International

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 12:22 UTC

  EU summit agrees to scrap (failed) rules on fishing quotas

  

  European fisheries ministers have concluded a meeting in Brussels with a consensus to effectively scrap current rules that decide fishing quotas. Environmentalists and fishermen alike have long argued the existing system - set annually - has failed the industry.

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 06:06 UTC

  Gibraltar’s enthusiasm to vote in June 4 Euro-Parliament elections

  

  Gibraltarians enthusiasm to vote and participate in politics will again be confirmed in the coming June Euro-elections. The Rock of Gibraltar lies at the tip of Spain and overlooks the north of Africa and on June 4 will help choose who represents South West England in the European Parliament.

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 05:56 UTC

  British cabinet ministers involved in controversial expenses

  

  British cabinet ministers including Chancellor Alistair Darling paid accountants thousands of pounds of public money to complete their personal tax returns, it has been reported.

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 05:55 UTC

  Saudis warn of another oil price spike within “two-to-three years”

  

  The world could face within “two-to-three years” another oil price spike similar to that witnessed in 2008, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Monday. Al-Naimi warned a meeting of Group of Eight ministers in Rome that the high-price scenario was likely unless investments in “new capacity expansion projects are made”.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:53 UTC

  Tories declare Open Recruiting Day; 325 MPs could loose their seats

  

  Britain’s opposition leader David Cameron has invited ordinary members of the public to stand as Tory MPs amid warnings that half the House of Commons will drummed out at the next election over the expenses scandal, according to the Sunday edition of the Daily Mail.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:50 UTC

  World Bank warns about unemployment and social upheaval

  

  The head of the World Bank has warned that the global economic crisis could lead to serious social upheaval. “If we do no take measures, there is a risk of a serious human and social crisis with very serious political implications,” Robert Zoellick said.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:44 UTC

  Decline in freshwater fish took medieval Europe to the open seas

  Medieval European fishermen first took to the open seas in about AD1.000 as a result of a sharp decline in large freshwater fish, scientists have suggested. They say the decline was probably the result of rising population and pollution levels.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:36 UTC

  Energy efficiency cooperation agreement signed in Rome

  

  Countries accounting for 80% of energy supply and demand worldwide, including Brazil and Mexico, signed Sunday in Rome, in the framework of the G8 Energy summit, an international partnership energy efficiency cooperation agreement, IPEEC.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:31 UTC

  EU fisheries policy up for review; 80% Europe’s stocks overfished

  

  European Union fisheries ministers are in Brussels to review rules on how much fish can be caught in EU waters. The EU's executive, the European Commission, says more than 80% of Europe's fish stocks are now overfished. The global average is 28%.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:15 UTC

  Angry UK reaction to Spanish navy incident in Gibraltar waters

  

  Britain has told Spain that the recent incursion by a Spanish Navy vessel was an “unacceptable” violation of British sovereignty over Gibraltar waters. The complaint comes after a Spanish Navy fisheries protection vessel carried out checks on Spanish fishermen just off Gibraltar.