Falkland Islands

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  My experience of the Falklands.

  The massive, daunting military complex at Mount Pleasant Airbase (MPA), the only commercial airport on the Falkland Islands, leaves you feeling anything but indifferent upon arrival. Either you feel it is a fortress to defend the Islanders' freedom, or a total waste of taxpayers' money given the current state of the castrated Argentine military.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  UK Defence catering target Falklands' meat

  Falkland Islands' meat has been under scrutiny - with encouraging results. A team comprising military and civilian personnel from the British Ministry of Defence and its catering suppliers, 3663, visited the Falkland Islands last week to, “...take a look at Falkland Islands sheep meat from ?Farm to Fork'.”

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  First reports bleak for squid season

  The Squid (Illex Argentinus) fishery season in Argentine waters, which began last February 1, has not registered any significant catch volumes for the Japanese operators. After the first week of operations, only the initial few days could be considered productive, although it is still early to forecast a weak harvest.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar questions Straw-Caruana meeting

  The Gibraltar opposition has expressed astonishment at the revelation that Chief Minister Peter Caruana will be seeking an informal reaction from Mr Straw to the constitutional proposals without the Opposition.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Falkland's Governor urges Argentine respect for Islanders rights

  The Falkland's Governor Mr. Howard Pearce, speaking at the official opening of the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, has urged Argentina to respect the Islanders right to self-determination. In particular he pinpointed the Argentine Government's recent banning of charter flights between Santiago and the Islands.

• Monday, February 16th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Rammell in Buenos Aires and CPA in Stanley

  A week of significant political events begins this Monday in the South Atlantic. British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell will be arriving in Buenos Aires for two days of talks that will include Britain's conditioned support to Argentina in the IMF Executive Board and Falklands air links to the continent, while in Stanley the local government will be inaugurating the 35th regional conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA.

• Sunday, February 15th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula message to Chavez: “keep quiet”

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva regrets that negotiations for a sea outlet for Bolivia crossing Chile are paralyzed and revealed he had strongly suggested to the Venezuelan president not to interfere with the conflict.

• Friday, February 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Penguin News Update.

  Headlines:
  
  Chief Executive in court; CPA delegates arrive for conference; Chopper crash injures five; Big cruisers this week; Irish band supports Islands charity.

• Friday, February 13th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  British Minister sends strong message of censure to Argentina.

  British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell, who begins a two day visit to Argentina on Monday, has firmly told the Argentine Government that they must allow the resumption of charter flights between Santiago and the Falklands, before any talks on future airlinks can take place.

• Thursday, February 12th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Urgent Steps required to halt Falkland seabird declines

  In the space of three years, 44,000 breeding pairs of albatross and 69,000 breeding pairs of penguins have vanished from one of the worlds' most important breeding sites.