Here's your weekly digest of the craziest and funniest stories from around the world.
Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has agreed a move from SV Hamburg to Real Madrid, the player said on Monday.
Rafael Nadal continued his drive towards Roger Federer's number one ranking with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nicolas Kiefer in the Toronto Masters final on Sunday. Nadal, playing his first event since an epic five-set victory over Federer in the Wimbledon final on July 6, claimed his seventh title in 2008 by winning his fifth final in a row since mid-May.
Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray 7-6, 6-3 to set up a Toronto Masters final against resurgent German Nicolas Kiefer.
Roger Federer will meet Leander Paes in the second round doubles while Andy Roddick set up a clash with Mahesh Bhupathi at the Rogers Cup.
Muhammad Saqlain was suspended for three international matches after being found guilty of dangerous conduct by the FIH Judicial Commission.
Germany coach Joachim Loew cut the inexperienced trio of Marko Marin, Jermaine Jones and Patrick Helmes when he named his final 23-man squad for Euro 2008 on Wednesday. Marin, the 19-year-old Borussia Moenchengladbach winger, had yet to win his first cap when he was named to Loew's provisional squad earlier this month, while Schalke midfielder Jones and Cologne striker Helmes had played just five times between them.
Leading shipping lines operating in India said ocean freight rates to the US and Europe increased to $1,900 and $1,650, respectively, for every twenty foot equivalent unit in the past five months. The increase follows a sharp rise in crude price, which touched $132 a barrel from $99.62 in January 2008 and currency fluctuations against the dollar, according to a senior executive in a US-based shipping line.
Three-times defending champion Rafael Nadal will hope to make a belated start to his French Open campaign on Tuesday after persistent drizzle gave him an unexpected day's rest. The heavens opened as the Spanish second seed was preparing to take to Centre Court on Monday against Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci, a man who has just one ATP Tour match win to his name so far this season.
Russian second seed Maria Sharapova pulled out of Saturday's Italian Open semi-final with Serb title holder Jelena Jankovic because of injury, organisers said. In the final, fourth seed Jankovic will meet the winner of the match between Russian sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze and 18-year-old French qualifier Alize Cornet.
Holder Roger Federer scored a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters on Friday.
Holder Roger Federer coasted to a 6-3 6-2 win over Robin Soderling at the Hamburg Masters on Thursday before second seed Rafael Nadal gave Andy Murray a claycourt lesson for his 21st birthday. Federer was barely made to sweat by the Swede and Nadal joined him in the quarter-finals of the 2.27 million euro (1.8 million pound) tournament by beating the 15th seed Murray by the same 6-3 6-2 scoreline.
With more and more players seeking early retirement, the packed tennis schedules have once again come under the scanner.
Tommy Robredo won a first-round thriller against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round of the Hamburg Masters.
Rafael Nadal said on Monday he expected to lose his world number two ranking to Serbia's Novak Djokovic by Wimbledon at the latest.
Schalke 04 overpowered local rivals VfL Bochum 3-0 to strengthen their bid for a return to the Champions League.
Only Supreme Court can save river Ganga, said Montana State University researchers after their study on pollution in the river reached the apex court. MSU scientists have been studying the 1,500-mile river for quite some time now.
Rafael Nadal took his remarkable record to 100 wins in his last 101 matches on clay by beating fellow-Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the Barcelona Open quarter-finals. The top seed, chasing his fourth consecutive title here, appeared unaffected by strapping on his left shoulder as he eased through.
Two training ships of the 1st Training Squadron of the Indian Navy -- INS Krishna, a frigate, and INS Tir, with about 300 cadets, sailors and officers onboard were participating in the exercise. Capt N N Rao, the Commander of INS Tir, will be the overall supervisor on the Indian side. On the German side, three visiting warships belonging to the 2nd Flotilla -- with Captain Michael Budde as the Commander Task Force -- are taking part.
UEFA's executive committee will discuss the precise definition of own goals on Friday in an issue of huge importance to Europe's top strikers and defenders. European soccer's governing body is keen to end confusion over whether a goal should be credited to an attacking player, even when it has been diverted into the net by a member of the defending team.
Diego Forlan's extra-time effort sent Atletico Madrid into the Europa League final on away goals at the expense of Liverpool after a 2-2 aggregate draw on Thursday. Atletico will meet Fulham in the May 12 final in Hamburg where they will bid to win their first major European trophy since the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962.
Italy striker Luca Toni scored twice to steer Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Germany's Tommy Haas came from a set down to upset 11th-seeded Andy Murray 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in Wednesday's fourth round and maintain his impressive run at the Pacific Life Open.
Buffett, CEO and Chairman at Berkshire Hathaway, does not use office car, has neither taken a salary hike for 25 years nor desires any in future, pays back the company for minor items such as phone calls, postage and favour from office personnel that are personal in nature, does not fly in company jet for personal visits and gives a much bigger pay package to his Chief Financial Officer. Berkshire Vice Chairman Charles Munger has also been paid an annual salary of $100,000.
Benfica's Paraguay forward Oscar Cardozo converted two second-half penalties to help them come from behind and beat 10-man Liverpool 2-1 as the Europa League dished up more drama in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic received a bye in the first round and would meet Nicolas Kiefer and Alexander Waske
We take a look at Time magazines top world leaders.
Five-times European champions Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat at Lille after a late goal by forward Eden Hazard while Juventus beat underdogs Fulham 3-1 in Europa League last 16 first leg matches on Thursday.
David Ngog saved Liverpool the blushes as they beat Unirea Urziceni of Romania 1-0 to register their first win at the Europa League campaign on Thursday.
Former UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen will meet in the first knockout round of the UEFA Cup with a possible clash with Hamburg SV awaiting the winners.
China and India are poorer than we thought; rich countries produce even more than we realised. Those are the obvious conclusions from an unprecedented exercise, carried out by a World Bank-led coalition.
Bayern Munich had to settle for a goalless draw away to Borussia Dortmund, leaving the way clear for Hamburg SV to cut their lead to four points with a 1-0 win at Duisburg.
Bobby Zamora and Bjorn Helge Riise twice combined to set Fulham on their way to a 3-2 win at snowy Basel on Wednesday, sealing the London club's berth in the final 32 of the Europa League. Hertha Berlin, in last place in the Bundesliga, scraped through thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Group D winners Sporting and Panathinaikos of Greece secured second place in Group F when Djibril Cisse scored two in a 3-0 win over Dinamo Bucharest.
Liverpool have assured Rafa Benitez that his job is secure despite the club joining the Champions League also-rans.
Bayern Munich beat Hanover 96 3-0 to make it three wins from their first three games.
'India is independent, but we've thrown her to the lions -- bribe-loving, paan-chewing lions who sing Hakuna Matata,' says Sanaya Dalal.
Germany and Hanover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke has died after being hit by an express train in an apparent suicide near Hanover, local police said in Berlin on Tuesday. Enke, 32, won eight international caps and was in the running to play at the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Newcomers Franck Ribery and Luca Toni were on target to help Bayern Munich to a brilliant 4-0 win at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Hewitt was in commanding form as he beat Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters, setting up a clash with top seed Roger Federer.
Kids don't just ask for food from McDonald's, they actually believe that the chicken nugget they think is from McDonald's tastes better than an identical, unbranded nugget
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