The French President, Jacques Chirac, vowed on Sunday to keep his troops in Côte d’Ivoire to prevent the former colony from sliding into anarchy or fascism, and condemned the ”questionable regime” of the country’s president.

By the time Andrew Golota and John Ruiz began their ugliness, it was Sunday morning and some in the crowd at Madison Square Garden had had so much to drink that they were fighting among themselves. Want to know what’s wrong with the heavyweight boxing division these days? Look no further than what took place on this chilly autumn night in New York.

India captain Sourav Ganguly has been suspended for two Tests for his team’s slow over-rate in the day-night match against Pakistan, match-referee Clive Lloyd announced on Sunday. The decision means Ganguly will miss the two-Test home series against South Africa, starting at Kanpur on Saturday.

Champion legspinner Shane Warne said he worked out who his genuine mates were when he was sidelined for 12 months for failing a doping test. Warne, the most successful bowler in Test cricket, has recovered from a broken thumb which ruled him out of Australia’s recent loss to India at Mumbai and is expected to resume his place in the lineup against New Zealand this week.

Serena Williams moved a step closer to salvaging her season with a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 semifinal victory over Amelie Mauresmo in the WTA Championships in Los Angeles on Sunday. ”She just went for it,” Mauresmo said. ”I would give all the credit to her. I was playing some good tennis and she really raised her level a lot.”

Alan Shearer claimed that referee Mike Dean had fallen foul of Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games after Manchester United edged out troubled Newcastle 3-1 in a thrilling Premiership encounter in Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday. Dean awarded the visitors a hotly disputed penalty.

Dinesh Mongia defied South Africa with a patient tonne on the second day of their practice game against an Indian Board President’s XI in Jaipur on Monday. Mongia slammed 135 not out as the home side reached 320-5 in reply to South Africa’s 226-5 declared at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. Hemang Badani was the other not-out batsman on 49.

Dinesh Mongia defied South Africa with a patient ton on the second day of their practice game against an Indian Board President’s XI on Monday. Mongia slammed 135 not-out as the home side reached 320-5 in reply to South Africa’s 226-5 declared at the Sawai Man Singh stadium.

United States scientists are developing hypersonic cruise missiles that will fly 10 times faster than current rockets, penetrate concrete armouring and could be launched from any site in the world. The missiles would have a range of 14 400km, more than a third of Earth’s circumference and be able to reach their targets within two hours.