International

• Thursday, November 18th 2010 - 18:35 UTC

  Ireland’s dilemma: sovereign solvency or rescuing the banking system

  

  Emergency talks were being held in Dublin overnight as fears about Ireland’s ailing banking system forced the deployment of a team from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

• Thursday, November 18th 2010 - 17:08 UTC

  UK promises stronger and closer relationship with Overseas Territories

  

  A wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern were addressed by the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham and leaders from the Overseas Territories. The OTs Consultative Council is currently meeting in London.

• Thursday, November 18th 2010 - 11:50 UTC

  Spain expects to benefit from EC 2011 fishing quotas for hake

  

  For 2011, the European Commission (EC) intends to maintain fishing quotas for hake in the waters of the North (Gran Sol and North Sea) and increase catches by 15 per cent in waters of the South (from the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Cadiz, including the coasts of Galicia and Portugal).

• Thursday, November 18th 2010 - 10:58 UTC

  China to provide food subsidies fearing price inflation and social unrest

  

  China's government has said it will provide poorer households with subsidies in response to double-digit food price inflation. Inflation accelerated to 4.4% in October, with food prices rising 10.1%.

• Thursday, November 18th 2010 - 02:35 UTC

  New Zealand opens exciting cruise season and expects 140.000 passengers

  

  New Zealand has seen phenomenal cruise growth since 1995 and the 2010-2011 cruise season which started on 15 October with the Sapphire Princess, is forecast to be even larger than what the country has ever experienced.

• Wednesday, November 17th 2010 - 16:55 UTC

  EC announces 2011 TAC with fishing cuts proposals for 64 species

  

  The European Commission (EC) has proposed fishing cuts for 64 species after having announced the new total allowable catch (TAC) for 2011 and fishing effort levels in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and international waters regulated by regional fisheries management organizations.

• Wednesday, November 17th 2010 - 16:16 UTC

  UK launches new Overseas Territories’ strategy at London meeting

  

  A new strategy that will reinvigorate the UK's relationship with its Overseas Territories will be at the heart of discussions at the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council which begins Wednesday 17 November.

• Wednesday, November 17th 2010 - 15:52 UTC

  Prince William royal wedding gift: £ 620 million to the UK economy

  

  UK market research company Verdict has forecast the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton and their subsequent Royal Wedding next year could give a £620m (billion US dollars) boost to the economy.

• Wednesday, November 17th 2010 - 06:53 UTC

  EU, ECB, IMF to visit Ireland in “short focused consultation”

  

  A meeting of Euro zone ministers in Brussels ended with a promise to work towards further help for Ireland. The EU monetary affairs commissioner, Olli Rehn, said the 27-country bloc would “intensify” work on a support programme for Ireland - should Dublin request one.

• Wednesday, November 17th 2010 - 06:50 UTC

  Warnings about impact of social security cuts to reduce public spending

  

  International Labor Organization (ILO) is warning countries against social security cuts to reduce public spending which could slow down or delay recovery. The ILO says social security encourages stability, but only about a fifth of the world has access.