International

• 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.

• 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.