Around 15,000 Taliban fighters are marching towards Pakistan after Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan killed dozens, mostly women and children. The Afghan Taliban has condemned the airstrikes, vowing retaliation. Pakistan's attacks targeted the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in eastern Afghanistan, escalating tensions. This conflict highlights Pakistan’s dual-Taliban challenge, with the TTP and the Taliban regime both causing instability. The Afghan Taliban, once nurtured by Pakistan for strategic purposes, now poses a growing threat to Pakistan’s security. Pakistan's past support for the Taliban has come back to haunt it, increasing violence across its borders.

Russia has urged people not to speculate about the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, which killed 38 people. Speculation about a missile strike has been growing, but the Kremlin has denied it. The Embraer 190 plane had diverted to Kazakhstan after bad weather in Russia. Authorities are investigating the cause, with some suggesting a bird strike. However, doubts remain, and footage from the crash site has raised questions. Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to affected areas while investigations continue. Russia calls for caution until the official investigation is complete.

An Israeli airstrike on central Gaza killed five Palestinian journalists from Al-Quds Today TV, a channel linked to Islamic Jihad, as they slept in a marked broadcast truck. Witnesses say the truck was directly hit. Israel's military claimed it targeted a vehicle carrying militants but denied attacking media workers. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reports 195 journalists killed since the Gaza war began in October 2023. International groups condemned the strike, emphasizing journalists are civilians under international law. The war has caused over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, mostly women and children, amidst accusations of severe humanitarian violations. Negotiations for a ceasefire remain stalled.

2 women, aged 38 and 24, were killed in a stabbing at an apartment in Milton Keynes, UK, on Christmas Day. A dog injured in the attack also died later. A man and a teenage boy were seriously injured and are now in stable condition in hospital. Police in the UK arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The incident happened at Santa Cruz Avenue around 6:30 pm. Thames Valley Police said the victims and suspect were known to each other. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin called the attack shocking and reassured the public that no other suspects are involved.

A tragic Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killed 38 of the 67 onboard, with 29 survivors, including 11 critically injured. The Embraer 190 was diverted from Grozny, Chechnya, due to fog. Speculation arose over shrapnel damage, suggesting a possible air defense missile strike, but Russian authorities cautioned against premature conclusions. The flight data recorder has been recovered, and investigations are ongoing. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared a national day of mourning. Survivors recalled a failed landing attempt before the crash. Experts and officials remain divided on the cause, awaiting detailed findings to clarify the incident’s circumstances.

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau city, killing 38 passengers. The Embraer 190 attempted an emergency landing 3 km from Aktau, reportedly diverting due to bad weather. However, UK-based Osprey Flight Solutions suggested the plane may have been downed by a Russian air defense missile. Ukrainian officials echoed this claim, alleging Russian involvement. Russia’s aviation authority attributed the incident to a possible bird strike, though experts doubt this. The plane’s black box has been recovered for investigation. Videos showed the aircraft descending steeply before crashing and engulfing in flames.

Five journalists from Quds Today were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp. Their press-marked van, parked outside al-Awda hospital, was hit while awaiting the birth of a journalist’s child. Israel claimed the vehicle housed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants, targeting it "with intelligence guidance" to minimize civilian harm. Quds Today denied the allegations, posting footage of the burning van. Separately, Israeli strikes killed five and injured 20 in Gaza City’s al-Zeitoun area. Ongoing ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Qatar, faced new disputes. Gaza's health ministry reports 45,000 deaths since the conflict began.

YouTuber Jeran Campanella, a prominent Flat Earther, spent ₹31.4 lakh on a journey to Antarctica to challenge the spherical Earth theory. His belief that Antarctica is an "ice wall" was disproven after witnessing the Midnight Sun, a phenomenon exclusive to Earth's tilt and rotation. Campanella confessed on his channel, "I honestly now believe there is a 24-hour sun." The expedition was part of Colorado pastor Will Duffy's "The Final Experiment," designed to end debates on Earth's shape. The event also debunked claims that civilians are barred from Antarctica under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.

Salman Rushdie's controversial novel The Satanic Verses is back in India after 36 years, following the Delhi High Court's closure of the 1988 ban case. Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi's Khan Market is selling the book for ₹1,999, with strong sales reported. The book, banned under the Rajiv Gandhi government for its alleged blasphemous content, was at the center of global controversy, including a fatwa against Rushdie. Readers and literary enthusiasts have shown mixed reactions to its return, with some applauding the move as a win for free speech. Other major bookstores have refrained from stocking the novel.

The bald eagle, long a symbol of American strength and freedom, has been officially designated the US national bird after President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Christmas Eve. The bird has represented the US on the Great Seal since 1782 but lacked formal recognition until Congress passed the legislation. Minnesota lawmakers, citing their state's large bald eagle population, led the initiative. Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the bird's resilience, as its population has soared since near extinction in 2009. The bald eagle is protected under the 1940 National Emblem Act, which prohibits hunting or selling the species.