TEHRAN, June 30, 2006 (AFP) – A top Iranian cleric reiterated Friday that the Islamic republic will not hold negotiations with arch-foe the United States on its controversial nuclear programme.
Oil prices above 73 dollars on gasoline supply fears
LONDON, June 30, 2006 (AFP) – World oil prices continued to climb on Friday owing to jitters over motor fuel supplies before a long holiday weekend in the United States, dealers said.
New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, climbed 16 cents to 73.68 dollars per barrel in electronic deals before the official opening of the US market. The contract earlier hit 73.85 dollars — the highest point since May 11.
US presses Iran for response on nuclear offer
BRUSSELS, June 30, 2006 (AFP) – The United States "expects" Iran to respond next week to an international offer to defuse the nuclear standoff between Tehran and the West, the number three in the US State Department said Friday.
Black Pearl hoping Portuguese can rid themselves of 1966 and all that
Pirate Irwin
BERLIN, June 30, 2006 (AFP) – Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final with England may give Sven-Goran Eriksson the chance to avenge the Euro 2004 defeat but for Portuguese footballing legend Eusebio it represents a possibility of revenge 40 years on from his adopted country’s most crushing defeat.
Israel arrests third of Hamas cabinet in mass sweep
Nasser Abu Bakr and Hossam Ezzedine
RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – Israel arrested a third of the Hamas-led Palestinian cabinet along with scores of Islamists in a massive operation slammed by the governing party Thursday as a declaration of war.
Italian football match-fixing tribunal underway
ROME, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – Italian football went on trial Thursday at a sports tribunal hearing in Rome that will decide whether four of the country’s top clubs colluded to rig matches over a period of several years.
Coalition soldier, 12 Taliban killed in Afghanistan
KABUL, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – A US-led coalition soldier was killed and three others injured when their vehicle hit a mine in southern Afghanistan while 12 militants died in a raid on a Taliban compound, officials said Thursday.
Who’s saying what at Wimbledon
LONDON, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – Who’s saying what at Wimbledon:
Court says Aziz held in Iraqi custody for two years
BAGHDAD, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – The Iraqi High Tribunal on Thursday said former deputy premier Tareq Aziz has been in the custody of Iraq’s judiciary for the past two years and that he was safe.
Zidane misses training but will play against Brazil
HAMLIN, June 29, 2006 (AFP) – French skipper Zinedine Zidane missed training here on Thursday due to a leg injry but was expected to be fully fit in time for Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Brazil.
