International Business News - ITA 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 A joint gathering of major developed and developing nations on Wednesday agreed that climate change was "one of the great global challenges of our time" and pledged to back a United Nations effort to conclude new climate pact by 2009. The major economies said they supported longterm and midterm goals for greenhouse-gas reductions, but endorsed no targets. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88307-japan-g8-summit.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/developing-economies-dont-back-g-8-climate-step.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/developing-economies-dont-back-g-8-climate-step.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:39:04 EDT Oil prices rebounded slightly Wednesday in Asia after tumbling more than $5 in the previous session as traders worried about the health of the global economy cashed in gains from the recent rally. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/oil-rebounds-slightly-after-second-big-drop.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:42:53 EDT As of Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at least 4,115 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/us-military-deaths-in-iraq-war-at-4-115.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:26:15 EDT Thousands of protesters gathered Tuesday in a historic Rome square to denounce the policies of Premier Silvio Berlusconi in the first major opposition demonstration since the conservative leader won April elections. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/thousands-in-rome-protest-berlusconis-policies.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:31:39 EDT At the Group of Eight summit, you can go for a spin in a hydrogen-fueled Mazda or tour a home powered by solar panels and a wind turbine. And don't forget to test the water-saving toilets, complete with seat-warmer and built-in bidet. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/g-8-summit-not-as-green-as-billed-activists-say.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:57:30 EDT The new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth was dropped Tuesday as a site for next year's Confederations Cup because construction has fallen behind schedule. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/fifa-drops-stadium-from-confederations-cup.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:11:50 EDT Tourists love to view the Colosseum and other famous landmarks in Rome from the back of a horse-drawn carriage but animal rights activists said Tuesday it's time to ban the practice. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88068-italy-horse-carriages.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/activists-in-rome-call-for-horse-ban.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/activists-in-rome-call-for-horse-ban.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:02:50 EDT Auto makers BMW AG and Fiat said Tuesday they had signed a memorandum of understanding that will see them cooperate in the development and manufacturing of parts for the Mini and Alfa Romeo brands. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/bmw-fiat-to-cooperate-on-mini-alfa-romeo-parts.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:39:27 EDT French President Nicolas Sarkozy says emerging economies including China and India will play a bigger role at the next Group of Eight meeting. Sarkozy said Tuesday the leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico will join G-8 leaders for a full day at next year's summit in Italy. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/sarkozy-china-india-g-8-role-to-grow.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:26:58 EDT Italian natural gas and oil company Eni SpA said Tuesday it would start selling gas to a Russian company that owns power plants in the Perm region near the Ural mountains. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/eni-to-sell-gas-to-russian-power-company.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:39:21 EDT Transocean Inc. said Tuesday that Italy's Eni SpA petroleum company gave it an offshore drilling contract that carries a potential value of about $1.19 billion. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/transocean-gets-drilling-deal-worth-up-to-1-19b.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:31:55 EDT Swiss nationalists are forcing a popular vote on whether to ban the construction of Muslim minarets--a proposal that, if approved, could clash with Switzerland's constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/swiss-to-hold-referendum-on-muslim-minaret-ban.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:40:38 EDT The Standard & Poor's 500 Index drifted slightly lower at midday Tuesday, with shares of Office Depot Inc. taking the biggest hit after the office supplies retailer forecast a 10 percent drop in same-store sales. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/midday-leaders-laggards-s-p-500.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:19:19 EDT Delicately carved emeralds, rare gold nose rings and clay vessels that may have held bones more than 2,000 years ago--all plundered from ancient graves--will be returned to Colombia. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88104-artifacts-recovered.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/pre-columbian-treasure-trove-recovered-in-florida.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/pre-columbian-treasure-trove-recovered-in-florida.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:15:05 EDT Fiat, Italy's largest automaker, plans to lay off workers at four of its six Italian plants for three one-week periods later this year due to the contracting automobile market. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/fiat-plans-3-one-week-layoffs-at-4-plants.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:59:23 EDT Steel producer Nucor Corp. said Tuesday it has completed its $658 million acquisition of 50 percent of the stock of a joint venture formed with Italy's Duferco S.A. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/nucor-completes-purchase-of-stake-in-joint-venture.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:25:38 EDT Canadian fertilizer and crop nutrient maker Agrium Inc. said Tuesday it has completed the purchase of a 70 percent stake in Common Market Fertilizers SA, a European fertilizer distributor. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/agrium-completes-purchase-of-stake-in-europes-cmf.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:40 EDT The European Union on Tuesday agreed to let Slovakia adopt the euro as of Jan. 1, 2009, hailing the step as proof of the "great success" of European monetary union. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/eu-invites-slovakia-to-join-euro-zone.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:38:15 EDT Nuclear weapons? No way. But there are plenty of items on Iran's shopping list the United States is more than happy to supply: cigarettes, brassieres, bull semen and more. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87936-iran-buying-american.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/us-exports-to-iran-increase-in-bush-years.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/us-exports-to-iran-increase-in-bush-years.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:56:02 EDT Leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized powers expressed "strong concern" about rising oil and food prices but said they remain "positive" about the outlook for the global economy in a communique released Tuesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/g-8-concerned-about-oil-food-inflation.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:41:58 EDT