As European Union leaders met over the weekend in Berlin ahead of the G20 summit in April, Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana has welcomed the call for a tightening of regulatory standards, transparency and co-operation of financial markets on a global basis.

Scientists and policymakers marked the official end of the International Polar Year (IPY) Wednesday at the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. The 60-country, 1.2 billion US dollars effort has seen knowledge about the poles - and their influence on the rest of the planet - increase hugely.

United Kingdom car production for January fell 58.7% against the same month the previous year, latest figures show. A total of 61,404 cars were manufactured in January 2009, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.

Spain has complained officially to Britain over next week's visit of Princess Anne to Gibraltar, labelling it as inopportune reported Tuesday the Gibraltar Chronicle. The Princess Royal is due to open a medical centre named after her but which Spain says is particularly sensitive to them because it is on the disputed isthmus.

Latinamerican growth will plunge strongly this year to 0.3% forecasted Pamela Cox, World Bank vice-president for Latinamerica and the Caribbean. Last September the WB forecast was 2.7%, in January it was down to 1% and now 0.3%.

European leaders in Berlin have agreed on the need to regulate all financial markets including hedge funds and underlined that a global solution was needed to the current financial crisis.

A Canadian Coast Guard vessel rescued on Sunday 22 fishermen from the frigid waters off Newfoundland on Sunday after the Spanish trawler Monte Galineiro caught fire and later sank.

Gordon Brown has won his first coveted meeting with Barack Obama as president of the United States, it was announced.

Swedish car maker Saab Automobile Friday was granted protection from its creditors so that it can be reorganized and said it will seek to separate from its owner, General Motors Corp.

Next month's visit to Gibraltar by the Princess Anne could derail the tripartite talks if it is a high profile one, according to a senator from the Spanish ruling party PSOE, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.