Europe Intelligence Wire articles from October 2006

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from October 2006

New biodiversity duty on all public bodies.
October 1, 2006... (From Government News Network (Was Hermes-Government Press Releases)) ] DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS 424/06 1 October 2006 New biodiversity duty on all public bodies From today, 1st October 2006, all public sector...

U.S., EU fail on air passenger data deal.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) WASHINGTON (AFX) - The United States and the European Union failed to reach a new deal on sharing air passenger data by Saturday's deadline, though officials said negotiations would continue. Homeland...

Food illnesses decline, CDC reports.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) - 0930dv--spinach--ban--lifted Despite the recent E. coli spinach outbreak, food may be safer now than at any other time in the last decade, with illness occurring at record-low rates,...

Quick steps win dance world's Turner prize.
October 1, 2006... (From Guardian Unlimited) An Indian classical dancer has won Europe's most prestigious award for choreography. London-based Nina Rajarani was last night awarded the GBP25,000 biennial Place prize, the dance world's equivalent to the...

RPT - Dollar mixed despite supportive data, month-end flows.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) NEW YORK (XFN-ASIA) - The dollar turned in a mixed performance on the last trading day of the month, losing ground against the euro but notching up a small win vs the yen on a day when US economic data and...

Nissan to move part of NAmerican output to Japan - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Nissan Motor Co plans to move some of its manufacturing operations to Japan from North America because its domestic plants are better able to make a wide variety of car models in small...

AFX UK at a glance share guide - weekend.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX UK (Focus)) LONDON (AFX) - MARKETS FTSE 100 5,960.8, down 10.5 FTSE 250 9,996.80, up 18.6 DJIA 11,679.07, down 39.38 Nasdaq Comp 2,258.43, down 11.59 S&P 500 1,335.85, down 3.3 Gold 596.40 usd 604.70 usd) Oil - Brent Nov...

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy to launch smaller reactor for US utilities - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd will commercialize a compact nuclear reactor for sale to US power companies in and after 2011, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing company sources. ...

Japan's KDDI to buy Tepco's fiber-optic ops for 100 bln yen - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - KDDI Corp has reached a basic agreement with Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) to acquire that firm's fiber-optic communications business in January, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun has reported. ...

BoJ sees FY2007 consumer price growth at 0.4-0.5 pct - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - The Bank of Japan's (BoJ) economic outlook report due out this month is expected to forecast annual growth in the consumer price index of 0.4-0.5 pct for fiscal 2007, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun...

Japan Aug coincident index likely above 50 pct for 5th straight month - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - The August diffusion index of coincident indicators is expected to reach 88.9 pct, surpassing 50 pct for a fifth consecutive month, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. Preliminary figures are...

Japan's Abe eyes summits with China's Hu, SKorea's Roh Oct 7-10 - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX UK (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to visit China and South Korea around Oct 7-10 to hold summit talks with their top leaders, a trip Abe hopes will showcase his efforts to mend fences with these...

Japan banks, life insurers hold 20 trln yen in unrealized stock gains - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Paper profits from stocks, held by the six major banking groups and seven core life insurance firms, collectively stand at roughly 20 trln yen as of end-September, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun...

Typhoon strikes Vietnam; toll at 76 in Philippines.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) DANANG, Vietnam (XFN-ASIA) - Typhoon Xangsane hit central Vietnam today, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and cutting electricity and many telephone lines after killing scores of people in the Philippines. ...

More officials sacked in Shanghai corruption investigation - Xinhua.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - The Shanghai corruption scandal that has already seen the fall of some of the financial hub's top politicians has widened, as more government officials were sacked, Xinhua news agency...

Thai junta swears in ex-army chief as premier.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand's junta has sworn in the former chief of the army as prime minister in a military-backed government, after the nation's revered king gave his approval to the appointment, Agence...

SKorea, NKorea agree to resume military talks after 5-month pause.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SEOUL (XFN-ASIA) - Military authorities in North and South Korea have agreed to resume talks for the first time in five months, officials at the defense ministry said here. "The one-day talks open at 10.00 am...

NATO to take command of whole of Afghanistan in a 'few days'.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) KABUL (XFN-ASIA) - NATO said will take command of foreign troops who had been under US authority in eastern Afghanistan in a "few days", completing its expansion across the country. The alliance endorsed the...

Japan to invite China for summit discussions.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Japan's ruling party is to invite Chinese officials this month to examine a possible summit between Tokyo and Beijing which has been suspended since April last year, a party official said. ...

SKorea to become capable of deterring war on peninsula, says Roh.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) GYERYONGDAE, South Korea (XFN-ASIA) - President Roh Moo-Hyun said his military will be capable of playing a leading role in deterring war on the Korean peninsula in the early part of the next decade. "We...

