The Bill Hunter-Christie prize for the outstanding Falkland Islands student studying abroad this year (2004) has been awarded to Kerri-Ann Ross, 19-year-old daughter of Glen and Janet Ross of Stanley.
The newly elected chairman of the Falkland Islands Association, former governor David Tatham CMG said he had been very touched by the Battle Day memorial ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, preceding the annual meeting of FIA last Saturday December 11th.
The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, (PMDB) decided this Sunday to abandon the ruling coalition of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and adopt an independent position in Congress.
Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana expressed confidence in the process of talks in which the British Overseas Territory has embarked and on the initial contacts with senior British and Spanish diplomats in Chevening, Kent this weekend.
Mexican Foreign Affairs minister Luiz Derbez admitted that Chilean Minister of Interior Jose Miguel Insulza is a strong rival for the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS. However Mr. Derbez trusts he will finally prevail because, Mexico is a leader in the region.
Chilean president Ricardo Lagos popularity is at its highest rating since taking office: 68%. The highest of any Chilean president after four and a half years of mandate which means the ruling coalition is in an undisputable situation to win the next presidential and congressional elections.
Punta Arenas hotels are fully booked for December and January and the season has been described as excellent. This has had a positive impact on hostels, motels and bed and breakfast homes that meet the spill over demand.
Chile's foreign debt reached 44,8 billion US dollars last October 31, which is 1,4 billion more than last December 2003, according to preliminary figures from the Central Bank.
Bill Rammell, Foreign Office Minister for Latin America, is visiting Venezuela and Peru from Sunday to December 15.
A prosecutor will be sending the Chilean Army an official letter requesting all information available on the bacteriological laboratory that the Army had in Santiago during the military regime of General Pinochet.