Falkland Islands

• Monday, October 20th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Concern over failed sale of abattoir.

  The failed bid for the privatization of the Sacor abattoir in Porvenir, Chilean Tierra del Fuego has raised uncertainties about the future of the plant and concern among farmers regarding the coming lamb season.

• Sunday, October 19th 2003 - 20:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas-Falklands links underlined by British Ambassador.

  British Ambassador in Chile Richard Wilkinson underlined in Punta Arenas the importance of trade and communications links between the Patagonian Chilean city and Falklands, and confirmed talks for a second weekly flight to the Islands.

• Saturday, October 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  New Regional Hospital for Punta Arenas.

  Punta Arenas Mayor Jaime Jelincic announced that this coming week the regional government would be requesting the Chilean Public Health Ministry the building of a new regional hospital for Magallanes that should be operational in 2006.

• Saturday, October 18th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar unveils 13 month program of Tercentenary celebration.

  Gibraltar Minister for Tourism Joe Holliday this week unveiled a 13 month programme of heritage, military, cultural, entertainment and sporting events to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the British capture of Gibraltar from Spain in 1704.

• Friday, October 17th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Penguin News Update

  Headlines:
  Third by-election candidate; Overseas medical budget: pace of referrals reduced; Blake to conference; Bomb found at airport; Monsignor Agreiter dies; James Clark Ross arrival marks start of Antarctic season.

• Thursday, October 16th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Mind your own business, Bossano tells Spain.

  Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano has noted that at the time of the Anglo-Spanish negotiations over Gibraltar, Madrid did not raise the question of visits by nuclear submarines other than suggesting their acquiescence “should have sovereignty concessions as a quid pro quo.”

• Wednesday, October 15th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Change in fisheries policy for Falkland Islands

  The Falkland Islands Government has amended their fisheries policy in a bid to make the industry more stable and sustainable. The biggest change in the new policy is that it is now a rights based policy rather than a licence allocation only policy.

• Wednesday, October 15th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Record squid catch for the San Matías Gulf.

  Squid catches in the San Matías Gulf reached a record 5,535 tonnes, reports Río Negro Fisheries director, Italo Sangiulliano. This is a promising result for the local sector although it is nowhere near the 200,000 to 3000,000 tonne annual production of the two fisheries management units.

• Tuesday, October 14th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “Poor services” in Torres del Payne Park.

  With the purpose of strengthening links between the private sector and the Chilean Forestry Corporation, CONAF that manages Torres del Payne Park, local operators recently formed the Tourist Chamber of Torres del Payne.

• Tuesday, October 14th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries News.

  Headlines:
  Rift between Chile and EU over swordfish; Australia: piracy causes market rush for toothfish. The EU seeks political agreement to regulate western waters fishery. Brazil: Applications open for the chartering of foreign vessels.