Fighting, biting, alleged cheating and an extraordinary on-pitch protest have cast a shadow over China’s National Games and prompted renewed accusations that the quest for medals in the domestic showcase is motivated mainly by greed.

Left-arm fast bowler Brian Vitori took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket on Thursday, as Zimbabwe secured a 64-run first innings lead over Pakistan on the third day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club.

Syrian families affected by the country’s civil war need $1.4 billion in aid, a senior Syrian official said Thursday, adding that only 43 per cent of that was being met.

England were 59/3 off 15.1 overs against Australia when rain stopped play at 3:34 pm local time (2.34 pm GMT) in the day/night third one-day international at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The USA and Costa Rica punched their tickets to the World Cup with a victory and a draw in Concacaf regional qualifying on Tuesday.

Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen will rejoin the Ferrari stable on a two year contract for the 2014 season, the team announced on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina booked their place at the World Cup with a 5-2 thrashing of Paraguay on Tuesday.

Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko faces a new challenge this week as he tries out his golf skills on the European Challenge Tour at the Superior Cup in Kharkiv.

A top Pakistan hockey official resigned on Wednesday after the team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup sparked protests from former players and fans angry over a spectacular decline in the nation

Russia said Wednesday it had given the United States a plan to put Syria’s chemical weapons under international control, raising hopes of a diplomatic solution to the crisis.