Lance Armstrong retires from cycling for second time

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has announced he is to retire from cycling for a second time.

The 38-year-old American quit the sport in 2005 before returning last year but he announced last month that 2010 would be the last time he rode the Tour.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Armstrong finished 40 minutes behind winner Alberto Contador in 23rd place.

"This race has been good to me but I can't lie - I'm ready to retire part two," said Armstrong, who crashed on a number of occasions during the race.

"I was just glad that three weeks of suffering is over and I get to go home. I don't have to stress about racing every day.

"I have a lot of happiness, a lot of good memories, just a lot of good times here.

Goalkeeper David James delays Celtic signing talks

England World Cup goalkeeper David James has delayed a visit to Glasgow for possible signing talks with Celtic because of a family issue.

Manager Neil Lennon considers the 39-year-old to be the ideal replacement for Artur Boruc, now at Fiorentina.

Lennon has Pole Lukasz Zaluska and American Dominic Cervi but wants a major figure in goal as he continues to rebuild the team.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

James' former club Portsmouth withdrew an offer they made to him in May.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce confirmed his interest in James on Saturday, giving the veteran the opportunity to continue to play in the Premier League in England.

James made 138 appearances for Pompey and, according to club administrator Andrew Andronikou, wanted to be their player-manager.

However, Steve Cotterill was appointed to the Portsmouth hot seat and the Fratton Park side have decided to withdraw the offer they made to their keeper after he failed to commit his future to them.

S Korea-US military exercise begins in the Sea of Japan

The US and South Korea have begun a major military exercise in the Sea of Japan, despite threats of retaliation from North Korea.
The navy and air force manoeuvres involve 20 ships, 200 planes and 8,000 US and South Korean personnel.

Washington and Seoul say they want to send a clear signal to the North following the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

An international investigation said a North Korean torpedo sank the ship.
However, the claim has been angrily denied by Pyongyang.
reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES
On Saturday, North Korea threatened to use its nuclear deterrent in a retaliatory, "sacred war" in response to the exercise.

The BBC's John Sudworth, who is aboard one of the warships, says the show of strength is intended to rattle Pyongyang's military and political elite.

But some observers are questioning whether the display of military power will simply galvanise the hardliners inside the isolated country, he says.

North Korea's inflammatory rhetoric is nothing new, he adds, but the rising tension is causing concern, with China urging all parties to show restraint.

The South Korean defence ministry said the manoeuvres had been relocated from the sensitive Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan following protests from China, North Korea's ally.