Europe Intelligence Wire articles from June 2005, page 2

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from June 2005

2,627 new jobs created by inward investment.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) THE number of jobs created in Northern Ireland through inward investment projects increased by 75 per cent last year, official figures showed yesterday. According to the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI),...

Good rain comes tonight.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) COME Good Rain opens at LondonderryOs Playhouse tonight. Written and performed by George Seremba it has been described as Oa miracle on stageO. The moving African drama is GeorgeOs timely auto-biographical...

Time to question BBC brass.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) IN a unique new initiative, the public will be able to take BBC bosses to task in person. Everyone will be given the chance to question BBC governors at the corporationOs Annual General Meeting For the first time,...

Aragon today, e-Bay tomorrow for ship 367.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) THE end of June marks a maritime centenary that most of us have missed. Harland and Wolff completed ship number 367, the Aragon. This week in 1905, the 9,588 ton steam passenger ship was delivered to the Royal Mail...

MOTOR NEWS: Top performing diesel for Volvo.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) VOLVO has introduced a new higher performing 5-cylinder diesel engine with lower emissions for its 2006 line-up. Based on the unit first introduced in 2001, the new turbocharged engine will see service in the V70,...

MOTOR NEWS: Bigger MINI range.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) MINI will add three new models to the existing hatchback range in September - MINI One Seven, MINI Cooper Park Lane and MINI Cooper S Checkmate. The new models offer unique specification, colours and trim, and for...

MOTOR NEWS: New models from Renault.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) RENAULTOS reputation for producing fine hot hatchbacks is well documented, but even by the companyOs usual standards, 2005 is turning out to be a vintage year, with the Cup version of the MZgane Renaultsport 225 the...

MOTOR NEWS: Lower priced roadster.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) BMW tuners, Alpina have announced lower prices and higher equipment levels for their Z4 based roadster. The 300 bhp model has a 0-60 mph time of just over 5 seconds and a top speed of 165 mph. The company produce...

MOTOR NEWS: Joint intiative to make engines.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) PSA Peugeot Citro'n and BMW have announced a joint programme to produce a new family of small four-cylinder petrol engines that will be used in Peugeot, Citro'n and MINI vehicles. The main engine will be machined...

racing - ItOs pay back time for Repute.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) MAN Of Repute, although a beaten favourite last time at Clonmel, can open his account over hurdles in the first race on the second session of the summer festival at Bellewstown. Highly regarded by trainer Stephen...

rugby - MR PRESIDENT.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) ASK anyone who remembers the new IRFU President Andy Crawford during his Ulster and Dungannon days and theyOll tell you he was an uncompromising player. Some smile knowingly as if the description doesnOt do justice...

motorcycling - Farquhar wins appeal against Athea decision.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) RYAN Farquhar has been re-instated as the winner of the 600cc race after being disqualified at Athea in Co Limerick 10-days ago. An appeal lodged by the Dungannon rider with the Southern Centre of the Motor Cycle...

motorsport - FIA not ready for judgement.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) FORMULA One has stepped back from the brink after world governing body the FIA opted to wait until September to punish the teams involved in the United States Grand Prix fiasco. Seven Michelin teams were summoned to...

rugby - WOUNDED LIONS RESHUFFLE PACK.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) IRELAND flanker Simon Easterby and Welshman Ryan Jones have been rewarded for their impact on the Lions tour with starting spots in SaturdayOs second Test. Both late call-ups to the trip, the pair will face New...

rugby - Umaga breaks silence on OODris.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) TANA Umaga has stressed his obligations to the All Blacks had taken precedence over speaking to stricken Lions captain Brian OODriscoll in last weekendOs Test match. The New Zealand captain has been criticised for...

rugby - FitzpatrickOs back Justin time for Ulster.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) ONE of UlsterOs new signings has arrived and he will have no problems settling in when the majority of the team get together for the new season tomorrow. Prop, Justin Fitzpatrick, may find the new training...

