The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says an additional nine million people have sunk into poverty this year.

ECLAC says the number of poor in the region, including the Caribbean rose for the first time in six years, from 180 million to 189 million.

ECLAC says the nine million represents almost a quarter of the population that had already overcome poverty between 2002 and 2008 due to greater economic growth, the expansion of social spending and better income distribution.

The UN body is predicting that the number of truly destitute will reach 76 million, up from 71 million last year.

UN marks 20 years of child rights convention

The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, says the lives of children around the world have been transformed after the adoption 20 years ago of a UN convention guaranteeing their rights.

In a special report issued to highlight the convention's achievements over the past two decades, UNICEF said that child mortality has fallen, and more are going to school.

However it said an estimated 24 children die every day of preventable diseases such as malaria, or malnutrition; and that millions lack protection against violence, abuse and exploitation.

Dominicans vote next month

	Mr Skerrit's Dominica Labour Party is seeking a third term in office

Dominicans go to the polls next month to elect a new government.

The next poll is constitutionally due next year, but Prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced the 18 December date at a public meeting last night.

Nomination Day is 2 December.

The governing Labour party is seeking its third consecutive term in office.

Mr Skerrit told party supporters that 2010 would usher in "a new era in Dominican politics" and voters should approach the new year with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.

In the May 2005 election, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) won eight of the 21 seats in the island's parliament.

UWP leader Ron Green told BBC Caribbean that his party has a strong chance of forming the next government.

Opposition told to stop complaining

Constitutional lawyer, Anthony Astaphan, has told opposition parties in St Kitts/Nevis to stop complaining about the redrawing of constituency boundaries if they choose not to be involved in the process ahead of the next election.

Mr Astaphan's comment follows the resignation of two of the five members of the constituency boundaries commission earlier this week.

The St Kitts parliament dissolves automatically in mid-December.

An election date has not yet been announced.

IDB funds for Guyana

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US $5 million loan aimed at strengthening Guyana's financial sector.

A statement from the Bank said the funds would assist the country in boosting access to financial services and in achieving greater transparency.

The financing will also support measures to curb money laundering while promoting increased access to credit.

Haitian jailed in terror plot

A 30-year-old haitian man has been jailed for nine years in the US for plotting to blow up the Sears Tower, in Chicago.

Patrick Abraham was seen as the right-hand man of the leader of the 2006 conspiracy, was also accused of swearing allegiance to Al-Qaeda.

Another man was also sentence to eight years in jail for his involvement in the plot.

In May a US jury convicted Mr Abraham and other members of his group of plotting a series of attacks including the Sears Tower and FBI buildings in the hope of toppling the US government.

UN chief heads to Trinidad

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet with Commonwealth heads of government at their summit in Trinidad next week to discuss climate change.

UN spokeswoman Michele Montas says Mr Ban will be seeking the leaders' attention on key issues that need to be addressed in the climate change negotiations.

Mr Ban's visit comes ahead of an international summit in Copenhagen next month, which will aim to negotiate carbon emission targets.

It is also hoped that the meeting will complete a successor agreement to the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012.