International News

By FAIZAAN SAMI

BRASILIA: Brazil: China's unstoppable emergence and influence as an economic super power has led to one of the most important changes to the global economic framework in the modern period.

In the 1990s, the nation sought to consolidate its position regionally by nurturing bilateral trade relations with its neighbours and utilizing soft power to build state legitimacy. Gradually, after the rapid growth of its manufacturing sector, China's resource-intensive economy has influenced the global expansion of its economic ties in order to sustain its growth pattern.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A study published in the journal Global Change Biology has found that sewage-derived nitrogen is increasingly becoming the top source of such pollution in Caribbean coastal ecosystems.

Kiho Kim, one of the study's authors and chair of environmental science at American University, is undertaking an analysis of the problem.

Fertilizer had been the dominant source of nitrogen pollution in Caribbean coastal ecosystems for the past 50 years, but the study found that even though that is on the decline - thanks in part to the introduction of more advanced, environmentally responsible agricultural practices during the last decade, the existing pollution is still a problem.

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says a record number of Canadians are expected to visit the nation during the upcoming winter tourist season.

"Canada is our fastest growing market," Bartlett said. "Two years ago, the Canadian market was providing around 150,000 Canadian stopover visitors and, for this year, we're looking at close to 300,000, which represents a 28 per cent increase over last year."

Bartlett was speaking during a recent visit to Canada to thank travel partners for helping to make Canada the fastest growing market for Jamaica. He met with travel agents, airline officials and tour operators in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg, which have shown strong growth in recent times.

By RON FANFAIR

Antiguans and Barbudans have given the United Progressive Party (UPP) and its leader, Baldwin Spencer, another five-year mandate to govern the twin-island nation.

The party secured nine seats, which is three less than it captured in the 2004 elections while its main rival, the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), increased its seat total from four to seven in the 17-seat legislature. Trevor Walker, whose Barbuda People's Movement is closely aligned with the ALP, retained his seat on the island that forms part of the state of Antigua & Barbuda.