Europe Intelligence Wire articles from September 2008, page 566

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from September 2008

There was a young poet from Great Houghton...
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) The Bard of Barnsley is publishing a collection of poems which tell the story of his life growing up in Darfield. It also explains how he developed a love of writing.Ian said: "My parents met as pen pals, dad...

Poor 'forced to pay more for energy'.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Eight million people in the UK do not have a bank account face higher prices for gas, electricity and water because they don't have a bank account and can't pay by direct debit.The Conservatives say if they...

Fun day had serious side.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) The event at Broadfield Park in Sharrow also marked the launch of the new Abbeydale Communities Together group called ACTion.Formed in June, the group aims to find out what services and developments residents...

Golf buggy man injured.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Tony Belshaw The 19-year-old Barnsley man was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital where he was detained.The golf buggy, which was modified with a fitted engine, overturned on a car park in...

Football fans arrested.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Tony Belshaw Fans had to be separated by officers when they clashed on Bramall Lane near the corner of Cherry Street at around 5pm.Police are investigating whether bottles were thrown at a coach...

Sheffield lab admits pregnancy test failures.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) More than 50 women had to be re-tested for sexually transmitted infections when infections were not picked up by the blood transfusion laboratory.Six women from Sheffield were re-tested and a smaller number...

Mum's tribute to a fallen RAF hero - PICTURES.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Tony Belshaw But this year standing by the graveside of her fallen son RAF serviceman son Christopher Bridge his mum Nicolette Williams felt enormous pride.RAF serviceman Christopher Bridge, aged...

The march of the Goths - PICTURES.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Tony Belshaw The green was a sea of black as around a hundred 'Goths' assembled for a march around the city centre in a plea for tolerance from a society they feel gives them little respect....

Blades star's house raided as family slept.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Claire Lewis The 44-year-old footballer, his partner Germaine Smith and daughters Molly, 14, and Macie, three, were asleep when thieves broke into the detached property off Ecclesall Road...

Crash mum and daughter improving.
September 1, 2008... (From The Star (Sheffield)) Byline: Claire Lewis Anita Abbott, aged 29, of Wordsworth Avenue, Parson Cross, suffered a fractured pelvis, dislocated leg and internal injuries in the crash and was rushed to an intensive care unit at...

Cyclist pedals to Lakes - 300 times!
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Nature lover Tony O'Dwyer says he first completed the Wigan to Windermere marathon three decades ago.And he has been hooked on the event ever since.Tony, now 51, fitted an odometer to his bike when he brought the...

School holidays to stay the same.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) That's the pledge to parents of Wigan's 20,000 primary and high school pupils and their teachers from a special group due to report to ruling Metro councillors.The School Working Pattern Consultation Group says the...

Gang steal skip from firm.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: Andrew Cooney Thieves had broken into the premises through the front gate using bolt-cutters and made off with a large front-loading skip worth AGBP1,500 and about seven tons of scrap metal inside worth...

Schoolgirl celebrates decade free of cancer.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: Richard Bean When Jamee-Lea Morris was three years old, doctors discovered she was suffering from Wilms disease a" a rare form of cancer.Her devastated family feared the worst but pledged to do all they...

Teen rape victim speaks out.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) The brave 15-year-old from Preston spoke out for the first time after John Fishwick, 27, formerly of Snowdon Avenue, Wigan, was jailed for nine years at Burnley Crown Court.As well as an eight-year sentence for...

D-day for debate on traffic charge.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) The long-awaited referendum is now scheduled to take place on December 11, a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) has confirmed.If accepted, the proposals will bring an investment of...

Bid to save a play area.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: Natalie Walker The children's play area at the bottom of Crawford Avenue, was once a pleasant park for children with a slide, swings and a roundabout.But it has become a hot spot for anti-social...

Youngster's model wish comes true.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: Charles Graham Now the brave Wigan schoolgirl and her family are hoping she is entering a new and less troubled future after the latest bout of surgery for a brain tumour.Ciara, from Standish, was first...

