IBT Staff Reporter

Japan's new prime minister ordered the cabinet on Friday to root out wasteful projects in a $154 billion extra budget crafted by his predecessor, but his deputy stressed the aim was to redirect stimulus spending, not cut it.

Iran security forces clashed with supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi and arrested at least 10 of them during annual anti-Israel rallies in Tehran on Friday, a witness said.

Global revenues from climate-related businesses such as energy efficiency rose by 75 percent in 2008 to $530 billion and could exceed $2 trillion by 2020, HSBC Global Research estimated on Friday.

DNA and evidence findings in the murder of Yale student Annie Le are most likely proving lab technician Raymond Clark III is guilty.

NATO proposed a new era of cooperation with the United States and Russia on Friday, calling for joint work on missile defense systems after Washington scrapped a planned anti-missile system.

Top Russian car maker, AvtoVAZ (AVAZ.MM), may join state-run Sberbank (SBER03.MM) and Canada's Magna International Inc (MGa.TO) in a deal to run Opel and bring new technology to Russia.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told a visiting Chinese envoy he will work to end his country's nuclear arms program through multilateral talks in an apparent breakthrough, but similar vows in the past have not been met with action.

The climate change bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives would reduce the gross domestic product of the United States by as much as 3.5 percent in 2050, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.

U.S. stocks were poised for a flat to higher open on Friday as investors sought to determine whether a pullback is on the horizon after a 6-month rally and braced for options expiration.

Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) said it would begin selling the Mazda2 hatchback in the United States toward the end of 2010, getting a late start in a segment that has held up relatively well as consumers seek cheaper and smaller cars.

Toyota Motor Co (7203.T) will not raise prices on the new version of its 4Runner sport- utility vehicle in a bid to shore up sputtering sales of the vehicle, dealers briefed on the plan this week said.

Microsoft Corp on Thursday filed five civil lawsuits in Seattle, Washington against alleged malvertisers.

As the start of London Fashion Week reignites the debate over ultra-thin models, psychiatrists have called on the British government to act over the soaring numbers of pro-anorexia websites.

Pay policies for bank employees across the United States would require approval from the U.S. Federal Reserve as part of a proposal to curb risk-taking at financial institutions, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Fed Takes Role on Pay; Citi Draws a Line; Airbus Sees Tough Years

Mary Travers' funeral or public memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.

The classic series M*A*S*H, the hit movie comedy Tootsie and the Tony-winning play A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are part of the enduring legacy that writer Larry Gelbart left behind when he died September 11 at age 81. But there also are the memories of those he inspired and made laugh.

The Italian government is working on an extension of car incentives which will include their gradual phasing out, industry ministry under-secretary Stefano Saglia said in Il Giornale daily on Friday.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors sought to determine whether a pullback is on the horizon after a 6-month rally and braced for options expiration.

The Swiss government said it would appoint up to five temporary judges to deal with complaints arising from an agreement to hand over data on some UBS client accounts to U.S. authorities.

Former Morgan Stanley managing director Du Jun was sentenced to a maximum seven years in jail on Friday after a district court found him guilty of insider trading in the city's highest-profile case of its kind.

Citadel Broadcasting Corp offered a deal to exchange a major part of its debt for equity to senior lenders owed $2 billion, including JPMorgan Chase & Co , GE Capital and ING Groep NV , the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the negotiations.

The head of Airbus said in remarks published on Friday that the European planemaker faces two further difficult years and does not rule out making further production cuts if necessary to adjust to demand.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.2 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.2 percent at 3:37 a.m. EDT.

Asian stocks retreated from 13-month highs on Friday as a conflicting picture about the strength of U.S. economic recovery stopped investors from extending this week's rally but gave some respite to a battered U.S. dollar.

A round of capital-raising and refinancing has alleviated a cash-flow crunch at DVD rental chain Blockbuster Inc, enabling it to revive plans to reposition itself and get back on a path for growth, Chief Executive Jim Keyes said.

A U.S. energy information company has brought a James Bond approach to the otherwise bland job of gathering oil inventory data, hoping high-tech detective work will attract the business of petroleum traders hungry for accurate supply figures.

Deutsche Lufthansa could permanently ground several of its 19 MD-11 cargo planes, German daily Handelsblatt reported, citing unnamed sources.

BNP Paribas, France's largest bank, is close to selling its stake in ABN AMRO TEDA Fund Management Co in China, in a step toward complying with Chinese mutual fund regulations.