The teenage bowler, who is regarded as one of the game's most exciting talents, attended Kilburn police station in north London by appointment at 10.30am. The 18-year-old, wearing a black shirt and jeans, arrived in a black Mercedes people carrier and was greeted by officers but not arrested. He is being interviewed under caution, in the presence of his solicitor, about an alleged conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Amir is the first player to be questioned over claims that no-balls were deliberately bowled during the Fourth Test match at Lord's on the orders of alleged match-fixer, Mazhar Majeed, as part of an alleged spot-fixing scam.
Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, and Mohammed Asif, another bowler, will be questioned after Amir, throughout the course of the day. Mr Majeed, 35, was arrested and bailed earlier this week pending further inquiries by Scotland Yard.

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The US has warned its citizens travelling to or residing in India during the upcoming Commonwealth Games of a threat of "terrorist action and violence" and asked them to "take care when travelling within Delhi". "The US mission in India alerts US citizens travelling to or residing in India to safety and security issues related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in New Delhi," a statement by the US state department said on Wednesday.

The Games will be held Oct 3-14 in Delhi. The statement warned of a "worldwide caution" regarding the threat of terrorist actions and violence against US citizens and interests. It, however, stated that the US government has no information on any specific threat of attack that any individual or group is planning to coincide with the Games.

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PCB's Inquiry Meeting With Tainted Trio Put Back: The meeting of Pakistan's tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir with Pakistan Cricket Board and High Commission officials here has been put back, reports said on Wednesday.

'Sky News' and 'The Guardian' claimed the trio will now miss Pakistan's practice match against Somerset starting on Thursday as that will clash with their meeting with PCB and High Commission officials at the High Commission here.

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The World Bank has announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction work following the floods in Pakistan that have cost the nation around Rs.250 billion, a media report said on Friday. Pakistan is grappling with its worst ever floods that have left over 1,600 people dead and affected over 14 million people.

A report in the Dawn put the total economic loss due to floods at around Rs.250 billion.  The World Bank's Pakistan Director Rachid Benmessaoud met with Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday and announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction.

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Pakistan’s President Zardari meets British PM David Cameron today at Cameron’s official country residence, Chequers. The meeting comes in the wake of a diplomatic spat between the two countries prompted by comments made by the British PM about Pakistan promoting the export of terror. The fight against terrorism, aid for flood victims and economic relations are due to be on the agenda.

Moscow smog - Just when things couldn’t get any worse for Muscovites, temperatures are set to reach 40 C on Friday with heavy smog set to descend upon the city. Smoke from forest and peat fires, mixed with general city pollution means that the smog has turned toxic, raising health fears for the city’s population.

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According to reports in the Telegraph, the oracle Paul the Octopus is not for sale. Despite Paul retiring from his match tipping days, Madrid Zoo had made a financial offer to Oberhausen Zoo to take him to Spain. After petitions from all over Spain to acquire the Paul, who correctly predicted Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup 2010 final, a spokesperson in Oberhausen said, "We are not in contact with Madrid Zoo. And we know nothing about swapping Paul for another animal or him going to Madrid Zoo for a transfer sum."

Officials in Spain are willing to up any offer on the table with some businessmen willing to fork out the money. One town in Spain has already made Paul an honoury citizen and the Octopus is also due to receive his own minature World Cup in his tank.

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Just a week ago, Mary Muthui was selling dozens of football scarves, beanie hats and vuvuzelas every day from her stall at the Rosebank Mall crafts market in northern Johannesburg. But on Tuesday – just two days after the end of South Africa’s World Cup – the 28-year-old was struggling to sell anything at all and her prices had been steeply reduced.

The standard vuvuzela – a plastic flute painted in South African colours – could be bought for only R60, less than half than it would have cost when the cup competition was in full fling. “They were very popular,” explained Ms Muthui. “I got them from the Ethiopian traders in town and they brought them in from China.”

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A new champion will be crowned at the World Cup on Sunday, when Spain meets the Netherlands in a final, which has the potential to be a classic. Well-organised and experienced but blessed with finesse and flair, Spain has the players to outplay any team in the world.

The Dutch have forwards, wingers and midfielders capable of slicing through any defence. The first World Cup final to be staged in Africa should be a memorable one if both teams bring their best game to Soccer City. Although some of.

Its stars looked short of fitness and form in the early stages, Spain produced its best performance in Wednesday’s 1-0 semifinal victory over Germany. It looked more like the side that brushed teams aside to win the European Championship two years ago.

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Germany coach Joachim Loew thinks the only way to beat Spain is to get them to defeat themselves. Spain has been the most consistent national soccer team of the past two or three years.

And is the favorite to win the World Cup title, Loew said Monday, two days before the Germans and Spanish meet in a tournament semifinal in Durban.

But he believes Germany can overcome any opponent, including a Spain team with a passing game he praised as a model for his own style.

"They make almost no mistakes but we have to force them into making errors," said Loew, who devised great game plans to beat England and Argentina, seizing on the teams' defensive liabilities.

Now comes Spain, which beat Germany 1-0 in the final of the 2008 European Championship. "We are not speaking of revenge.

That hasn't been on my mind at all," Loew said. "We lost the final in 2008 because we were beaten by the best team of the time.

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There are but four games remaining in World Cup 2010, and we shouldn't even count the third/four place game, which is about as pointless as putting your money on England to win the whole shebang in the first place.

It's arguably worse to lose the semi-final than the final itself as, from the fans' perspective, you have a day to remember and if you're lucky enough to be participating, it might add a zero to your transfer valuation. But enough of such frivolities!

This may well be a blog but that doesn't mean we take these games lightly. Far from it: so let's look ahead to whether the Dutch can continue to dominate or if Uruguay will usurp them. And will it be ground-breaking Germany or the slightly stuttering Spanish? Alliteration be damned! Here's your semi-final preview.

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