More than 8,000 killed in Syria unrest - UN official

More than 8,000 people have died since anti-government protests erupted in Syria a year ago, a UN official says.

UN General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser said many women and children were among the victims.

Scores missing after Bangladesh ferry sinks

Scores of people are missing after a ferry with some 200 people aboard sunk in a river in southern Bangladesh, police say. 

They say about 35 people were rescued after the accident in the Meghna River, south-west of the capital Dhaka.

Will India fire in familiar territory?

Big Picture

Another ODI between India and Sri Lanka. Before you cringe in disgust, the mitigating factor in favour of the latest match is that it is not part of another hastily arranged bilateral series. The teams have no option but to meet once, at the least, in the Asia Cup. 

One silver lining, if it can be called that, for India on the disaster that was their recent tour of Australia was their performance against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank series, which culminated in that record chase led by Virat Kohli in Hobart. Out of four meetings between the two sides, India won two and tied another.

ICC Dismisses World Cup 2011 Match-Fixing Claims

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a statement dismissing claims made in a report in a British newspaper that they are investigating the 2011 World Cup semi-final for corruption.

A report in the The Sunday Times reported that the sport's governing body were conducting an investigation into the match, which India won by 29 runs in Mohali to progress to the final, where they beat Sri Lanka to claim their second World Cup title.

"The story carried by the newspaper, in which it has claimed that the ICC is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan, is baseless and misleading," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

"The ICC has no reason or evidence to require an investigation into this match.

New Zealand And South Africa Draw Opening Test

South Africa 238 & 435-5 dec. (Smith 115, Kallis 113no) drew with
New Zealand 273 (McCullum 48) & 137-2
First Test, DunedinScorecard
Rain washed out the final day's play of the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Dunedin with the result that the match was drawn.

New Zealand closed day four on 137 for two having been set 401 to win but were unable to continue their run chase due to the bad weather.

The game produced the first Test match draw of 2012 and the first Test draw in 15 matches.
The rain also put paid to South Africa's ambitions of toppling England at the top of the Test rankings as they required a 3-0 series win to do so.

Ronaldo double as Real Madrid win five-goal thriller at Betis

Goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid won 3-2 at Real Betis Sunday -- their 11th victory in a row.

Japan mourns tsunami dead; grapples with aftermath

OFUNATO, Japan (Reuters) - With a moment of silence, prayers and anti-nuclear rallies, Japan marks on Sunday one year since an earthquake and tsunami killed thousands and set off a radiation crisis that shattered public trust in atomic power and the nation's leaders.