
Just under 100 years ago and as the world was still embroiled in the horrors of WWI, Great Britain was considering a deal with Spain and France that would allow it to swap Gibraltar for Ceuta (Spanish territory in the north of Africa).

Every fisherman will remember a time when a change in the weather coincided with a surge or lull in fish feeding behaviour. Whatever the species and whatever the weather event there is no doubt about the dramatic and immediate influence the weather can have on a fisherman’s catch.

An insurance levy on financial institutions to help bail out banks in any future financial crisis has been backed at the World Economic Forum. Politicians and bankers have expressed support for the idea, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described it as practical.

Brazilian agribusiness exports to Arab countries generated 6.86 billion US dollars in 2009 last year, 14% over 2008, according to figures from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. This in spite of the factor that total agribusiness sales dropped 9.8%.

Lady Thatcher was eating up to 28 eggs a week as part of a high-protein diet in the run-up to the 1979 general election, newly-released files suggest. Intended to help her shed 9 kilos in two weeks, the diet is outlined in a note found in a diary from that year.

Australia announced last week the first tax treaty with Chile. Nick Sherry, Assistant Treasurer of Australia, announced that Australia and Chile had reached agreement on a new tax treaty. The proposed treaty, the first between the two countries, will reflect the economic, legal and cultural interests of each.

As Britain comes out of recession, a new age of aspiration is within reach - but it will not come about by chance. Only if we make the right choices in economic and social policy can we lift the sights and shape the life chances of millions of people in our country.

A historic discovery was made on January 28, 1820. A Russian navy expedition under the command of Faddei Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev sighted the last of the remaining unexplored continents - Antarctica.

Unemployment in the 16 countries that use the Euro hit 10% in December for the first time since the single currency was introduced in 1999. It had been reported that the rate hit 10% in November, but this has subsequently been revised down to 9.9%.

China reaffirmed its economic goals of raising domestic incomes and consumption while reducing its reliance on exports and investment. For this purpose China is pursuing a “proactive fiscal policy” and “moderately easy monetary policy” said Vice Premier Li Kegiang in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.