Vandals wreck swing for disabled.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) In the latest incident a section of the protective rubber flooring that lies underneath the swing was torn up.The swing is on a play area off Montrose Avenue, Norley Hall, opposite Westfield Community Primary...

Kajagoogoo back together.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: Chris Wilkinson Fronted by Pemberton-born singer Limahl, the 80s pop fivesome have decided they are not "Too Shy" to have a second bite at the pop cherry and will play a string of concerts, which started...

Police warning to drug pushers.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Blocks of cannabis resin with a street value of more than AGBP10,000 were seized in a recent raid on a home in the Worsley Hall area.Another small cannabis farm was found at another address nearby.Two men and a...

Ambulance crew shake-up fears.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) Byline: RIchard Bean Worried paramedics have contacted a Metro councillor over fears that the lives of accident victims could be put at risk under reorganisation plans.Now Hindley Green Coun Bob Brierley is...

Woman jailed for assault on baby boy.
September 1, 2008... (From Wigan Observer) A court heard that when Kerenza Bradburn was investigated over the assault she falsely claimed she had been attacked and raped in an attempt to throw police off the trail.But the 35-year-old of Rugby Road, Leigh,...

Bootle 1, Padiham 0.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) And so it proved with only an error of judgement and a clinical finish deciding the outcome in the Merseysiders' favour.Chances came and went throughout the game with Bootle giving the Storks and early scare when...

Thompson Park murder trial starts.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) Following an hour-and-a-half delay, caused by a mix-up over which court one of the defendants was to be taken to, the processing of selecting a jury began.The case, being heard at Manchester Crown Court, is...

Thug attacks man for mobile phone.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) The victim was assaulted in Briercliffe Road, near the junction with Marsden Road, at 10-45 p.m. yesterday, on his way back from the Prairie Pub in Keswick Road, Burnley.He was approached from behind and the...

Crowds at Burnley's sixth Community Festival.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) Despite the rain, hundreds of people of all ages, including Mayor Coun. Ida Carmichael, came together for the family event.Organised by Burnley Council and partner agencies, there was something for everyone, with...

Dad-of-seven murder trial - first day.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) The first day of the trial into the death of Mr Mohammed Raja Shafiq went ahead at Manchester Crown Court where four people stand accused of his murder and of violent disorder.It is alleged Mr Shafiq was stabbed...

Police hand out condoms to Burnley clubbers.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) The campaign, part of Operation Summer Nights, is a joint project between Lancashire Police and Lancashire Primary Care Trust which sees clubbers handed a plastic duffle bag containing personal safety literature, a...

Police under attack at out-of-control Burnley house party.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) They were called to an address in Grange Street around 4 a.m. after neighbours complained about the noise.Officers went into the property but as they made their way back to their patrol cars they were pelted with...

Inglorious start for Glory.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) Four goals from Struthers helped see them hammered 12-1 by Rosegrove Unity, with Clark also bagging a hat-trick.Cawley netted twice in the Second Division clash, with Hampson, Taylor and Monkhouse completing the...

Burnley Crime File September 1st.
September 1, 2008... (From Burnley Express) Items taken included a lap-top computer, an X-Box, a JVC camcorder, two playstations, a handbag and purse, cash, a Nintendo DS and games and a Sony Ericsson, LG and Samsung mobile phones.A tractor mower was stolen...

AAA Auto plans to return to a profit next year.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) AAA Auto (Czech Republic), used car shop, plans to return to a profit again in 2009. The company had a loss of EUR 7.8 mil, about CEK 190 mil in 1H 2008, as compared with a profit of EUR 2.9...

Proceeds of the company Remak are by one third higher.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Remak (Roznov pod Radhostem, Czech Republic), manufacturer of e uipment for air conditioning and heating, reached proceeds of CEK 724 mil in 2007, by 32% more year-on-year. The company...

