Europe Intelligence Wire articles from February 2010

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from February 2010

Meet the new wave of political playwrights.
February 28, 2010... (From Guardian Unlimited) Bola Agbaje, 29 A social housing officer by day, Agbaje wrote her debut play Gone Too Far! in four weeks. It premiered at the Royal Court in 2007 and won an Oliver award. Agbaje's plays tackle knife crime,...

Anna Ford would despair of my talents as a godmother.
February 28, 2010... (From Guardian Unlimited) What an amazing spat between Anna Ford and Martin Amis. You rarely see proper mud-slinging from celebrities who are quite so posh; it's like a row between Jordan and Kerry Katona, but with natural breasts and...

Grassroots' darling ready for lead role in election campaign.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) He confirmed he will be at the forefront of campaigning in Yorkshire, the North West, Scotland and Wales in a strategy aimed at countering concerns that the party is southern-focused."I will be very very heavily involved...

Murder suspect's mother breaks down during plea to fugitive son.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Anthony Marsh, 21, has not been seen since Saturday, when the bodies of Stephanie Bellinger and eight-month-old Lily were found at their home in Totton, near Southampton, Hampshire.Police have urged him to come forward...

Flood alert sounded in region after heavy rain.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Rob Preece Environment Agency officials issued seven flood warnings in North Yorkshire and the East Riding, telling homes and businesses to expect flooding.Less serious flood watch alerts were also in place in...

TV chef's wife crowned Celebrity Mum of Year.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Tana Ramsay, 35, right, who has four children, described herself as a traditional mother who was forever learning new lessons about being a good parent.Ramsay received the Tesco Magazine Celebrity Mum of the Year award...

Young put TV host Fry in premier league...
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) The Children's Society poll of more than 1,000 11- 25-year-olds found 30 per cent believed Fry would be the best prime minister, compared to 21 per cent who chose one of the current party leaders. Only nine per cent said...

Co-operative comes up with sweet deals for more urban honeybees.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Last year the Co-operative, which has 600 hives on farmland, piloted a scheme to train would-be beekeepers on allotments in Manchester.Now the company is rolling out the idea to other areas in Manchester, London and...

Impatient air traveller eats winning AGBP8,930 scratchcard.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Alexandra Wood John Lucks, from Beverley, in East Yorkshire, was flying with Ryanair from Krakow in Poland to East Midlands Airport when he won 10,000 euros with the scratchcard.Crew on board the flight...

Blow for Basque terrorists as leader arrested.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) ETA chief Ibon Gogeascoechea and two other suspected separatists were arrested in a joint French-Spanish police operation in the village of Cahan, France, following a long surveillance operation on a cottage that had...

'State of catastrophe' declared by president after earthquake.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) The country's president Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile and yesterday held a six-hour meeting with aides and emergency officials coping with the magnitude-8.8 quake.She said a growing...

Actors back campaign for death row Briton.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) The actors joined a number of public figures and celebrities including authors Philip Pullman, Zadie Smith and Martina Cole to write a letter to the Sunday Times calling for public support for Linda Carty. It comes two...

Over 50 die as Europe lashed by fierce storm.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Most of the victims in France drowned, while others died when hit by parts of buildings or trees and branches that were ripped off by the wind.Nearly 900,000 people in France were without electricity. Rivers overflowed...

Hostage 'has eye infection'.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Paul Chandler, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and his wife Rachel have been held for more than four months after they were captured while sailing from the Seychelles towards Tanzania.A photographer who has filmed the couple...

AGBP140,000 a year cost of locking up a young criminal.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Putting young offenders behind bars also makes them more likely to commit further crimes and be unemployed later in life, the New Economics Foundation said.The think tank is calling for drastic cuts in the use of youth...

Blue Peter star breaks records with Amazon paddle.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) She was greeted by cheering children and celebratory gunfire as she crossed the finish line yesterday at the end of her South American adventure.The 26-year-old broke a number of world records as she became the first...

Parents criticise Minister over meeting on son's mystery holiday island death.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Gary and Christine Aveyard had arranged to meet with Europe Minister Chris Bryant to talk about unresolved issues regarding the death of 30-year-old son Mark, who died in August of last year.But the distraught couple...

