Falkland Islands

• Thursday, October 2nd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  COLTO Offers assistance and information to Uruguayan Government inquiry on toothfish pirate pursuit

  The international industry group representing the world's legal toothfish operators COLTO (Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators) has written to the Director of Uruguayan Fisheries ( DINARA) to raise its concern about statements he has been reported making about COLTO to a parliamentary inquiry investigating the Viarsa 1 incident.

• 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

  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.

• Tuesday, September 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “Esmeralda” in Punta Arenas.

  Chilean Navy training vessel “Esmeralda” on its 48th instruction cruise arrived Monday morning in Punta Arenas. On Sunday tall ship “Esmeralda” taking advantage of the mild winds, 10 to 15 knots, had crossed Cape Horn with its almost 3,000 square metres of sails fully displayed.

• Tuesday, September 30th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes targets 360,000 tourists.

  Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile received 240,000 tourists during the 2001/2002 season and is planning to increase that figure to 360,000 by 2005.

• Friday, September 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner calls on UK for resumption of sovereignty talks.

  Addressing the United Nations Assembly, President Nestor Kirchner emphasized Argentina's fervent commitment to peace and called on Britain to resume sovereignty talks over the disputed Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich and the adjoining maritime spaces.

• Friday, September 26th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  New airline to Punta Arenas.

  Sky Service S.A. owner of Sky Airline will begin flying to Punta Arenas from Santiago four times a week next November in coincidence with the summer season. The new carrier plans to fly with Boeing 737-200 that has a 124 passenger capacity.

• Thursday, September 25th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine - British Conference.

  Falkland's Councillors won't be attending the Argentine British conference in Argentina.

• Tuesday, September 23rd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Republic road map for Jamaica.

  Urging a break from Jamaica's colonial past, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson called for the creation of a republic by the time he leaves office in 2007. This means dropping the Queen of England as country's head of state.

• Tuesday, September 23rd 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercy for suffering sheep pleads Ms. Bardot.

  French actress Brigitte Bardot has addressed a letter to the Australian government requesting an immediate solution to the suffering of 50,000 sheep trapped in a live animal transport vessel sailing in the Indian Ocean for weeks after having been rejected in several countries because the sheep are suffering some form of scab.