golf - Smyth, Baker join WoosieOs Ryder team.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) IAN Woosnam yesterday confirmed golfOs worst kept secret . . . that he has asked DroghedaOs Des Smyth to be one of his two vice-captains when the European team makes an historic defence of the 36th Ryder Cup against the...

golf - McDowell on a mission.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) GRAEME McDowell opens his assault on the Smurfit European Open hoping for a happier outcome to his week at Straffan than heOs had to endure in the past. Sometimes the 25-year-old from Royal Portrush attracted the...

golf - Kiwi Campbell is rarinO to go.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) KIWI Michael Campbell is fully rested after his dramatic exploits at Pinehurst a fortnight ago, and is ready to rumble at Straffan, where the new US Open champion attempts to regain the Smurfit European title. OI...

golf - Casey explains.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) RYDER Cup player Paul Casey last night revealed the reason behind his US Open walkout following an opening round of 85. OOThree people ETH my coach, my sports psychologist and my physio ETH all told me it was best I...

football - CHELSEA CANOT STRIKE.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) CHELSEA were dealt another striking snub yesterday when it was confirmed Samuel EtoOo had signed a new long-term contract with Barcelona. The Barclays Premiership champions had been linked with the striker...

football - Villa boss OOLeary finally lands Phillips.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) NEW Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips has vowed to reward the faith shown in him by manager David OOLeary with a 20-goal haul next season. OOLeary finally captured his man, after failing in the January transfer...

football - Latin fever to fire up Larne.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) LARNE will add a touch of Latin temperament to the Irish Premier League next season with the arrival of Gus di Lella at Inver Park. An Argentine with Italian blood who was born in Blyth, England, Di Lella will...

football - THE GLAZERS COME TO TOWN.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) MANCHESTER UnitedOs new owners have broken cover ETH and found footballOs power brokers far easier to win over than their own supporters. While around 100 disgruntled fans immediately converged on Old Trafford as...

football - Dyer future a priority: Souness.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness is determined to tie up the long- term future of England midfielder Kieron Dyer (left) by Christmas. The Scot has spent the last few weeks attempting to attract new players to Tyneside...

ALEX MILLS: football - Nixon looks for new club.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) DARREN Nixon is on the hunt for a new club, writes ALEX MILLS. The 22 year old defender spent last season with First Division side Carrick Rangers. Darren, a member of the famous footballing family from...

cricket - Joyce signs off with Middlesex win.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) OWAIS Shah hit an unbeaten 59 to steer Middlesex to a six-wicket victory over winless Kent at Uxbridge in the Twenty20 Cup last night at Uxbridge. Shah hit six fours and two sixes in a 38-ball knock that got the...

cricket - As main rivals flex muscles.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) THE big boys flexed their muscles in the final warm-up games ahead of the ICC Trophy and the favourites to reach the West Indies 2007 are all in good shape. HollandOs bowling looked rusty at Greenisland as UAE,...

cricket - That was more like it Ireland.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) TRENT Johnston scored his first hundred for Ireland yesterday and, while it may not count in the records, it is sure to play a monumental part in IrelandOs passage through the forthcoming ICC Trophy. The uncapped...

cricket - England will not back down ETH Jones.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) SIMON Jones emerged from his angry confrontation with Australia opener Matthew Hayden to offer no apologies for EnglandOs aggressive intent as the build-up intensifies for this summerOs Ashes series. Glamorgan...

tennis - FEDERER FEELS FANTASTIC.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) ROGER FedererOs message was as plain and simple as the white bandana which adorns his forehead. OOIf I keep playing like this I know I can beat every player,OO said the Swiss after powering into his third...

tennis - Mauresmo knows the score.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) AMELIE Mauresmo aims to cast aside her vastly inferior record against world number one Lindsay Davenport in the Wimbledon semi-finals today knowing full well how tough a task it will be. The French third seed trails...

