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Will Mohamed Salah still be a Liverpool player by the time Afcon concludes? John Duerden looks at the prospect of the Egyptian forward moving to Saudi.

Burkina Faso head coach Brama Traoré: “We are in Morocco to live up to our country’s reputation, and since our arrival we have focused on addressing the areas where we had shortcomings. We know that every team aims to win its first match in the tournament, and that is a legitimate objective for us as well.

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© Photograph: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP/Getty Images

© Getty/iStock

Declan Bigras of Aylmer, Que., joined air cadets when he was 13 because he dreamt of flying fighter jets. While he got onto wait-lists, he wasn’t selected for that highly competitive program. But he did rise to second in command of the 211 Squadron in Ottawa. Read More

Five unexpected 'sleeper' election contests could surprise voters in 2026, from Mississippi's 2nd congressional district to Nebraska's gubernatorial seat.

Former senator Ben Sasse announced his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2025, calling it "a death sentence" while vowing to fight the disease.

The move gives Washington additional options if it decides to carry out military operations in Venezuela — which President Trump has not ruled out as he’s already ordered a blockade of oil tankers and shut down airspace over the socialist country.

Francisco Gaspar-Andrés died in El Paso hospital after being detained at Fort Bliss – his wife was deported to Guatemala without a chance to see him

A Guatemalan man has become the first person to die in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Fort Bliss army base in Texas. His wife of 25 years was deported from the same camp without a chance to see her dying husband.

Francisco Gaspar-Andrés, 48, died on 3 December at a hospital in El Paso, as Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates were ramping up demands that the camp be closed down amid allegations of inhumane conditions there. The DHS has said such allegations are “categorically false”.

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© Photograph: Paul Ratje/Reuters

© Photograph: Paul Ratje/Reuters

© Photograph: Paul Ratje/Reuters

The great Santa deception arguably breaches the ninth commandment (‘Thou shalt not bear false witness’). I think God would cut us some slack

When I was first ordained, an older priest gave me three commandments for a successful ministry: one, try not to upset the flower ladies; two, don’t preach pacifism on Remembrance Sunday; and, three – and most important – never tell children that Santa isn’t real.

If only someone had had that talk with RevDr Paul Chamberlain, who last Christmas reduced a classroom full of year 6 children to tears by telling them the truth: “It’s your mum and dad.” (I hope that doesn’t come as a shock to any of you.)

Ravi Holy is rector of the United Wye Benefice in Canterbury, Kent, and a standup comedian

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© Photograph: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy

© Photograph: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy

© Photograph: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy

Report recommends adoption of US-style punishment and rewards for most dangerous inmates

A long-awaited report that examined how the Manchester Arena plotter was able to carry out an alleged violent attack on prison officers has recommended a new punishment and rewards system for the most dangerous inmates, similar to that used in a US Supermax jail.

David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, is facing demands to publish the report, which looks into why Hashem Abedi, who was jailed for life for helping his brother carry out the 2017 bombing, was able to target staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush.

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© Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

© Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

© Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

While it struggles to hold up land advance, Kyiv eyes economic and political fronts to turn around fortunes

A depleted – but far from defeated Ukraine – looks to 2026 with few good military options, even though a critical €90bn (£79bn) loan from the EU has been agreed. The financing will help Kyiv to continue defending at its current intensity until late 2027, but it will not lead to a transformation of its battlefield prospects.

On land, the pattern of the last two years should, in the first instance, continue. Russia has held the initiative since 2024, but only gaining territory incrementally, largely because it constantly throws people into the “meat grinder” of the frontline. During 2025, Russian advances amounted to 176 sq miles a month to the end of November, but at an estimated cost of 382,000 killed and wounded.

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© Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

© Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

© Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

Every week, The Post will bring you our picks of the best one-liners and stories from satirical site the Babylon Bee to take the edge off Hump Day.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has yet to name a schools chancellor, a health commissioner, or a transportation boss before he takes office next week.

Ever wondered what Father Christmas’ favourite meal is? Or why Santa wears a red suit?

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As Catholics in Gaza gather for Christmas, Father Carlos Ferrero tells Bryony Gooch how they have maintained faith in the face of widespread devastation

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France hits out at visa sanctions as Washington targets what it calls the ‘global censorship-industrial complex’

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All states have some form of a slayer rule that prevents killers from inheriting from their victims

© Getty

Norad is tracking St Nick’s speedy trip around the globe as he delivers presents worldwide

© AP

Ukrainian president calls for meeting with Donald Trump to address territorial conflict in the east

© AFP via Getty Images

Leading medical bodies representing more than 90,000 health professionals have issued an urgent plea

© Getty/iStock

Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family sent a holiday card before they were killed in a North Carolina plane crash last week, his friend revealed.

The three-time champion eased past William O’Connor 3-1, but rival Wright suffered a shock loss to Arno Merk, wrecking plans for another meeting between the old rivals

© Getty Images

Richard Gaisford signed off from Good Morning Britain one final time on Wednesday, 24 December, after 25 years working on the ITV programme.

© ITV