Radovan Karadzic will challenge the appointment of a lawyer to represent him at his war crimes trial, his spokesman said today.

FORMER Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has had a British lawyer appointed to represent him at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has had a British lawyer appointed to represent him at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane have engaged two leading British human rights lawyers in their battle for a full public inquiry into his killing.

The UK boss of Norwich Union insurer Aviva quit the business today.

The driving force behind the creation of Norwich Union insurer Aviva today revealed he planned to leave the FTSE 100 Index company in the summer.

Norwich Union owner Aviva today said it is buying US life insurer AmerUs for $2.9bn (€2.3bn) in a deal that will boost the UK firm’s presence in the US.

The FTSE 100 Index slipped into the red today as it gave up early gains which had seen it power through the 6000 mark.

More than £2.1 billion was added to the value of Prudential today after Aviva published terms of its plan to create the world’s fifth largest insurer.

Norwich Union owner Aviva said today it was unwilling to table a hostile bid for Prudential despite having a £17bn (€24.5bn) proposal knocked back by its rival’s board.

Norwich Union owner Aviva today put pressure on rival insurer Prudential to come to the negotiating table by revealing the terms of its proposed £17bn (€24.5bn) takeover.

Norwich Union owner Aviva was today said to be planning to bolster its pursuit of Prudential after its rival rejected a £17bn (€24.5bn) takeover bid.

Life and pensions provider Aviva has announced half-year profits of £1.32bn (€1.9bn) today following strong performances in general insurance and at its European arm.

Norwich Union owner Aviva today said a gradual pick-up in consumer confidence helped UK sales of its life and pension products return to growth in 2004.

IMPROVED pension sales boosted revenues at Hibernian Life and Pensions for the first nine months of the year, the company’s British parent said yesterday.

Financial services company Aviva is to sell its general insurance businesses in Asia to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance for £249m (€366.2m) in cash.

AVIVA plc, the owner of Hibernian Insurance, said yesterday first-half net income fell 28% as the value of its investments declined.

Norwich Union insurance group Aviva unveiled a 37% rise in half-year profits today after seeing confidence return to the long-term savings market.

Britain’s biggest insurer Aviva may sell your-move.co.uk a real estate agency with 300 branches, to the unit’s managers, said people familiar with the matter.

Life and pensions company Aviva has confirmed that 46-year-old Andrew Moss will take up his new position as group finance director on May 10, 2004.

European insurance leader Aviva plc today released preliminary results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2003.

A former soldier who claimed he shot a nail-bomber on Bloody Sunday told the Saville Inquiry today it was possible he missed his intended target and shot the wrong man.

BRITAIN’S largest insurer Aviva reported a drop in profit yesterday, cut its dividend as expected but reassured about future payments a day after rival Prudential abandoned its pledge to keep raising its payout.

Lord Saville today slammed late moves to introduce new photographic evidence after the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was held up for an hour.

The chairman of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, Lord Saville, said he does not believe any genuine claims for anonymity in the inquiry have been prejudiced.