AFP - The head of an inquiry into Australian wheat exporter AWB's funnelling of huge bribes to Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime has blasted the firm for its tardiness in handing over damning documents.

AFP - Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has launched into the Ashes mind games, querying whether it will be possible for Andrew Flintoff to bat and bowl well while captaining England.

AP - At least 200 civilians have been killed in two months of fighting between Sri Lankan soldiers and separatist Tamil rebels, and both sides are to blame, European cease-fire monitors said Thursday.

AFP - Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell, a critic of Ricky Ponting's leadership in last year's Ashes loss to England, says this year's return series will be the defining moment of Ponting's captaincy.

AP - Two Iraqi soldiers were killed and 10 others were injured in suicide car bombing Thursday in part of Baghdad where American and Iraqi troops had just conducted a security sweep.