tennis - Hewitt game plan proves a winner.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) LLEYTON Hewitt produced his best tennis since winning Wimbledon in 2002 to crush surprise quarter-finalist Feliciano Lopez and set up a showdown with defending champion Roger Federer. The 24-year-old Australian...

tennis - Roddick holds his nerve.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) ANDY Roddick yesterday overcame a brave fightback from Sebastien Grosjean to reach his third successive Wimbledon semi-final. Roddick ground out a tense 3-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory after two hours 45 minutes on...

tennis - Best yet for Johansson.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) THOMAS Johansson booked his place in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time with a straight-sets victory over David Nalbandian on Court One, in a match which was interrupted by rain. The number 12 seed secured...

tennis - OOShea man to beat.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) THINGS are hotting up at the Fisher Engineering Limited Fermanagh Open at the Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown with the top seed of the elite event due to join the action tomorrow. The 2005 championship has recorded...

golf - CHANGES SURPRISE CLARKE.
June 30, 2005... (From Newsletter) DARREN Clarke was alarmed by the changes to the course on the eve of the Smurfit European Open on his return to the par-72 Palmer course at the K Club near Dublin. The 36-year-old former Smurfit Europen Open...

UK: Britannic/Resolution deal creates giant in closed life funds.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Britannic Group and Resolution Life are merging to create the largest closed life fund business in the UK. It will service some 6 million policies and manage [pounds sterling]35 billion ($64 billion) in...

EUROPE: Big German expansion beckons for Clerical Medical.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Clerical Medical International is poised to significantly raise its interests in Germany's life and pensions market through a tie-up with MLP, one of the country's largest financial advisory groups. ...

EUROPE: Nordea expands life and pensions interests in Poland.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Financial services group Nordea is acquiring the Polish life and pension companies of Finland's banking and insurance group Sampo. The transaction, valued at E95 million ($116 million), involves Sampo...

INTERNET: Norwich Union activates online planning service.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Norwich Union has gone live with a new online financial planning platform called Forecast, aimed at helping its advisers make client investment recommendations. The UK insurance group intends that, via...

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS: Building a global asset management presence.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Germany's Allianz is steadily growing a worldwide network of asset management subsidiaries under the Allianz Global Investors brand that the group launched in 2004. Martin Owens reports Allianz, the...

INTERNET: Annuities agents site.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) A new website has been launched in the US aimed at insurance agents throughout the country who specialise in the annuities market. Annuityforums.com will provide agents with a place to exchange sales...

UK: Zurich Financial executives launch new advisory firm.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Openwork, a new financial advisory company, launched in the UK this month. Several executives from Zurich Financial Services make up its founding management. The multi-tie distribution company was...

EASTERN EUROPE: Dutch continue eastern advances.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Dutch insurance group Aegon and bancassurer ING are both increasing their interests in Eastern Europe. The former is acquiring Nationwide Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen na Zycie (Nationwide Poland), while ING...

BARCLAYS' INITIATIVE: Banking on insurers.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) UK banking group Barclays has launched a new financial planning service that utilises a range of products from six big life insurance groups. Martin Owens reports Barclays has gone live with a...

ASIA: AMP reviewing jv in India.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Australian life and financial services group AMP is reviewing its ownership of a stake in AMP Sanmar, a joint venture life insurance business based in India. AMP Life has a 26 percent stake in the...

NEW PRODUCTS: Axa, BNP Paribas extend fund range.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Axa Investment Managers and BNP Paribas have launched another exchange traded fund (ETF) within the EasyETF product range. The fund, a commodities-focused vehicle called the EasyETF GSCI, was listed on...

US - RETIREMENT TRENDS: The great savings transition.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) US financial firms are preparing for what they predict will be massive payout waves as the baby boom generation retires en masse, kick- starting a mega transfer of wealth that has been saved for...

RETIREMENT TRENDS: Investment firms target retirement management.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Life insurers are not the only financial services providers poised to compete for a slice of the pie as US baby boomers transfer their pension savings into income-generating investments for their...