China says US legislation will harm American trade interests.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Beijing has noted the postponement of US legislation aimed at slapping sanctions on China for undervaluing its currency, and again cautioned against new measures, China's commerce ministry...

Australian Muslim leaders call for calm after shot fired at mosque.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - Australian Muslim leaders have appealed for calm after a shot was fired into a crowded mosque in the western city of Perth. Western Australia state police and the country's top spy agency...

Thai military will not interfere in choosing ministers - junta leader.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand's junta leader has sought to reassure the country the military will not interfere in the work of the new prime minister. Coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said he had...

India to give Pakistan evidence of spy role in Bombay blasts.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) NEW DELHI (XFN-ASIA) - India said it will give Pakistan evidence about the alleged involvement of its spy agency and militant groups in the deadly Bombay train bombings in July. Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar...

Main points of Thailand's military-backed interim constitution.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand's junta has enshrined its power in an interim constitution, approved by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, ahead of the formal naming of a new prime minister. The interim charter,...

Thai junta releases four Thaksin aides.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand's junta leader said the military has released four top aides to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had been held since the Sept 19 coup. "They have already been freed...

New Thai PM says will name cabinet in a week.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - The country's new military-backed prime minister Surayud Chulanont said he will need one week to name his cabinet, and that he will focus on the nation's happiness rather than its GDP. "I...

New Thai PM says he had to "take responsibility".
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand's new, military-appointed prime minister said he is not sure if he deserves the job, but had to "take the responsibility" after receiving a mandate from the king. Asked why he...

New Thai PM hopes to end Islamic unrest in one year.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - The new military-backed prime minister said he will try to heal the nation's political divisions and end an Islamic insurgency in the country's south within one year. "Two urgent problems...

EU entrants no cure for Slovak brain drain.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Tom Nicholson Spectator staff Bulgarians and Romanians likely to be drawn more to higher wages in Western countries AS BULGARIA and Romania celebrated the promise of their admission to the European...

Special Court wins reprieve . . . for now.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Tom Nicholson Spectator staff Justice Minister fails to win cabinet approval to send bill scrapping court to parliament JUSTICE Minister Stefan Harabins plans to have parliament pass alaw scrapping...

Slovak-US ties: Carrots, sticks and visa politics.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Martina Jurinova Spectator staff Slovak leaders sharpen rhetoric while backing off on military plans PRIME Minister Robert Ficos socialist cabinet may differ from its right-wing predecessor on most...

Under attack, archives publishes new StB files.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Martina Jurinova Spectator staff National Memory Institute stresses its utility as political criticism grows IN THE MIDST of the uncertainty surrounding Slovakias National Memory Institute (UPN)...

Lexa freed on RemiaS murder charge.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Tom Nicholson Spectator staff Former secret service chief suing Slovakia in Strasbourg SPECIAL Prosecutor DuSan Kovaeik on September 22 drew the curtains on the final act in Slovakias longest running...

Slovakia fourth among new EU members in drawing eurofunds.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) IN THE PERIOD from May 2004 to September 2006, Slovakia used 27. 6 percent of the money allocated to it in cohesion and structural funds from the European Union budget, according to an analysis by European...

Spy files missing from Memory Institute.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports in SHORT THE CASE of the missing secret agent file on Slovak ice hockey federation boss Juraj Siroky has been referred to police for investigation, but not before three other spy...

One third of public procurement unsupervised.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports in SHORT ABOUT one third of public procurement contracts distributed by the central, regional and local governments in Slovakia last year were not supervised or audited by another...

Hedviga Malinova files four more complaints.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports in SHORT THE ETHNIC Hungarian student who claimed to have been beaten up by two Slovak extremists in Nitra on August 25 has filed another four complaints against adecision by the...

Bratislava-Banska Bystrica freeway to cost Sk24bn.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports in SHORT ANOTHER section of the freeway between Bratislava and Banska Bystrica in central Slovakia is to be brought into operation in several weeks, but given that the overall...

Government clears state offices.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports News briefs THE SLOVAK government replaced the heads of around 80 percent of district state offices across the country on September 20. The state employees who were fired had...

Galis appointed sport commissioner.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports News briefs SLOVAKIAs national football team coach and ruling Smer party MP DuSan Galis was appointed the cabinets commissioner for youth and sport on September 20. The...

Study: Slovakia awash in local politicians.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Survey A STUDY by the Conservative Institute think-tank based in Bratislava has exposed Slovakia as "a land of politicians". By September 28, the countrys municipalities were to determine how many council...

The baby and the bathwater.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Editorial THE FICO government is attacking some of the best work done by the previous Dzurinda administration, and is rightly being resisted by the political opposition, the media, NGOs and the diplomatic...

PRESS digest: SME DAILY.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) News item: National Memory Institute admits it has no idea of the whereabouts of several classified files on former StB communist secret service agents, and says the former head of the Institute, Jan LangoS, was...

