Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan have been harshly criticised by the country’s president Hamid Karzai, local officials and the American commander of Nato troops, according to leaked diplomatic papers.

Senior American officials believed Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin could have known about the plan to murder dissident former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, the latest leaked US diplomatic cables have revealed.

Birmingham 2 Aston Villa 1

If WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange needs a home, Ecuador’s deputy foreign minister said the Andean nation is happy to provide one.

Leaked US diplomatic cables show China’s frustration with communist ally North Korea and speculate Beijing would accept a future Korean peninsula unified under South Korean rule, according to the documents released by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.

The US ordered a sweeping review of access to sensitive government information today in the wake of the massive and potentially embarrassing WikiLeaks release of more than 250,000 classified documents.

Arsene Wenger today refuted his charge from UEFA for improper conduct in the fall-out from Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona.

Arsene Wenger and Samir Nasri have both been charged by UEFA for comments made to referee Massimo Busacca after last night’s controversial Champions League defeat at Barcelona.

Robin van Persie will not be able to challenge his controversial sending off against Barcelona last night, UEFA today confirmed.

Angry Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had seemingly-heated discussions with the referee, UEFA representatives and Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola after being dumped out of the Champions League last night.

Cesc Fabregas declared his nightmare return to the Nou Camp as “one of the worst moments of my life” and accepted “full blame” for Arsenal’s Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.

Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1 (Barcelona win 4-3 on aggregate):

Skipper David Weir claims Rangers do not have a discipline problem as they tried to put their explosive Scottish Cup exit to Celtic behind them with a win over St Mirren.

FT: Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1

Police have launched an investigation into the events surrounding Wednesday’s chaotic Old Firm match.

Newcastle 1 Everton 2

Beaten league finalists UCC dethroned reigning Sigerson champions DCU this afternoon, while competition hosts UCD also progressed through to tomorrow's semi-finals.

Celtic captain Scott Brown has aimed another verbal blow at Rangers midfielder El-Hadji Diouf following his side's stormy Scottish Cup win at Parkhead.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has claimed he and Rangers assistant Ally McCoist have settled their differences following their touchline dispute at Parkhead.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has condemned “the inflammatory and irresponsible behaviour” in Celtic’s 1-0 win over Rangers in last night’s Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at Celtic Park, and confirmed an investigation has been launched into all incidents.