Not just another revival of a venerable old staging but its 25th showing in the 50th year of director John Copley's work at the Royal Opera House. They served up a cake and a vintage cast for the occasion - and the snow fell once more on the Latin Quarter swelling the Christmas Eve crowds at Cafe Momus.

Senegal Football Association president Augustin Senghor has confirmed Newcastle duo Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are in line to be chosen for his country's Olympic campaign.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of possessing articles and documents with intent to use them for terrorist purposes overseas.

Britain’s Leigh McMillan completed an impressive four days to win the second event in the 2012 series of the Extreme Sailing Series in Qingdao, China.

British Olympic sailor Leigh McMillan swept into the lead on the third day of the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Qingdao and Britain’s reigning world match racing champion, Ian Williams, pulled back up to third overall going into the final day.

A solid start for Ian Williams’ GAC Pindar team put them in third place at the end of the first day of the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Qingdao.

First, it was Harrods and then Manchester City football club – now the Gulf is buying culture. Last week, the Royal Opera House (ROH) made its debut in the Gulf, in the culturally thirsty region of the UAE. I decided to pack my bags and head off to the Arab premiere of Beloved Friend at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival.

The man who pays his way

Australia scored three goals in four minutes in the second half to beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 yesterday, dashing the Saudis' hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mark Cavendish clinched his first big win of the 2012 season and in his new Team Sky colours yesterday, when he easily outshone his rivals for a sprint victory in the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne Classic, in Belgium.

Amid the horrors surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM) there is a quiet revolution, which experts hope could lead to the eradication of the practice.

Defence giant BAE Systems is in talks with the Government of Oman to supply a number of Typhoon fighter aircraft, which would be delivered within three years of a contract being signed.

A hitman thriller that casts Jason Statham alongside Robert De Niro, Killer Elite doesn't even work as a guilty pleasure: its embarrassing attempts to engage with the politics of the Middle East sit uncomfortably with the testosterone-drenched fight scenes.

Three French aid workers held hostage in Yemen by al-Qa'ida militants have been freed after nearly six months in captivity.