China today labelled riots in restive Xinjiang as “a violent terrorist attack” after state media said the death roll rose to 35 and authorities tightened control ahead of the anniversary of 2009 clashes.

Shamed US cyclist Lance Armstrong believes it is impossible to win cycling’s greatest race without using banned substances, he said in an interview with Le Monde today, on the eve of the 100th edition of the Tour de France.

Raids by gunmen in ethnically divided central Nigeria and gun battles between soldiers and attackers have killed at least 48 people and left dozens of homes burnt, the military said today.

In landmark rulings for gay rights, the US Supreme Court struck down a law denying federal benefits to homosexual couples and cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California.

Kevin Rudd was sworn in today as Australia’s new Prime Minister almost three years to the day since he was ruthlessly ousted from the job by Julia Gillard, as Labour desperately fights for electoral survival.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum led from the front with a typically quickfire innings as the Black Caps beat England by five runs to win the first Twenty20 international at The Oval on Tuesday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has urged his team-mates to put their recent off-field problems behind them and concentrate on the business of regaining the Ashes after a troubled build-up to next month’s first Test against England.

Weakened by injury and chastened by the memory of a crushing loss to the same opponents 12 months ago, Italy have vowed to use their imagination when they meet Spain in Thursday’s Confederations Cup semi-final.

Former seven-time Formula One world champion and ex-Germany football captain Michael Ballack are two of the stars set to play in Torsten Frings’ farewell match at Werder Bremen on September 7.

The US National Swimming Champion-ships opened here on Tuesday, the first for the sport without the legendary Michael Phelps since 1998.