The 51-hour countdown for the 17th flight launch of Indian space agency's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C 15 from Sriharikota spaceport is expected to begin on Saturday morning."The rocket will put into orbit five satellites remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2B from India, Alsat from Algeria, two nano satellites from Canada and Switzerland, and a pico (very small) satellite called Studsat built by 7 Indian engineering students.

Ghanaians turned out in their thousands to cheer their soccer team's arrival home late on Monday, spraying their jet with water cannons and rolling out the red carpet for the World Cup's surprise quarter-finalists.

Russia has blocked the sale of 100 RD-93 engines to China for FC-1, the joint Sino-Pak fighter, which could emerge as a rival for its MiG-29 fighter in the global markets, according to a report on Monday. "The new contract with China for the sale of 100 RD-93 engines has not been signed," Kommersant reported quoting its sources in the military-industrial complex.

"In the key countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the group is under serious pressure," Robert F Godec, Principal Deputy Co-coordinator for Terrorism in the State Department said. There us "growing resolve" in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to "defeat" Al-Qaeda, he added.

South African police have charged a British tabloid journalist with helping a fan gain access to the England dressing room after a World Cup soccer match, national police commissioner Bheki Cele said on Tuesday.

The clubs and their players have grown so rich that England's national team and the structure that surrounds it could be in danger of becoming almost a symbol of decadence, at the heart of which is a fateful mix of celebrity, big money, player power and media manipulation.

Fixtures, results, reports and images from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Fabio Capello is to seek reassurances from the English Football Association that they want him to remain as England coach after his team's humiliating exit from the World Cup after a poor campaign Sunday.

The American football team's success in the World Cup has an Indian connection. Sunil Gulati, an Indian-American native of Allahabad, who currently heads the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), is being credited for the US soccer team's rise.

The complete fixtures of the World Cup in SOuth Africa.

Brazil meet Portugal in a mouth-watering finale to the World Cup group matches on Friday after holders Italy were knocked out in a humiliating defeat by tournament debutants Slovakia. The miserable display by Italy, four times world champions, followed the earlier shaming of 2006 losing finalists France, who like their European neighbours finished the first round at the bottom of their group.

Coach Bob Bradley and his indefatigable United States team will seek revenge and a place in the quarter-finals when they meet Ghana on Saturday. After topping Group C thanks to a late winner by Landon Donovan in their 1-0 victory over Algeria in Pretoria on Wednesday, they hope to beat a team who look set to be the only surviving African nation in the second round.

England are the favourites to win their World Cup last 16 clash against Germany and, despite their poor form in the tournament so far, they will improve rapidly, the German camp said on Thursday. 'They have so many stars in their team and in our match they are the favourites,' said Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick. 'They play modern football, have gained a lot in tactical matters under Fabio Capello and can beat any team.'

FIFA has an extremely serious problem which can easily be remedied by appointing a 'fifth official' (or video referee) who could be consulted by radio whenever there is a serious doubt.

Former President Bill Clinton got to his feet to celebrate his team's last-gasp goal against Algeria at the World Cup on Wednesday and gave the players a speech about the American spirit afterwards.

England supporters breathed a sigh of relief after the country's stuttering team clawed their way into the World Cup second round on Wednesday.

A tearful Landon Donovan said his dramatic added time winner for the United States made him "believe in good in the world" again after coming through a painful divorce and heavy criticism in recent years.

Live updates from the matches at the football World Cup in South Africa.

The United States squeezed into the last 16 of the World Cup with a goal in time added on to beat Algeria 1-0 on Wednesday. Landon Donovan scored a dramatic late goal just as the US seemed to be about to go out of the tournament.

Jermain Defoe rescued England's stuttering World Cup campaign with a first-half strike that was enough to beat Slovenia 1-0 in Group C on Wednesday and book a place in the second round.

England finally got the win they were seeking at the World Cup, advancing to the last 16 with a 1-0 win thanks to a first half goal from Jermain Defoe on Wednesday.

Millions of England football fans will take a break from work on Wednesday to watch their must-win match against tiny Slovenia, praying their side lifts its game to avoid being dumped out of the World Cup.

European soccer powers Germany and England fight to stay in the World Cup on Wednesday after disgraced France were humiliated and South Africa became the first hosts to fall before the second round.

The United States are likely to restructure their midfield once again as they head into Wednesday's final Group C match with Algeria knowing they must win to guarantee reaching the World Cup second round.

England's World Cup campaign is in tatters with crisis meetings, furious fans, misfiring strikers and splits in the camp and a win against Slovenia on Wednesday is their only hope of salvation.

Slovenia winger Valter Birsa said he expected England to fire on all cylinders after two poor performances when the two teams meet in their crunch Group C match in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Central defender John Terry has apologised for suggesting there was player unrest in England's World Cup squad in South Africa after he was criticised by hardline manager Fabio Capello for speaking out.

England's John Terry made "a very big mistake" talking to the media about player unrest in the squad, hardline coach Fabio Capello said.

'What is wrong with the European nations? Are they depressed with the fall of their currency?'

It was aperitif time at Les Terrasses de Maubeuge on Sunday and the customers were not merry, they were sadly and angrily digesting the latest episode of the soap opera featuring Les Bleus in South Africa.

Andy Murray knows a thing or two about shouldering a nation's expectations, particularly during Wimbledon fortnight, so he was well placed to offer some sympathy to England striker Wayne Rooney on Saturday.

Brazil coach Dunga faces his former mentor Sven-Goran Eriksson on the touchline when the five-times world champions meet Ivory Coast in a mouthwatering World Cup Group G clash at Soccer City on Sunday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes a fear of failure and the absolute necessity of getting through the first round has contributed to the poor form of the leading European teams at the World Cup.

England's short-tempered striker Wayne Rooney apologised on Saturday for his outburst at fans who booed the team's abject 0-0 draw with Algeria.

English media launched a scathing attack on the national team on Saturday, branding the performance in a 0-0 draw with Algeria which left their World Cup hopes in the balance as 'useless' and a 'shambles'.

England delivered one of their worst tournament performances for years when they were held to a goalless draw by Algeria on Friday to leave their World Cup qualification hanging on the final matches.

England delivered one of their worst tournament performances for years when they were held to a goalless draw by Algeria on Friday to leave their World Cup qualification hanging on the final matches.

The United States made a dramatic comeback from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Slovenia and rescue their World Cup chances on Friday.

Even as the vuvuzelas make most of the noise at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa, it is the Jabulani that has players on the field in a tizzy.

The trend has become so synonymous with the World Cup that an edition sans an upset result does lose some of its lustre.