this is bbc news. the headlines: lawyers give evidence at the supreme court on the first of three days of hearings to determine if boris johnson broke the law by suspending

parliament. it is not for the court to decide what is a legitimate political consideration in what is an illegitimate consideration. no prime minister has abused his powers in the manner which we allege in at least the last 50 years. feelings run high on both sides as some of those bringing their cases to court face the crowds outside. that the lib dems conference, jo swinson says she would stop brexit immediately if she was in government. today, i am standing here is your candidate for prime minister. cheering a court has heard that teenager jodie chesney, fatally stabbed in

london earlier this year, may have been the unintended victim of a drug turf war. two men and two teenage boys deny murder. cricketer ben stokes hits out at the sun newspaper, saying its front page story about his family is utterly disgusting. sara, you must feel ecstatic. disgusting. sara, you must feel ecstaticli disgusting. sara, you must feel ecstatic. i feel a little sick. minutes after becoming the first person to swim across the channel, four times nonstop. ina in a moment, sportsday. first, a look at what else is coming up this evening on bbc news. at 7pm and for the rest of the evening, we will bring you more on the snap election

in israel. polls close at eight o'clock. at 8:30pm, we will discuss in detail today's events in the supreme court, which is heard competing arguments about whether the prime minister's decision to suspend parliament for five weeks was lawful. ben brown will have the latest analysis, and we will be joined by two legal experts to discuss the main developments. also at apm, the editor of the outdoor swimming magazinejoins also at apm, the editor of the outdoor swimming magazine joins us to talk about the woman from colorado who becomes the first woman to swim the english channel 4 times nonstop. and then a first look at tomorrow's front pages in the papers. we have the editor of the politico london playbook, and the associate director of the institute of economic affairs, a free market think tank. that is ahead on bbc news, but first, sportsday.

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. a bump in the road for wales — rod howley is sent home from their rugby world cup squad. champions league football is back. liverpool begin their defence with a trip to napoli, but who can challenge them this season? and heartless and immoral — ben stokes hits out at a newspaper article revealing his family tragedy from over 30 years ago. also coming up in the programme: we hear from zoe smith on we hearfrom zoe smith on her journey back from the brink of despair.

this hello and welcome to sportsday, i'm gavin ramjaun. more on the evening's champions league games, but first, backs coach for wilds rod howley has been sent home over an alleged breach of laws governing betting and anti—corruption six governing betting and anti—corru ption six days governing betting and anti—corruption six days before their opening game against georgia. our reporter is at the principality stadium. bring us up to date with what has happened today. a statement from the welsh rugby union has confirmed the news that started to break out of japan that rob howley, the wales assistant coach for the last 11 years, has been sent home and is returning back to wales. the reason is that he is being investigated for a potential

breach of betting rules. we know nothing more about the allegations, the amounts involved, or who he bet on, whether it is in previous games of forthcoming games in the world cup, but it has come at a very bad time. it is a breach potentially of regulations that are very clear. it says that no one connected with a by says that no one connected with a rugby team is allowed to bet on a by rugby team is allowed to bet on a rugby match, its result or any other pa rt rugby match, its result or any other part of it, and that is what will be investigated by a panel when he lands back here in wales. how do you think this might affect the wealth preparations for the tournament? it is so close to starting. it can only be disruptive. the lead up it can only be disruptive. the lead up to the world cup is a four—year cycle. rob howley has been there for more than two of those. he took charge of the team when warren gatland was away on sabbatical and isa

gatland was away on sabbatical and is a trusted integral figure for the last two decades. of course, we haven't heard from him what his response is to these allegations, but we know that the welsh players have been informed. we have heard from former team—mates, saying this isa from former team—mates, saying this is a bombshell and totally unexpected and clearly something that the welsh players will be thinking and talking about. there is a replacement on the way. he is being parachuted in, but with only six days before their first game, against georgia, they will have to look clearly at game plans and potentially take on some new ideas in this final week. thanks for that. the champions league is back — with start of the group stages of the competition. english sides are among the favourites once again — with liverpool hoping to do what only one team have managed since the competition was rebranded

