Falkland Islands

• Wednesday, September 10th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  FIC oil partner exploring in West Africa.

  An Australian consortium with interests in the Falkland Islands has started exploration drilling at the Chinguetti oilfield off the coast of Mauritania, West Africa.

• Wednesday, September 10th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Fisheries News.

  Headlines:
  Processing plant opens in Puerto Deseado
  Census shows 5,607 Galician vessels authorised to fish
  Chilean industry targets hoki.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Hepatitis: bad news, good news.

  Bad news and good news for the hepatitis “A” outbreak reported in Punta Arenas which so far involves almost twenty cases, mostly children.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile Antarctic over flights.

  The Chilean Antarctic Environmental impact assessment Committee that since last week operates from Punta Arenas authorized Lan Chile to organize scientific and tourist over flights in Antarctica.

• Monday, September 8th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  “Viarsa 1”: Uruguay demands release of scientist.

  Uruguay insists in the release of the Fisheries Department scientist observer onboard the Uruguayan flagged longliner “Viarsa 1” that is being escorted back to Australia to face trial for allegedly poaching Patagonian toothfish in Australian waters.

• Sunday, September 7th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Ozone hole growing faster.

  The ozone hole has grown more rapidly than usual during the last two weeks compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest World Meteorological Organization, WMO, report.

• Sunday, September 7th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Honours for Malvinas pilots.

  The Argentine Air Force honoured last Friday nine officers who lost their lives during the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas South Atlantic conflict.

• Saturday, September 6th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  HMS Sheffield became “Almirante Williams”

  The Chilean Navy officially took possession this Friday of the decommissioned British frigate HMS Sheffield purchased to the United Kingdom and which will now be identified as “Almirante Williams”.

• Friday, September 5th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  Hepatitis in Punta Arenas.

  Eight cases of hepatitis have been confirmed in the last two weeks in Punta Arenas. The Regional Officer of the Epidemiology and Statistics Unit Eduardo Velasquez said that so far this year 13 cases of hepatitis A have been reported compared to 17 during the whole of 2002.

• Friday, September 5th 2003 - 21:00 UTC

  UVR red and yellow “lights”

  Punta Arenas Regional Public Health Ministry Office reinstated this week the ultra violet radiation, UVR, forecast to protect local residents and keep them away from harmful solar exposure.