The Independent was supposed to wake up this morning under the plushest sheets known to Azerbaijan. But a construction tycoon and friend of the President who had been due to host this reporter in Baku, the former Soviet republic's capital city, decided at the 11th hour that he was not welcome. So I'm still here in London, left out in the warmth.

Aberystwyth university's partnership with Azerbaijan's state sponsored diplomatic academy has prompted heavy criticism

Azerbaijan had only won one World Cup qualifier in the last dozen years

The German manager attempted to talk the then-16-year-old Rooney into playing for the Scots due to his grandmother's nationality

A dismantlable research station created in the icy wastes for the British Antarctic Survey has been shortlisted for a global architecture award.

Access to sport and recreation is not only every child’s right, but it has an incredible ripple effect which can impact other vital sectors like health and education

Ever since Sir Terry Wogan handed over the baton in 2009, there has never been any doubt that Graham Norton and the Eurovision Song Contest are a perfect match. Making his fifth appearance as BBC 1’s resident commentator – this year in the Swedish city of Malmo – Norton once again played the role of mischievous gatecrasher, taking delicious aim at the array of hopefuls, presenters and merry idiots on Saturday night.

Emmelie de Forest had been the overwhelming favourite among the 26 entries

Head of political party offers £8,000 for author's body part over controversial novel

The heart of Mexico City contains statues of a number of political figures from beyond Central America, among them Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi.

One of Azerbaijan’s most prominent opposition figures has been assaulted while police apparently stood to one side and did not intervene.

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Olympic taekwondo bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad intends to leave no doubts over why he should be leading Team GB's charge for gold at Rio 2016.

Mo Farah's hero is Muhammad Ali – his bedroom wall used to be covered with posters of the peerless pugilist. Now, having delivered a knockout blow to his rivals in the last 100 metres of the 10,000m final last Saturday night, Farah has already followed his lifelong idol into the history books as an Olympic champion.

Mo Farah's hero is Muhammad Ali. His bedroom wall used to be bedecked with posters of the peerless pugilist. Having delivered a knockout blow to his rivals in the last 100 metres of the 10,000m final last Saturday night, Farah has already followed his lifelong idol into the history books as an Olympic champion.

Japan were tonight successful with an appeal against Satoshi Shimizu's controversial Olympic Games bantamweight defeat to Magomed Abdulhamidov at ExCeL.