Beef liver in their meals is helping Japan’s World Cup squad prepare for matches at high altitude in South Africa.

The World Cup Group D opener between Serbia and Ghana in Pretoria on Sunday is one that neither side can afford to lose, in a tough pool that also includes Germany and Australia.

India needed only 15 overs to inflict a crushing six wicket defeat on Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club here on Saturday in the first of two Twenty-20 matches over the weekend.

Defending drivers’ champion Jenson Button topped the times in Friday’s opening free practice ahead of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, chasing his second win of the season, posted a time of one minute 18.127 seconds ahead of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes.

South Africa were 190 for five in their first innings at lunch on the second day in the opening Test against West Indies on Friday at Queen’s Park Oval.
The visitors’ were struggling at 107/5 before AB de Villiers (40 batting) and A. Prince (42 batting) rescued the visitors.

European champions Spain are determined to play down their tag as favourites to win the title for the first time after a history of coming up short.
Vicente Del Bosque’s side, one of the contenders to win the tournament, are upbeat following their 6-0 win over Poland on Tuesday in their final warm-up match.

Pope Benedict XVI on Friday begged for forgiveness for the paedophile priest scandals rocking the Roman Catholic in his clearest apology yet for the scourge.

British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to abandon a visit to a military base in Afghanistan due to suspicions that Taliban insurgents might try to shoot down his helicopter.

Some 30 gunmen stormed a northern Mexican drug rehabilitation centre and opened fire, killing 19 people and wounding four others, the police said on Friday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that Israel was “doomed” and singled out US President Barack Obama for scorn after the UN agreed a fresh round of nuclear sanctions against his cou