Absence of female stars is explained by their sports' relative lack of popularity – not discrimination, writes Glenn Moore

The slog ahead has become longer. We live in a world where the mathematics of public finances dominate everything and the scope for politicians to do anything other than cut their deficits is just about zero.

The shadow Chancellor Ed Balls declared yesterday that George Osborne's mini-Budget was final proof that "plan A has failed – colossally".

Norway has closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns after Britain's embassy was stormed by Iranian protesters, a Norwegian government official said today.

1. York

From £8.50 child and £9.50 adult, theicefactor.co.uk

The Ice Factor is a festive 900-square-metre rink – part of York's Winter Wonderland village square.

It's St Andrew's Day, a reminder that Scotland is now at its atmospheric best. Here's how to enjoy the majestic scenery – and stay warm at the same time

Chancellor tightens screw on the public sector

Cardiff City 2 Blackburn Rovers 0

Andre Villas-Boas believes that the mounting anxiety at Stamford Bridge is inhibiting his attempts to rectify his side's abject home form, with the Chelsea manager acutely aware of the need for his team's performances to improve sharply if their season is not to fall apart before Christmas.

Outlook Still on the theme of robbing Peter to pay Paul, one can't help but notice that the £975m cost of next year's fuel duty concessions is, according to the Treasury's balance sheet, identical to the gains being made from cancelling child tax credit increases. The poorest families are, in other words, subsidising all drivers.

Mallett is a figure who has already poured scorn on the concept of a director of rugby

Next week the Turner Prize will be presented in Gateshead instead of London. That is because art in the region is flourishing

Around the UK

It's a weird irony that Iranians know the history of Anglo-Persian relations better than the Brits. When the newly installed Ministry of Islamic Guidance asked Harvey Morris, Reuters' man in post-revolutionary Iran, for a history of his news agency, he asked his London office to send him a biography of Baron von Reuter – and was appalled to discover the founder of the world's greatest news agency had built Persia's railways at an immense profit. "How can I show this to the ministry?" he shouted. "It turns out that the Baron was worse than the fucking Shah!" Of which, of course, the ministry was well aware.