Europe

Boosted by strong demand in the UK, registrations rose 1.8 percent to 1.08 million, compared to figures released at this time last year.

April’s increase is the first since September 2011, yet without UK sales, which were up 15 percent, registrations would have recorded another fall.

Demand for new cars across Europe fell to a 17-year low last year, with most economies weak, or in recession, and unemployment hitting record highs. For the first four months of 2013, overall volumes are down seven percent, compared with the same period a year ago.

Before he established Er-Bakir, A. Nuri Erikoglu had already forged his own reputation through the building of hand-crafted home purpose copper products including boilers, braisers and trays. A visionary in many ways, Erikoglu was one of very few individuals to foresee the future potential of copper. With this vision and his unique entrepreneurial spirit he would go on to create Er-Bakir with the mission of producing copper wire in electric cable, a product now used on a mass global scale in all areas of life.

Few companies can provide a dedicated team-led approach to decommissioning like Optimus. The Aberdeen-based oil and gas engineering consultancy has gone from strength to strength since it launched Optimus Decom in 2010, a subsidiary established to meet growing demand for its engineering services for the decommissioning of on and offshore oil and gas facilities.

The first line on Madrid’s underground railway network, the Metro de Madrid, was inaugurated on the 17th October 1919 by King Alfonso XIII. It had eight stations along 3.3 kilometres of track. Ever since that date the Metro has experienced progressive growth, which has made access possible to the majority of the capital's districts and to some of the most important municipalities in the metropolitan area. Today it is the sixth longest metro system in the world, with 300 stations and 292 kilometres of track, 90 percent of it underground.

Manchester United had previous held the top spot every year since the list was first compiled in 2004, however its value according to Forbes of $3.17 billion has fallen behind that of the Spanish giants which is now totalled at $3.3 billion.

From the spectacle of Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church to the iconic Camp Nou stadium, the city of Barcelona is home to a countless number of stunning sights and experiences that make it one of the most popular city break destinations anywhere in the world.

The prototype tube lighting LED is said to be twice as efficient as those currently used in offices and industry across the globe, while offering the same amount of light.

Lighting is believed to account for almost 20 percent of global electricity consumption, therefore being able to halve the amount of energy used could potential bring huge cost and energy savings. The prototype tube lighting produces 200 lumens per watt (200lm/W) compared with 100lm/W for equivalent strip lighting and 15lm/W for traditional light bulbs.

The deal, which has been announced as being worth 7.5 billion euros, will see JAB adding the brand to what is already an impressive stable of similar products including Caribou Coffee and Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

JAB was already the largest shareholder in DE Master Blenders, which itself also owns Senseo coffee and Pickwick Tea, with a stake of more than 15 percent.

The move comes as Opel, which is also recognised for carrying the badge of Vauxhall in the UK, enters its fourteenth year of losing money. This long period of making loses has sparked a great deal of speculation that the business might be sold.

Despite these rumours, GM’s chief executive, Dan Akerson said: “As a global automotive company, GM needs a strong presence in Europe and therefore we see Opel as key to our success. As such it continues to enjoy the full support of its parent company.”