PRESS digest: PRAVDA DAILY.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) News item: Ruling Smer party MEP Monika Be"ova unlikely to be re-elected party vice-chair during weekend congress. Fico vs MeeiarBy Dag DaniS Ahead of Smers weekend congress, the cards are already on the...

PRESS digest: PRAVDA DAILY.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Collapse of communism complete By Peter Tureik The concept of the European Union that was born in Nice has become a reality. Romania and Bulgaria will become the 26th and 27th member states of the EU, thus...

PRESS digest: TREND WEEKLY.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Conspiracy of the monopolies By FrantiSek Mueka Slovakia will not introduce the euro in 2009 largely because of the countrys insatiable energy monopolies. Given the governments current rhetoric, this will...

Tank scam firm still holds exclusive ministry contract.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Lucia Nicholsonova Special to the Spectator Police forced to shelve Robus tank diversion case as misdemeanour THE MINISTRY of Defense continues to do business, even under its new leadership, with a...

Interview with Rudolf Rusnak, Chairman of Supervisory Board Vice-president for Automotive.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Tom Nicholson, Spectator staff Investment Leaders WHILE known mainly as a tire maker during its first 100 years of existence, the Slovak-owned Matador firm began to diversify with the decision of...

Central bank raises rates.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports Business shorts THE NATIONAL Bank of Slovakia raised key interest rates by 25 basis points to 4. 75 percent on September 26 over concerns regarding inflation and the fiscal...

MPs safe from millionaires tax.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports Business shorts A MILLIONAIRES tax by which people earning higher salaries would pay up to Sk18,000 more to the state budget annually than lower wage earners will not affect...

Bratislava eighth in development outlook.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports Business shorts THE SLOVAK capital Bratislava is expected to be one of the fastest-growing European cities in terms of economic output over the next decade, according to a ranking...

VUB recruits former central bank vice-governor.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports Business shorts ELENA Kohutikova, the former vice governor of the National Bank of Slovakia, is the newest member of the board of directors at VUB, one of Slovakias largest retail...

More tourists visit Slovakia in first half of 2006.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: From press reports Business shorts TOURIST accommodation facilities in Slovakia reported turnover of Sk3. 3 billion in the first half of this year, a 13. 4 percent increase from the same...

Auto firms look to immigration as cure for labour shortage.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Marta Iurianova Spectator staff Automotive - School system needs to address lack of technical graduates, companies say THE SHORTAGE of available labour in certain technical professions has some auto...

Skoda losing ground as luxury models gain.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Marta Iurianova Spectator staff Automotive - New car sales up over 10 percent from last year ANNUAL sales of new cars in Slovakia continue to rise but are still well below average per capita rates in...

Slovakias new carmakers revved up for serial production in 2006.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Marta Iurianova Spectator staff Automotive - VW chugging along, PSA adds second shift, KIA launches trial runs FOUR years ago this September, French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen revealed it was...

Around Slovakia.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Slovakia Municipalities already thinking about the homeless MUNICIPAL councils are already taking measures to avoid a repeat of last winter, when homeless people froze to death in several cities and towns around...

Paludza.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) HISTORY TALKS. . . IN 1681, the Sopron Congress adopted a regulation that allowed Protestants in the Liptov region to build two churches. However, the churches could only be made from wood and...

Culture shorts.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Laban for the 21st century MORE than one hundred dancers from around the world will attend the artistic-educational project Laban for the 21st century in Bratislava between October 6 and 8. "They are looking...

EVENTS COUNTRYWIDE.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) The fourth year of the Minority Film Festival will take place at the Tatra and Mlados cinemas in Bratislava from October 58. The four-day festival opens with the screening of Chaeipe, a Czech film about...

A wonderland of charity and friendship.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Stefan M Hogan Spectator staff "IM LATE," I muttered as I looked at my watch and hopped off a trolleybus at Praska Street, "Im late for a very important date!" I was on my way to cover an event at...

The siren song of modern and classic jazz.
October 1, 2006... (From The Slovak Spectator) Byline: Stefan M Hogan Spectator staff JAZZS power to stir the soul is legendary. But for singers Tina and Yvonne Sanchez, its more than legend: its reality. Both young women can be seen at the Nu...

Strong quake hits border between Russia, Japan.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale struck waters close to the border between Japan and Russia, but there was no threat of a tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency...

Borsa Italiana board to meet next week to examine Deutsche Boerse tie-up.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) MILAN (AFX) - Borsa Italiana SpA, which manages the Milan bourse, will hold a board meeting next week to approve preliminary plans for a merger with Deutsche Boerse AG, the daily Finanza & Mercati said on Saturday...

Sanpaolo, Banca Intesa bring forward board merger clearance to Friday - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) MILAN (AFX) - Sanpaolo IMI SpA and Banca Intesa SpA have decided to bring forward to Friday board meetings to clear their planned merger, the daily Libero said without giving a source. The meetings had been...