as the champions league in 1992 — which is retain the trophy. they take on napoli. chelsea are also in action later — they take on valencia — with frank lampard in the dugout at the club, for the first time in europe. austin halewood has more. tottenham's dramatic comeback against ajax, manchester united's stunning paris st germain, liverpool coming back from the dead against barcelona on the way to lifting the title. after three months away, the champions league is back, and the holders are ready to go again. we wa nt to holders are ready to go again. we want to be at least as consistent as last year but play our football of this year. last year, we were really good. we were really good in the right moments. the liverpool title defence begins against napoli, a familiarfoe. the defence begins against napoli, a familiar foe. the italians defence begins against napoli, a familiarfoe. the italians beat them in the group stage last year, but with five wins from five this season, liverpool are full of confidence. on the other hand, chelsea's start has been mixed. still mourning the loss of their star man eden hazard. frank lampard

has been there and done it before.|j has been there and done it before.” believe that we can get through but we have to be very tough. if you get through, it is up for grabs in the next pa rt through, it is up for grabs in the next part of the year. i'm confident, as we should be, but aware of the dangers in a tough group. because of a transfer embargo, chelsea have had to promote from within. tammy abraham and mason ca nt from within. tammy abraham and mason cant mount have blossomed in the premier league. now we will find out if they can do it on the biggest clu b if they can do it on the biggest club stage of all. well, the bbc‘s john murray is commentating on 5live for the match, he's in naples with former liverpool defender stephen warnock. it's a glorious day in naples for the start of liverpool's defence of the start of liverpool's defence of the champions league title, and it begins with what is on paper the most difficult match in the group. it certainly is. when the draw came out, liverpool would have been quietly confident that they could

win the other two games in the group. coming here, a different matter. they perhaps should have come away with a 0—0 draw last time, but they lost the game late on, and it was a tough test when they came back to anfield. this is the toughest game in the group. this is one of the most atmospheric grounds in european football. the noise in here is unlike anywhere else. it is properly intimidating. i feel that liverpool have every right to start this defence with every confidence, with the start to the season and the fa ct with the start to the season and the fact that they are champions. when you come into a game with five on the bounce in the premier league does champions, everyone fears liverpool. they have a fit, healthy squad coming into the game. you have to believe that the front three can score at any moment, a defence who can keep clean sheets, so confidence

is sky—high. can keep clean sheets, so confidence is sky-high. you saw them play preseason, didn't you ? is sky-high. you saw them play preseason, didn't you? napoli course liverpool all kinds of problems. the players will know that was a period where they were trying to get fit and up to speed. you have to be so careful against napoli. they are quality. ancelotti has got them playing an exciting brand of football. we know he is a winner and capable of causing an upset. it would be an upset if napoli were to beat liverpool. this is a proper evening of champions league football to look forward to. you will be able to look forward to. you will be able to hear it with us. the commentary from apm. let's take a look at some other sports stories today. manchester city will be withoutjohn stones tomorrow night. he is ruled out for up to five weeks with a muscle injury, leaving city with one

just —— just one fit recognised centre back. essex secured bonus points to deny somerset the chance to secure the title. there will be a title decider next week. aberdeen has been named as the host of the bbc sport personality of the year for the first time. the event will ta ke for the first time. the event will take place on sunday the 15th of december at the new p andj live arena. ben stokes — one of the heroes of england's summer of cricket — has hit back at a sun newspaper article today which he says brought up traumatic events from his family's past. joe lynsky can bring us more on this. joe. well, ben stokes released a statement this morning calling this front page story on today's sun despicable and utterly disgusting. he cannot think, he says, of anything more immoral, heartless or contemptuous to the feelings and circumstances

of him and his family. now stokes of course has been the sporting figurehead of the summer. he says he's aware that brings with it a public profile, but that shouldn't be used as an excuse to invade the rights of his family, in particular his mum, who he says will be particularly affected today. the sun has defended its journalism and the reporter who sourced the story. the newspaper says the details were disclosed by a family member who was happy not only to give the details but to pose for pictures and provide photos of those involved. and it says they contacted ben stokes to let him know what they were publishing. the ecb have offered their support to stokes, as have his team mates and figures from the wider sporting world

on social media, the england captain joe root among them. but this throws into question just what the balance is between press freedom and a major sports star's right to privacy, and indeed if extremely sensitive and traumatic stories like this really are in the public interest. wales have high hopes of going far in the tournament, but this time they'll be without one of their most iconic players, sam warburton, who retired due to injuries last year. earlier, he spoke to me about their chances, along with the physical and mental battles he faced week in week out when he was playing. i used to see what i put my family through. my mum used to punch the airwheni through. my mum used to punch the air when i finished. that wasjust one of many things i went through.

