- Crisis-hit Valencia hire West Brom's Corberan as new boss
- Suriname ex-dictator and fugitive Desi Bouterse dead at 79
- 35 feared dead as Azerbaijani jet crashes in Kazakhstan
- Pope calls for 'arms to be silenced' in Christmas appeal
- Syria authorities say torched 1 million captagon pills
- Pope calls for 'arms to be silenced' across world
- 32 survivors as Azerbaijani jet crashes in Kazakhstan
- Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan, Kabul says
- Liverpool host Foxes, Arsenal prepare for life without Saka
- Japan FM raises 'serious concerns' over China military buildup
- Pope's sombre message in Christmas under shadow of war
- Zelensky condemns Russian 'inhumane' Christmas attack on energy grid
- Sweeping Vietnam internet law comes into force
- Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war
- Catholics hold muted Christmas mass in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold
- Japan's top diplomat in China to address 'challenges'
- Thousands attend Christmas charity dinner in Buenos Aires
- Demand for Japanese content booms post 'Shogun'
- As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click
- Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker
- Djokovic eyes more Slam glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud
- Australia's in-form Head confirmed fit for Boxing Day Test
- Brazilian midfielder Oscar returns to Sao Paulo
- 'Wemby' and 'Ant-Man' to make NBA Christmas debuts
- US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
- 'Like a dream': AFP photographer's return to Syria
- Chiefs seek top seed in holiday test for playoff-bound NFL teams
- Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat
- Cyclone death toll in Mayotte rises to 39
- Ecuador vice president says Noboa seeking her 'banishment'
- Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy aware of 'bigger picture' as Liverpool await
- Syria authorities say armed groups have agreed to disband
- Maresca expects Man City to be in title hunt as he downplays Chelsea's chancs
- Man Utd boss Amorim vows to stay on course despite Rashford row
- South Africa opt for all-pace attack against Pakistan
- Guardiola adamant Man City slump not all about Haaland
- Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under shadow of war
- NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun
- 11 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Indonesia considers parole for ex-terror chiefs: official
- Global stocks mostly rise in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window
- Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered
- Global stocks mostly rise after US tech rally
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- How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
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Magic Marchand bags two Olympic golds after gymnastics thriller
Home favourite Leon Marchand wrote his name into the Olympic history books with a phenomenal double gold on a pulsating night in the Paris pool Wednesday, as Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka took a thrilling all-around title.
In another action-packed Olympic day in a sweltering French capital, fans waved a possible farewell to tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, who crashed out of the men's doubles.
The hottest ticket in town was at La Defense Arena, where a raucous crowd wildly cheered every stroke as Marchand, rapidly becoming an Olympic superstar, staged a remarkable late surge to tap home in the 200m butterfly.
Trailling world record holder and defending champion Kristof Milak of Hungary until the final strokes, Marchand dug deep to secure gold in a new Olympic record time.
He followed up less than two hours later with victory in the 200m breaststroke, tricolore flags waving around the stadium as the crowd cried out every time he bobbed his head up to breathe.
The double gold added to his dazzling victory in the 400m medley on Sunday and took the hosts to eight golds, briefly topping the medal table.
In another electric night in the Olympic pool, China's Pan Zhanle produced the first swimming world record of the Paris Games, winning the 100m freestyle in 46.40sec and taking the Chinese back ahead of France in the standings.
Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem turned in the performance of a lifetime to pip Torri Huske from the United States to the wall in the women's 100m freestyle.
But Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan will have to wait another four years for a freestyle double as the 200m champion was beaten into a surprising fourth place.
US great Katie Ledecky, a seven-time gold medallist, also comfortably defended her 1500m freestyle crown, as the battle for swimming medals reaches the halfway stage.
- 'NadAlcaraz' -
Over at Roland Garros, fans flocked to see 14-time French Open champion Nadal partner up with rising star Carlos Alcaraz in a Spanish dream team.
But the dream fizzled as "NadAlcaraz" never really got going against United States pair Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, losing 6-2, 6-4.
At the age of 38 and beset with injuries, Nadal is unlikely to grace the Roland Garros clay again but his record there will probably never be beaten.
Alcaraz however remains on course for a blockbuster tennis showdown with 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing an Olympic gold to complete his impressive CV.
Another shock came in the gymnastics, where Japan's Shinnosuke Oka claimed victory in the Olympic men's all-around title, dethroning compatriot and defending champion Daiki Hashimoto in a thrilling final.
Oka, 20, claimed gold ahead of Chinese duo Zhang Boheng in second, with Xiao Ruoteng taking bronze as Hashimoto finished sixth.
- 'Shameful for our sport' -
Day five had started with a boost for organisers as the triathlon finally went ahead after concerns over hazardous pollution levels in the River Seine.
Organisers cancelled training this week and postponed the men's race on Tuesday after the Seine was found to be too dirty for athletes following rainstorms last week.
But when athletes finally dived into the Seine at the historic Alexandre III bridge, the race resulted in more home joy as Cassandre Beaugrand seized gold.
She told reporters it would have been "shameful for our sport" if the swimming had not gone ahead.
The men's race saw a nailbiting finale, as Britain's Alex Yee overhauled New Zealand's Hayden Wilde in the final stretch to improve on his silver from Tokyo.
In other action on day five, China's table tennis world number one Wang Chuqin suffered a shock defeat, a day after having his bat broken.
Wang won mixed doubles gold on Tuesday but his elation turned to anger after a photographer accidentally snapped his bat while jostling to take a picture.
Less than 24 hours later, Wang went out in the singles after a 4-2 defeat to Truls Moregard of Sweden.
There was better news for China and their bid for a clean sweep in diving, as they prevailed in the women's synchronised 10m platform ahead of North Korea and Britain.
China have won all three golds in the sport in Paris so far.
In women's football, title-holders Canada must beat Colombia if they are to advance to the quarter-finals following a six-point deduction over a spying scandal.
Ch.Havering--AMWN