The Maldives was without an effective government on Wednesday, after the Cabinet resigned en masse amid a power struggle between President Mohammed Nasheed and the Opposition-controlled Parliament.

Gunmen set off a car bomb and fired rocket propelled grenades at one of the biggest Nato bases in Afghanistan on Wednesday in a brazen daylight attack claimed by the hardline Islamist Taliban.

The win over Portugal was enough to put Spain into a last eight showdown against Paraguay on Saturday. Whoever gets through that match has either Argentina or Germany awaiting them in the semifinals.

When it comes to the World Cup Jabulani football, perfect may not be good enough, according to scientists who have analysed the controversial ball.
Experts puzzling over its allegedly erratic flight — which has unnerved more than one goalkeeper in South Africa — have concluded that the Jabulani may simply be too round to fly straight.

A top London art gallery will on Wednesday unveil an exhibition of works that had tricked its own experts, until scientific advances revealed cleverly produced fakes or unexpected treasures.

Robinho celebrated his first goal at the World Cup and a man-of-the-match performance as Brazil cruised past Chile and into the quarter-finals on Monday.
Robinho featured in the build-up to Luis Fabiano’s 38th-minute strike and then splendidly finished a chance created for him by a surging midfield run from Ramires on 59 minutes.

Brazil coach Dunga admitted Kaka’s flurry of yellow cards was giving him concern as five-time world champions Brazil charged into the quarterfinals at the World Cup at Ellis Park on Monday.

Sixteen people including civilians and policemen have been killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, the police said.

A young Bengal tiger mauled a three-year-old girl after breaking free from its handlers at an Indonesian zoo, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, leaving the toddler with head injuries that required surger

Israeli diplomats have started wearing jeans and sandals to work and caused a series of diplomatic faux pas in a protest over salary conditions, a foreign ministry official said Tuesday.