TheNewsGuru

Tag: Russia

  • BREAKING: Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino, meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football [Photos]

    BREAKING: Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino, meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football [Photos]

    …as FIFA names Pinnick match commissioner

    Sequel to the sack of the Amaju Pinnick led executive of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung on Monday, the President of the world football governing body (FIFA), Gianni Infantino on Tuesday met with Pinnick in Russia over the crisis.

    The FIFA boss met with Pinnick before the commencement of the ongoing round 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland.

    A copy of the match start list sent exclusively to TheNewsGuru.com also showed that the embattled NFF boss was the match commissioner.

    Recall that the minister on Monday ordered the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF executive committee to give way to that led by Chris Giwa in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.

    [Photos] Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football

    In a statement signed by the minister’s special adviser on media, Nneka Anibeze, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development directed the Nigeria Football Federation, a parastatal under it, to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 27, 2018, which restored the orders of the Federal High Court, setting aside the purported election into the Executive Committee of the NFF held on September 30, 2014.

    It is expected that the meeting between the two football governing body heads will spare Nigeria from the impending ban by FIFA over the minister’s pronouncement of the Chris Giwa led NFF faction as authentic.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Oil prices fall as Saudi, Russian output rises

    Oil prices fell on Monday as supplies from Saudi Arabia and Russia rose while economic growth stumbled in Asia amid an escalating trade dispute with the U.S.

    Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 fell 1.24 dollars a barrel to a low of $77.99 before recovering to $78.40, down 83 cents, by 7.35 GMT.

    U.S. light crude CLc1 was 50 cents lower at 73.65 dollars.

    Oil prices rose strongly in June, with the U.S. crude contract hitting its highest in years and a hafd years at 74.46 dollars.

    But a flurry of U.S. announcements over the weekend unsettled oil markets.

    U.S. president, Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that Saudi Arabia’s King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had agreed to pump more oil, “maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels”.

    The White House later walked back on the comments.

    Saudi Arabia’s output is up by 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) from May, a Reuters survey showed, and close to its 10.72 million bpd record from November 2016.

    Russian output rose to 11.06 million bpd in June from 10.97 million bpd in May, the Energy Ministry said on Monday.

    U.S. production C-OUT-T-EIA has soared 30 per cent in the past two years, to 10.9 million bpd, meaning the world’s three biggest oil producers now churn out almost 11 million bpd each, meeting a third of global oil demand.

    Also weighing on oil demand are trade disputes between the United States and other major economies including China, the European Union, India and Canada.

    Asia’s main economic hubs of China, Japan and South Korea reported a slowdown in export orders in June amid escalating trade disputes with the United States.

    “Recurring salvos in the trade war and falling asset prices raise the question of how much tariffs could damage the global economy,” U.S. bank JPMorgan said.

    The bank said a “medium-intensity (trade) conflict would likely reduce global economic growth by at least 0.5 per cent, “before accounting for tighter financial conditions and sentiment shocks”.

    In spite of the relief from Saudi Arabia and Russia, oil markets remain tense because of unplanned outages from Canada to Venezuela and Libya.

    Looming U.S. sanctions against Iran further contribute to expected tightness.

    Mr Trump threatened in an interview that aired on Sunday to put sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran.

    “The Trump administration’s plan for Iran sanctions is now abundantly clear. They seek to push Iranian exports of crude, condensate, and oil products to zero,” energy consultancy FGE said in a note.

     

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Russia goalkeeper Akinfeev thanks God for luck against Spain

    Russia goalkeeper Akinfeev thanks God for luck against Spain

    Russia’s penalty shootout hero, goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, thanked God, luck and the Luzhniki Stadium crowd for bringing the hosts home safely against Spain on Sunday to reach their first World Cup quarter-final since 1970.

    “In the second half, we were trying to defend. We were hoping for penalties and that’s what happened. Thank God,” he said after Russia won 4-3 on penalties when the match ended 1-1.
    Akinfeev stopped kicks from Koke and Iago Aspas, while Russia’s marksmen scored all four penalties they took.

    “Thank God, we were lucky, that’s it,” said the keeper, who like his counterpart at the other end, David de Gea, had had little to break sweat over for the preceding 120 minutes.

    Rewarded with a sponsor’s trophy, Akinfeev acknowledged the part played by an 78,000 crowd in Moscow: “I’m not the man of the match, the man of the match is our team — and our fans.”
    He added: “We’re having a fantastic World Cup.”