Warning over toll of killings committed by mentally ill.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) While random killings were rare, failing to address the issue properly could prevent lessons being learned, they said.Research for a BBC documentary indicated there could be twice as many cases of people with mental...

Fears grow for missing teenager.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Johnathan Havron, 18, above, was last seen by friends at 9.30pm in Yates's Wine Lodge in Church Lane, York.Yesterday North Yorkshire Police and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were searching both the River...

Exam papers 'marked down to avoid row over inflated grades'.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Jeni Harvey Newly released internal e-mails have disclosed that, in August last year, exam standards regulator Ofqual was given predictions of a big jump in science results.On August 10, just two days before...

Community shares its sorrow at service for tragic shopkeeper.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Joanne Ginley Many people in the village where Mr Singh had his shop attended the service, sharing their grief with members of his family and friends.For many it was the first time they had been to a Sikh...

Self-defence class in memory of tragic Goth.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Jeni Harvey Her mother, Sylvia Lancaster, opened the first class on Saturday in the Highfield area of the city.Youths attacked Miss Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, from Todmorden, in a park in...

Wonder twins, nine, set for secondary school.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Paula and Peter Imafidon already broke world records when they passed A/AS-level mathematics papers at the age of seven. But today a" National Offer Day a" the twins will join hundreds of thousands of other families...

Blunkett's ex-mistress tells of affair.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Jeni Harvey The then Spectator magazine publisher has spoken out ahead of the launch of her children's book The Queen Must Die today.Mrs Quinn began the three-year affair with Mr Blunkett in 2001, just a few...

Top author hits out at faith schools.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Jeni Harvey In tonight's Inside Out programme (BBC1 7.30pm), Ms Harris visits four very different schools in Yorkshire a" a Jewish primary in Leeds, a Catholic high in Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire, a...

Leeds Rhinos 10 Melbourne Storm 18: Aussies storm to World Club Challenge title.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Dave Craven In another brutal and highly physical contest, similar to the epic which Leeds edged 11-4 in 2008, it was the Australian premiers who came home due to Keith Senior losing his temper on the hour...

'Dance of death' fear on economy.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Jonathan Reed Political Editor Addressing the final party conference before the General Election, he insisted he was ready to become Prime Minister and promised doubting voters the party had changed for good...

Region's councils prepare for harsh job cuts.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Rob Preece Kirklees, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield are among eight local authorities in England who have forecast four-figure reductions to their workforces over the next five years.Calderdale, Wakefield and...

Market yet to improve NHS, says thinktank.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Mike Waites Health Correspondent The independent right-of-centre thinktank Civitas says more could be done using market-style reforms but this is being hampered by central control from Government and a failure...

Premier likened to 'belligerent teenager'.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Rob Preece Stewart Wood, an Oxford don and senior foreign policy adviser to the Prime Minister, described in a tape-recorded interview how he was pushed by Mr Brown before a meeting with EU ambassadors.A...

Mounting loss puts firm into administration.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Lizzie Murphy GF Group and its two subsidiaries, Inform Manufacturing and GF Interiors, called in the administrators following several months of poor trading.Joint administrators Charles Brook and Peter...

Housing activity picks up despite slow start.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) There was an increase in both the number of buyers and sellers during the month, following falls in December and January, according to Hometrack.There was also a 10 per cent jump in the number of sales agreed, after...

Army chief warns of damage done to morale by spending cutbacks.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Chief of the General Staff General Sir David Richards said spending cuts were having a "cumulative and corrosive" effect on military personnel and their families.In the memo, which reported on an internal poll of 5,000...

Conference call in tourism tax row.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Joe Shute Gary Verity, the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, will highlight the feared impact the changes will have in his opening address to more than 1,000 people at the Y10 conference at the...

Firms face big rise in roadwork penalties.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Offending companies will be fined AGBP25,000 a day compared with the current AGBP2,500 daily charge, Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said.He also set out proposals for a tougher inspection regime giving councils more...

Trust properties benefit from screen spotlight.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Allowing film crews into heritage sites brings in income, in location fees and the knock-on increase in visitor numbers, as well as revenue to the local economy.But with some of the UK's most precious built and natural...

