Opec expected to keep output high as Russian fears heighten June 3, 2015 BRENT crude oil fell slightly yesterday as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) looked set to maintain production at current levels, with commentators citing concerns around Russia as a major reason behind the decision. The benchmark price had rallied on Tuesday, helped by comments from Ali al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s petroleum minister, which pointed to [...]
Fifa scandal: US investigation includes 2018 and 2022 World Cups June 3, 2015 The FBI's investigation of Fifa, the world's football governing body, involves scrutiny of how it awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 competition to Qatar. A US official confirmed that the awards to host the next two global competitions would form part of the probe that led to Sepp Blatter's resignation as [...]
FBI target Blatter as Fifa kingpin quits at last June 2, 2015 President calls time on 17-year reign amid corruption probe BESIEGED Sepp Blatter is believed to be under investigation by the FBI after shocking football by suddenly quitting the presidency of scandal-hit world governing body Fifa yesterday. Blatter, 79, brought an abrupt end to his 17-year reign with a hastily-convened speech, saying he did not feel [...]
Sport Comment: He’s gone, but major questions linger for world governing body June 2, 2015 WIDELY welcomed – and, due to its suddenness and haste, slightly surreal – though it was, Sepp Blatter’s resignation as president yesterday should not be seen as a panacea for Fifa’s many ills. While Blatter is on the way out after some 17 years controlling the multi-billion pound organisation, he could remain in charge until [...]
Everything you need to know ahead of the Opec meeting on Friday June 2, 2015 All eyes will be on the organization of petroleum exporting countries (Opec) when it meets in Vienna on Friday to decide whether to increase, decrease or hold its output target from its current level. Why is it interesting? A glut in the global supply of oil pushes prices as low as $45 per barrel in mid-January, [...]
Rabbatts resigns from Fifa role in protest at Blatter June 1, 2015 FOOTBALL Association (FA) board member Heather Rabbatts yesterday quit her role on Fifa’s anti-discrimination task force in protest at Sepp Blatter’s re-election as president. The anti-discrimination task force was chaired by Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, who is one of seven serving officials of the embattled world governing body to be arrested [...]
Sharapova out but Williams edges through June 1, 2015 DEFENDING champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the French Open yesterday after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Czech Lucie Safarova in the fourth round. Russia’s Sharapova had reached three consecutive Roland Garros finals and recorded two victories, but was eclipsed by 13th seed Safarova, who produced the biggest shock of this year’s tournament with a [...]
Fifa crisis: UK banks HSBC, Barclays, and Standard Chartered get drawn into corruption scandal June 1, 2015 Three of Britain’s leading banks are conducting investigations into whether they cleared payments related to the ongoing Fifa corruption scandal. HSBC, Barclays, and Standard Chartered are all understood to have launched internal probes, after the FBI arrested current former Fifa executives and associates. Barclays and HSBC yesterday declined to comment. Standard Chartered said [...]
Former deputy PM Nick Clegg blacklisted from entering Russia May 31, 2015 FORMER deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has been banned from going to Russia. Clegg’s name appeared on a blacklist of 89 European politicians and media leaders handed to an EU delegation in Moscow last week. Clegg prohibited Liberal Democrat ministers from attending the Winter Olympics in Sochi and has called for Russia to be stripped [...]
With no deal on the cards, is the Eurozone too complacent about the risks Grexit poses? May 31, 2015 Guy Foster, group head of research at Brewin Dolphin, says Yes. It’s difficult to tell how complacent the Eurogroup really is about the risks of Grexit, as its rhetoric forms part of the negotiations. Both parties are citing a Grexit as their best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Their respective hands are strengthened as it [...]