News Archive - 8 May 2014

>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hundreds of Syrian rebels on Wednesday abandoned their last stronghold in the heart of Homs city, an epicenter of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, handing him a symbolic victory weeks before his likely re-election. Two convoys of buses snaked their way through the crumbling ruins of...

40 Alawite women and children, an Iranian woman and 30 Syrian soldiers were exchanged

* Push against defaulters reveals \"critical\" hole for banks * Loan problem is test for Rouhani's bid to boost economy * More cooperative mood may raise pressure for solution * Creditors include figures with likely ties to previous govt By Michelle Moghtader DUBAI, May 8 (Reuters) - A move by...

Daggers' Gavin Hoyte could be playing against Lionel Messi when Trinidad & Tobago face them next month in a pre-World Cup friendly. Pic: Dave Simpson/TGSPHOTO

Why Iran's president saved WhatsApp from a ban

CAIRO [MENL] -- The Iranian Navy has again docked in Sudan. Copyrights 2008, Middle East Newsline. All rights reserved.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari scored the lone goal of the match against Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor on Wednesday night.

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American International Group Inc. (AIG) sold coverage to clients with ties to Cuba, a nation sanctioned by the U.S., when the insurer was owned by American taxpayers after its 2008 bailout.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice assured Israel at high-level bilateral talks on Thursday that Washington remained determined to stop Iran developing nuclear arms, the White House said. \"The US delegation reaffirmed our commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,\" said a White House statement released after talks...

>* Oil price surge would hit South Asian importers hardest* Diverse supply, forex surplus would shield China from any oil shock (Adds quotes from Global Oil Forum)By Florence TanSINGAPORE, May 7 (Reuters) - Asia's growing dependence on Middle Eastern oil has amplified the risks it faces if the Strait of...

>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union governments reached a preliminary agreement on Wednesday to expand the legal criteria for targeting people and companies with sanctions to pressure Russia over Ukraine, paving the way for new listings as early as Monday, diplomats said. The decision should make it easier for the EU...

>Iran are in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia and Nigeria for the opening round of June 12-July 13 tournament in Brazil.The deadline to announce the final 23-man squads for the World Cup is June 2. Goalkeepers - Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig), Alireza Haghighi (Sporting Covilha, on loan from Rubin...

>DUBAI/VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. inspectors visited a uranium mine in Iran and reached agreement on how to monitor a planned reactor, part of an effort to allay fears about Tehran's nuclear program, Iranian media said on Wednesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency experts were due to go to another...

>* Russian bid revised, but price remains much higher (Adds Chinese foreign ministry comment)By Orhan CoskunANKARA, May 7 (Reuters) - The Chinese firm which won a provisional $3.4 billion bid to build a missile defence system for Turkey has not yet met all the conditions of the tender and...

>INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares up on Yellen comments, China trade data* U.S. oil rises on surprise inventory drop, Brent up on Libya* Gold remains below $1,300 on easing Ukraine concerns* MIDEAST STOCKS-UAE, Qatar and Egypt markets retreat* Rebels evacuated from Homs, the cradle of Syrian uprising* Iran, six powers...

>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers held more "useful" talks on Tehran's nuclear program, both sides said, although a Western diplomat said they were still struggling to overcome deep disagreements on the future of Iranian atomic capabilities. Their remarks came after two days of expert-level talks in...