Stories for October 1st 2003

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Unemployment in Punta Arenas 8,6%.

Magallanes Region recorded 8,4% unemployment in the June-August quarter, a 0,1% drop over the same period a year ago, according to the latest release from the Chilean Statistics Institute, INE. However in Punta Arenas unemployment reached 8,6%, which is higher than in other counties of the Region.

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Petrobras half century.

Petrobras the giant Brazilian government oil complex celebrates this week its fiftieth anniversary.

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Confidence in Kirchner remains strong.

Even when 64% of Argentines have a positive opinion of the Nestor Kirchner administration, the confidence index has dropped to its lowest since the former Santa Cruz governor took office May 25, almost a hundred days ago.

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

“Viarsa 1” is not a “pirate vessel”

Uruguay plans to equip Uruguayan flagged fishing vessels with hermetic “black boxes” which should enable authorities in Montevideo to have the precise location of these vessels plus eliminating any possible manipulation of signals.

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Australia buys back stranded sheep in vessel.

The Australian government has agreed to buy back 50,000 sheep stranded aboard a ship in the Persian Gulf. The sheep were originally destined for Saudi Arabia but authorities refused to allow the ship to dock more than a month ago alleging an outbreak of disease among some of the animals on board.

Wednesday, October 1st 2003 - 21:00 UTC

Chile: Living in fear.

Crime has become the greatest fear for Santiago de Chile residents according to the latest opinion poll from “Fundación Futura”, a non government organization that monitors law and order problems.