ussia's top tennis players react to end of Wimbledon ban

Top Russian tennis players have described their "happiness" at Wimbledon's decision to lift a ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

Daniil Medvedev, ranked number five in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, and Karen Khachanov, ranked 16, said they would meet the tournament's new entry requirements.

They must compete as neutrals and are prohibited from receiving funding from the Russian or Belarusian states, including sponsorship from state-owned or controlled companies.

"I'm really happy. I always said that I love this tournament," said Mr Medvedev.

"I had some tough losses there. I want to try to turn this around. It's a beautiful tournament, beautiful grand slam. I'm really happy that I'm going to be able to play there this year."

He continued: "I don't know what the crowd reaction is going to be, I cannot control it, but I will be happy to play there in front of all the people."

Ms Khachanov said they will keep playing as neutral, as they have done in other tournaments since February.

She said: "I played quarter-finals, I'm in the Last 8 Club, and it's a really great and special event in tennis history. That's why I'm really happy that we will be able to play this year."

Explosive device that killed Vladlem Tatarsky may have been inside statue of blogger - reports

More reports are emerging about the blast in St Petersburg that killed military blogger Vladlem Tatarsky.

Russian media and military bloggers said Tatarsky was meeting with members of the public when a woman presented him with a box containing a bust of himself that apparently blew up. 

A patriotic Russian group that organised the event said it had taken security precautions but acknowledged that those measures "proved insufficient". 

In remarks recorded on video, a witness said that a woman who identified herself as Nastya asked questions and exchanged remarks with Tatarsky. 

The witness, Alisa Smotrova, quoted Nastya as saying she had made a bust of the blogger but that guards asked her to leave it at the door, suspecting it could be a bomb. 

Nastya and Tatarsky joked and laughed, the witness said. Nastya then went to the door, grabbed the bust and presented it to Tatarsky, the account added. 

He reportedly put the bust on a nearby table, and the explosion followed. 

Smotrova described people running in panic, some hurt by shattered glass and covered in blood.