Europe Intelligence Wire articles from January 2003

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from January 2003

GERMAN CONSUMPTION BOTTOMS OUT.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) The uptick in private sector spending during the second and third quarters of 2002 has given way to another period of decline, yet the foundation is in place for a sustainable recovery in German private sector...

CZECH SHOPPING HABITS IN TRANSITION.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) The average Czech household is operating on a tight budget, yet consumers are becoming more sophisticated, demanding more value in their purchases. This trend bodes ill for the open-air markets that tend to sell...

PORTUGAL LOCKED INTO SLOW GROWTH.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Portugal's private sector is locked into a pattern slow growth in internal demand for goods and services. The nation finds itself in an economic straightjacket because inflation and deficit levels are running in...

ITALIAN CONFIDENCE AT LOW EBB.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Confidence among Italian consumers and business leaders hit low ebb late in 2002 and is not likely to achieve sustainable upward momentum until the latter half of 2003. As a result, capital expenditure and high-end...

RUSSIAN EXPANSION STYMIED BY LACK OF CAPITAL.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Russia's strong macroeconomic performance over the past few years has boosted consumer confidence but has done little to improve confidence among prospective foreign investors. Foreign investment levels remain very...

A DOUBLE BLOW TO BULGARIAN INDUSTRY.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Bulgarian industry is cutting back on capital investment because of weak sales both at home and abroad. Internal sales are not likely to improve during 2003 because discretionary spending is very limited at the...

UK PRIVATE SPENDING TO OUTPACE THE EC IN 2003.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Internal demand for the UK's goods and services is holding firm, with year-on-year gains likely to increase during 2003. It isn't hard to see why private sector consumption in the UK is outperforming the EC and most...

SWEDEN'S SOLID CONSUMER BASE.
January 1, 2003... (From Market - Europe) Sweden has a solid consumer base in every sense of the word. That stability was underscored during 2002, when Swedish consumption growth easily outpaced that in the European Union as a whole One of the most...

President Addresses the Nation to Mark the New Year.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - Hungarian President Ferenc Madl, in a New Year's radio and television address, spoke of the significance of European and national reunification, and of the unity of national and...

Archbishop Celebrates New Year's Mass.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - Peter Erdo, newly appointed Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary celebrated a New Year's Mass at Saint Elizabeth Parish Church in...

New Year's Service at Calvinist Church in Debrecen.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - Gusztav Bolcskei, Bishop of the East Hungarian Calvinist Diocese held New Year's Day services at the Calvinist Church in Debrecen, E Hungary on Wednesday. Bolcskei spoke of...

Budapest Stock Exchange: BUX Up 9.36pc in 2002.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - The Budapest Stock Exchange's BUX index rose 9.36pc in the past year and overall trading in 2002 was 17pc higher than in 2001. On December 31, the BUX closed at 7,798.29...

Eurozone Will be Good for Hungary, Says Central Bank President.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - Joining the eurozone has far more pluses than minuses for Hungary, National Bank of Hungary President Zsigmond Jarai told MTI. Switching currencies from the forint to the...

Finance Minister Says Economy's 2003 Prospects are Good.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - The Hungarian economy had a mixed year in 2002, Minister of Finance Csaba Laszlo told MTI. Prospects for 2003 are good, he added, though unfavourable global trends could put...

Petofi Commemoration in Kiskoros.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - A commemoration of poet and revolutionary Sandor Petofi (1823-1849), a leading figure in the revolution and war of independence of 1848/49, was held at midnight on Tuesday in...

Skating Rink in Parliament Parking Lot Open Till Sunday.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - The ice skating rink set up for the holidays in parliament's parking lot will say open for three extra days, until 10 p.m. on January 5. The Office of the Prime Minister...

Weather Forecast for Thursday.
January 1, 2003... (From Hungarian News Agency (MTI)) Budapest, January 1 (MTI) - Cloudy weather is expected in Hungary on Thursday, with snow likely early in the day, changing to rain later on. Nighttime lows will range from -5 to -3 degrees Celsius, and...

Mixed feelings towards FSA.
January 1, 2003... (From Financial Director) The 2002 Financial Services Practitioners Panel Survey of nearly 4,000 senior executives in regulated financial services firms finds that two-out-of-five respondents thought that it was 'too early to say' how the...

An Alien Drove My Van.
January 1, 2003... (From Bristol Evening Post) Stuart Hignell, who owns Bristol Gas Supplies in St Philip's, received a letter informing him one of the firm's 11 delivery vehicles was pictured speeding at 43mph in a 30mph zone along the A37 Wells Road. ...

2003 - SPREAD AND SHARE AT LAST?
January 1, 2003... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) 2002 was a year of consolidation for property and casualty insurers and reinsurers as they attempted to make the most of the continuing hard market following the 9/11 terrorist attack.Meanwhile, life companies...

