Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai of sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The 78-year-old critic of Beijing now faces the possibility of life in prison under Hong Kong’s national security law.
Steve Clarke is urging Scotland fans not to put themselves into debt to follow their team to the World Cup in the United States next year.
The national team manager was speaking on the day supporter club members get their chance to apply for tickets for the matches against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, as well as the final group match against Brazil in Miami.
Fifa have been criticised for ticket pricing that could lead to supporters paying thousands for a seat.
Scotland fans are expected to be allocated around 8% of available seats for their group matches but the Scottish FA are hoping that number will increase in the coming months.
“But, it is expensive to go to America anyway. The tickets are expensive.
“If you can get there and you can afford to be there, then fantastic but don’t push yourself too far into debt trying to get there.
“It’s Fifa’s tournament, they decide what they decide. The Scottish FA have taken their full allocation.”
Clarke hopes that supporters “who travel to all the far flung places” are able to obtain tickets affordably as the “deserve to be there”.
Clarke was speaking on his first visit back to Scotland following the qualification-sealing 4-2 win over Denmark last month.
“The number of well wishers that are genuinely excited that the country’s qualified for a World Cup is great,” Clarke said.
“It shows you the power of football and what it can do for people.”
Scotland hope to organise friendly matches against non-European nations including a send-off game at Hampden.
Clarke is also planning two training camps, including one in a hot climate, before the squad travels to its as yet undetermined training base.
“The squad size will be 26, so that gives you a little bit of leeway,” he explained.
“Obviously, I’m very loyal to the players that have got us there. That’s not a big secret anymore. People know how I work. Those players that I’m loyal to also have to play well, they have to get their minutes on the pitch that make them an easy pick for me but there’s always space for someone else.
“I’m not afraid to bring younger players into the squad, I’m not afraid to change one or two players if that’s what has to be done.
Steve Clarke is urging Scotland fans not to put themselves into debt to follow their team to the World Cup in the United States next year.
The national team manager was speaking on the day supporter club members get their chance to apply for tickets for the matches against Haiti and Morocco in Boston, as well as the final group match against Brazil in Miami.
Fifa have been criticised for ticket pricing that could lead to supporters paying thousands for a seat.
Scotland fans are expected to be allocated around 8% of available seats for their group matches but the Scottish FA are hoping that number will increase in the coming months.
“But, it is expensive to go to America anyway. The tickets are expensive.
“If you can get there and you can afford to be there, then fantastic but don’t push yourself too far into debt trying to get there.
“It’s Fifa’s tournament, they decide what they decide. The Scottish FA have taken their full allocation.”
For the match against Haiti, the prices will be £134, £298 or £372, while for the Morocco games tickets will cost £163, £320 or £447.
Scotland will then travel to Miami to take on five-time world champions Brazil on 24 June. A total of 3,736 tickets have been allocated to Scotland for that game, with tickets costing £198, £373 or £523.
Clarke hopes that supporters “who travel to all the far flung places” are able to obtain tickets affordably as the “deserve to be there”.
Clarke was speaking on his first visit back to Scotland following the qualification-sealing 4-2 win over Denmark last month.
“The number of well wishers that are genuinely excited that the country’s qualified for a World Cup is great,” Clarke said.
“It shows you the power of football and what it can do for people.”
Scotland hope to organise friendly matches against non-European nations including a send-off game at Hampden.
Clarke is also planning two training camps, including one in a hot climate, before the squad travels to its as yet undetermined training base.
“The squad size will be 26, so that gives you a little bit of leeway,” he explained.
“Obviously, I’m very loyal to the players that have got us there. That’s not a big secret anymore. People know how I work. Those players that I’m loyal to also have to play well, they have to get their minutes on the pitch that make them an easy pick for me but there’s always space for someone else.
“I’m not afraid to bring younger players into the squad, I’m not afraid to change one or two players if that’s what has to be done.
The number of players in the Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo, in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has risen to 11, with 12 more players expected on Monday.
According to an update from the camp, FC Porto of Portugal left-back Zaidu Sanusi has joined his colleagues who had earlier arrived, bringing the total number of players in camp to 11.
READ ALSO: [2025 AFCON] Uzoho, Nwabali, Lookman, Among First Arrivals As Super Eagles Open Camp
Players already in camp include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Amas Obasogie. Others are Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, and Tochukwu Nnadi.
Twelve more players are expected on Monday (today), with the team holding its first training session at 8 p.m. local time. The training will take place inside the main bowl of the Cairo International Stadium.
The backroom staff and coaching crew are already present in the team’s camp.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Egypt in an international friendly on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Cairo Stadium, as part of their build-up to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Following the encounter, the team, led by head coach Eric Chelle, will depart Cairo for Fes, Morocco, where they will be based throughout the group phase of the tournament.
The Nigerian team has been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. They will open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on December 23 before clashing with Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles four days later.
Ben Stokes has asked his England team to “show a bit of dog” in the crucial third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide.
England are 2-0 down and must end a 17-match winless run in this country at the Adelaide Oval in order to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive.
Following the defeat in the second Test at the Gabba, Stokes said his dressing room was “no place for weak men”.
And the captain admitted his team have had “raw” conversations in the eight days since the loss in Brisbane.
