Stories for January 2nd 2011

Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 23:35 UTC
Latam social indexes improving but 180 million are still considered poor

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a record number of 170 projects in 2010 totaling an estimated 12.9 billion USD, as the IDB continues to boost its efforts to help Latin American and Caribbean combat poverty and inequality, and promote sustainable growth.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 23:33 UTC
Air traffic growth moderates: begins to expand at historic rates, says IATA

International scheduled air traffic results for November showed an 8.2% year-on-year passenger traffic growth and a 5.4% increase for freight, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 23:30 UTC
China reiterates commitment to combat consumer inflation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed again to step up efforts to keep consumer inflation in check in 2011, state media reported on Sunday.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 23:27 UTC
US warships try to avoid docking in Gibraltar to keep strong relation with Spain

Secret US document newly released by Wikileaks underscores the critical importance of Spain as a strategic logistics hub for the US military. The document details the importance of bases such as Rota, just a short drive from Gibraltar.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 22:18 UTC
Bank of England remembers home owners rates sometime will ‘normalize’ at 5%

United Kingdom home owners need to prepare for a series of interest rate rises to around 5%, a Bank of England official has warned. Paul Fisher, who is a member of the Bank's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said officials would like the current 0.5% base rate to rise to a “normalized” level 10 times as big.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 21:54 UTC
Britain expects increase in tourist numbers to reach 30 million this year

Overseas visits by foreign residents to Britain are likely to increase by 300,000 next year, UK's tourist chiefs have predicted. Numbers will be around 30 million - a 1% rise on the 2010 figure, the VisitBritain organization said.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 21:27 UTC
Spain will only discuss Gibraltar sovereignty issues with the UK

Spain will not discuss any issue that affects Gibraltar’ sovereignty within the context of the Trilateral Forum, Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said in an interview over the Christmas break and some its extracts collected in the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 21:24 UTC
Latin America the most dangerous region for journalists in 2010

Latin America was the most dangerous region for the press in 2010, with 35 of the 105 murders of journalists that occurred worldwide, according to the Swiss-based Press Emblem Campaign.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 21:18 UTC
US immigration target for 2011: 404.000 deportations, includes screening jails

A record number of immigrants were deported from the United States in 2010 boosted in part by the expansion of the Secure Communities program of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which identifies imprisoned undocumented foreigners.
Sunday, January 2nd 2011 - 21:07 UTC
President Rousseff promises greater consistence for Mercosur and Unasur

In her inauguration speech Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff promised greater consistence for Mercosur and Unasur so that the region can become an essential component of the “coming multipolar world”. She also anticiapted closer relations with all countries from Latinamerica, the Caribbean and Africa and the peoples of Middle East and a greater role for Brazil in world political and financial affairs.