UPDATE 1- Berlusconi hints at radical plan for Fiat.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Fiat Spa, Italy's largest industrial group, could retain control of its troubled car division but sell off virtually all its other businesses under a radical plan hinted at by Silvio Berlusconi, the...

Colaninno plans talks on Fiat rescue bid.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Roberto Colaninno (pictured), former head of Telecom Italia, is expected to make contact in coming days with leading participants in the crisis at Fiat, the Italian car manufacturer, to explore the option of...

General Electric faces first strike in 30 years.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Many of General Electric's US plants could be crippled as the world's biggest industrial company faces its first strike in 30 years. The strike alert, which could herald a tough year ahead for GE on the...

UPDATE 1- General Electric faces first strike in 30 years.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Many of General Electric's US plants could be crippled as the world's biggest industrial company faces its first strike in 30 years. The strike alert, which could herald a tough year ahead for GE on the...

Ulster plastic bags hitting Republic tax.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) A SENIOR SDLP Assembly member claimed today that the policy of imposing tax on plastic carrier bags in the Republic in order to reduce waste is being undermined by the export of plastic bags from the north. ...

Lurgan shooting victim gets police protection.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) A MAN shot in Lurgan last week has been taken into police protective custody and his family have fled their home because of fears for their lives, the High Court in Belfast has heard. A Crown lawyer said...

Bargains aplenty for canny shoppers.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) THE Belfast Telegraph editorial (December 28) rightly point out the perils of overspending for consumers at this seasonal time of year. However, it is well worth pointing out that - due, in part, to the...

Shock plan for Ulster 'Adsurd'.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Ben Lowry and Brian Walker PLANS by Edward Heath's Government to redraw the border to create a Protestant-only province were dismissed as "absurd" today by a cross-section of local politicians who were...

Parties must see efforts redoubled: SDLP.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) SDLP leader Mark Durkan today spoke of his hope that 2003 would see the restoration of the Stormont institutions and political stability in Northern Ireland. The former Deputy First Minister called on all...

Party time as Belfast celebrates New Year.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Maureen Coleman THOUSANDS of revellers thronged the streets around Belfast City Hall last night for the New Year celebrations. The main attraction was the BBC Radio 1 sound stage, which blasted out...

Six of the best bring New Year baby joy.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Paul Dykes THE New Year got off to the best of starts today for six families with the birth of babies in Northern Ireland hospitals. Altnagelvin Hospital recorded the first Ulster baby of the New...

Yet more rain on the way in 2003.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Claire Regan RAIN-SOAKED Ulster was warned today that the New Year will start with no respite from the miserable weather conditions which saw 2002 ranked as the province's wettest year on record. ...

Expert tips offered to conquer smoking.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Staff Reporter THE Ulster Cancer Foundation has offered support and encouragement to people whose New Year resolution is to stop smoking. Gerry McElwee, the charity's head of cancer prevention,...

Woman (88) robbed during funeral.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Claire Regan POLICE were today hunting for a callous thief who robbed an 88-year-old woman as she attended a funeral in Belfast city centre. The elderly woman was left shocked after the robber...

Parents' horror at school show.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Staff Reporter PARENTS have complained after the traditional Christmas nativity play was ditched at a Co Down primary school this year in favour of a cult adult show. Instead of the usual stable...

Vandals strike at council depot.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) VANDALS have caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to vehicles belonging to Belfast City Council following an orgy of destruction in south Belfast. Council assessors visited the scene of...

Vandals are blamed for power cut.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Staff Reporter HUNDREDS of residents in part of Co Antrim were left facing misery after their electricity supply failed over festive period - for the fourth successive year. Many householders in...

Bishop urges communities to rally together.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Alf McCreary NOW is the time for the people of Northern Ireland to rally together and to spell out what peace would mean for two divided Christian communities, according to a senior Church of Ireland...

Swans attacked by men and dogs.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Staff Reporter POLICE are investigating claims of cruelty after four men and their dogs were allegedly seen attacking swans in the Co Armagh village of Maghery. Officers were alerted by locals...

Walsh calls for end to walls of division.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) A LEADING Catholic bishop today called on the people of Northern Ireland to make some gesture of peace in the New Year in a bid to tear down the walls that divide communities. Speaking at the celebration of New...

Briefs: Man shot in south Belfast.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) A MAN was recovering in hospital today after he was the victim of a paramilitary-style shooting in south Belfast. The victim suffered a gun shot wound to his leg when he was attacked in the lower Rockview...

Football: Shiels drops striker Campbell.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Malcolm Brodie BALLYMENA UNITED manager Kenny Shiels omitted striker Shea Campbell, target of much transfer speculation, from his side which met Limavady United in a First Division game today. ...

