MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands in UK media.

Headlines:
Desire Oil narrows pre-tax loss; Carrier is flagship for battle commemoration; Falklands' hero takes centre stage.

Desire Oil narrows pre-tax loss

Desire Petroleum PLC reported a narrowed pre-tax loss for the year to end-December and said the development of its North Falklands Basin licences in the South Atlantic has been hampered by the effects of the Iraq war on the global economy and oil prices. The group reported a full year pre-tax loss of 377,000 stg, against a 7.1 mln stg loss a year ago. The operating loss was 383,000 stg, against 861,000 previously. The basic loss per share reduced from 6.83p to 0.35p. "The board has continued to conserve the company's financial resources and overheads have been reduced yet further," the company said. Desire said, despite the difficulties associated with raising additional funding due to the state of world stock markets, it has sufficient cash resources to meet its forward commitments

Carrier is flagship for battle commemoration

The flagship of the Battle of the Atlantic commemorations sailed into the Mersey. The aircraft carrier HMS Invincible was one of nine ships from seven countries arriving in the river this morning for the 60th anniversary event. Invincible will not be open to the public because she is not moored alongside the shore, but many of the other ships - which have come from Poland, France, Germany, Norway, Belgium and Holland - will put down the gangplank for visitors. Invincible, one of the Navy's three aircraft carriers, was built at Barrow in 1973, and launched by the Queen 25 years ago. Invincible served with distinction in the Falklands, and in the 1995 Bosnian conflict. She has just undergone an extensive refit at the Royal Naval Yards at Rosyth. A spokesman for the Battle of the Atlantic Committee said: "Invincible provides an absolutely stunning backdrop to the Battle of the Atlantic commemorations. "It is a real tribute to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy veterans and all those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic that Invincible should be on Merseyside." The present Invincible is the sixth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She weighs 20,000 tonnes, is 210m in length and 35m at her widest point. The ship can carry up to 24 aircraft and carries medium range sea-to-air weapons. She is also equipped with 30mm "Goal-keeper" automatic guns. (BBC).-

Falklands' hero takes centre stage

A soldier left with a legacy of facial burns from the Falklands War in 1982 is coming to Bedworth to help raise funds for a home for disabled ex-servicemen and women. Simon Weston will be hosting An Evening with Simon Weston OBE at Bedworth Civic Hall on Thursday, July 17, in aid of the Royal Star & Garter Home in Surrey. Alex Mackintosh, of Warwick, who is co-ordinating the event, said: "We are delighted that Simon is able to come and give a talk this summer. "He is a truly inspirational person and I can guarantee there will be much laughter and tears as he tells the story of his life, and comments on some of the current issues of the day from his own unique perspective." He said Bedworth had been chosen for the event because of its proud ex-service traditions, including its annual Armistice Day parade. Simon Weston became a much-publicised casualty of the war, serving with the Welsh Guards, when his troopship, the Sir Galahad, was bombed by Argentinian planes. He was aged just 20 at the time and has since under-gone a total of 59 operations for his burns injuries. Tickets for the evening are priced £7.50, or £6 concessionary, and are available from the Civic Hall box. (BBC)