Stories for 2015

Friday, August 7th 2015 - 05:18 UTC
Scottish lab identifies “super-algae” to make bio-fuels for vehicles and aircraft

Researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) have unlocked a treasure chest of ‘super-algae’ that could provide a previously untapped source of oil. Using a newly devised technique, scientists examined micro-algae strains in the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP), an internationally important algal store based at SAMS in Oban, to find out which ocean-based strains had the highest oil content.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 12:19 UTC
Southern hake August ban awareness campaign launched in Chile

The southern hake (Merluccius australis) ban awareness campaign has been officially launched in the southern Chilean city of Puerto Montt, with the aim of halting the resource catches, sale and consumption in the south of the country, extending from regions Los Lagos to Magallanes.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 08:59 UTC
Sunday's vote, Argentina's first step to October's presidential election

Argentines will be going to the polls this Sunday to vote in the open, simultaneous, mandatory primaries (PASO) when the different parties will be choosing their one-candidate for the big prize on 25 October when the successor of Cristina Fernandez will be elected together with half of the Lower House (129 seats), a third of the Senate (24 seats) and 43 members for the Mercosur parliament.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 08:46 UTC
Despite Obama's efforts for gun control, US firearms production jumped 140% in five years

Despite President Barack Obama’s push for greater gun control measures, it would seem that firearm production has boomed during his administration. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently released its “2015 Firearms Commerce in the United States Annual Statistical Update,” in which the agency pointed out a nearly 140% increase in gun production from 2008 to 2013, the last year with available statistics.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 08:35 UTC
Uruguay inflation at an annualized 9%; 60 days price-freeze of 1.400 items

Uruguay's inflation climbed 1.21% during July and reached 6.91% in the first seven months of the year and 9.02% in the last twelve months, according to the release from the country's stats office, INE. In July 2014 inflation was 0.75%.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 08:27 UTC
Brazil's top prosecutor backed by peers for another term, but he needs Senate confirmation

Brazil's top prosecutor, who has put dozens of politicians under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in the Petrobras corruption scandal, has won the backing of his peers to stay on the job for two more years.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 08:11 UTC
NIESR 2015 global economic growth forecast lowered from 3.2% to 3%

Global economic growth will slow this year to the lowest rate since the financial crisis, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). The think tank cut its 2015 forecast to 3.0% from the 3.2% it predicted in May.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 05:31 UTC
Researchers identify characteristics of fish most vulnerable to trawlers

Using laboratory-based experiments, researchers have identified the common characteristics of fish most vulnerable to being caught by trawlers. They found fish that were less able to produce fast burst-type swimming to evade capture were more likely to end up in trawlers' nets.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 05:22 UTC
Ukraine conflict: France reimburses Russia for two helicopter carriers

A deal has been agreed in which Russia will receive compensation for France's decision last year to cancel the sale of two warships. France will fully refund Russia for the two helicopter carriers. The deal was worth €1.2bn ($1.3bn) and Russia made an advance payment of about €840m.
Thursday, August 6th 2015 - 04:47 UTC
Argentine swimmers planning to cross Falkland Sound next March

Four professional swimmers from Mar del Plata, Argentina have announced they are preparing for a great challenge: next March they plan to cross the Falkland Sound joining West and East Falklands. Diego Piccardo, Martín Sánchez, Adrián Echeverría and Guido Ganín are training with professor Andrés Rosso under the supervision of the several times open sea champion Claudio Plitt.