Stories for April 28th 2004

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Four years in prison for Cuban blind dissident.

Blind Cuban dissident Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva was sentenced to four years in prison after having been declared guilty of disrespect for the country's President Fidel Castro who has been in power over forty years.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Inflation down, unemployment up in Brazil.

The extended consumer price index in Brazil experienced a 0,21% increase during April, the lowest this year, according to the latest release from the Brazilian Statistics and Geography Institute, IBGE. In March the index was 0,40%.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Port costs: Punta Arenas loosing to Ushuaia.

Magallanes Senator Sergio Fernandez has requested Punta Arenas official to review overall docking costs for cruise vessels and make them more competitive with Ushuaia in Argentina that has virtually monopolized the industry.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Lan record profit in first quarter.

Lan Chile profits in the first quarter reached an all time record of 48,1 million US dollars, a 123% increase over the same period a year ago, according to an official release from the Chilean flag carrier.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Carabineros, the most trusted Chilean institution.

The Chilean militarized police, Carabineros, is the institution most trusted by Chilean public opinion followed closely by the audiovisual media, while political parties figure in the bottom of the list, according to an opinion poll recently published in Santiago.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Argentine hake hubbsi catch quotas in 15 days time.

Authorities from the Argentine fishery sector anticipated that quotas for hake hubbsi catches will be announced within 15 days upon reaching the expiration of the January quota restrictions. According to Fisheries and Aquaculture Under-secretary Gerardo Nieto there already exists an “initial agreement with all sectors involved.”

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

No re-negotiation of 1999 agreement, say Falkland's Councillors.

Falklands Councillors have refuted reported Argentine Government suggestions that the 1999 Joint Statement will be re-negotiated every 5 years, and is due for renewal this year.

Wednesday, April 28th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

FIBS Breaking News.

Former Falklands Governors David Tatham and William Fullerton are among a group of former ambassadors who have today published a high-profile open letter to Tony Blair criticising his policy in the Middle East.