Cigarette prices will not increase during the next two years.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Philip Morris (Kutna Hora, Czech Republic), cigarette manufacturer, saw a consolidated profit of CEK 625 mil during 1H 2008, 29% less compared to 1H 2007. The firm is investing in its plant...

Demand for lager increases on beer market.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Czech Republic: Some 1.9 mil hl of beer were exported in 1H 2008, raise nearly by 8% year-on-year. About 1.4 mil hl of this amount was lager, which is very demanded abroad. More than 400 beer...

CEZ produced more "green energy" this year.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) CEZ (Prague, Czech Republic), power group, produced over 1 TWh of electricity from renewable sources in the Czech Republic and Poland in 1H 2008. It was by 39% more than in 1H 2007. Energy...

CSA decreases its loss.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Ceske aerolinie (CSA) (Prague, Czech Republic), Czech Airlines, wants to see a slight profit in 2008 compared to losses for the last few years. The firm saw a loss of only CEK 178 mil for 1H...

The largest players are interested in the Prague's stock exchange.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Burza cennych papiru Praha (BCPP) (Prague, Czech Republic), stock exchange, has seen the demand of important firms, which would like to buy BCPP. They are Nasda (US), New York Stock Exchange...

The shops Zabka go out of the border of Prague.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Zabka (Poland), trade chain, has been operating in Prague, Czech Republic, since Apr 2008 and is heading out of Prague currently. The first shop Zabka out of Prague was set up in Slany in Aug...

Skoda Auto prepares a small cheap car for India.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Skoda Auto (SA) (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic), automotive company, would like to launch eight new models of its cars to the Indian market during the next five years. One of them should be...

Royal Bank of Scotland instead of ABM AMRO.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), bank giant, will enter the Czech bank market in 2008. RBS bought ABN AMRO (Netherlands) including its Czech branch in 2007. The branch will be renamed to RBS in...

Billions of Czech crowns go to railways modernization.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Sprava zeleznicni dopravni cesty (SZDC) (Czech Republic), railways management company, will modernize railway lines to allure new transporters. The firm should invest CEK 27 bil in the...

Maso Plana increased proceeds but its profit decreased.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Maso Plana (MP) (Plana nad Luznici, Czech Republic), meat processing firm, increased its proceeds by 36% to CEK 2.35 bil in 2007 compared to 2006. The proceeds growth was supported by the ac...

Bakala has bought Economia.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Economia (Prague, Czech Republic), economic publishing house, has a new majority owner. The Czech businessman Zdenek Bakala has bought more than 88% of shares in Economia, publisher of the...

Sport offensive.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Lifestyle Sports (LS) (Ireland), chain of sport goods shops, finally took control over the chain City Sport (Czech Republic) in the middle of 2008. LS bought 22 shops City Sport in 2007 and...

Sportisimo increases proceeds.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Sportisimo (Czech Republic), sport goods chain, expects its turnover to increase to CEK 1.5 bil in 2008 as compared with CEK 1.1 bil in 2007. Sportisimo increased its proceeds by about 40%/y...

Paid dividends last year and this year.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) >TB Czech Republic: Dividends of important companies in hands of foreign owners in 2007 and 2006, CEK bil: Company Owner Property Dividends share, % for 2007 for 2006...

Skoda Auto is the best known Czech company.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Skoda Auto (SA) (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic), automotive company, plans to increase its sales to 1 mil cars/y in the following years. It has been selling over 600,000 cars/y so far. SA...

Bakala has newspapers.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Economia (Prague, Czech Republic), economical and special press publisher, has a new owner. It is the billionaire Zdenek Bakala. He has ac uired Economia mainly from the publishing house...

Zentiva has broken up.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Zentiva (Czech Republic), pharmaceutical company, has broken up. It has transferred its highest management with administrative of nearly 300 people to the newly established company Zentiva...

Idiada has tested a new Fabia in Spain.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Idiada CZ (Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic), development solutions supplier for automotive industry, was established in Jan 2008 by merger of Applus Airon Technic and a business part of...

