Summary

  • Updates on Friday 21 December

Live Reporting

  1. MPs had 'enormously wrong' HS2 cost estimate

    BBC Panorama
    Investigative TV show

    HS2HS2 Ltd

    An early cost estimate MPs had when they were approving the HS2 high-speed rail project was "enormously wrong", a former HS2 boss has told BBC Panorama.

    Doug Thornton said the costing underestimated the value of many properties HS2 needed to purchase along the proposed route and thousands more had not been budgeted for.

    Mr Thornton said the figure MPs saw was hundreds of millions of pounds too low. He was later dismissed.

    HS2 rejects claims MPs were misled.

  2. Europa League: Arsenal to play BATE Borisov

    BBC Sport

    Arsenal will play Belarusian side BATE Borisov in the last 32 knockout stages of the Europa League.

    The Gunners will host BATE in the second leg at the Emirates on 21 February, following the first leg in Belarus a week before.

  3. Chelsea chief meets fans after claims

    Bruce Buck greets fans at the turnstiles before the Premier League win at Brighton, following allegations of racism against the club's fans.

    Read More

  4. Europa League: Chelsea to play Malmo
    Breaking

    BBC Sport

    Chelsea have been drawn to face Swedish side Malmo in the next stage of this season's UEFA Europa League.

    The Blues will play the first leg in Sweden on 14 February while the return leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on 21 February.

  5. Is this London's most Christmassy pub?

    BBC London News

    One of London's most colourful pubs has pulled out all the stops for Christmas. The Churchill Arms in Kensington is adorned with 97 Christmas trees and 21,500 lights.

  6. Spurs drawn to face Borussia Dortmund in Champions League
    Breaking

    BBC Sport

    Harry KaneReuters

    Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn to face German giants Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 knockout phase of this season's Champions League.

    Spurs will host the German side in London in February, and will play the return leg in Dortmund in March.

  7. Disruption on two south London rail lines

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    The problem is being caused by a fault with the signalling system which has blocked some lines.

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  8. Parliament evacuated due to fire alarm

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  9. Watch: this morning's headlines

    Alice Salfield has this morning's top stories for London.

    Alice Salfield has this morning's top stories for London.

  10. Third seed Wright knocked out by Alcinas

    World number three Peter Wright is out of the PDC World Darts Championship after his 3-1 defeat by Toni Alcinas.

    Read More

  11. Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs to find out European fate

    BBC Sport

    Alexandre LacazetteReuters

    Tottenham Hotspur could be drawn against the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain as they wait for their next Champions League opponents.

    Spurs finished second in their group - just about making it into the draw for the Champions League's last 16 teams.

    Arsenal and Chelsea will find out later today who they will play in the next round of this season's UEFA Europa League.

    Both sides won their respectives groups to qualify as top seeds and will be in the hat alongside 30 other teams from across Europe's leagues.

    The draw for both competitions will be made at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, and will start midday.

    The two London sides could face the likes of Celtic, Galatasaray, Lazio or Fenerbahce - the ties will take place in February.

  12. Central London in facial recognition trial

    Facial recognitionGetty Images

    Live facial recognition technology will deployed in locations in Westminster today as part of the Metropolitan Police's ongoing trial of the new technology.

    Privacy campaigners are describing it as “authoritarian, dangerous and lawless”.

    The Met said "clear uniformed" officers would carry out the trials, which all continue into Tuesday, and distribute information leaflets to the public for about eight hours on both days.

    It added anyone who declined to be scanned during the deployment would "not be viewed as suspicious".

    You can read the full story here.

  13. Today's weather: Chilly but bright

    BBC Weather

    It will be a rather chilly start to the day but bright with spells of sunshine to come during this morning.

    This afternoon will remain dry and settled with further sunny periods.

    There are expected to be clear spells this evening but gradually, as the night progresses, amounts of cloud will increase and could even produce the odd spot of rain at times later.

    Fairly mild but also rather blustery.

    Temperatures could reach as high as 10C (50F).

  14. Travel: Delays on TfL Rail

    BBC London Travel
    BBC Radio London Travel

    Transport for London say there are some delays on TfL Rail services between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington while a faulty track at Hanwell is fixed.

    There is currently a good service in all other London Underground routes.

    For the latest travel updates follow @BBCTravelAlert

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  15. Good morning

    BBC London News

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