Srinagar, Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Police shot dead at least 13 people in Kashmir on Tuesday as Muslim protests against what they termed an economic blockade by Hindus over a land row began to morph into independence calls, officials said.

BEIJING, Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - China upstaged a hobbling United States team to surge to their first gymnastics women's team title at the Olympics on Wednesday.

United Nations,Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - An internal UN investigation has found evidence that some Indian peacekeepers may have engaged in "sexual exploitation and abuse" in Congo, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.

Bangkok,Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Thailand has begun the lengthy process to try to extradite former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who skipped bail this week and went into exile in London, the Attorney-General's office said on Wednesday.

Moscow,Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Georgia and Russia agreed in principle to an EU-brokered peace plan over South Ossetia on Wednesday as the US showed disapproval of Moscow's attacks on its neighbour by cancelling a joint naval exercise.

Wana, Pakistan,Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - At least five militants were killed in a missile strike on their training camp in Pakistan's South Waziristan region, near the Afghan border, security officials and residents said on Wednesday.

Khartoum,aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - International peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region look set to receive substantial reinforcements after months of under-manning, the US envoy to Sudan said on Tuesday.

Tokyo,Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - North Korea and Japan have agreed terms for a new investigation into Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese people in the 1970s and 1980s, officials said, opening the way for Tokyo to lift some travel sanctions.

Harare,Aug 13(bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe agreed a power-sharing deal with a breakaway opposition faction on Tuesday, but has yet to agree with main rival Morgan Tsvangirai, South African President Thabo Mbeki said.

Sean Maguire

BEIJING, Aug 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - American swimmer Michael Phelps became the most successful Olympian of all time by winning two more Beijing gold medals on Wednesday to take his career tally to an unprecedented 11 victories.

AFP, PARIS - Dimitar Berbatov's long-anticipated move from Tottenham to Manchester United could be completed in time for the Bulgarian striker to make his debut for the English champions on Saturday.

John Terry believes Manchester United have reached their peak and Chelsea can regain the Premier League trophy, reports BBC.

Full-back would take Newcastle or Celtic

Sky sports

Toulouse star Herita Ilunga has told skysports.com he would jump at the chance to join either Celtic or Newcastle.

Socerway

Manchester City have been very much in the news recently, unfortunately mostly for the wrong reasons.

To make matters even worse, amidst the current strife, Mark Hughes’ bid for his ex Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz has been turned down by his former club.

Defender signs deal until 2012

Sky Sports

Gareth Bale has handed a Tottenham a major boost ahead of the new season by signing a new long-term deal.

AP, WASHINGTON -- Retail sales fell in July, the weakest performance in five months, as shoppers shunned autos and other big ticket items.

AP, NEW YORK  -- Stocks fell sharply for a second session Wednesday after the government reported retail sales fell in July to their weakest levels in five months and as oil prices advanced. The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 150 points.

Deere & Co., the world's largest of maker of farm machinery, said Wednesday third-quarter profit rose 7 percent as high crop prices spurred stronger sales of tractors and harvesting equipment, reports AP.

The International Day of Indigenous People was observed on Aug 9 as of every year in pursuance of a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 23 December 1994. This year's slogan was 'The economic and social rights of the indigenous people.' Human rights activists, leaders of indigenous people and speakers at different functions organised in observance of the day that stressed the need for upholding the ethnic identity of the indigenous people and ensuring their fundamental, social, cultural and economic rights.

HAVANA, Wed Aug 13,(bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro turned 82 on Wednesday, still a world and national figure even though he has not been seen in public since falling ill two years ago.