 2, Luton Town 2. Badminton COPENHAGEN MASTERS (Falconer Centre) - Men's singles final: P Gade (Den) beat K Jonassen (Den) 21-16 21-19. Men's doubles...

Zander up for fight to get back into Dons First team.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Zander Diamond today vowed to battle through the worst season of his career. The centre back has suffered on the sidelines after falling down the Pittodrie pecking order. But he could get a...

Brewing up next.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) New Don Craig Brewster could help make Darren Mackie a Scotland star. That's the prediction today from Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood, who is considering handing veteran hitman Brewster his...

Dons striker stakes claim for starting berth.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) Dons striker Steve Lovell is hoping his prolific form can net him a first-team berth. The hitman has not started a game since the 2-0 win over St Mirren on November 18, but has found the net three...

Tug-of-love battle mum goes missing.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Mum who lost custody of her daughter in a transatlantic tug-of-love has gone missing. Sarah Dodds, 42, disappeared from her Fraserburgh home on Boxing Day after spending Christmas Day with her...

Pensioner dies after collapsing.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Pensioner who died after collapsing in an Aberdeen suburb has been named. Grampian Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Thomas Barnett. The...

Student stacy fulfils dream.
December 30, 2006... (From Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)) A Young Aberdeen woman who suffers from memory loss is pursuing her dream to study. Stacy Low, 25, of Hilton, has had problems with seizures after being struck down by a brain infection at 15. ...

SNCF launches invitation to tender for advertising contract (Publicite dans les gares: la SNCF lance un appel a candidatures).
December 30, 2006... (From Le Figaro) SNCF, the French national rail operator, has launched an invitation to tender to renew the advertising contract for the French railway network and stations, which is due to expire in June 2007. This follows the...

Banks cancel loans to 'Liberation' (Liberation: abandon de creances).
December 30, 2006... (From Le Figaro) Several banks have cancelled the majority of their loans to 'Liberation', the French daily newspaper. The banks, which have not been named, have cancelled 70 per cent of their 10 million euros in loans, the remaining 30...

E.ON plans to press ahead with gas price reductions (E.on halt an Preis-Senkung fest).
December 30, 2006... (From Die Welt) E.ON, the German utilities group, is standing by its plan to reduce gas prices in the face of the threat of limited supplies which, it is feared, could arise from the gas dispute between Russia and Belarus. Ruhrgas,...

Taittinger family to re-acquire stake in Taittinger champagne (Champagne Taittinger: la famille va reprendre 37% du capital).
December 30, 2006... (From Le Monde) The Taittinger family is to re-acquire a stake in the eponymous French champagne house that it ran for 73 years. The family sold its interest in Taittinger to the US private equity firm Starwood Capital in 2005, but...

Germany retains world lead for exports in 2006 (Deutschland bleibt Exportweltmeister).
December 30, 2006... (From Suddeutsche Zeitung) Germany retained the lead worldwide in terms of exports for 2006, according to the German wholesale and external trade association BGA, which estimates exports worth a total of 888bn euros for the year under...

Deutsche Postbank rules out forced redundancies before end-2008 (Postbank sichert Stellen bis Ende 2008).
December 30, 2006... (From Borsen-Zeitung) Deutsche Postbank, the banking subsidiary of German postal service operator Deutsche Post, has prolonged the employment guarantee in its branches until the end of 2008. This would rule out forced redundancies before...

SCH sells 4.8% of SanPaolo (El Santander inicia la retirada de Italia con la venta del 4,8% del San Paolo).
December 30, 2006... (From El Pais) Santander Central Hispano (SCH), Spain's leading bank, yesterday sold 4.8 per cent of Italian bank SanPaolo-IMI for 1.585m euros, earning it capital gains of 700m euros. SCH, which acquired its first shares in the Italian...

German-US investor may be interested in BenQ Mobile (Feilschen um BenQ).
December 30, 2006... (From Borsen-Zeitung) A German-US investor is reported by employee representatives at BenQ Mobile, the German mobile phone manufacturer, to be interested in bidding for the company's manufacturing business as soon as insolvency...

E.ON estimates value creation from planned Endesa takeover (Eon: Endesa-Kauf schafft Wert).
December 30, 2006... (From Borsen-Zeitung) E.ON, the German utilities group, estimates that the purchase of 100 per cent of the Spanish electricity utility Endesa, at a price of 37bn euros, would create value for the German company. Management estimates that...

Francotyp-Postalia reports lively interest in greenshoe (Postalia-Greenshoe findet Interessenten).
December 30, 2006... (From Borsen-Zeitung) Francotyp-Postalia, the German franking machine manufacturer floated on the stock exchange at the end of November, reports that around 88 per cent of the greenshoe option has been exercised. This represents an...