Hockey: Pegasus' Pamela back for second phase.
January 1, 2003... (From Belfast Telegraph) PAMELA Magill will turn out for Pegasus in Saturday's Peugeot 206 Senior League clash at Coleraine... but her Irish international colleagues will again be missing from the defending champions' line-up. Indeed...

Brazilians go wild for Lula's inauguration.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Antonio Francisco dos Santos walked for 27 days from Sao Paulo to Brasilia with a little handcart decorated with a Brazilian flag to join the inauguration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president on Wednesday....

NTL to issue $500m bonds in refinancing.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) NTL, the heavily indebted cable television group, has moved a step closer to emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the announcement that $630m of standby funding provided by the group's existing...

Tyco tries to tackle $3.6bn funding gap.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Tyco International, the troubled industrial conglomerate, is facing a $3.6bn funding gap at the end of 2003, more than double the amount originally forecast. Tyco executives disclosed the shortfall during a...

Bonds mixed on investor nerves.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Government bonds ended 2002 with a mixed performance, reflecting investors' uncertainty about the world economy and the course of geopolitical events. The Japanese bond market and most markets in Europe...

Bertelsmann sells holding in Pixelpark.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Bertelsmann has sold a 40 per cent stake in Pixelpark, the web services company, in the latest such disposal since the German media group's decision, five months ago, to dismantle the network of online...

China to get maglev train.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Zhu Rongji, China's premier, was so impressed by his ride on the world's first commercial magnetically levitated train on New Year's eve that Beijing has awarded a contract to the German consortium that makes...

Markets anticipate difficult year for dollar.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Markets will open on Thursday morning holding out the prospect of another difficult year for the dollar, which in 2002 suffered its biggest annual fall in 15 years. Over the past year the dollar has lost...

Sharon under fire over dire state of economy.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) The dire state of Israel's economy has surfaced as a potential election issue with controversy over an official report that last year's growth rate was the worst in 50 years. Ariel Sharon, prime minister,...

Reckitt reaffirms acquisition strategy.
January 1, 2003... (From FT Investor (Stories)) Reckitt Benckiser, the Anglo-Dutch household products group, has reaffirmed its keenness to grow by acquisition. Bart Becht, chief executive, said in an interview with FT Deutschland: "We have grown and...

"Britain's Schindler" knighted in queen's honours list.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) A 93-year-old dubbed "Britain's Schindler" for saving hundreds of Jewish children from Nazi brutality was given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth in her annual honours list which also includes dancer Sylvie...

"Total devastation" says cameraman in first plane over Pacific isle.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Eyewitnesses aboard the first plane to fly over the cyclone-battered Polynesian island of Tikopia reported massive destruction and few signs of life. Freelance New Zealand cameraman Geoff Mackley described...

Hundreds of thousands gather for Brazilian inaugural party.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians began to gather by car, bus, airplane and even on foot to welcome working class hero Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva into the presidency. Only the Pope and triumphant Brazilian...

Israeli deputy minister fired over vote-rigging scandal.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dimissed a deputy minister caught up in a cash-for-votes scandal as he moved to shore up ratings ahead of general elections next month. "The prime minister fired...

US infantry division gets deployment orders for Gulf region.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) A US Army infantry division of up to 17,000 troops has been given orders for deployment to the Gulf region, the largest such deployment since the Gulf War 11 years ago, an Army spokesman said. "The Third...

Beefy sends Blair for six over Zimbabwe boycott.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) English cricket legend Ian Botham has whacked the British government for six, accusing it of "hanging England's players out to dry" by prevaricating on whether World Cup matches should be played in Zimbabwe. ...

Israeli electoral commission bans Arab party, Arafat's Fatah marks anniversary.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Right-wingers loyal to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon entered the new year with a show of political force ahead of January 28 polls, as Yasser Arafat and thousands of demonstrators in the Palestinian...

Euro membership possibly "single most important decision".
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The decision whether or not to join the euro zone may be Britain's "single most important decision" in 2003, Prime Minister Tony Blair said in his New Year's message, a year after the single currency became...

Iraq urges Arabs to copy Korean defiance, Bush hopes for peace.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Iraq urged the Arab world to take inspiration from fellow "axis of evil" member North Korea, as US President George Bush voiced hope the Iraqi weapons stand-off could still be settled without bloodshed. "We...

Israeli electoral commission bans Arab party, Fatah marks anniversary.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Right-wingers loyal to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon entered the new year with a show of political force ahead of January 28 polls, as Yasser Arafat and thousands of demonstrators in the Palestinian...

Sri Lanka moves to head off crisis with Tamil Tigers.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Sri Lanka will hold a fresh round of talks with a top Tamil Tiger rebel to head off a deepening crisis over the scaling-down of military camps, a senior defence official said. Defence Secretary Austin...

