The International Cricket Council took the unusual step on Tuesday of publicly defending the performances of its officials and the Decision Review System in a specific match following the controversial first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Brad Haddin on Tuesday maintained that the Australia squad in England were united after former coach Mickey Arthur reportedly claimed there was a huge rift between Test captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson.

Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday Chelsea would be gunning for victory in all four competitions this season as he prepared to kick off his second spell in charge with a friendly in Bangkok.

Pakistan football chiefs on Tuesday urged new Fulham owner Shahid Khan to go back to his roots and tap up young talent in the South Asian country.

Italian police have opened an investigation for doping against Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, ANSA news agency reported on Tuesday, as the athletes blamed their physiotherapist after they failed drugs tests.

Sebastian Coe insists athletics chiefs will intensify the war against drugs cheats in the aftermath of the positive tests for Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell. It was revealed on Sunday that America’s Gay, the fastest man in the world this year, and Jamaica’s former world record holder Powell had both tested positive for banned substances.

Tiger Woods had some words of comfort for Rory McIlroy on Tuesday, telling the struggling Northern Irishman that he endured a similar form slump early in his career.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has confirmed the death in a US drone strike of its deputy leader Saeed al-Shehri, whose killing has been announced a number of times by Yemeni authorities.

Cuba claimed its own the arms found on board a North Korean ship that Panama impounded, saying the missile system parts were to be repaired and returned.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Moscow’s relations with Washington outweighed the “squabbles” over a spying scandal revealed by US fugitive Edward Snowden, who has applied for asylum in Russia.