AFP, LOS ANGELES - Amid cheers and tears, gay and lesbian couples began tying the knot in California on Monday, as a historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in America's most populous state took effect.

Sky Sports

Michael Ballack's stunning free-kick sent Germany into the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after a 1-0 win over co-hosts Austria in Vienna.

The Germany captain struck a tight game's only goal on 49 minutes when the midfielder hammered an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of Jurgen Macho's net.

AFP, ZURICH - France go into their do or die clash with Italy here Tuesday beset by doubt, reports of internal strife and player fatigue.

Chelsea forward backs new boss to triumph at Stamford Bridge

Sky Sports

Salomon Kalou has hailed the decision to appoint Luiz Felipe Scolari as Chelsea manager, telling skysports.com that the Brazilian is the 'best' man for the role.

Last week, Chelsea announced Portugal boss Scolari will take over at the helm as Avram Grant's successor on 1st July.

Chris Mort has stepped down as Newcastle United chairman, reports BBC.

Gunners boss has no plans to strengthen defence this summer

Sky Sports

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he has no plans to carry out a swoop for Hamburg defender Vincent Kompany this summer.

Wenger had been expected to strengthen his back-line as he looks to rework his side ahead of the 2008/09 term.

Rejects adverse impact of credit inflow to private Sector

Staff Correspondent

Finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam said Tuesday the proposed budget deficit was much smaller than in India

Bdnews24.com

The monsoon depression over the northern Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards, the meteorological office said in a special bulletin Tuesday.

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) acting mayor M Manjur Alam yesterday visited the excavation and dredging works of different canals and sewers at city’s Jalalabad, Panchlaish, West Sholashahar, Sulakbahar, North Pahartali, Saraipara, Pahartali, Lalkhan Bazar, Bagmoniram, Chawkbazar, Jamal Khan and Enayet Bazar Wards on Friday.

He inspected different points of water logging  in the areas and asked staffs of CCC cleaning and Engineering deptts to  clean up the materials causing water logging.

Bdnews24.com

Commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said Tuesday the caretaker government was working to bring stability to the country's politics.

Asian Development Bank's outgoing country director, Hua Du said Tuesday the country's aspiration to become a middle income country by 2020 must be led by the private sector, reports bdnews24.com.

Workers of at least two garment factories in Mirpur were involved in clashes with police Tuesday, a police official said, reports bdnews24.com

Bdnews24.com

At least two passengers died after a trawler caught in an evening storm capsized on the river Padma off Rajbari town Monday, an official said.

Agency

Stocks ended nearly flat Tuesday with indices edging up amid the prime bourse's interventions to cool down the overheated market.

The issues surrounding the creation of a national security council should be addressed at a later time by the next elected parliament, rather than by a caretaker government, so as not to disrupt the election roadmap, said a senior Awami League figure on Tuesday, reports bdnews24.com.

Possession of explosives

Bdnews24.com

A Magura court sentenced four Harkat-ul Jihad activists to 20 years rigorous imprisonment on Tuesday, under the explosives act.

Bdnews24.com

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved two initial public offerings Tuesday, said an SEC official, reports bdnews24.com

AP, LONDON -- The U.S. dollar was mostly lower against other major currencies in European trading Tuesday morning. Gold fell.

AP, VIENNA, Austria -- Oil prices eased a day after hitting a trading record of nearly $140 a barrel as investors weighed increased production from Saudi Arabia against the ability to supply developing countries.