    It was the fifth time in a row a World Cup host nation has won a penalty shootout, FIFA said.

    It was also the ninth time that Spain have failed to beat a host of a World Cup or European Championships. They have lost eight of those games, including four at World Cups, the last to South Korea in 2002 — also on penalties.

    Russia will face either Croatia or Denmark in the quarter-finals.

    Reuters

  • [BREAKING] World Cup: Russia cruise to quarter-final after defeating Spain on penalties

    [BREAKING] World Cup: Russia cruise to quarter-final after defeating Spain on penalties

    Spain are out of the World Cup, allowing Russia to advance to the quarter-finals.

    Igor Akinfeev saved two spot-kicks as hosts Russia beat Spain 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their last-16 tie had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

    Akinfeev kept out efforts by Koke and Iago Aspas as the 2010 champions – unbeaten in their previous 23 games – became the latest big-name casualty to exit the tournament after Germany, Argentina and Portugal.

    Spain had taken the lead when Marco Asensio’s curling free-kick into the six-yard area hit the ankle of Sergei Ignashevich, who was marking Sergio Ramos, and flew into the net.

    Spain dominated possession but were unable to make it count and were punished when Russia were awarded a penalty.

    Gerard Pique handled Artem Dzyuba’s header and the Zenit St Petersburg forward sent David de Gea the wrong way for his third goal of the tournament.

    Substitute Andres Iniesta went close to winning it in normal time for Spain before Russia scored all four of their penalties in the shootout to the delight of their fans in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    Russia, 70th in Fifa’s world rankings, were without a win in seven games before the World Cup. They are now two victories from the final.

  • Russia 2018 : Germany players banned from sex, using social media

    Germany coach, Joachim Low, has banned his players from having sex during this summer’s World Cup.

    Low does not want the players’ partners ruining his preparations in Russia, with players forced to ask for special permission to see their other halves and even their children.

    But they will be banned from such contact during the tournament.

    Social media will also be prohibited for the likes of Mesut Ozil, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller and Marco Reus.

    According to Gazetta dello Sport, Low will however allow the holders to drink, to help boost team spirits, with the boss insisting: “The team is more important than the ego.”

    Germany have started their preparations for the World Cup by training in South Tyrol, in north-east Italy this week.

    Manuel Neuer is fighting for fitness ahead of the tournament after only managing four appearances for Bayern Munich last season due to a metatarsal injury.

    Neuer has been involved in session with Bernd Leno, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp and is battling the trio for three goalkeeper places on the plane.

    “I’m in good shape,” Neuer, who will play 45 minutes next week, said after training.

    “I think the coaches are very happy, the fitness coaches, too. They’ve got me in great condition. I’m not holding back, that’d be bad advice for a goalkeeper.”

    They open their friendlies with a clash with Austria on Saturday before taking on Saudi Arabia a week on Friday.

    Germany are in Group F with Mexico, South Korea and Sweden – getting their campaign off and running against the Mexicans on June 17.

  • I will step down in 2024 – Russian president, Putin

    Vladimir Putin said on Friday he would respect the Russian constitution which bans anyone from serving two consecutive presidential terms, meaning he will step down from his post in 2024 when his current term expires.

    His remarks, made to reporters at an economic forum in St Petersburg and broadcast on state TV, are not a surprise and do not necessarily mean he will relinquish power in six years.

    Putin has stepped down as president once before, in 2008, after serving two back-to-back terms only to return in 2012 after doing a stint as prime minister, a maneuver he would be legally entitled to carry out again.

    “I have always strictly abide by the constitution of the Russian Federation,” Putin said, when asked if and when he would be leaving office.

    “In the constitution it’s clearly written that nobody can serve more than two terms in a row … I intend to abide by this rule.”

    Putin easily won re-election in March, extending his tenure by six years to 24 – which would make him Moscow’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

  • Australia, Netherlands hold Russia legally responsible for Malaysian MH17 crash

    Australia and the Netherlands have decided to officially hold Russia accountable for its role in downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, paving the way for the two countries to possibly take legal action against Moscow.

    MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. In a report from the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) issued Thursday, international investigators said the Buk anti-aircraft system used to bring down the jet belonged to the Russian military.

    “The Netherlands and Australia are now convinced that Russia is responsible for the deployment of the Buk installation that was used to down MH17,” Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stef Blok said in a statement on Friday.

    “The government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable,” Blok said.

