Stories for October 30th 2009

Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 06:46 UTC
EU unemployment soars to 9.2%: 22 million out of work

Figures from the Europe Union's statistics office show that consumer prices in the Euro zone fell for the fifth month in a row in October while the unemployment rate for September rose again.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 06:39 UTC
British government sacks chief drugs’ advisor

The British government's chief drugs adviser has been forced to resign in the wake of the row over the dangers of class A drugs. Home Secretary Alan Johnson asked Professor David Nutt to resign as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), saying he had “lost confidence” in his ability to give impartial advice.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 06:06 UTC
Colombia and US sign bases’ agreement in closed doors ceremony

Colombia and the United States signed Friday in Bogotá the controversial agreement that allows US military personnel to be stationed at seven (land, air, sea) military bases in Washington’s closest ally in the region.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 06:03 UTC
Methane gas more of a villain on climate change than estimated

The impacts of methane on climate change have been significantly underestimated, say scientists at Columbia University and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre. This effect is now thought to be one third higher than previous estimates.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 05:32 UTC
Chilean Central bank could begin hiking interest rate next second quarter

The Chilean central bank will likely begin hiking the benchmark interest rate, currently at a record low 0.5%, in the second quarter of next year, according to the minutes of its October monetary policy meeting released Wednesday.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 01:24 UTC
Spectacular take off for Shenzhen’s ChiNext market for small companies

The price of shares for all 28 firms on China's new Nasdaq-style stock market more than doubled when it opened for trading for the first time on Friday. The ChiNext stock market is designed to attract financing for small to medium sized enterprises.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 01:20 UTC
Gibraltar promotes tourism in Madrid with Spanish airline support

The Gibraltar Tourist Board held a tourism workshop in Madrid, Spain this week, in conjunction with Ándalus Líneas Aéreas, as part of the Rock’s government’s commitment to an ongoing joint marketing drive with the airline in Spain.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 01:16 UTC
Zelaya and Micheletti agree to deal to end the institutional crisis

The de facto Honduran government has agreed to an eight point deal that may allow ousted President Manuel Zelaya to return to power ahead of elections next month. Unite States diplomats have been in the country to mediate an end to the four-month-old crisis.
Saturday, October 31st 2009 - 00:12 UTC
Falklands Fisheries research vessel surveys hake, hoki and grenadier

Falkland Islands Fisheries Research vessel Castelo returns to FIPASS on Monday after two weeks at sea carrying out surveys in the southwest of the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation Zone (FICZ).
Friday, October 30th 2009 - 22:13 UTC
State of the art HMS Scott takes over Ice Patrol HMS Endurance Antarctica duties

The Royal Navy's advanced deep water survey ship HMS Scott was deployed this week to the Antarctic for the first time. She will take over patrolling and surveying duties in Antarctica and the South Atlantic from Ice Patrol HMS Endurance.