International

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 17:06 UTC

  Global warming impact on fisheries is 'uncertain', says study

  

  A new study suggests that global warming may increase upwelling in several ocean current systems around the world by the end of this century, especially at high latitudes, and will cause major changes in marine biodiversity.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 16:53 UTC

  Gobbling penguins can taste only sour and salty food, reveals study

  

  Penguins can taste only sour and salty food, scientists have discovered. A genetic study suggests the flightless birds lost three of the five basic tastes long ago in evolution. Taste is critical for survival in most animals, but may not matter in the penguin, which swallows fish whole, say researchers in China and the US.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 07:44 UTC

  Beija-Flor, the top samba group this year in Rio's Carnival, but who's behind?

  

  The Beija-Flor samba group was declared the champion of Rio de Janeiro's hotly contested Brazilian Carnival parade competition on Wednesday. However the group stoked controversy by staging a presentation focusing on Equatorial Guinea, run by Africa's longest-ruling dictator, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 07:28 UTC

  Pemex cuts budget and postpones big projects due to sharp drop in oil prices

  

  State-owned oil giant Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said its board approved budget cuts totaling 62 billion pesos (4.15 billion) and the postponement of some big projects in light of the sharp drop in oil prices.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 07:16 UTC

  Figo pledges to distribute FIFA's reserves and a world cup with 40 teams

  

  Luis Figo has pledged to distribute “2.5 billion” among the member associations of FIFA if he is elected president in May. He also wants to expand the World Cup, and proposes a term limit of 12 years for the presidency.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 05:05 UTC

  UK inflation 0.3% in January on cheaper petrol and food prices

  

  The rate of UK Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 0.3% in January, its lowest level since records began. Cheaper petrol and lower food prices, helped by a supermarket price war, cut the rate from 0.5% in December, Office for National Statistics figures show.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 05:00 UTC

  Negative inflation in France adds to Euro-zone stagnation and deflation fears

  

  Inflation in France, the Euro zone's second-biggest economy, was negative in January for the first time in more than five years, the national statistics agency said on Thursday.Prices declined by 0.4% in January compared to the same month last year, INSEE said, noting that France has not seen negative inflation since October 2009.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 04:51 UTC

  Why oil prices must go up

  

  It may be difficult to look beyond the current pricing environment for oil, but the depletion of low-cost reserves and the increasing inability to find major new discoveries ensures a future of expensive oil.

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 04:37 UTC

  IAATO tests protocols in Antarctic Search and Rescue exercise with RCCNZ

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and two member operators, Oceanwide Expeditions and Heritage Expeditions, took part in a live Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise in collaboration with Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) on Feb. 12.

• Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:44 UTC

  HSBC Swiss office searched by Geneva prosectuor; second probe in a week

  

  Geneva's public prosecutor searched HSBC's lakeside Swiss office on Wednesday after opening a criminal inquiry into allegations of aggravated money laundering, the second probe to hit the bank this week.