Deal-makers more optimistic on this side of Pennines.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Lizzie Murphy Its annual survey of the northern deals market showed that 47 per cent of respondents in the region predict that conditions will improve over the course of 2010, compared to just 18 per cent in...

Management buyout to take firm forward.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Lizzie Murphy Richard Senior, owner and chairman of the Scarborough-based firm, sold the company to his daughter, chief operating officer Hannah Senior, and her husband Mark Yeung, the finance manager.The...

Prudential 'planning AGBP15bn deal for bailed-out AIG's Asian business'.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Grace Hammond Prudential, whose chief executive Tidjane Thiam is said to be in New York talks with the US insurer's board this weekend, declined to comment but is likely to confirm the discussions formally...

Manufacturer sees turnover go up by 20pc.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Byline: Lizzie Murphy The family firm predicts it will report a AGBP3.2m turnover for the 12 months to the end of March compared with AGBP2.7m the previous year. The Castleford-based company said it was helped by a 35...

Citigroup trying to get out of Egg to concentrate on US.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) Citigroup has held talks with trade buyers and a private equity firm over the potential sale, which would see it virtually pull out of the UK retail banking market altogether, a Sunday newspaper reported.It bought...

Leeds Carnegie 26 Wasps 10: Leeds earn first home win.
February 28, 2010... (From Yorkshire Post) The club, formed out of the merger between Roundhay and Headingley in 1992, have now won two on the bounce, have pikced up points in nine of their last 10 Premiership games, and have moved level on points with Sale after...

UK Apple iPads to start at GBP389.
February 28, 2010... (From vnunet) Apple's much-hyped iPad tablet device will retail for between GBP389 and GBP489 when it finally goes on sale in the UK, according to tech site Geeky Gadgets. The 16GB Wi-Fi iPad will be available for GBP389, the 32GB Wi-Fi...

Don't give up, Driver.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: DARREN JOHNSTONE ANDY DRIVER has been urged to put his Scotland heartache behind him by displaying the form that England can't ignore. After only just switching his allegiance to his adopted homeland after...

McGhee talks of the drop.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: JOHN STEPHEN ABERDEEN boss Mark McGhee admitted his side will need to make a drastic improvement to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. The Dons' winless run extended to eight games with the 1-0...

REDS LEFT WITH EGG ON THEIR FACES.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: SCOTT BURNS ABERDEEN 0 HEARTS 1 Ten-man Jambos sink Dons ICEMAN Eggert Jonsson struck for 10-man Hearts to give them the win that all but freezes Aberdeen out of the top six. The Icelandic international...

Hibs' visitors to be slashed.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN THE Old Firm and Hearts will be restricted to just 1,400 tickets for their away encounters with Hibs because of the redevelopment of Easter Road. Yesterday's clash with St Johnstone was the last...

Someone will end up with a broken leg on Fir Park Turf.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN HIBS striker Anthony Stokes has hit out at the state of the Fir Park pitch and claimed players are risking serious injury if games continue to be allowed to go ahead there. The Republic of...

Roy in a pickle at Gerken.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER LAYTON Ipswich 0 Bristol City 0 ROY KEANE was forced to pay tribute to Dean Gerken a s the Bristol City keeper held his Ipswich side at bay. The Tractor Boys threw all they could at Bristol in a...

A Har-d luck tale for Mick.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: CLIVE HETHERINGTON Middlesbro 2 QPR 0 BARRY ROBSON executed a disputed spot-kick double - but departing QPR boss Mick Harford refused to complain. Caretaker Harford, expected to make way next week for the...

Pressley so proud of men.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: LISA GRAY FALKIRK boss Steven Pressley had nothing but praise for his players despite their 3-0 defeat yesterday. Pressley claimed the scoreline flattered Dundee United. He said: "It was a disappointing...

Webster is Scots doubt.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: LISA GRAY DUNDEE UNITED manager Peter Houston has confirmed Andy Webster is a doubt for Scotland's friendly against the Czech Republic after missing yesterday's win over Falkirk. The defender is struggling...

