Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins renew their rivalry at the 2026 World Snooker Championship
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It was 30 years ago, but John Higgins remembers it as if it was yesterday.
Two fresh-faced 20-year-olds going head-to-head in an epic quarter-final at the 1996 World Snooker Championship, with the Scot one frame away from defeating England's Ronnie O'Sullivan.
"That is one match that sticks in my mind," said Higgins. "I was 12-11 in front and I remember it as clear as day."
The colours are all on their spots – a regular training programme usually dispatched with ease for a man of his talent. Pot them all and he is in the semi-finals for the first time.
Legendary BBC commentator Ted Lowe, predicting trouble may be ahead in the Crucible cauldron, says: "The butterflies must be floating around his tummy."
Higgins, with perfect memory 30 years on, takes up the story: "I've got an easy clearance with the colours. I normally pot the brown and just play off the side cushion and be above the blue.
"This time I decided just to stun the blue down when you're under a bit of pressure. I was well below the blue. I went round the cushion, went round the angles and landed a very tough rest shot."
Still, Higgins is only two shots from the semi-finals. But the tricky pink is missed, O'Sullivan cleans up, wins the decider and Higgins is out.
In the semi-final, O'Sullivan then lost to Peter Ebdon, who was beaten by Stephen Hendry in the final.
How the Kremlin's internet crackdown is frustrating Russians
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Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space, blocking access to global messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, and even restricting mobile internet in some areas.
Russians told the BBC that the crackdown on the internet is affecting businesses, but also cutting them off the outside world.
"We are losing money every time there is a blockage of internet," said Yulia, who owns a catering company.
Russian officials insist that curbs on communication are in the interests of public safety, claiming that mobile internet blackouts disorient Ukrainian attack drones.
Keir Starmer plans new powers to ban state-backed terror groups
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"In relation to malign state actors more generally, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures and that is legislation we're bringing forward as soon as we can," Sir Keir said, in a video posted by the newspaper.
US justice department drops probe into Fed chairman Jerome Powell
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'My living nightmare' - Rob Reiner's son bares soul on how he found out parents were dead
The actor says the grief of his parents' brutal deaths and the arrest of his own brother left him in a "trance".
Zack Polanski calls for Trump to be 'kicked out' of his Scottish golf courses
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Speaking during a press conference, Polanski said: "It's not for me to tell Scotland what to do either but I'd really like to see Donald Trump kicked out of his golf courses.
'Killing in prison is not difficult'
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"People in here are innovative - they have time to think about how to kill and damage," he says in a stream of messages to me. "You'd be surprised what they can do with razor blades and a toothbrush. The look of it [the weapon] is enough for you to panic."
Michael Eneramo: Former Nigeria striker dies aged 40 during match
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Former Nigeria striker Michael Eneramo has died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest during a friendly match, the country's football federation (NFF) has announced.
The 40-year-old collapsed on the pitch five minutes into the second half in Kaduna on Friday.
Eneramo won 10 caps for the Super Eagles and had spells in Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey during a club career which saw him earn respect and admiration for his strength, work rate and goalscoring ability.
NFF general secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi described his death as "devastating".
Eneramo enjoyed a hugely successful stint in Tunisia with Esperance, where he was nicknamed Al Dababa (The Tank) by fans because of his physical presence and attacking prowess.
"He was a symbol of strength, determination and resolve, and created unforgettable moments," the four-time African champions said in a post on X.
Eneramo reportedly turned down overtures from Tunisia to represent the Carthage Eagles internationally before making his Nigeria debut against Jamaica in 2009.
Three Kosovo Serbs jailed over deadly gun battle and monastery siege
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The men were found guilty of violating Kosovo's constitutional order and inciting terrorist activities. Prosecutors have charged 45 people in total - but they believe most of them are in Serbia and unlikely to be handed over.
Electioncast: Will Another Week Of Starmer Drama Impact The Elections?
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Available for over a year
Today, Adam, Alex, James and Felicity look at the latest stories from the UK elections campaign trail. Why are public services at the top of the campaign agenda? What will it mean for Westminster if nationalist parties sweep the board? And why is Eluned Morgan explaining how to vote for her though the medium of canned cocktails? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Premier League relegation battle: Is it between West Ham and Spurs after Forest win?
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Forest boss Pereira was quick to tell BBC Match of the Day that his side's tally "isn't enough" to stay up quite yet.
"We need more points, we need to win more games and we need to keep our mentality," he said.
But is Pereira being needlessly cautious?
Twenty-three teams have been on exactly 39 points after 34 games across Premier League history - and none of them have gone down.
There is a strong argument to be made that Forest, and by extension Leeds on 40 points, already have enough to stay up.
When looking at 38-match seasons the average points tally of the side finishing 18th is 34.5 - so 35 points is, on average, good enough for survival.
And, in even better news for Forest and Leeds fans, over the past five seasons the average points tally for 18th has dropped to 29.6.
Only six teams have ever been relegated from the Premier League with 39 or more points in a 38-game campaign.
The last two were Birmingham and Blackpool, who both went down with 39 in 2010-11.
Bruno Fernandes talks to Wayne Rooney about Man Utd, the past, the future and England v Portugal
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Wayne Rooney never played alongside Bruno Fernandes.
They faced each other once - and both remember the FA Cup tie between Derby County and Manchester United at Pride Park in March 2020. The visitors won 3-0, with Rooney denied a memorable goal against his former club when Sergio Romero saved a free-kick its taker was sure was going in.
Rooney and Fernandes are two men with so much in common.
Manchester United captains, talismen and inspirations; both eager that the club continues to climb out of the doldrums and reconnect with a glorious past Rooney was part of before Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
But there is more that connects them. One evening in June 2004 for starters.
Rooney - the teenage golden boy of the England team. Fernandes - a nine-year-old football obsessive from northern Portugal watching the Euro 2004 quarter-final being played 170 miles away in Lisbon.
England were leading and in control until Rooney broke his foot. Portugal won on penalties. One day, one moment, elation and devastation revisited when the pair met at United's Carrington training ground - a place both know so well.
"That was my first memory of the Portugal team playing," said Fernandes.
"I shouldn't say this, but when England lost on penalties, I was in my grandma's house with my cousins. We ran outside in the streets screaming."
"I was in hospital," Rooney replied. "In a Portuguese hospital, still in my England kit, watching on a little TV."
The mutual respect between Rooney and Fernandes is clear during a 40-minute chat for The Wayne Rooney Show.
The two men have made a combined 881 appearances for United.
Rooney is the club's record goalscorer with 253. Fernandes, by common consent, has had the greatest impact of any of the club's signings since Ferguson retired. If he claims three assists in the final five games of the season, he will break the record of 20 for the most in any single Premier League campaign.
Rooney won the players' and writers' player of the year awards in 2010. He thinks Fernandes should win them now, and is the perfect example for his team-mates.
"It's a huge privilege to be in the conversation," said the Red Devils captain, who is likely to face strong opposition from Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Gabriel.
"You can say as many times as you want that you want to win trophies collectively. That is true. But these individual accolades are always nice on the personal side.
"It is players voting for you. That has a different impact because you have been playing against them. If they recognise you as one of the best in the league, it's a huge privilege."
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz to miss Grand Slam title defence with wrist injury
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Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says he will miss next month's French Open because of an ongoing wrist injury.
The world number two withdrew from last week's Barcelona Open after sustaining an injury to his right wrist in his first-round victory.
Alcaraz, 22, had tests to determine the severity of the issue and has subsequently pulled out of the Italian Open and French Open - both played on clay courts.
"After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros, while we assess the situation to determine when we can return to the court," Alcaraz posted on Instagram.
"This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of this stronger."
The Prem: Newcastle 19-52 Bristol - Bears up into play-off spots
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Bristol Bears moved back into The Prem's top four as they cruised to an eight-try victory at bottom club Newcastle Red Bulls.
The bonus-point win took Bristol one point ahead of Exeter Chiefs, who drop to fifth, before their game at Gloucester on Sunday.
Early tries from successive plays from Rich Lane and Kalaveti Ravouvou put the Bears in control and they never looked back.
Tom Jordan scored again before the break and tries just after half-time from Noah Heward and Matias Moroni finished off the contest, while Benhard Janse van Rensburg added two tries and Harry Thacker crossed late on.
For the Red Bulls, Adam Brocklebank grabbed a try in the first half with further scores in the second from Christian Wade and Josh Hodge.
It was a fifth straight loss and a 13th out of 14 for the home side this season, who remain eight points behind Harlequins in ninth.
Super League: Leeds 46-4 Catalans - Rhinos thump Dragons to stay top
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Leeds Rhinos stayed top of Super League as they scored eight tries to steamroller Catalans Dragons at Headingley.
Ash Handley scored their first after just two minutes and it set the tone for a totally dominant display.
Maika Sivo and Ryan Hall added scores before the break to give Leeds a 16-0 half-time lead.
Four tries in a riotous 16-minute spell early in the second half followed, with Danny Levi, Cooper Jenkins, Brodie Croft and Hall all crossing .
Leo Darrelatour crossed to prevent Catalans from being kept scoreless, but there was still time for James McDonnell to add an eighth try for Leeds.
Gianluca Prestianni ban: Benfica winger given six-game ban for homophobic conduct
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The result all feels a bit unsatisfactory.
Prestianni was accused of making a racist remark, which carries a mandatory 10-game ban.
But he will serve half of a six-match ban for using a homophobic slur.
Despite admitting it. And despite causing a Champions League game to be suspended, with the images beamed around the globe.
It gives the impression that homophobic abuse is being treated far less seriously than racism. Which, culturally in football, it always has been.
Uefa struggled to reach the threshold of the burden of proof to ban Prestianni for racism, with the Benfica player covering his mouth with his shirt.
On that point, just look at the fall out.
Ifab, football's lawmakers, is exploring ways to punish players who cover their mouths.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said players should be sent off. He wants this applied at this summer's World Cup - and it is expected to be discussed at Fifa Congress on 30 April.
At least by applying to Fifa to extend the suspension worldwide it should effectively rule Prestianni out of the World Cup.
The winger only made his international debut for Argentina in November, and it is unlikely they would select a fringe player carrying a two-game ban.
But if Argentina do not pick him, and he stays at Benfica, the two games he would miss are Champions League or Europa League qualifying round matches.
With one cap it is was highly unlikely that Prestianni would have gone to the World Cup anyway, so the perception will be that he's got away with minimal punishment.
Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner to fly to Pakistan for Iran talks
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Vance's absence, if he does not go, might mean the two countries do not expect a major breakthrough. But the fact that the talks are continuing shows both the US and Iran are interested in a deal.
Director Rob Reiner's son Jake Reiner bares soul on how he found out his parents were dead
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He continued: "I understand that people have questions about what happened. Some of those answers will come in time. But some parts of this belong only to our family, and keeping them private is the only way to protect what little remains of something that was taken from us."
What are passkeys and why do UK cyber chiefs want us to use them?
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The NCSC and many cyber experts believe passkeys may be at least as, if not more secure, than MFA methods such as pairing a strong password with checks to make sure it is you trying to log into an account on another device.
I'm A Celebrity crowns 'jungle legend' after eventful all-star series
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Producers didn't show Thomas's full outburst. "They watered it down," Charles revealed. "It was unbroadcastable as it was. It was deeply traumatic and it was really upsetting. Adam was so wound up. He was so aggressive. It looked like he was going to attack Jimmy."
Channel 5 newsreader withdraws claims against Dan Walker
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Walker said on Friday: "Channel 5 and ITN have reached an agreement with the claimant. I firmly feel that I should never have been pulled into this; however, I was fully prepared to go to tribunal and defend the allegations which were levelled at me."
Mandelson under formal investigation by EU's anti-fraud office
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Olaf told the BBC that any documents would now be analysed and that "IT forensics" would be done, insofar as they were available after so many years. It could not confirm whether further allegations had come to light since February.
Israeli police investigate after officers 'cut Palestinian flag' from skullcap
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"I'm doing all of this as a Zionist, as somebody who chooses to live here, as somebody who believes in the right of Israel to exist and to flourish in security, along with the Palestinians having those same rights as well," he told the BBC. "I've not given up on a future where we can live together in peace and security."
Iran on the brink: Who is really making decisions?
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This is not collapse. The Islamic Republic remains intact. But it does suggest something more subtle - a system struggling to convert the leverage it has - for instance the ability to close the Strait of Hormuz - into clear strategy at a moment of acute pressure. It can still act across multiple fronts, but it struggles to signal clear direction to its own centres of power.
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