Stories for February 2003

Friday, February 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Army to ensure a peaceful Carnival

With the support of the Armed Forces, Brazilian Police have launched a huge security operation to protect the carnival in Rio de Janeiro which has been threatened by spiralling violence between drugs gangs.

Friday, February 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Breaking News.

Headlines: Mixed inflation readings in Brazil; Record year for Brazilian agriculture; Anthrax case in Chile; Small farmers unite to export organic.

Friday, February 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

More EU funds to scrap hake fleet ...

The European Commission is following the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform with a proposal to create an additional EUR 32 million fund for decommissioning hake and cod vessels by reprogramming structural funds for the period 2004-2006. The proposal, subject to Council of Ministers and European Parliament approval, aims to redirect Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) vessel construction and modernisation funds towards fleet reduction

Friday, February 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Amid a bitterly divided U.N.

Security Council, Chile and Mexico joined Thursday in calling on the body's five permanent members to look for ways to surmount their differences on Iraq.

Friday, February 28th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Penguin News Update

Headlines: Stanley's rapid repair team mend Around Alone yacht; Abattoir volumes up; Camp sports week; Cruise vessel visits.

Thursday, February 27th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Toxins made by peat.

Humans have been putting highly toxic chemicals into the environment by burning peat for centuries, scientists say. Today, large amounts of these dioxins are released from waste incinerators, but research shows we have been exposed to these toxins since even before the industrial revolution.

Thursday, February 27th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Fisheries News.

Headlines:Agreement boosts Chilean salmon exports to Japan; Galician fishermen back to work; Argentine shrimp exports down in 2002; Modern marine bio-technology centre in Vigo; Argentina lifts restrictions on Ecuadorian tuna; EU drops salmon dumping investigation; Cantabrian and north-western fishing limits modified.

Thursday, February 27th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Coal viability project in Punta Arenas.
US consumer confidence collapse.

Corfo, the official Chilean promotion corporation was granted a fifteen years mining lease in an island rich in coal reserves to the north of Punta Arenas. If exploratory geological surveying in the “Estancia Invierno” complex of Riesco Island concession indicates the commercial viability of the project, exploitation is expected to begin in twelve months.

Thursday, February 27th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Brazil's Lula faces first strike threats

The Brazilian government on Wednesday began meeting with civil-service unions that have called for pay hikes and threatened to hold what may be the first strikes since socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office.

Wednesday, February 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Argentine passport problem.

A forgotten passport, left behind in Rio Grande, curtailed a planned long weekend in the Falklands for a group of Argentine private pilot enthusiasts.