Nkt Cables to dismiss 130 employees in tle Czech Republic.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Nkt Cables (Denmark), cable manufacturer, will dismiss 130 employees in the Czech Republic for the reasons of the strong Czech crown and the drop of the building market. Nkt Cables, which has...

AU Optronics will build an assembly plant in the Czech Republic.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) AU Optronics (Taiwan), the third largest LCD display manufacturer in the world, plans to build an assembly plant in the Czech Republic. The firm's management agreed on 04 Sep 2008 the plan...

Proman Chrudim: demanded shelves for logistic centres.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Proman (Chrudim, Czech Republic), shelf system manufacturer, expects proceeds of about CEK 0.5 bil in 2008. In Poland, the firm has won a contract worth EUR 800,000. Proman will e uip the...

Farming land area decreases, farmers do not like it.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Czech Republic: Nearly 130,000 ha of farming land decreased in 2003-2007. Area of arable soil decreased by 2.7% in 2005-2007. Using of uality farming land in lowlands for building is the main...

Would you like to have 120 billion?
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Skoda Auto (SA) (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic), automotive company, bought manufacturing material worth CEK 120 bil in 2007, 61% of this amount will be supplied by Czech suppliers. SA...

New lines for cars.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) ZDB Group (Bohumin, Czech Republic), metallurgical company, started operation of five new lines for wire manufacturing for automotive industry in 2008. Its investment costs reached nearly CEK...

State reached a surplus but lower than last year.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Czech Republic: The state managed with a surplus of CEK 5.3 bil st the end of Aug 2008 as compared with a surplus of CEK 22.2 bil in the same period in 2007. The Ministry of Finance expects...

Scotch bank is going to the Czech Republic.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) (UK), bank, is entering the Czech bank market. RSB will work mainly in firm and investment banking sector in the Czech Republic. Space for expansion of any...

Czech canned beer consumption increase.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Czech Republic: The share of canned beer in the beer production of Czech breweries for the domestic market increased to 3.2% during 1H 2008 compared to 1.7% for 1H 2007, according to the...

Skoda prepares a car worth CEK 115,000.
September 1, 2008... (From Access Czech Republic Business Bulletin) Skoda Auto (SA) (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic), automotive company, plans to launch eight new models of its cars to the Indian market within five years. SA expects India to become one of...

Dexia shares gain 3% as investors welcome Q2 results (Dexia assure navoir aucun projet de recapitalisation).
September 1, 2008... (From Les Echos) Shares in Dexia climbed 3 per cent to close at 9.69 euros in Brussels yesterday, as investors cheered the Franco-Belgian bank's encouraging second-quarter results. Net profit (group share) plunged 32 per cent to 532m...

Bollore suffers 61% drop in H1 net profit (Le resultat net de Bollore a chute de 61,7 % au premier semestre).
September 1, 2008... (From Les Echos) French conglomerate Bollore suffered a 61.7 per cent drop in net profit to 140m euros in the first half of 2008, despite a capital gain of 358m euros on the sale of a 3.6 per cent stake in steel tube manufacturer...

Vinci confident it can meet 2008 targets (Vinci confirme ses objectifs pour 2008).
September 1, 2008... (From Les Echos) French construction and public works group Vinci has confirmed its targets for the year after reporting a 12 per cent increase in operating profit in the first half of 2008. The group is targeting turnover growth of...

Greenlight fails to block Natixis rights issue (Greenlight joue les trouble-fete a lassemblee generale de Natixis).
September 1, 2008... (From Les Echos) Shareholders of French corporate and investment bank Natixis approved the bank's planned capital increase at an extraordinary general meeting on Friday, despite the best efforts of Greenlight Capital to block the...

Norbert Dentressangle posts growth in turnover and operating profit (Norbert Dentressangle : recul de 36 % du benefice net semestriel).
September 1, 2008... (From Les Echos) Norbert Dentressangle, the French transport and logistics company, reported a 36 per cent drop in net profit in the first half of the year, largely due to its acquisition of the UK's Christian Salvesen last year....