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Thousands of people are set to gather Sunday in St Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis deliver his Christmas Day message, where he is expected to offer prayers for war-torn Ukraine.

India sneaked victory and a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh in a thrilling second Test on Sunday after the hosts came close to winning their first five-day game over their giant neighbours.

More than 2,000 soldiers and police surrounded two districts in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.

Australian seamer Scott Boland was Sunday confirmed to start the Boxing Day second Test in Melbourne ahead of an "underdone" Josh Hazlewood, while South Africa suggested they could shake up their batting line up.

A fearsome winter storm continued to pummel parts of the United States with blizzard conditions Saturday evening after its powerful Arctic winds left over a million customers without power earlier in the day and caused Christmas travel nightmares.

Skippers of the supermaxi yachts preparing for Monday's Sydney to Hobart bluewater classic are targeting a new record in a high-speed race they predict will go to the wire.

Dak Prescott threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Dallas Cowboys over NFL-best Philadelphia 40-34 on Saturday, keeping the Eagles from clinching a top playoff seeding.

Australian seamer Scott Boland will play the Boxing Day second Test against South Africa in Melbourne with an "underdone" Josh Hazlewood again missing out, captain Pat Cummins said Sunday.

Undisputed world super-welterweight boxing champion Jermell Charlo suffered a broken left hand in training and his January showdown with unbeaten Australian Tim Tszyu has been postponed, promoters announced Saturday.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers ordered all national and international NGOs to stop their women employees from working after "serious complaints" about their dress code, the economy ministry said on Saturday.

More than 1,000 soldiers surrounded a district in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.

Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, sidelined since suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder, will be out for at least another two weeks, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors said Saturday.

Buffalo clinched a third consecutive division title and the Baltimore Ravens secured an NFL playoff berth on a Saturday where most games were played in severely cold conditions.

DR Congo's army called an M23 rebel withdrawal from a strategic town near the eastern city of Goma a "sham" on Saturday, saying the militia is reinforcing its positions elsewhere.

A group of armed renegades who refused to sign a 2016 peace accord in Colombia have declared a unilateral ceasefire until the new year, the country's peace commissioner tweeted Saturday.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan on Saturday accused The Sun of a "PR stunt" after the British tabloid apologised and said it regretted publishing a much-criticised column about the couple.

Maxi Jazz, the lead singer of the British electronic band Faithless, has died at the age of 65, the group announced on Saturday.

Family members visited the legendary Pele on Saturday at the Sao Paulo hospital where he is suffering from worsening cancer as well as kidney and heart problems, according to a social media post by his daughter.

A French man suspected of killing three people in a "racist" attack at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit, prosecutors said, as police and demonstrators clashed in the French capital.

More than 1,000 soldiers surrounded a district in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.

Eddie Howe has insisted he has no interest in looking at the Premier League table as Newcastle bid to maintain their impressive start to the season following the World Cup break.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers ordered all national and international NGOs to stop their women employees from working after "serious complaints" about their dress code, the economy ministry told AFP on Saturday.

Richard Wigglesworth's first game in charge of Leicester saw the Tigers enjoy a convincing 28-13 victory over Gloucester in the English Premiership on Saturday as they became the inaugural winners of the Slater Cup.

More than 1,000 soldiers surrounded a community in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.

Stade Francais moved second in France's Top 14 on Saturday with a compelling 48-10 win over Paris rivals Racing 92 who were branded as "shameful" by one of their own players.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday blasted Russian "terror" after shelling on Christmas Eve left at least seven dead and 58 injured in Kherson city, which Kyiv's forces recaptured in November.

A fearsome winter storm that pummelled the United States with blinding snow and powerful Arctic winds left 1.7 million customers without power Saturday as thousands of cancelled flights stranded travelers making last-minute dashes for Christmas.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers ordered all national and international NGOs to stop their women employees from working after "serious complaints" about their dress code, the Ministry of Economy told AFP on Saturday.

Japan's Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi both scored twice as champions Celtic strengthened their grip on top spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday.

Cherif Traore played just under an hour on Saturday in his first match since receiving a rotten banana as a Christmas gift from a team-mate as Treviso beat Zebre Parma 38-5 in the United Rugby Championship.

England winger Marland Yarde has agreed to join Bayonne until the end of the season after leaving Premiership club Sale last season following his arrest, the French club said on Saturday.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira believes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's "stupid" celebrations have tarnished Argentina's World Cup final win.