JSC Alfa Bank, the Russian private bank founded by billionaire Mikhail Fridman, is scaling back lending for all but the most affluent clients after a growing share of customers fell behind on payments this year.

IRISH entrepreneurs helped Qatari football chiefs keep cool heads in their successful bid for World Cup 2022.

RUSSIAN gas monopoly Gazprom said net profit doubled in the first half of 2006 as prices for gas in Europe and Russia rose and the firm sold bigger volumes.