    “Australia and the Netherlands have informed the Russian Federation that we hold it responsible under international law for its role in the downing of MH17,” Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

    Bishop and Blok said their governments asked Russia on Friday to enter talks about its role in the disaster in order to find a solution “that would do justice to the tremendous suffering and damage” caused by the downing.

    The case could next be presented to an international court or organization for judgement, the Dutch and Australian governments said.

    The son of an Australian couple killed in the disaster said earlier Friday the international community should pressure Russia to take responsibility after investigators found its military missile brought down the flight.

    “It’s good to see some strong evidence that Russia was involved,” Paul Guard, who lost his parents Jill and Roger in the disaster, told Australian broadcaster ABC.

    “Clearly, Russia has a lot of questions to answer as to what its missile launcher was doing there and why it was involved in this war in the first place.”

    He said governments have a problem in acknowledging their involvement “in these sorts of things.”

    “The US, I think, took over 10 years to acknowledge the shooting down of an Iranian jet. I’m not expecting anything anytime soon.”

  • Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    A cross-section of stakeholders in Nigerian football says the senior male national team, the Super Eagles, have the capacity to excel at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and beyond.

    The stakeholders expressed this view on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a one-day seminar organised by the management of The Sun Newspapers, in conjunction with the AITEO Group.

    The seminar, which was organised with the Rivers Government’s support and the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, examined the Eagles’ chances at the mundial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Cup will kick off on June 14 in Moscow.

    The stakeholders also expressed the belief that the Eagles could excel beyond the 2018 World Cup with a good team spirit, and determination of players, sponsors and management team.

    Danladi Bako, a former Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said the Super Eagles would succeed if the National Assembly ensured statutory funding for the team.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to also motivate the national team by attending more matches they engaged in.

    “Also, the team can succeed if sports writers stopped promoting players to the national team when they knew that such players were not good enough to don the national colours.

    “There should be the promotion of cohesion and team spirit by managers, rather than squabbles and rancour. Where a team lacks unity, there will be a breakdown in communication and there will also be failure.’’

    Bako also called for a proper structure where a national team was built from the cadet levels to the senior level.

    “We all hope that the Eagles will do well if the managers work on the mentality of the players,’’ he added.

    Also speaking, Fanny Amun, a former coach of the under-17 male national team, called for long-term preparation for the national team to succeed beyond Russia 2018.

    “We will experience failure if players don’t train and play constantly. Long-term preparation is far better than a short preparation and political will is vital in team preparation.

    “Funding is there, but should be complementary to team preparation. All Nigerians should support the team to succeed in Russia and beyond,’’ Amun whose team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993 said.

    In his remarks, Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Abia Warriors, said “the maturity of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) management is a plus in managing the players’’.

    “This time, there is unity. For the first time, the players are getting their `alerts’ before the World Cup,’’ he said.

    Inyama also enjoined the NFF to prevail on President Buhari to assent to the NFF Bill passed by the National Assembly to move the country’s football beyond Russia 2018.

    A former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, said “Eagles players should be able to retain the ball, release the ball and receive the ball’’.

    “There should be cohesion for the overall success of the team.’’

    He also said God had been kind to Nigerian football, adding that with adequate backing of government the Super Eagles would succeed in Russia and even beyond the 2018 World Cup.

    “The endowment is there to galvanise the team to a level that can make the country proud,’’ Onigbinde said.

    NAN reports that the seminar had as its theme “That the Super Eagles May Excel in Russia 2018 and Beyond’’.

  • Ikeme’s absence my biggest W/Cup regret – Rohr

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said his greatest regret heading to the 2018 World Cup is the absence of goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

    Ikeme is undergoing treatment for acute Leukemia.

    The Wolves man was in goal for the Nigeria at the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Zambia, October 2016.

    “My biggest regret is the absence of Carl,” admitted Rohr, who visited the goalkeeper in hospital in England.

    However, Ikeme will take the traditional kick-off at Wembley when Nigeria tackle England in a friendly on June 2.

    Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye and Daniel Akpeyi are battling for the team’s goal keeping spot.

  • Russia vows to deepen ties with Iran despite U.S. sanctions

    Russia vows to deepen ties with Iran despite U.S. sanctions

    Russia is to deepen ties with Iran, in spite of the U.S. decision to boycott international nuclear deal and impose new sanctions on Tehran, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.

    President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. was withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

    He said that he was preparing new sanctions on Iran to ensure it did not develop nuclear weapons.