International

• Saturday, June 11th 2011 - 09:55 UTC

  China’s imports soared 28.4% in May with strong demand for oil

  

  China posted a smaller-than-expected trade surplus in May of 13.1 billion US dollars because of soaring imports and weaker global demand growth. Sales to the US and the European Union slumped to their weakest since late 2009, excluding Lunar New Year holidays, underlining the view that the world economy is stumbling.

• Saturday, June 11th 2011 - 09:48 UTC

  EU challenges and opportunities with Mercosur and Latin America

  

  By Antonio Tajani - The challenges and opportunities in Latin America are dear to my heart. This is the first time in many years that a European Commissioner for industry heads to the region. And it is not by chance that I strongly wished to go, as this was a priority set in my new mandate.

• Friday, June 10th 2011 - 05:17 UTC

  Chile is China’s “gateway to Latin America” and its unique ally in the region

  

  China Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived in Chile Thursday to forge closer ties with the nation that has branded itself as China's “gateway to Latin America”.

• Friday, June 10th 2011 - 05:10 UTC

  China and Uruguay sign 17 cooperation accords and 530m USD trade package

  

  Visiting Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping signed Wednesday in Uruguay 17 cooperation agreements and trade contracts for the purchase of 530 million US dollars in Uruguayan goods before leaving for Chile the third leg of his tour of Latin America.

• Friday, June 10th 2011 - 01:34 UTC

  Top EC official in South America to promote trade, tourism and cooperation

  

  A top European Commission official is on a round of visits to South American countries to strengthen economic, industrial and tourism ties with the region because Latin America has emerged as “a strategic and dynamic economic player”.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 21:04 UTC

  IATA unveils Checkpoint of the Future to enhance security and reduce queues

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled the first mock-up of a Checkpoint of the Future, designed to enhance security while reducing queues and intrusive searches at airports, using intelligence-driven risk-based measures.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 21:00 UTC

  IATA has a new a Director General effective July first, Tony Tyler

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced this week leadership changes at the conclusion of the Association’s 67th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Singapore.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 19:52 UTC

  UN report shows broadband potential for economic and social development

  

  Broadband telecommunications have the potential to spur rapid economic growth and facilitate job creation, according to a United Nations reported unveiled this week, which urges countries to implement national broadband plans or risk losing the benefits of the global high-speed digital communications.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 19:49 UTC

  Bank of England leaves rates unchanged to bolster recovery

  

  The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted Thursday to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at the record low 0.5%. The Committee also voted to maintain the stock of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves at £200 billion.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 19:42 UTC

  Spain’s objective is sovereignty over Gibraltar, Minister Jimenez tells Parliament

  

  Spain's dealings with Gibraltar have the overriding objective of recovering sovereignty over the Rock, Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez told parliament in Madrid this week.