Wednesday’s Test at the Adelaide Oval (23:30 GMT Tuesday) is a return for Stokes to the ground where he made his Test debut 12 years ago.
On that occasion, as a 22-year-old he introduced himself to Ashes cricket by clashing with Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Asked if on-field fight is an instinct that comes more naturally to him than his team-mates, Stokes responded: “It’s a word that I think people don’t really understand what it means. What it means to me could be completely different to someone else.
“It’s just trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in and understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team. Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me.
“As long as you go out there and everyone is in that mindset around the situation and what is needed, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”
Stokes said his team have had “meaningful conversations” and used the third Test against India at Lord’s in July as a source of inspiration.
On that occasion, England won a fractious contest by 22 runs in a thrilling conclusion at the home of cricket.
“That’s exactly what I’m on about,” said the all-rounder. “That was a moment where we all did that, we all noticed and we all identified that moment.
Stokes also explained the decision to omit Shoaib Bashir from the England XI in Adelaide.
The tourists have made one change to their team from Brisbane, with Josh Tongue replacing fellow pace bowler Gus Atkinson. All-rounder Will Jacks keeps his place ahead of Bashir.
When Jacks was chosen instead of Bashir in Brisbane, Stokes said Bashir would remain England’s first choice when a specialist spinner was required.
However, at a venue that usually offers something to spinners, and with temperatures forecast to reach 39 degrees this week, Bashir has been left out. The 22-year-old has returned figures of 2-266 in two tour matches in Australia.
“I wouldn’t say it’s got anything to do against Bash whatsoever,” said Stokes. “The main thing is we’re 2-0 down. We need to win the next three.
“We feel having Jacksy down at number eight obviously strengthens our batting a little bit deeper if we need to go there. And he’s more than capable enough to handle that role with the ball when we need to call upon it.”
England are at the point of no return in yet another Ashes series in Australia – the visitors have lost the previous three series in this country 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Heavy defeats in Australia often signal change around the management of the England team.
On Sunday head coach Brendon McCullum said speculation his job could be on the line if England lose this week “does not really bother me”.
And Stokes said he will not be leading his team with an agenda to safeguard his position.
“If people are trying to protect themselves over the greater good, which is the team, and look after their own back – I’m certainly never going to do that,” said the Durham man.
“My job is to captain this team and I’ll do everything I can to lead the team in the best possible way that I can.
Sir Cliff Richard has made shocking revelations today after disclosing his secret battle with prostate cancer. The 85-year-old music legend revealed the disease was detected during a routine medical examination required for an upcoming tour. Nevertheless, he emphasised that doctors caught it in its early stages before it had the chance to spread.
“I was going to Australia and to New Zealand and the promoter said, ‘Well we need your insurance, so you need to be checked up for something’. They found that I had… prostate cancer,” Sir Cliff Richard told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday (December 15). “But the good fortune was that it was not very old, and the other thing is that it had not metastasised.
“It hadn’t moved, nothing into bones or anything like that. And the cancer’s gone at the moment.”
The Summer Holiday singer went on: “I don’t know whether it’s going to come back. We really can’t tell with those sort of things. But we need to, absolutely, I’m convinced, get there, get tested, get checked.
“I think we, as men, have got to start saying, ‘We’ve got to be seen as human beings who may die of this thing’.”
Sir Cliff revealed his hopes to collaborate with the King on enhancing cancer screening programmes for men, following the King’s candid discussion about his own cancer journey last week. He stressed the critical nature of regular examinations to identify cancer during its treatable phases.
These revelations follow Bupa and Prostate Cancer UK’s joint Instagram campaign last week, which highlighted the ‘three main risks’ associated with the condition as they also shared a warning about symptoms of the disease.
A healthcare professional appeared on screen whilst overlay text stated: “Worried about prostate cancer? Most men with early prostate cancer won’t have any symptoms.”
She was then heard explaining: “That’s why it’s really important for men to check their risk.”
Outlining the three primary risk factors, the expert revealed: “The three main risk factors for prostate cancer are, number one age. That’s if men are over the age of 50.”
She went on to explain: “Number two is if they have a family history. So that is in particular a father or brother in their family with prostate cancer. Or the third factor is if they’re a black man.”
The specialist noted that men can assess their prostate cancer risk using the online risk assessment tool at Prostate Cancer UK, which “takes 30 seconds”.
She added: “You can even print out the results of the risk checker and you can take that to your GP. Sometimes men find that helpful.”
The accompanying caption elaborated: “Are you worried about prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, yet it often shows no symptoms in early stages. Understanding your risk and knowing how to get tested is essential.
“We’ve partnered with Prostate Cancer UK with the aim to make a real difference in men’s prostate health.
“Together, we want to break down the stigma and embarrassment that can stop men from getting the help they need early.
“This partnership is about empowering men and making sure no one faces prostate cancer alone.”
Sir Cliff has labelled the absence of a national screening programme as “absolutely ridiculous”.
“We all deserve to have the same ability to have a test and then start the treatments really early,” he asserted.
“It seems to me – I’ve only been for one year now in touch with cancer, but every time I’ve talked with anybody, this has come up, and so I think our government must listen to us.”
The National Screening Committee, which provides advice to governments across the UK, stated last month that a universal prostate cancer screening programme is not warranted.
They argue that only men carrying specific genetic mutations leading to more aggressive tumours should qualify.