Mor the merrier for Tangerines.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: MICHAEK BAILLIE DUNDEE UTD 3 FALKIRK 0 UNITED RISE AFTER GOMIS DOUBLE TWO-GOAL hero Morgaro Gomis inspired Dundee United as they surged into third place with a convincing win over relegation-threatened...

OFF THE HANDLE.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN HIBS 1 ST J'STONE 1 Hibs count cost of penalty SHELL-SHOCKED Hibs dropped to fourth as a controversial late penalty from Liam Craig stretched their run without a win to five matches. The Easter...

Hardie needs more surgery.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN ST JOHNSTONE midfielder Martin Hardie is to have a second op on his horror knee injury in the next fortnight. The 33-year-old is out for the season after the damage caused in a closed-door game...

McCaffrey's got a pretty sweet idea.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: KENNETH STEPHEN ST JOHNSTONE defender Stuart McCaffrey is hoping a novel treatment used on Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves will finally end his injury torment - sugar. McCaffrey developed a groin...

Joe's late miss kills it for Paul.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: GRAHAM BOON Sheff Utd 4 Plymouth 3 SHEFFIELD UNITED halted a miserable run to reignite their hopes of a top-six finish and push Paul Mariner's team a step closer to League One. But Plymouth produced a...

WENG: TEAMS TARGET US.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: HARRY PRATT ARSENE WENGER launched a savage attack on Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross following his X-rated lunge on Aaron Ramsey. Shawcross received a red card last night after the challenge but Wenger,...

RAMSEY HORROR.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: HARRY PRATT STOKE CITY 1 ARSENAL 3 Injury sickener mars Gunners win ARSENAL suffered a dreadful sense of deja vu yesterday when Aaron Ramsey broke his leg in horrific fashion at Stoke. The 65th-minute...

ANDY THE TOP MAN TO SPARK MAGPIES.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: TONY STENSON Watford 1 Newcastle 2 ANDY CARROLL kept up his remarkable scoring run to blow away Newcastle's away day blues. He hit his seventh goal in eight matches to keep them on top of the Championship...

A Royal reward for Rasi.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: HECTOR NUNNS Reading 5 Sheff Wed 0 GRZEGORZ RASIAK helped demolish Wednesday with a two-goal blast that ensures Reading head into their FA Cup quarter-final next week in excellent heart. Three goals in ten...

WENG: TEAMS TARGET US.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: HARRY PRATT FURIOUS Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hit out at the way other teams play against his side - after the horror injury that resulted in Aaron Ramsey being stretchered from the field. The Wales winger...

RAMSEY HORROR.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: HARRY PRATT STOKE CITY 1 ARSENAL 3 Injury sickener mars Gunners win ARSENAL suffered a dreadful sense of deja vu yesterday when Aaron Ramsey broke his leg in horrific fashion at Stoke. The 65th minute...

Barr not hurt by Scotland omission.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN FALKIRK captain Darren Barr insists he isn't losing any sleep over his Scotland snub. The 24-year-old had been a squad regular under George Burley but was left out of Craig Levein's first...

ONLY ONE LOSSER HERE.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: STEVEN McINNES ST MIRREN 0 HAMILTON 0 . . . and that's bottom side Falkirk ST MIRREN and Hamilton put another precious point between themselves and relegation with a goalless draw in Paisley. But it was...

WELL GET OUT A JAM.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: GRAHAM CLARK MOTHERWELL 1 KILMARNOCK 0 Murphy keeps Steelmen soaring JAMIE MURPHY extended Motherwell's unbeaten league run to nine matches under Craig Brown, and ended Kilmarnock's recent revival. The...

Dan's a dreamer.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: TOM BAXTER KILMARNOCK star Danny Invincibile is hoping a good word from boss Jimmy Calderwood can seal his World Cup dream. The Australian winger is on the fringes of Pim Verbeek's squad for this summer's...

Reynolds inspired by Garry.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: EWING GRAHAME MOTHERWELL centre-half Mark Reynolds hopes to follow in the footsteps of Scotland rookie Garry Kenneth by proving he is international class. The Dundee United defender was named in Craig...

