News Archive - 24 June 2014

>SALVADOR (Reuters) - Iran coach Carlos Queiroz believes the Group F match against Bosnia on Wednesday will be their own "World Cup final" as they seek a victory that could put them into the second round. “It’s as simple as that," said Queiroz. "The day we left Tehran everybody knew...

>PORTO ALEGRE Brazil (Reuters) - Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi offered birthday boy Lionel Messi best wishes on Tuesday but warned the Argentine to expect no gifts from the Super Eagles who will be fighting for their World Cup lives when the two sides meet in a Group F clash. While...

>SALVADOR (Reuters) - Bosnia want to leave their first World Cup with some form of redemption from their final game against Iran but the uncertain future of popular coach Safet Susic will be hanging over them. Already eliminated after narrow defeats by Argentina and Nigeria, Bosnia continue to bemoan the...

Sharing a name with ISIS, the Islamist group that has swept across the Middle East, is a shock, claims other Isis entities

The £19m Fifa film where Tim Roth plays Sepp Blatter

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran is refusing to significantly cut the number of centrifuges it intends to keep to produce nuclear fuel, making it hard to imagine a compromise at this week's talks with six powers, Western and Iranian officials said on Wednesday.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) - The four Asian teams are having a dismal World Cup in terms of the win-loss ledger so far - and things will only get worse if South Korea doesn't beat Algeria on Sunday. So far, Australia is out of contention after two matches, ...

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that Sunni Islamist insurgents fighting in Iraq were planning to attack Britain and that "ungoverned spaces" where militants thrived had to be shut down.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Watched from the stands by Maradona, Lionel Messi only needed a few seconds to shoot Argentina into the second round of the World Cup. Kept out for 90 minutes by Iran's stubborn defense, Messi finally struck in injury time Saturday with a curling, ...

>ARBIL Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged leaders of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Tuesday to stand with Baghdad in the face of a Sunni insurgent onslaught that threatens to dismember the country. Security forces fought Sunni armed factions for control of the country's biggest...

>DUBAI, June 25 (Reuters) - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch of their accuracy.INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares wither as Wall Street pulls back* Brent crude holds above $114 on Iraq conflict*...

>SANTO ANDRE Brazil (Reuters) - Argentina bid to secure top spot in World Cup Group F against a Nigeria side looking to reach the last 16 while France, almost assured of qualification from Group E, take on Ecuador on Wednesday. Twice World Cup winners Argentina lead Group F with six...

>SALVADOR Brazil (Reuters) - A hundred thousand fans for your home internationals, a nation's admiration for excellent World Cup performances, contrasted with struggling to find opponents and socks that shrink in the wash, life as a soccer player for Iran has its unique highs and lows. Iran's soccer stars are...

Argentina must improve and find greater mobility to cope with the imminent threat posed by Nigeria and to make further inroads at this World Cup, coach Alejandro Sabella suggested in Porto Alegre on Tuesday. Two wins from their opening two Group F games mean Lionel Messi and company face Nigeria...

Ecuador will not take any comfort from the likely absence of some of France's top players when the two countries try to book their places in the next phase of the World Cup on Wednesday, Ecuador's coach Reinaldo Rueda said. French midfielder Yohan Cabaye is suspended for the game after...

Argentina head coach Alejandro Sabella wants to relieve some of the pressure on star man Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup.

It will be harder for dodgy operators to set up shell companies in New Zealand under legislation tightening overseas ownership and registration.

* Largest Iraq refinery still under siege by Sunni rebels * OPEC sees no oil shortage, would pump more if needed * Libyan oil port shut again after reopening at weekend * U.S. crude inventories expected to decline -Reuters poll (Updates prices at settlement, adds WTI-Brent spread) By Lorenzo...

TEHRAN: Iraq has not asked Iran for help against militants, its ambassador to Tehran said on Tuesday as pro-Baghdad government forces held off assaults on a key town and oil refinery.

Stocks fell as geopolitical concerns overshadowed better-than-expected reports on housing and consumer confidence.

Lamda Development presented plans on Tuesday for the utilization of the old airport plot at Elliniko, southern Athens, with the investors who have undertaken the development of the 6.3-square kilometer site (the Latsis Group’s Lamda, Al Maabar from the United Arab Emirates and China’s Fosun Group) claiming they are...

>    Saudi Arabia, which currently produces around 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), has the ability to pump to its full capacity of 12.5 million bpd, the official told Reuters.    "Saudi Arabia has the capability to produce up to 12.5 million bpd when the customers ask...

>BEIJING (Reuters) - Legendary Chinese oil trader "Crazy Yang" Qinglong, who started China's oil business with Iran in the 1990s and was renowned as a hard-drinker who bear-hugged Iranian officials, has died, said company officials and former acquaintances. "He's a legend, a tough man, a man of perseverance," said an...

>Dealers said the rupee would be under pressure if the United States takes any action against Sri Lanka for importing Iranian crude via third parties.The rupee was at 130.28/32 per dollar at 0653 GMT weaker from Monday's close of 130.25/30.Currency dealers said it was too early...

>The comment was in response to a June 19 Reuters story citing sources with knowledge of the matter as saying that India planned to clear some oil payments to Iran through the United Arab Emirates central bank. According to the sources, the new payment system includes a step in which...

>Russia is one of six world powers negotiating with Iran on a long-term agreement to end a decade-old dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, which the country says is peaceful but the West fears may be aimed at developing a nuclear arms capability.Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's atomic...

>LONDON/ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran is lobbying to get HSBC (HSBA.L) to process humanitarian trade transactions that Europe's biggest bank has frozen because of concerns about potential breaches of international sanctions, sources familiar with the trades told Reuters. Banks such as HSBC are responding to tougher scrutiny over financial dealings...