New York reserves its tickertape parades for returning heroes – and in 1958 America had no greater hero than a young concert pianist from Texas named Van Cliburn. That spring he had travelled to Moscow to take part in the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition, an event intended to showcase Russian superiority in classical music. And, against every rational probability of that Cold War era, Cliburn won.

Defender will be offered £4m-a-year after tax according to reports

Just as the British athletics team are preparing to fly out to the European Indoor Championships, which open in Gothenburg on Friday morning, another medal is about to belatedly wing its way into the GB haul from the last championships.

The British government was accused of colluding with the Russians to cover up vital evidence into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko at a pre-inquest hearing into the former KGB agent's death today.

President Vladimir Putin signed an anti-smoking bill into law today that looks set to transform Russian public life. The legislation will see smoking outlawed in government buildings and other public institutions from this summer, and in all restaurants, bars and cafes from next year.

A state order to withhold sensitive evidence from the inquest into Alexander Litvinenko’s death on national security grounds will be challenged by media organisations including The Independent tomorrow.

Nineteen-year-old Joe Evans claimed a bronze medal at his first Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Palm Springs.

All is not lost for one of the oldest Olympic disciplines as rival politicians form an unlikely tag team

A deal between the owner of basketball team Brooklyn Nets and two Russian retail and fruit juice tycoons yesterday got the City speculating that a $17bn (£11bn) miner could be created in the wake of the sale.

A look ahead to tonight’s Europa League fixture at Anfield

Even the most cynical will surely struggle to criticise the latest clutch of the super-rich who have committed to give away at least half of their fortunes. The Giving Pledge – which was set up by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett three years ago – already has 93 members from the US. Now 12 multi-billionaires from elsewhere in the world have joined the ranks of the über-philanthropists. Well done to them.

Higher prices for gas and electricity are inevitable over the next 10 years, according to the outgoing energy regulator. Alistair Buchanan delivered a stark warning about Britain's looming energy gap.