we were straight in at the deep end about what people would expect to hear. lions tour, second test, we ended up winning, which was great, but i think people think rugby players have this metal armour on, and you show no fear, no emotion, and you show no fear, no emotion, and of anxiety and you don't feel pressure. but you are human, like eve ryo ne pressure. but you are human, like everyone else. it is reassuring for other people to know that. i have heard about other sports people who go through the same thing. loads of them do, former and current players all find it tough. i think it is good to get that message across. it is reassuring for people. we all have pressures in life, notjust sports people. everyone, we all have pressures . sports people. everyone, we all have pressures. i talk about that. i wasn't depressed by any stretch of the imagination. that is a big topic

in professional sport, and i'm lucky ididn't in professional sport, and i'm lucky i didn't experience that. i've managed to fall into work that i really enjoy and i'm passionate about, but depression is a real issue, so i am lucky. i talk about these things because it is not all fun and games. i think it is really good for people to see what being a professional rugby player entails at the very top level. hopefully it gives a really good insight. just to finish, is there anything over your by finish, is there anything over your rugby career, where you were captain for wiles for so long, anything you would look back on and think you would look back on and think you would do differently? a good question. advice i was given very young was, just always be true to yourself and do what you want to do, what makes you happy and what is best for you. i've always been like that as a person. that is why it makes it quite easy to sit here is a retired player. i don't have any

regrets. i am a believer that things happen for a reason, and i got a lot of success of the back of that red card, so sometimes you need to go through adversity to come out the other end and achieve. the pathway you go along has a reason. i wouldn't change anything, and i'm really ha p py wouldn't change anything, and i'm really happy with the way things worked out for myself. i'm lucky. even though i'm young and i've retired, there are players in much worse situations and had much worse injuries than die hard. i am lucky to be in the position i'm in now. strange, but i wouldn't change anything and that is why i can sit here quite content. england's netball team will feature in a new international competition scheduled to take place next year. they'll take onjamaica, new zealand and south africa, in england across four days for the new netball nations cup injanuary. it will be their first appearance in front of a home crowd since the world cup in liverpool

during the summer. mark has been to the training camp in loughborough. it is the start of something new for england netball. the head coach is on herfirst training camp since taking over from tracey neville. people have used the word daunted, and it is a big challenge and big shoes to fill. i understand why i get asked that, but i wouldn't have gone for the job if ididn't i wouldn't have gone for the job if i didn't back myself. the camp at loughborough lacks most of the stars of the commonwealth games and world cup you are resting. but it marks the start of a four—year journey towards the next major championships. they have left a legacy and we will use the same stepping stone stated. we will bring in the new ones and slot them in. the world cup in the summer showed how far the sport has come.”

the world cup in the summer showed how far the sport has come. i think we gained a lot more than we have a thought for the sport. it was more than we could have imagined. that's how far i think our sport can go. england's next home game will be against new zealand, a team that beat them in the semifinals and went on to become champions. my vision is to create an england team that wins when it matters the most. they've done a huge amount of work to achieve a golden bronze medal in the last two years, and there are still a few things that we want to tick off, so that is what the hard work is about now. england's game in january marks the start of the work towards the world cup. zoe smith was once one of the poster girls of the london olympics seven yea rs girls of the london olympics seven years ago. since then, injuries, losing herfunding years ago. since then, injuries, losing her funding and years ago. since then, injuries, losing herfunding and missing out on the rio games in 2016 has led to

a decline in her mental health, but she heads to this weekend's world championships in thailand insisting her best performances are ahead of her. she says that clamp—downs on drug cheats can only improve the sport. i started off at the olympics, having quite a successful games. i didn't medal, but i was only 18. i was pretty happy with what i did. two years later, winning the commonwealth games in glasgow was fantastic. after that, trying to qualify for rio, it was all looking good, but then i busted up my shoulder quite badly. in my mind, it had been smooth sailing until that point. i was like, i will go to rio, and when i didn't, it all came crashing down. it was like, what is the point in being alive. anyone who has struggled with their health will know, you wake up and don't want to get out of bed. i started working at a cafe in london. it was difficult

because i was going