Stories for August 2018

Wednesday, August 15th 2018 - 05:42 UTC
Record unemployment in UK: 4%; the lowest for more than forty years

UK unemployment fell by 65,000 to 1.36 million in three months to June - the lowest for more than 40 years, official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. They also show a rise in productivity, but a slowdown in wage growth.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 22:57 UTC
Breakthrough for cleaner fish and the Scottish salmon industry

A milestone has been reached in the production of cleaner fish in Scotland, particularly for the salmon industry, with two leading farmers completing the lifecycle of raising wrasse in a controlled environment. In a collaboration between Marine Harvest, Scottish Sea Farms and the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling, wild caught ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) have been bred for more than six years in a facility in Machrihanish.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 07:36 UTC
The Year of the Pig for Chinese couples could mean a third child

A series of postage stamps featuring two pig parents and three happy piglets has prompted speculation that China may be about to further ease its restrictions on the number of children to deal with its rapidly ageing population.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 07:25 UTC
Pentagon chief in Brazil and Argentina to strengthen bilateral relations

United States Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes of Brazil met on Monday at the Itamaraty Palace in Brazil to reaffirm the long-standing bilateral relationship between their nations, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 07:01 UTC
Weed killer forces Bayer shares to drop sharply

Shares in German pharmaceutical group Bayer have dropped sharply following a US verdict linking a product to cancer. By mid-morning on Monday, Bayer's shares had lost 10.4% of their value.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 06:50 UTC
Argentina pledges US$ 500 million on Tuesday to stabilize the forex market

Argentina's peso hit an all-time low on Monday as Latin American currencies sank amid a broader sell-off in emerging markets that have been rattled by the Turkish lira's plunge.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 06:31 UTC
Argentine ex president accompanied to court by close associates of the Pope

Argentine ex president Cristina Fernandez over the weekend called on her followers not to accompany her on Monday when she attended the Court House to testify before Judge Claudio Bonadío in reference to the so called “K corruption notebooks”.
Tuesday, August 14th 2018 - 06:16 UTC
Cristina Fernandez in a written statement denies charges and claims they are politically motivated

Former President Cristina Fernandez on Monday denied any wrongdoing following recent accusations that she was responsible for a corruption scheme involving public works contracts that has trapped many of Argentina's former officials and business elite.
Monday, August 13th 2018 - 21:13 UTC
Brazil's development bank plans to sell US$ 2.6bn stakes in local companies

Brazil's development bank BNDES plans to sell up to 10 billion reais (US$ 2.6 billion) in stakes its investment holding company owns in local companies, a senior executive announced. Investment director Eliane Lustosa said the holding company BNDESPar has already sold 6 billion reais in stocks owned in Brazilian companies this year.
Monday, August 13th 2018 - 19:53 UTC
Bayer confident glyphosate is safe for use and does not cause cancer

Pharmaceutical group Bayer has dismissed claims that an ingredient used in weed killers is carcinogenic. The German company, which owns agriculture giant Monsanto, says herbicides containing glyphosate are safe.