Frankfurt stock market report for session of Friday 29 December 2006 (Dax verabschiedet sich unter 6600 Punkten aus dem Borsenjahr).
December 30, 2006... (From Die Welt) Germany's Dax share index was down 0.2 per cent at 6,596.92 points yesterday, but still closed up 22 per cent compared with the end of 2005. The MDax closed the year at a record level of 9,404 points after gaining 28 per...

MARKETMOVERS : Waterford shines with 12pc gain.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) WATERFORD Wedgwood was the strongest-performing stock in Dublin this week, rising 12pc in light volume as investors bought in on the belief that sales in the US will continue to pick up and that concerns over the...

Money supply surge sparks fresh interest rate fears.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) THE huge growth in money supply across the eurozone raised fresh fears yesterday that interest rates will have to rise further than anticipated next year. Figures from the European Central Bank showed...

Public sector pay 'is the biggest internal threat to the economy'.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) BUSINESS association ISME has said public sector pay poses the biggest internal threat to the economy and has called on the Government to address the issue by reforming the sector. "A massive 47pc gap has...

Glanbia gets 70m for remaining stake in UK cheese company.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) FOOD group Glanbia has sold its remaining stake in UK cheese producer The Cheese Company Holdings for 70.4m cash. The sale to majority shareholder Milk Link includes Glanbia's 25pc stake as well as GBP35m...

Dublin SE soars by 28pc in the year.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) EUROPEAN stocks ended the last session of 2006 slightly lower in thin volumes, as both economic and corporate news dried up, but they notched up an impressive 16pc gain over the full year, fuelled by mergers and...

Picture-perfect year for Stockbyte's Kennelly.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) JERRY Kennelly, the founder of digital imaging company Stockbyte, never envisaged that his 127,000 initial investment in the company would make him a millionaire a hundred times over. But that's exactly what...

O'Callaghan in the land of the ridiculously rich.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) IT is only a week since Barry O'Callaghan passed the final hurdle to take the honours as the man who pulled off the biggest corporate deal of the year and the biggest in Irish history. Riverdeep, the...

412m deal docks at South Wharf.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) PAUL Coulson, executive chairman of South Wharf, is one of the biggest winners of 2006. Property, rather than trading glass bottles, is the key. South Wharf - which occupies the former Irish Glass Bottle site...

McFadden gets it consistently right.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) PULLING off a big business deal takes skill, endurance, attention to detail, leadership and a certain amount of luck. Doing it again and again over the course of a year, however, takes another quality which...

Newman books a 60m success.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) AT 10am on Thursday, February 16, the 75 staff at Needahotel.com were gathered together at the company's offices in Glenageary. They were set for two shocks, one as great as the other. Addressing them was...

Optimism over airline's privatisation was pie in the sky.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) IT looked like it was going to be a great year for Aer Lingus. After years of dithering which had forced the resignation of the airline's management team, the Government finally agreed to risk upsetting the...

Darling resignation follows geared tracker row.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) ACCBank's owner, the Dutch mutual Rabobank, has distanced the resignation of ceo Colm Darling from the Dublin-based bank's controversial geared tracker bond issue. Three years ago, ACCBank came up with what...

A blow to Casey's golden touch.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) WITH shares in GetMobile Europe languishing at the 10c to 15c level at the end of the year, it has been a devastating year for the seller of mobile phone contracts in Germany which was founded by serial...

Smart another bad call for Fanning.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) THE saga surrounding troubled telecoms and broadband provider Smart Telecom dominated the second half of the year, not only from a corporate perspective but also in terms of the individuals heading the firm. ...

Reeves draws energetic criticism over price increases.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) IN September, energy regulator Tom Reeves allowed Bord Gais a whopping 34pc price increase. Around the same time he proposed allowing electricity suppliers like the ESB jack up prices by 19.7pc. The...

I will shop on Sunday if I feel like it!
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) T. O'Connor says that "shopping takes precedence over religion" (Letters, December 28). I am not a religious person, so why should I not be allowed to shop on a Sunday? Does the Church not preach freedom for...

Campaign is male bashing.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) Fritz Woods (Letters, December 18) quite rightly dismisses the recent advertising campaign on domestic violence as a "promotion of my sex as a generic pool of abusers and wife beaters". The advertisements,...

Stupid drive test proposal.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) In statements published over the last week the Chairman of the Road Safety Authority has informed us that the National Driving Test is a "sick joke". He went on to say that the test will be much tougher and...

The murder of journalists.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) Why is it that Tom Cooper (Letters, December 28) can identify the organisation (LVF) that murdered journalist Martin O'Hagen but is strangely vague about the identity of the organisation (PIRA) who butchered...

Village is a building site.
December 30, 2006... (From Irish Independent) I would like to draw your attention to the appalling inefficiency of Meath County Council, and their complete lack of any customer care policy. I live in what was a small village 30 miles North of Dublin. ...