International Business News - COL http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Sen. Barack Obama 's trip to the Middle East and Europe marks his first high-profile step onto the international stage, a campaign-season audition of sorts for a presidential hopeful pledging a new era in diplomacy and an end to the U.S. combat role in Iraq. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/93471-obama-2008.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080718/obamas-trip-1st-high-profile-step-on-world-stage.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080718/obamas-trip-1st-high-profile-step-on-world-stage.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:20:56 EDT The United States and Venezuela may renew anti-drug cooperation that has been stalled for three years amid deteriorating relations, top officials from both nations said Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/venezuela-us-may-renew-drug-cooperation.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:04:50 EDT Sen. Barack Obama 's trip to the Middle East and Europe marks his first high-profile step onto the international stage, a campaign-season audition of sorts for a presidential hopeful pledging a new era in diplomacy and an end to the U.S. combat role in Iraq. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/93214-obama-2008.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/obamas-trip-1st-high-profile-step-on-world-stage.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/obamas-trip-1st-high-profile-step-on-world-stage.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:04:03 EDT Bulgaria has sent its remaining highly enriched uranium to Russia for safeguarding from terrorist or other potential misuse. Nearly 14 pounds of the spent fuel were received Thursday at a Russian nuclear facility, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced. A first shipment of 37.3 pounds of fresh uranium fuel was sent to Russia in December 2003. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/bulgaria-sends-uranium-fuel-to-russia.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:19:20 EDT Prospects for peace negotiations with Latin America's last major rebel army have all but disappeared after Colombia tricked the guerrillas into handing over their most prized captives without firing a shot. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/colombia-cuts-off-foreign-mediation-with-rebels.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:25:47 EDT Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said he is open to meeting with Colombia's FARC rebels, but the Colombian government angrily rejected the proposal on Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/nicaragua-president-says-hes-open-to-farc-talks.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:39:06 EDT Two British teenage girls left prison Thursday after serving nine-month sentences for trying to smuggle cocaine out of Ghana in laptop computer bags, prison officers and the girls' lawyers said. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/british-teens-free-after-ghanaian-drug-sentence.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:07:49 EDT Mexico's navy seized a homemade submarine carrying a drug shipment off the Pacific coast on Wednesday and arrested its four-man crew. Similar vessels carrying cocaine have been discovered off Colombia and Central America, but navy spokesman Capt. Benjamin Mar said the seizure is a first for Mexico. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/92681-mexico-submarine-seized.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/mexico-seizes-suspected-drug-submarine.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/mexico-seizes-suspected-drug-submarine.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:18:27 EDT The Mexican navy seized a homemade submarine off the Pacific coast Wednesday with a suspected drug shipment on board. Similar vessels have been discovered off Colombia and Central America, but navy spokesman Capt. Benjamin Mar said the seizure is a first for Mexico. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/mexico-seizes-suspected-drug-submarine.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:38:25 EDT A member of the military mission that tricked Colombian rebels into freeing 15 hostages wore the insignia of the International Red Cross during the operation, President Alvaro Uribe said Wednesday. His government apologized to the Red Cross for the incident, which Uribe called an unauthorized error by a nervous soldier. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/92485-colombia-red-cross.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/colombia-red-cross-symbol-used-in-hostage-rescue.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/colombia-red-cross-symbol-used-in-hostage-rescue.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:27:32 EDT The highest-rated TV show in Colombia follows a rather grim plot line: Boy meets girl. Boy smuggles tons of cocaine. Longtime pals betray each other. Everyone ends up dead or in jail. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080715/tv-show-provides-look-into-colombian-drug-cartel.htm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:09:20 EDT Republican presidential candidate John McCain, in one of his strongest endorsements of free trade, called himself "an unapologetic supporter of NAFTA," an agreement that many Americans feel has cost them jobs. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/91339-la-raza-conference-mccain.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/mccain-touts-free-trade-agenda-to-hispanic-group.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/mccain-touts-free-trade-agenda-to-hispanic-group.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:06:16 EDT President Nicolas Sarkozy pinned the Legion of Honor--France's highest award--on former hostage Ingrid Betancourt on Monday, praising her courage and saying: "We love you." http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/91133-france-bastille-day.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/ingrid-betancourt-receives-french-award.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/ingrid-betancourt-receives-french-award.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:10:08 EDT A pack of steers and fighting bulls injured five people on their last run through the streets of Pamplona Monday in a relatively safe end to the weeklong San Fermin festival. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/91219-spain-san-fermin.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/5-hurt-in-years-last-spanish-bull-run.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/5-hurt-in-years-last-spanish-bull-run.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:11:26 EDT IN THE HEADLINES Obama says he'd send at least 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan while ending the war in Iraq ... McCain tells Hispanic group that free trade helps all; pledges aid for those who lose jobs ... Obama tells fellow blacks at NAACP convention they must show more personal responsibility ... New Yorker cover depicts Obama as Muslim, wife as armed terrorist ... Palestinian official: Obama to visit West Bank ... Sen. Jack Reed says he's not interested in being Obama's No. 2 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/91305-mccain-2008.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/today-on-the-presidential-campaign-trail.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/today-on-the-presidential-campaign-trail.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:53:23 EDT Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced Colombia's defense minister Sunday as an obstacle to peace with his U.S.-allied neighbor, demanding the military chief be put "in his place." http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/90785-venezuela-colombia.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/chavez-denounces-colombian-defense-chief.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/chavez-denounces-colombian-defense-chief.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:00:12 EDT Bulls roughed up seven people Sunday as they thundered down the rain-slicked cobblestone streets of Pamplona during the weeklong San Fermin festival, officials said. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/90531-spain-san-fermin.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/7-hurt-in-latest-running-of-the-bulls-in-pamplona.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/7-hurt-in-latest-running-of-the-bulls-in-pamplona.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:31:49 EDT Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela has been crowned Miss Universe 2008. Mendoza and three other Latin Americans women made the final five at Sunday's contest. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/90862-vietnam-miss-universe.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/miss-universe-rivals-leave-politics-out.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/miss-universe-rivals-leave-politics-out.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:11:45 EDT IN THE HEADLINES Obama says `little doubt' country in recession and Iraqi withdrawal won't be `perfectly neat' ... McCain retooled his campaign, but first week out on the road remained bumpy and quirky ... Cindy McCain takes spin in pace car, visits Danica's car before watching IRL race ... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/today-on-the-presidential-campaign-trail.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:01:54 EDT Three Americans freed after being held more than five years by rebels in Colombia gave thanks Saturday and urged people to not forget other hostages who were left behind. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/90418-us-colombia-hostages.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/rescued-colombia-hostages-head-home-to-florida.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080713/rescued-colombia-hostages-head-home-to-florida.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:44:51 EDT