POSH PAY PENALTY FOR LEE'S MISTAKE.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: DARREN WITCOOP Swansea 1 Peterboro 0 DAVID COTTERILL'S penalty tightened Swansea's grip on a play-off place - and sent Peterborough closer to relegation. Swansea have yet to lose in the league this year -...

CURBS IN LINE FOR RETURN.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: COLIN MAFHAM ALAN CURBISHLEY is waiting in the wings to lead Portsmouth back to the Premier League. The former Charlton and West Ham boss, 52, has emerged as the man the fans and reluctant owner Balram...

SPORT FOOTBALL.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) AVRAM GRANT (below) has blasted the Premier League for punishing the wrong people over his side going into administration. Last night he said: "Football should be decided on the pitch. If I do something wrong, you...

Grant's joy at Car wreckage.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: GARY CARTER BURNLEY 1 PORTSMOUTH 2 PORTSMOUTH are almost certain to be relegated after being forced to go into administration. But if Avram Grant's men get handed gifts like Clarke Carlisle served up at...

HOLDEN OUT FOR A HERO.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: STEVE MILLAR BOLTON 1 WOLVES 0 Stu stars as Knight nicks it HE'S gots the same good looks as you know who and played Major League Soccer back in America. Stuart Holden maybe doesn't quite bend it like...

Coca-Cola LEAGUE 1.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) BRIGHTON............ 2 EXETER................0 GOALS from Tommy Elphick and Gary Dicker brought an end to Brighton's home hoodoo. Elphick put the Seagulls ahead when he tucked away a corner from Elliott Bennett. ...

Miller's Firm belief.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) RANGERS striker Kenny Miller reckons he can take advantage of Celtic's dodgy defence in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox today. Celtic have been suspect at the back this season and Miller (left) said: "Consistency is a big...

I couldn't care less who the referee is.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: GRAHAM CLARK DAVID WEIR has taken a pop at Celtic's blast at Scotland's referees and insisted officialdom is the last thing on the minds of the Rangers players before today's crunch clash. The Ibrox captain...

RAMPAGING BOUGHERRA JUST CAN'T HELP HIMSELF.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: STEVE GOODMAN Dribbling is in my nature says Rangers star Madjid MADJID BOUGHERRA loves nothing more than taking the ball on a mazy run - even though he's a central defender! Such is the A lger ian's un l...

McLeish recalls gap year.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: EWING GRAHAME TONY MOWBRAY'S Celtic head for Ibrox today seven points behind Rangers, who are not only 20 goals better off but also have a game in hand. But former Rangers boss Alex McLeish knows that if...

It's big. . .but not that big.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: GRAHAM CLARK WALTER SMITH has brushed aside claims todays Old Firm derby will determine the outcome of the title race. Win, draw or lose, the Rangers manager is convinced there will be more twists and turns...

Coca-Cola LEAGUE 2.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) BARNET.............0 BURY.................0 GOALKEEPER Jake Cole pulled off a string of fine saves as Barnet held promotion-chasing Bury. Bury went close when Michael Jones' super-quick free-kick teed up Ryan Lowe....

SUPER MAC IS SPOT-ON.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: RICHARD SYDENHAM BIRMINGHAM 1 WIGAN 0 King James restores local pride WITH fierce rivals Aston Villa gearing up for a cup final at Wembley today Birmingham did their bit to maintain local pride. And the...

After Berner!
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER OAKES LEICESTER 3 N FOREST 0 BRUNO FIRES FOXES BRUNO BERNER can expect a flood of new friends pushing for his recall to Switzerland's World Cup squad. A Facebook campaign has been launched to get him...

IT'S BRUNT AT DOUBLE FOR BROM.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: MIKE WHALLEY West Brom 3 Derby 1 CHRIS BRUNT made the most of a midweek rest to drag weary West Brom back on course for a place in the Premier League. Brunt netted twice after sitting out Wednesday night's...

BROWN ADMITS SKIPPER SURPRISE.
February 28, 2010... (From The Daily Star) Byline: DAVID LEGGAT I thought gaffer wanted me to suggest a new Celtic captain, not offer me the armband NEW Celtic captain Scott Brown feels there are plenty of people who don't believe he is the right choice to...