PENSIONS: Insurers' association: let's get serious about saving.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has submitted a number of proposals to the government in a new analysis of the UK pensions industry that calls for comprehensive reform of the present system....

PENSION FUNDS: Widening the search for higher returns.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) How are large pension funds in the US facing the challenge of achieving target returns in a low-return environment? Investing in a broader range of assets, shifting to more active investment management...

PENSION FUNDS: Pension funding levels slip in first quarter.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Lower than expected investment returns in many major equity markets during the first quarter of 2005 was not good news for pension plan funding levels around the world. In its latest analysis of...

US - ANNUITIES: A full new product pipeline.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) New launch activity is progressing at a fast pace in the US annuities industry and several big name providers are increasing their product offerings to an evolving retirement market, writes Martin Owens...

US - WEALTH MANAGEMENT: A focus on wealth management.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Life insurers may be more traditionally associated with the provision of financial services to retail investors, but they also keep their eye on the affluent segment of the market. US life company...

US - WEALTH MANAGEMENT: AEFA rebrands annuities and insurance businesses.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) American Express Financial Advisors (AEFA) is rebranding its annuities and insurance lines of business under the name of RiverSource. The move forms part of America Express's (Amex's) plans to spin off...

PROFILE - LATIN AMERICA: Mexico poised for life insurance growth.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Latin America may not be the most active area for foreign life insurance groups looking to expand their international operations, but Mexico stands out as one market that continues to attract the...

UK - PENSIONS: Scottish Life retains commitment to the IFA channel.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) Scottish Life's policy of distributing its pension products exclusively via independent financial advisers (IFAs) appears to be paying off in terms of business performance. After generating record...

REGULATION: Distribution on the regulatory radar.
June 30, 2005... (From Life Insurance International) The impact of new regulation is a key issue for all firms active in the global financial services market - and life insurance is no exception. Life insurance executives in the US appear convinced that...

FEARS GROW FOR UNWELL KENNEDY.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: MACER HALL CHARLES KENNEDY was battling to shore up his LibDem support last night after fresh rumours about his health. The party leader faced unrest among his own MPs after a series of lacklustre...

Anthony: I'll bed Orlaith.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER DYKE HUNKY Anthony has admitted he is so sexually frustrated he plans to make a move on sexy new girl Orlaith. The Geordie dancer has been on cloud nine ever since the blonde Irish model...

LOOS LADIES CATCH UP FOR A CHIN WAG.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: With LEIGH PURVES, NADIA BROOKS and AMY WATTS CELEBRITY Love Island winner Jayne Middlemiss was delighted to bump into fellow castaway Rebecca Loos after leaving a photo-shoot in Soho yesterday. ...

Pizza's pick is Ross. . .
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) RESTAURANT chain PizzaExpress could be taken back to the stock market by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross. PizzaExpress owner TDR Capital is hunting for a chairman to head up Altia, the pizza chain's...

VAUGHAN: WE WON'T BACK DOWN.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: DAVE ARMITAGE DEFIANT England have stoked up the Ashes heat by warning the Aussies: You don't scare us. Michael Vaughan and his men are ready to tackle their arch rivals head-on and insist they...

Stew's green for go.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: IAIN COLLIN MANCHESTER United midfielder Michael Stewart will join Hibs for pre-season training today and is expected to be paraded as an Easter Road player tomorrow. The 24-year-old has agreed a...

BIG BRO AXE THREAT.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER DYKE and PAUL MALLEY BIG Brother faces being pulled off the air after the show became embroiled in a sensational race row. Viewers flooded the show and watchdogs with complaints after babe...

Tories family man.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: MACER HALL TORY rising star David Cameron launched his bid to be the Conservatives next leader yesterday by calling for a return to family values. The Shadow Education Secretary - seen at...

ASBO explosion.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) THE number of ASBOs slapped on yobs has doubled in a year, shock figures have shown. With many louts regarding the penalties as a badge of honour, courts across the country are now dishing out more than 250...