Milestones for Waugh in final Ashes Test.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The milestones are looming for skipper Steve Waugh when he leads Australia into the fifth and final Ashes cricket Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground here. The 37-year-old Test campaigner may...

Pakistan, India exchange list of nuke sites.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Nuclear-armed arch-rivals India and Pakistan ushered in the new year by exchanging lists of their nuclear facilities, Islamabad said. Pakistan's foreign ministry announced the exchange, which is mandated...

Security tightened after anti-police riots in India.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Police stepped up security in the east Indian state of Bihar, a day after 50 people were injured in violent protests against the alleged illegal killing of three people by police. Around 500 people were...

India ready for any challenge from Pakistan: army chief.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) India's new army chief General Nirmal Chander Vij said the military was prepared to meet any challenge from nuclear rival Pakistan. Speaking to reporters after officially taking charge as India's 21st army...

Euro membership "single most important decision" for Britain.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The decision whether or not to join the euro zone may be Britain's "single most important decision" in 2003, Prime Minister Tony Blair said in his New Year's message, a year after the single currency became...

I.Coast president vows to crush rebels, defends his regime.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo launched a spirited defence of his regime in his New Year's message as he promised to win a three-month war against rebels holding half the world's top cocoa producer. ...

North Korea vows to strengthen military as Bush calls for diplomacy.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) A top South Korean envoy arrived in China as part of diplomatic moves to avert a showdown over Pyongyang's nuclear program as US President George W. Bush said the crisis could be resolved peacefully. Deputy...

Separatist blames long-ruling party founder for Kashmir unrest.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) A militant-turned politician in Indian Kashmir blamed the founder of the long-ruling National Conference for the eruption of an armed anti-Indian rebellion in the disputed region that has so far claimed more...

Arsenal set for New Year's Day capital clash.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Arsenal New Year's Day match against London title rivals Chelsea at Highbury is a "massive game" according to Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger. Champions and leaders Arsenal go into the match five points clear...

Sri Lanka beat Australia A in one-day match.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Sri Lanka can look forward to the New Year with renewed confidence after beating Australia A by five wickets in their one-day cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Opener Marvan Atapattu's unbeaten...

Fireworks blast kills 37 in Mexican gulf port of Vera Cruz.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Thirty seven people were killed and at least 35 were injured in a powerful explosion of New Year's Eve fireworks in the Mexican gulf port of Vera Cruz, officials said. "The fire has been controlled and the...

Cyclone 'devastates' Pacific islands.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Eyewitnesses on flights over the cyclone-battered Polynesian island of Tikopia reported massive destruction and few signs of life among the 2,000 inhabitants. Freelance cameraman Geoff Mackley described the...

Canada arrests alien smuggler 'linked' to suspects sought by FBI.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Canadian police have arrested an alien smuggler who may have helped five Middle Eastern suspects sought by US authorities cross into the United States, CTV television said. After his recent arrest, the...

Pope makes plea for peace in New Year's day mass.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Pope John Paul II made a New Year's day call for peaceful solutions to looming and ongoing conflicts, notably in the Middle East, to coincide with World Peace Day. The Pope did not mention Iraq by name in...

Vaughan happy to play in Zimbabwe if backed by ECB.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Michael Vaughan, who scored the most Test runs in 2002, said he has no problem playing in Zimbabwe in February if the England and Wales Cricket Board insists the World Cup match must take place there. The...

British plans revealed to expel Catholics from Northern Ireland.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Britain in 1972 secretly considered making Northern Ireland a Protestant-only province and evicting hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics to an area to be ceded to the Irish Republic. A hitherto top...

Thousands gather to welcome Lula into Brazilian presidency.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Rich and poor from all corners of the country crowded together to take part in the giant party to welcome Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva into the presidency. Spilling out of a heady samba-driven New Years...

First-ever EU police mission begins operations in Bosnia.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The European Union's first-ever foreign police mission officially began operations as the bloc took over from the United Nations the task of training and supervising Bosnia's police. The new EU police...

Rain hits English football programme.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The heavy rain generating flood chaos in parts of England forced the postponement of Fulham's New Year's Day clash with West Brom in the Premiership and a string of matches in the lower divisions. Fulham's...

French art historian Pierre Miquel dies at 80.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The French art historian Pierre Miquel, a specialist of 19th century landscape painting, has died at age 80, his publisher said in Paris. Miquel, who died on December 30, was known for a 15-volume series of...

Bullet hits British comic Ali G's hotel room in Israeli double suicide.
January 1, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Two young Israeli cousins who shot themselves in a suicide pact in a plush Tel Aviv hotel also fired a bullet through a wall into the neighbouring suite of British comic Ali G, the Jerusalem Post said. The...