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Ukrainians and Russians marked Orthodox Christmas on Saturday under the shadow of war, as fighting persisted despite Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's order for his forces to pause attacks.

Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July departed the capital Bamako on Saturday, a day after being pardoned by Mali's junta leader, an airport official, a Malian army officer and a diplomatic source told AFP.

Two metro trains collided in a Mexico City tunnel Saturday, killing one person and injuring 16, authorities in the megacity of 20 million reported.

Suryakumar Yadav, the world's leading Twenty20 batsman, said Saturday he was thriving in his role as a "game-changer" after smashing a blazing century in India's series-clinching 91-run win over Sri Lanka.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will work with India to develop football talent as the sport's national federation attempts to overhaul its "identity and philosophy", the organisation revealed on Saturday.

Argentina winger Santiago Cordero scored his second try in two games as Bordeaux-Begles moved up to third in the French Top 14 on Saturday with a 23-15 victory over Bayonne.

Real Madrid blew a chance to ramp up the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona in the title race as they fell 2-1 at Villarreal in a disjointed display on Saturday.

Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were dumped out of the FA Cup by lower-league opposition on Saturday as Harry Kane fired Tottenham past third-tier Portsmouth.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo could make his Saudi Arabian debut on January 22 after he was successfully registered by new team Al Nassr, a club source told AFP on Saturday.

Didier Deschamps will coach France until the 2026 World Cup after announcing on Saturday he had been given a four-year contract extension just weeks after his side were defeated by Argentina in the 2022 final.

Argentina winger Santiago Cordero scored his second try in two games as Bordeaux-Begles moved up to third in the French Top 14 on Saturday with a 23-15 victory over Bayonne.

As artillery boomed outside and fighter jets flew overhead, Orthodox Christians in a battered eastern Ukrainian town held a Christmas service in a basement shelter on Saturday, vowing not to let war ruin the holiday.

Republican favorite Kevin McCarthy was finally elected speaker of the US House of Representatives on Saturday, ending a paralyzing standoff with right-wing holdouts that raised concerns about his party's ability to exercise power in Congress.

Former France forward Sebastien Chabal on Saturday denied any wrongdoing following a claim that he had obtained more than a hundred tickets for this year's Rugby World Cup in France.

Harry Kane fired Tottenham past third-tier Portsmouth and into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday as 2021 winners Leicester emerged unscathed from a tricky tie against lowly Gillingham.

Roberto Mancini is grieving the loss of a man he considered his brother after Gianluca Vialli's death following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt extended his overall World Cup lead on Saturday by winning a second consecutive giant slalom on home snow in Abelboden ahead of Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen and Swiss compatriot Loic Meillard.

Harry Kane fired Tottenham past third-tier Portsmouth and into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday as 2021 winners Leicester emerged unscathed from a tricky tie against lowly Gillingham.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez urged his team to improve their finishing against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, where they will be without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.

Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi won the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally on Saturday with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah holding the overall lead in the car race.

Ukrainians and Russians on Saturday marked Orthodox Christmas under the shadow of war, as fighting persisted despite Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin unilaterally ordering his forces to pause attacks.

Canada's Valerie Grenier claimed her maiden World Cup victory in the giant slalom on Saturday as Mikaela Shiffrin finished sixth in Slovenia and missed out on equalling fellow American Lindsey Vonn's record of 82 wins.

"I was able to come this year because there is peace," says Asme Mamo as he joins crowds of worshippers celebrating Orthodox Christmas in the historic Ethiopian town of Lalibela.

An intense Novak Djokovic brushed aside Daniil Medvedev on Saturday to set up an Adelaide International final against Sebastian Korda and played down injury concerns after appearing to tweak his hamstring.

Thousands of demonstrators marched in central Paris on Saturday to pay tribute to three Kurdish activists murdered a decade ago.

Filled with sadness and hopes of a victorious 2023, hundreds of Ukrainian refugees celebrated their first Christmas since fleeing the Russian invasion at a contemporary theatre in Warsaw.

Didier Deschamps said on Saturday he will remain France coach until the 2026 World Cup after leading the team to the final of the last two editions.

Stefanos Tsitsipas battled from a set down to topple Matteo Berrettini Saturday but it was in vain as an unstoppable Lucia Bronzetti powered Italy into the final of the inaugural United Cup against a dominant United States.

When Blackpink mega-star Lisa takes to the stage in Bangkok Saturday, seeing the Thai-born K-pop sensation dance in the flesh will be a life-defining moment for many local superfans.

Unheralded Czech teenager Linda Noskova stunned world number two Ons Jabeur Saturday to make her first-ever final at the Adelaide International, dealing the Tunisian a demoralising blow ahead of the Australian Open.

Iran on Saturday executed two men for killing a paramilitary force member during unprecedented protests sparked by the death in custody of a young woman.

Stefanos Tsitsipas rallied from a set down to topple Italy's Matteo Berrettini and keep Greece in the hunt to reach the final of the inaugural United Cup, where the United States awaits the winner.