Stories for November 9th 2004

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Castro and Chavez exchange compliments.

The official Cuban media called Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's surprise visit to his friend and colleague Fidel Castro “an extraordinary and generous” fraternity gesture.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

“Chavitos”, Cuba's new convertible currency

The Cuban Convertible Peso, CUC, or “chavitos” as they are called locally became effective this Monday substituting the widely circulated U.S. dollar, with the Central Bank stating that control over the nation's money circulation underlines sovereignty and helps order money liquidity.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Bush confirms official visit to Chile.

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos confirmed that recently re-elected president George Walker Bush will be making an official state visit to Chile following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, scheduled November 19 in Santiago.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Mercosur ministers address animal and plant health

Mercosur Agriculture ministers are meeting in Santiago to consider sanitary policies in the framework of the Agriculture Council of the South or CAS.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

“Cruzex” air exercise in northeast Brazil

A joint air exercise with the participation of Air Forces from several South American countries, South Africa and France began this Monday in the northeast of Brazil.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Benetton donates land for Mapuche use in Patagonia.

Details of the donation still have to be worked out, but Benetton said in a statement that Pérez Esquivel can make use of the land as he deems appropriate.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

President Kirchner re-elected?

Argentina is still one year away from midterm elections, but some leading politicians are already thinking about the presidential vote in 2007 and mentioning President Néstor Kirchner as a good candidate for re-election.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

?Gibraltar has no plans to negotiate on sovereignty”

An ?open agenda' for dialogue is the main novelty in the approach to Gibraltar being adopted by the PSOE Government in Spain. Peter Caruana, Chief Minister, in an interview with Luis Ayllon, ABC published yesterday, states that he is satisfied with the recent agreements because Gibraltar participated in its design.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Desire confirms gas and oil “indications” in North Falkland Basin.

Desire Petroleum Plc which explores for oil and gas offshore the Falklands Islands confirmed this Tuesday in London “considerable indications of the presence of natural gas as well as oil” in the North Falkland Basin following the interpretation of both fast-track and final processed data from 3D seismic survey.

Tuesday, November 9th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Lan Chile increases fares 7%.

Beginning this Wednesday Lan Chile's domestic fares will increase 7%, the second time in the last three months reports La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas.