Новости за 27.08.2015

Serena Williams was not convincing anybody. “I really don’t have much at stake,” the world No 1 insisted here at the draw ceremony as she looked ahead to next week’s US Open. “I’m not thinking like that. Being here is an opportunity to defend my title. I love winning here, I love playing here and that’s all I want to do.”

Stuart Lancaster has enjoyed happier breakfast meetings – his early-morning conversation with the rejected centre Luther Burrell, something of a protégé in recent years, was particularly upsetting – but by the time the England head coach announced his World Cup squad to the masses, he was feeling better about life. All things must pass eventually. Even a red-rose back midfield with Sam Burgess at the heart of it.

Stuart Lancaster has enjoyed happier breakfast meetings – his early-morning conversation with the rejected centre Luther Burrell, something of a protégé in recent years, was particularly upsetting – but by the time the England head coach announced his World Cup squad to the masses, he was feeling better about life. All things must pass eventually. Even a red-rose back midfield with Sam Burgess at the heart of it.

George North will make his first appearance for five months when Wales continue their World Cup build-up against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. The Northampton wing suffered three concussions last season and has not played at all since he was knocked unconscious against Wasps on 27 March.

The Queen’s Park Rangers midfielder Sandro is returning to England today after finally obtaining his new UK work visa. The Brazilian received the paperwork on Wednesday after it was sent from the British embassy in Bogota, Colombia, where UK visas for South Americans are processed. He will fly back on Friday and then report for training.

Manchester City have drawn a difficult Champions League group, for the fifth season in a row. Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Mönchengladbach will make Group D yet another “group of death”, giving Manuel Pellegrini a difficult task as City try finally to make an impression on European competition.

The flow of Antipodean players into English rugby league has continued unabated this season. There are precious few, though, who have changed the custom and practice in their adopted country the way Adam Cuthbertson has during the past six months.

First an engineer came up with a formula for the perfect Poohstick. Then Visit England released a list of the best places to play the game, invented by Winnie the fictional bear. There was even a new book, called Poohstickopedia.

Disgraced MPs who cheated on their expenses, a multimillionaire Tory donor, a group of back-room political fixers and an alcohol industry lobbyist have been ennobled by David Cameron, sparking renewed calls for root-and-branch reform of the House of Lords.

Disgraced MPs who cheated on their expenses, a multimillionaire Tory donor, a group of back-room political fixers and an alcohol industry lobbyist have been ennobled by David Cameron, sparking renewed calls for root-and-branch reform of the House of Lords.

Of all the slebs that Taylor Swift has so far brought on stage for her 1989 tour – a wildly disparate group of supermodels, athletes and Friends alumni – perhaps one of the more fitting guest stars was Alanis Morissette, who this week joined the 25-year-old pop princess at LA's Staples Centre.

Chelsea made one final bid for John Stones of £38m this week, their fourth offer for the Everton defender this summer, but now feel that they can do no more to persuade his club to sell him in this window.

Chelsea made one final bid for John Stones of £38m this week, their fourth offer for the Everton defender this summer, but now feel that they can do no more to persuade his club to sell him in this window.

As a child, one of my most prized possessions was a large map of the world. It was pinned on the wall by my bed, and I would stare at it every night before I went to sleep. Before long, I had memorised the names and locations of all the countries, noting their capital cities, as well as the oceans and seas, and the rivers that flowed into them; the names of major mountain ranges and deserts, written in urgent italics, thrilled with adventure and danger.

London mayoral hopeful Tessa Jowell has released research that reveals that London has the highest public transport fares in the world, when compared with other global cities.

London mayoral hopeful Tessa Jowell has released research that reveals that London has the highest public transport fares in the world, when compared with other global cities.

Arsenal open their Champions League campaign away against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, before daunting back-to-back matches against Bayern Munich, the German champions.

Arsenal open their Champions League campaign away against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, before daunting back-to-back matches against Bayern Munich, the German champions.

The Conservative manifesto at this May’s general election reiterated the party’s “ambition” to cut net immigration to under 100,000 a year.

Manchester United kick off their Champions League campaign away at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday 15 September, marking Memphis Depay's return.

The Government has been accused of closing the door to thousands of asylum-seekers from Eritrea, where the authorities have been accused of crimes against humanity, in a desperate attempt to hit its discredited immigration target.

Manchester City kick off their Champions League campaign with a tricky home game against Italian champions Juventus on Tuesday 15 September.

Manchester City kick off their Champions League campaign with a tricky home game against Italian champions Juventus on Tuesday 15 September.

James Bond, Sherlock Holmes and even Bertie Wooster have all made dramatic returns to the page with contemporary authors such as William Boyd and Sebastian Faulks resurrecting them for new adventures.

James Bond, Sherlock Holmes and even Bertie Wooster have all made dramatic returns to the page with contemporary authors such as William Boyd and Sebastian Faulks resurrecting them for new adventures.