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Lebanon pulls out of Asia Cup

Lebanon pulls out of Asia Cup Lebanon today pulled out of Australias Asian Cup soccer qualifying group due to the crisis engulfing the country. The Lebanon Football Association sent a letter of withdrawal to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), saying it could not continue in the competition due to the tragic circumstances our country and people are passing through as a result of the barbaric attack imposed on Lebanon by the Israeli Army. Australia was due to play Lebanon at Adelaide Oval on August 31 and again in Beirut on November 15. The AFC Management Board will convene an emergency meeting today

Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe

Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe Sen. John Kerry left Monday for a 12-day overseas trip to the Middle East, Asia and Europe where he will focus on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to global health problems. His stops will include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, England and India. Kerry will meet in Iraq next week with Gen. George Casey, commander of coalition forces. He will also visit with Iraqi government officials and Massachusetts troops who are stationed near Ramadi. His first stop is Tuesday in London to meet with British intelligence officials and Chancellor of the

Mideast diplomacy shifts to Asia as Rice flies in

Mideast diplomacy shifts to Asia as Rice flies in Efforts to end fighting in Lebanon move to Asia on Thursday as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flies to Malaysia for a regional security meeting. Rice, arriving from Wednesdays one-day conference in Rome where world powers called for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon but offered no plan to end the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, will also have talks on North Koreas nuclear plans. Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded southern Lebanon early on Thursday, with the death toll in the 16-day conflict rising to 433 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 51 Israelis. Washington

Asia Roundup: Markets narrowly mixed

Asia Roundup: Markets narrowly mixed Asian stocks closed narrowly mixed yesterday with investors taking to the wings ahead of key economic data due out of the US and possible leads on the future of interest rates. Broadly the mood remained positive with oil prices retreating again in the wake of a ceasefire in Lebanon and the prospect that BP would maintain half of its output in a key Alaskan oil field. TOKYO: Share prices closed mixed, with the key Nikkei index falling slightly on profit-taking following solid gains the previous day. The Nikkei-225 Index fell 40.92 points, or 0.26 per cent, to

Socceroos score a dream draw in Asia

Socceroos score a dream draw in Asia THE Socceroos have been handed a dream draw for their competitive debut as an Asian nation after being grouped with Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon in the qualifying tournament for the 2007 Asian Cup at the draw in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The finals of the tournament take place in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in July next year and the Socceroos should be warm favourites to make it that far. The top two teams from each of the six qualifying groups, each made up of four countries, will join the four host nations in the 16-team finals.