A little Extra.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) COMIC hero Ricky Gervais wants Tom Cruise to appear on the second series of his new sitcom Extras. The first series of the show stars Ben Stiller, 39, Kate Winslet, 29, and Pulp Fiction's Samuel L. Jackson, 56....

LOT TE IS TOLD: GO AND LIVE AT YOUR GRAN'S!
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: TOM BEDFORD DIVA Charlotte Church has moved in with her gran - on her record company's orders. Charlotte, 19, has moved two miles from her single-girl pad into the terrace home of nana Maria Cooper...

NO HEADLINE.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) AN advance party of about 100 G8 activists who are setting up a temporary campsite that will be home to up to 5,000 people during the summit say that locals have nothing to fear. The "eco-village" on the banks...

SHOCK AS G8 V.I.P.'s DELAY HOSPITAL OPS.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: KURT BAYER HEART patients have been warned vital ops may be delayed because a hospital theatre is being kept clear for VIPs at the G8 summit. Patients and their relatives attending a pre-surgery...

G8 Summit.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) G8 PROTESTORS dropped rocks on to a car transporter train heading to Scotland - then bragged about it on the internet. Police probing the GBP70,000 vandalism at Bristol have seized a computer server at the home...

TWISTED BRAIN OF 9p BUTCHER.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: JOHN MAHONEY A BRILLIANT medical student killed his wealthy parents then left them to rot as he jetted to a fantasy lifestyle. Brian Blackwell stabbed and battered his mum and dad at their home...

TWISTED BRAIN OF 9P BUTCHER.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: JOHN MAHONEY A BRILLIANT medical student killed his wealthy parents then left them to rot as he jetted to a fantasy lifestyle. Brian Blackwell stabbed and battered his mum and dad at their home...

Link with evil killer Brady.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: ELIZABETH JAMES MOORS murderer Ian Brady also suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the sickness that cursed Brian Blackwell. Sufferers display a grandiose sense of self-importance and can...

WE WOULD H8 TO MISS IT.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: JAMES WICKHAM DESPERATE music fans braved thunderstorms to queue through the night for the last of the Live 8 tickets. Hundreds spent Tuesday evening getting drenched in a bid to get free passes to...

CAN WE ORL COP A FEEL?
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER DYKE BIG Brother hunk Anthony Hutton was first in the queue when sexy model Orlaith McAllister offered the housemates the chance to feel her naked breasts. The 26-year-old Irish model has had...

Gobby Bob gets crack at leaders.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: JAMES WICKHAM BOB Geldof could get the chance to give Tony Blair and George Bush a tongue-lashing at the G8 summit. The anti-poverty crusader has been invited to deliver his message in person to...

GNOMEOMETER.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) 1 MAKOSI Derek reckons she'd make a good secret agent because she's fab at deceiving the other housemates. She's Queen of the divas. 2 ORLAITH Can't stop fiddling with her fake 30E boobs but we admit she did...

BIG BRO BRIEF.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) THE BB wannabes have been given 24 hours to rehearse Romeo and Juliet - The Ballet. They will perform it tonight. SIX million viewers tuned in on Tuesday to find out that Max and Saskia were up for eviction. ...

Lads start fishy feud.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) GEEZER Maxwell got a verbal battering from Science - over a packet of fish fingers. The cheeky 24-yearold lad decided to serve up a late-night snack and made a beeline for the freezer to cook the fishy treats....

MAX : EVICT BOTH OF US.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PETER DYKE BB geezer Maxwell has begged viewers to boot him and Saskia out of the house tomorrow night because the lovebirds can't bear to be parted. He says he can't stand the thought of being left...

WRIGHTY STORM IN PAPER CUP.
June 30, 2005... (From The Daily Star) Byline: PAUL MALLEY FORMER soccer star Ian Wright faces a GBP5,000-aday trial - after allegedly chucking a paper cup from his posh Bentley. Eagle-eyed council officials say they saw the cup fall from the car...