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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, February 1st 2026 - 13:42 UTC

Antarctica

  • Wednesday, June 6th 2018 - 08:41 UTC

    Argentina's national team cancels audience with Pope Francis

    “The audience of the Pope with the Argentina national team set for tomorrow [Wednesday] has been called off”

    Argentina's national team have cancelled an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, the Holy See has announced. The Albiceleste are preparing for the World Cup and have been training in Barcelona since May 31.

  • Thursday, May 31st 2018 - 08:20 UTC

    Japanese whale hunt slaughters 122 pregnant minke whales

    The latest figures show that of 333 minke Antarctic whales killed last summer, 181 were females. Some 122 females, or 67%, were pregnant.

    More than 120 pregnant whales were slaughtered in the latest Japanese whale hunt in Antarctica's Southern Ocean, new documents show, reigniting calls to step up efforts to stop the annual killing spree. A further 114 immature whales were killed as part of the so-called “scientific” whaling program, according to meeting papers from the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee meeting this month.

  • Thursday, May 17th 2018 - 08:31 UTC

    Someone is cheating with ozone warn scientists: rate of decline has fallen drastically

    The ozone layer in the stratosphere, 10-to-40 kilometers above Earth's surface, protects life on the planet from deadly ultraviolet radiation.

    The decline in the atmosphere of an ozone-depleting chemical banned by the Montreal Protocol has recently slowed by half, suggesting a serious violation of the 196-nation treaty, researchers revealed Wednesday.

  • Monday, May 14th 2018 - 20:04 UTC

    Argentina/UK: Agreement to enhance Antarctic scientific co-operation

    BAS Director Jane Francis and IAA Director Rodolfo Sánchez signed a Memorandum of Understanding

    The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA) today signed a memorandum of understanding.The agreement will enable the implementation of joint science and technology research projects as well as enhanced training and exchange of personnel. .

  • Sunday, May 13th 2018 - 13:43 UTC

    Falklands attended the IAATO annual conference in United States

    Steph Middleton is Executive Director of Falklands Tourist Board; Carl Sudder is Tourism Coordinator at Sulivan Shipping and Chair of Falklands Travel Assoc.

    Falkland Islands tourism ambassadors Steph Middleton and Carli Sudder are returning from the United States after attending this year’s International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) conference in Newport, Rhode Island. Steph Middleton is Executive Director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, while Carl Sudder is Tourism Coordinator at Sulivan Shipping and Chair of the Falklands Travel Association.

  • Thursday, May 10th 2018 - 18:34 UTC

    IAATO’s Responsible Tourism Conference votes new and revised guidelines

    Over 140 people attended the meeting at Newport from May 1-3, representing IAATO member companies and invited stakeholders

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has concluded its 27th annual meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, USA having agreed to strengthen its mission of promoting the practice of safe, environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic.

  • Wednesday, May 2nd 2018 - 08:13 UTC

    UK-US launch Antarctica research program to predict sea-level rise

    The mission will deploy teams of researchers, using a suite of technologies to investigate changes on the ice and in the ocean.

    A new UK-U.S. Antarctic research program to improve the prediction of future sea-level rise was launched on Monday at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Cambridge. The £20 million 5-year research collaboration, funded jointly by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), brings together over 100 polar scientists from leading UK and U.S. research organizations.

  • Tuesday, May 1st 2018 - 10:20 UTC

    IAATO reports Antarctica visitors increased 17% in the 2017/18 season over previous year

    Overall, the total number of Antarctic visitors in 2017-2018 was 51,707, an increase of 17% compared to the previous season.

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) reported its visitor numbers for the 2017-2018 Antarctic season at the start of its annual meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. IAATO has been monitoring, analyzing and reporting trends since 1991 as part of its commitment to ‘leave only footprints’ through the effective self-management of its activities.

  • Tuesday, May 1st 2018 - 10:05 UTC

    Argentina creates an Antarctica Joint Command, under Defense guidance

    AJC will do the planning, management and execution of the maintenance and functioning of the Argentine bases and stations

    Argentina has created the Antarctica Joint Command, which will operate under the orbit of the Ministry of Defense and be responsible for conducting operations in Antarctica, and areas of interest, in a continuous and permanent way.

  • Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 09:06 UTC

    Tons of frozen micro-plastics found trapped in the floating ice of the Arctic

    Traces of 17 different types of plastic were found in frozen seawater. Micro-plastics are tiny plastic pieces under five millimeters long.

    Record levels of micro-plastics have been found trapped inside sea ice floating in the Arctic. Ice cores gathered across the Arctic Ocean reveal micro-plastics at concentrations two to three times higher than previously recorded. As sea ice melts with climate change, the plastic will be released back into the water, with unknown effects on wildlife, say German scientists.