Stories for March 18th 2009

Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 06:19 UTC
UK jobless 2.03 million, worst since Labour took power in 1997

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed “personal regret” for every person who loses their job - as unemployment surged above the two million mark for the first time in 12 years.
Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 06:08 UTC
Condoms essential to fight AIDS epidemics says UN

With over 7,400 new HIV infections daily, comprehensive approaches – including condom use – are essential to stop the spread of the AIDS epidemic, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said Wednesday, warning that there is no “single magic bullet” for prevention.
Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 05:18 UTC
Argentine squid fleet complains about costs, poor catches and unfair competition

Companies dedicated to squid (Illex argentinus) fishing still find themselves in a critical situation mainly due to an increase in fishing costs, warned this week the head of the Argentine Chamber of Jigger Fishing Vessels Shipowners (CAPA), Fernando Georgiadis.
Thursday, March 19th 2009 - 04:44 UTC
Falkland Islanders ‘have treated us kindly’ say visiting Argentine veterans

ARGENTINE war veterans visiting the Falkland Islands have been treated with, “…respect and kindness,” by Islanders, Marcelo Gustavo Sanchez of Centro de Veteranos de Guerra de Lujan, told Mercopress.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 15:39 UTC
Cruise industry expects 2009 to be weakest in five years

Growth in the cruise travel industry in 2009 is forecast to be the weakest in five years as the recession holds down household spending and widespread job loss hurts operations of the major cruise lines. However the industry’s leaders remain upbeat.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 15:32 UTC
New natural gas discovery in Tierra del Fuego

Latinamerican oil and gas explorer GeoPark Holdings Ltd (GPK.L) announced this week that tests at its newly drilled gas well in southern Chile were “successful” and that it planned to drill seven to nine new wells in 2009.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 15:29 UTC
AIG gives bonuses and challenges US president and Congress

Huge bonuses paid out by ailing insurer AIG will be deducted from the firm's next bail-out payment, the US treasury secretary says. In a letter to congressmen, Timothy Geithner said 165 million US dollars would be taken from 30 billion the firm is due to get as part of its government bail-out.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 15:20 UTC
Argentina prepares to take over US air industry plant in Cordoba

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced Tuesday she will send Congress a bill to re-nationalize the Military Aircraft Manufacturing Centre, a defence contractor currently controlled by US Lockheed Martin Corp.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 13:54 UTC
Falkland Oil & Gas and Billiton ready to drill in Falklands’ waters

Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd (FOGL.L), which has a farm-in-deal with BHP Billiton, said on Tuesday it expected to be “drill ready” by the end of the third quarter or early 2010. The announcement was made after having posted a narrower full-year pre-tax loss.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 - 08:18 UTC
Bank of England calls for urgent G-20 “joint commitment” on stimulus plans

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has issued a rallying cry for joined-up international efforts to pull the global economy out of a “sudden, severe and simultaneous” downturn.