Italy govt clears 2007 draft budget to cut public deficit to 2.8 pct of GDP.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) ROME (AFX) - The centre-left government of prime minister Romano Prodi agreed Friday on a draft budget for 2007 aimed at cutting the public deficit to 2.8 pct of GDP. The draft provides for 33.4 bln eur in...

Bidders line up for Ahold's US foods division - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) LONDON (AFX) - Bids are being lined up for the US foodservice division of Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV, with a decision on the sale expected later this month, UK newspaper The Business reported today. The...

Row brews in India over Special Economic Zones.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) NEW DELHI (XFN-ASIA) - A major row is brewing in India over Special Economic Zones (SEZ) which have been touted by the government as a way to lure foreign investment and boost exports, Agence France-Presse...

Israel pulls bulk of troops out of Lebanon.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) AVIVIM, Israel (AFX) - Israel withdrew the bulk of its troops from south Lebanon Sunday, drawing cheers from Lebanese villagers but a warning from the Israeli military it will strike again if Hezbollah militants...

Chevron's Saudi Texaco unit objects to new Kuwait refinery - report.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX UK (Focus)) KUWAIT CITY (AFX) - Saudi Arabian Texaco, the Chevron Corp subsidiary which operates the partitioned neutral zone with Kuwait, has objected to the site of a huge new Kuwaiti oil refinery, Al-Qabas newspaper reported...

Some 155 passengers, crew feared killed in Boeing crash in Brazil.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BRASILIA (AFX) - It is feared all 155 people aboard a Brazilian airliner were killed when the Boeing 737 crashed in a remote, densely forested area in what would be the country's deadliest air disater. ...

Iran backs OPEC moves to bolster oil prices.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TEHRAN (AFX) - Iran said Sunday it will support any OPEC moves to "solidify" the oil market and bolster plunging crude prices amid unilateral cuts by members and calls for an output quota reduction by the cartel....

Iran MP says Japan oil deal 'to be cancelled'.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TEHRAN (AFX) - The head of the Iranian parliament's energy commission said Saturday Tehran would cancel a 2 bln usd contract signed with Japan's Inpex to develop its largest onshore oil field after a string of...

Vertex brings life and pensions manufacturing and distribution solutions closer.
October 1, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Newslink dropped in to interview Vertex Financial Services a year after meeting up with new managing director, Andy Hunt, just after the acquisition of Marlborough Stirling. Propositions and business...

RSA to exit US as UK takeover rumours fly.
October 1, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) Royal & Sun Alliance has agreed to sell its remaining US business to management through buyout vehicle, Arrowpoint Capital, for a deferred consideration of UKP158m. However, the sale will result in a net loss...

AMS Services acquires PRIORITY Data Systems and announces alliance with ChoicePoint.
October 1, 2006... (From InsuranceNewslink.com) AMS Services today announced it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with ChoicePoint and simultaneously announced the acquisition of PRIORITY Data Systems-PRIORITY is an Omaha, Nebraska-based provider of...

Barclays to double Portuguese branches within a year.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) LISBON (AFX) - UK banking group Barclays PLC will double its branches in Portugal in the next year from 86 at present to 174 by September 2007, Rui Semedo, the head of Barclays' Portuguese division, told the...

EU hopes for air data deal with US on Thursday after missing deadline.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BRUSSELS (AFX) - The EU hopes to reach agreement with the US this week over the transfer of airline passenger data, the European Commission announced Sunday, despite missing a deadline which creates a legal vacuum...

Britvic denies any bid approach amid reports of impending 600 mln stg offer.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) LONDON (AFX) - Britvic PLC stressed that it has not been contacted by any potential bidders, following speculation this weekend that private equity house Permira is set to table a 600 mln stg bid for the soft...

Amnesty for coup leaders in new Thai constitution.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - A military-backed interim constitution endorsed by Thailand's king will give amnesty to the leaders of last month's coup, the ruling junta said. Article 37 of the constitution, which was...

India launches campaign to stamp out child labor.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) NEW DELHI (XFN-ASIA) - India is to launch a massive campaign this week making it clear that child labor, which activists fear could affect up to 60 mln children in the South Asian nation, is to be outlawed. ...

US mulls fate of Thai 'Cobra Gold' war games.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) WASHINGTON (XFN-ASIA) - The United States is mulling the fate of the annual "Cobra Gold" war games it co-sponsors with Thailand, after stripping 24 mln usd in military aid last week from its ally over the military...

Misys bid talks collapse; reports claim CEO Lomax set to go.
October 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) LONDON (AFX) - Bid talks at Misys PLC have ended after the software company failed to receive any offers, prompting newspaper speculation chief executive Kevin Lomax is set to quit and raising the prospect of a...