Indian new services were dominated on Friday by the news of Sachin Tendulkar's retirement, with the looming departure of the “Little Master” taking precedence over everything else.

Indian newspapers paid flowing tributes to the master batsman on their front pages, continuing the odes by news channels, which had started running special features on Tendulkar immediately after the announcement on Thursday.

Former Formula One driver Maria de Villota was found dead in a hotel room in Seville on Friday, of natural causes according to police. She was 33.

Spanish police told The Associated Press that De Villota was discovered in the Hotel Sevilla Congresos in the morning, dead "apparently from natural causes." An autopsy will be carried out to confirm the preliminary finding.

Ross Brawn says he is not planning an immediate departure from the Mercedes Formula One team despite speculation he will be on the move at the end of the season.

Reports after last weekend's Korean Grand Prix suggested Brawn had informed the team's non-executive chairman Niki Lauda that he would be leaving at the end of the season.

The Italian gymnastics federation condemned racism on Thursday after offensive comments made by one of its athletes.

Vanessa Ferrari and teammate Carlotta Ferlito finished fourth and fifth on the balance beam on Sunday at the world championships in Belgium, just behind bronze medalist Simone Biles, who is African-American. Ferlito said, with a laugh, that she told Ferrari: "Next time we'll have our skin black also so we can win, too."

Pressure in football takes a toll on managers in different ways. For Arsene Wenger, it's meant less time for the prayers that were such a big part of his childhood.

The Arsenal manager is currently trying to end a trophy drought stretching back to 2005 that has sorely tested the patience of the club's fans. Although the task has not shaken his religious beliefs, it's not been without its consequences either.

Alex Tagliani will replace three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti in the October 19 season-ending IndyCar race at Fontana.

Franchitti remains hospitalized with two fractured vertebrae, a broken ankle and a concussion suffered in a last-lap accident Sunday at the Grand Prix of Houston.

Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito has apologized for making a racist comment aimed at an American rival.

Vanessa Ferrari and teammate Ferlito finished fourth and fifth, respectively, on the balance beam Sunday at the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium — just behind bronze medalist Simone Biles, who is African-American.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere has stirred a debate about foreign-born players in football, declaring that only "English people" should be eligible to represent the national team.

Wilshere's stance was immediately described as "too extreme" by the head of the English Football Association.

Karim Benzema hit back at criticism of his perceived lack of work rate, saying he does run enough and insisting that when he starts scoring again the goals will flow.

Tipped as a future great when he started his club career with Lyon in prodigious fashion, Benzema is going through his worst spell for France — without a goal in 15 matches — and has been out of sorts for Real Madrid this season.

The 64-year-old woman who swam from Cuba to Florida is attempting to swim in a pool in midtown Manhattan for 48 straight hours to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Wearing a pink swim cap, Diana Nyad dove into the 40-yard (36.6-meter) pool set up in Herald Square and began doing laps shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Her aim is to raise money for people still struggling a year after Sandy.