International

• 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.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 19:18 UTC

  Euro central bank expected to increase interest rates next month

  

  The European Central Bank (ECB) has signalled that it will raise interest rates next month, from 1.25%. Earlier on Thursday, the ECB kept rates unchanged for the second month in a row, after increasing them in April for the first time in almost two years.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 05:42 UTC

  OPEC fails to reach agreement on production targets for the first time in 20 years

  

  Oil rose for a third day in New York after OPEC failed to reach an agreement on production targets for the first time in at least 20 years and U.S. crude inventories fell more than analysts forecast.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 04:20 UTC

  FAO forecasts world food prices are likely to remain high in 2011 and 2012

  

  Citing dwindling stocks and only small production increases for the majority of crops, a new United Nations report released Wednesday world food prices are likely to remain high for the rest of this year and into 2012.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 04:03 UTC

  Access to Internet is the right of all human beings, says UN Special Rapporteur

  

  United Nations has declared that access to the Internet is the right of all human beings. Nations should not institute any laws that prevent its citizens from accessing the Internet, according to a recent document published by the UN Human Rights Council. The document is a report by Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 02:54 UTC

  Pressed by outraged farmers EU increases compensation for E.coli outbreak losses

  

  Pressed hard by outraged farmers, the European Union farm chief on Wednesday increased his offer of compensation for the E. coli outbreak to Euro210 million.

• Thursday, June 9th 2011 - 02:46 UTC

  UN calls to protect world’s oceans for future generations

  

  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today (Wednesday June 8) called on all governments and peoples to play their part to ensure that the world’s oceans are protected for future generations, warning that they face major threats in the years ahead.