Global hotspots remain active, with US airstrikes in Nigeria, new peace ideas for Ukraine, ongoing Gaza suffering, ISIS insurgency in Mozambique, and North Korea's submarine unveiling dominating security headlines.

• US carries out airstrikes against Islamic State ‘terrorist scum’ in Nigeria, Trump says — The Guardian -
• After Suffering in Israeli Prison, a Gaza Detainee Comes Home to More Pain — New York Times World -
• Zelensky hails 'new ideas' on peace after talks with US envoys — BBC World -

• Why China, a One-Party State, Is Backing Elections in This Country — New York Times World -
• ‘Carol of the Bells’ Once Filled the Air Here. Now It’s Only Bombs. — New York Times World -
• No Power, No Heat, No Water: Odesa’s Days of Hell Under Russian Fire — New York Times World -
• Russian opposition leader sentenced to six years in prison — The Guardian -
• Why Russia Is Likely to Reject the New US-Ukrainian Peace Plan — New York Times World -
• Turkey detains 115 IS suspects 'planning New Year's attacks' — BBC World -
• Grassroots group’s bank account frozen due to ‘Palestine Action investigation’ — The Guardian -
• Ukrainian refugee leaves UK sixth-form college that urged her ‘to study Russian’ — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of thousands newly displaced as Islamic State insurgency expands in Mozambique — The Guardian -
• ​North Korea Unveils the Completed Hull of What It Calls a Nuclear Submarine — New York Times World -
• The Truce Is 2 Months Old. So Why Have Hundreds of Gazans Been Killed? — New York Times World -
• Bomb blast in packed Nigerian mosque kills five — BBC World -

Trump's influence sparks debate, from a lawsuit to remove his name from the Kennedy Center to a British campaigner's legal challenge against his administration, alongside labor unions gearing up to fight his agenda.

• Democratic lawmaker sues to remove Trump's name from Kennedy Center — BBC World -
• British campaigner launches legal challenge against Trump administration after deportation threat — The Guardian -
• Into the void: how Trump killed international law — The Guardian -

• US labor unions gear up to fight against Trump’s ‘Billionaire First’ agenda — The Guardian -
• Where is Santa now? Trump answers kids' Christmas calls to Norad tracker — BBC World -

The holiday brings Pope Leo's plea for peace and dialogue amidst global conflicts, while King Charles urges compassion and unity in his annual message, reflecting widespread calls for reconciliation.

• Pope Leo Surprises St. Peter’s Crowd Before Christmas Eve Mass — New York Times World -
• Watch: Pope Leo's plea for peace in Christmas message — BBC World -
• Pope Leo urges 'courage' to end Ukraine war in first Christmas address — BBC World -

• Pope Leo Makes Christmas Call for Dialogue to Address World’s Conflicts — New York Times World -
• King Charles Urges ‘Compassion’ and Finding Strength in Diversity in Annual Christmas Message — New York Times World -
• King Charles calls for reconciliation and unity in Christmas message — The Guardian -
• Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice join royal family for Christmas Day service — The Guardian -
• Immigration debate ‘dividing us’, incoming archbishop of Canterbury warns in Christmas sermon — The Guardian -
• Pope Leo Surprises St. Peter’s Crowd Before Christmas Eve Mass — New York Times World -

Severe weather impacts California with deadly rain storms and Australia with bushfire threats, while the UK faces burst pipes and debates EV charger rollout, and conservation efforts progress in tropical forests and Chilean national parks.

• Heavy rain storms in California leave three dead as of Christmas night — BBC World -
• Burst pipe leaves homes in East Sussex without water on Christmas Day — The Guardian -
• Western Australia faces bushfire threat as cold, wet and bumpy Sydney to Hobart yacht race forecast — The Guardian -

• Southern California sees third death from atmospheric river storm drenching region — The Guardian -
• ‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s the wildest place I have walked’: new national park will join up Chile’s 2,800km wildlife corridor — The Guardian -
• Met Office warns of cold, windy weather but white Christmas ‘highly unlikely’ — The Guardian -
• UK electric car charger rollout slows amid worries over EV switch — The Guardian -
• Plant ‘tredges’ to boost England’s tree cover, gardeners urged — The Guardian -

A contested Honduran election draws international attention, while UK consumers anticipate Boxing Day sales, and discussions arise around shared parental leave, the Epstein scandal, and AI toys in China, alongside an Arkansas lottery win.

• Man charged after allegedly performing Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres — The Guardian -
• Christmas Around the World in Photos — New York Times World -
• Honduran Candidate Claims Fraud After Trump-Backed Opponent Is Declared Victor — New York Times World -

• Remembering Those Who Died This Year — New York Times World -
• Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro's surgery for hernia 'successful' — BBC World -
• Kimmel Tells U.K. Viewers ‘Tyranny Is Booming’ in America — New York Times World -
• With Airspace Closed, a Lonely Christmas for Many Venezuelans — New York Times World -
• Honduras Declares Nasry Asfura, Trump Ally, Winner of Presidential Election — New York Times World -
• Renewed zeal for Boxing Day sales expected to ring up £3.8bn for retailers — The Guardian -
• ‘Lost decade’ of progress after UK introduced shared parental leave, say experts — The Guardian -
• The Titanic, Sinclair C5 and Brexit: the Museum of Failure is coming to the UK — The Guardian -
• End of shareholder revolt register ‘will help UK firms bury pay controversies’ — The Guardian -
• Arkansas Powerball lottery player wins $1.817bn jackpot on Christmas Eve — The Guardian -
• Epstein survivor calls for Mountbatten-Windsor to be ‘brought to justice’ in US — The Guardian -
• A Top Candidate for Prime Minister Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years in Exile — New York Times World -
• Blood test could predict who is most at risk from common inherited heart condition — The Guardian -
• Concerns about ageing society ignore huge opportunities, says population expert — The Guardian -
• Why the Right Is Boycotting Havaianas Flip-Flops — New York Times World -
• Security bosses warn of rise in UK building site thefts by organised crime — The Guardian -
• Front-runner to be Bangladesh PM returns after 17 years in exile — BBC World -
• More than a million pounds spent on influencers by UK government since 2024 — The Guardian -
• What Parents in China See in A.I. Toys — New York Times World -
• Trump-backed candidate wins in knife-edge Honduran election — BBC World -
• Trump-backed candidate wins in knife-edge Honduran election — BBC World -
• Peng Peiyun, 95, Dies; Official Renounced China’s One-Child Policy — New York Times World -

Tragic events include a helicopter crash on Kilimanjaro killing five, two men missing off a Devon beach, and a Texas ATM robbery, highlighting various safety and security concerns.

• Five Killed in Helicopter Crash on Kilimanjaro, Africa’s Highest Peak — New York Times World -
• Two men missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Day — The Guardian -
• Watch: Moment robbers rip ATM from inside Texas store — BBC World -