The European Commission today called for a halt to cod fishing for the whole of next year off the West of Scotland and in the Irish Sea in a bid to boost conservation.

IRISH fishermen are hoping Brussels will grant them an increase in their share of the mackerel and prawn catch after it emerged they might get just half of last year’s mackerel quota.

The court case to stop South Africa importing or producing cheap anti-Aids drugs has started in Pretoria.