Israeli forces escalated their offensive in northern Gaza, displacing residents from Beit Hanoun and surrounding towns. Reports suggest Israel may retain a buffer zone after razing much of the area near Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya. Strikes on hospitals, including Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahly, worsened the humanitarian crisis, with Kamal Adwan now non-operational. Palestinian officials report over 45,300 deaths and massive displacement among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The offensive follows Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people. Israeli forces claim the buffer zone is crucial to preventing Hamas regrouping and protecting Israeli territory.

Palestinians released from Israeli detention report severe psychological trauma and alleged torture, including beatings, food deprivation, and stress positions. Former detainees, such as Moazaz Obaiyat, describe long-term physical and emotional scars. Human rights groups, including the UN, have documented widespread mistreatment. Israel’s High Court has ordered investigations into prisoner conditions, while rights groups warn of lasting societal impacts. The Israeli government denies systemic abuse, stating prisoners receive lawful treatment. Meanwhile, detainees and their families demand justice, calling international attention to these allegations as efforts to secure a ceasefire continue.

India’s senior cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to miss the home white-ball series against England to manage their workload following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The series, starting with T20Is on January 22, will be followed by ODIs in February. Rohit and Kohli, retired from T20Is, will skip the ODIs, while Bumrah takes a break from both formats. The ODIs mark India’s last bilateral series before the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rohit emphasized the importance of carefully managing Bumrah’s workload, citing his extensive 141.2 overs bowled in the ongoing Australia series.

Puerto Rico faced a massive power outage on New Year’s Eve, leaving 90% of the island in darkness. LUMA Energy, the distribution company, reported the grid failure at 9:30 a.m. local time, attributing it to an underground line failure. Restoration is expected within 24-48 hours. Genera’s spokesperson called it a "major incident," with private and public plants impacted. Governor Pedro Pierluisi demanded urgent solutions and updates. Puerto Rico’s fragile grid has faced repeated outages, exacerbated by 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Efforts are underway to restore power as residents await normalcy.

Ukraine will halt Russian gas transit to Europe as its five-year deal with Gazprom ends Wednesday. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated the decision prevents Russia from profiting amid its aggression. EU imports of Russian gas have dropped to under 10% since 2023 but remain vital for nations like Slovakia and Austria. Slovakia's PM Fico threatened to cut Ukraine's electricity supply, prompting Zelensky to accuse him of aiding Russia. Moldova faces potential energy shortages and has declared a 60-day energy emergency. The European Commission assured resilience but urged further diversification to avoid disruptions.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will witness 16 sunrises on January 1, 2025. Commander of the “Expedition 72” mission, Williams and six crewmates orbit Earth 15.5 times daily at 28,000 km/h, experiencing a sunrise every 90 minutes. Originally on an eight-day mission, Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded since June 2024 due to an unfit Boeing Starliner capsule. NASA confirmed their return is delayed until March 2025 with astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Despite challenges, the crew celebrated Christmas and continue sharing messages with loved ones on Earth.

Indian nationals Ahmed Maqbul Syed (57) and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi (27) have been indicted in Tucson, Arizona, for a nationwide fraud scheme targeting elderly individuals. The duo allegedly used fake computer pop-ups to create urgency, tricking victims into transferring money or purchasing gold and gift cards. Some victims were instructed to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs. Charges include conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. The scam defrauded elderly victims across the US, including Arizona, and Syed and Chintakindi may face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Russia firmly opposed the idea of deploying Western peacekeepers to Ukraine, as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized proposals from US President-elect Donald Trump. Lavrov emphasized Moscow’s dissatisfaction with the suggestion of British and European troops enforcing peace, adding that it was too early to discuss peacekeepers. Trump, who will take office in three weeks, has claimed he can broker a peace deal within 24 hours using Washington’s military aid as leverage. Both Ukraine and Russia's presidents have ruled out direct talks, with conflicting positions on territory and NATO membership.

Rohit Sharma's final Instagram post of 2024 went viral after his batting struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite leading India to a T20 World Cup title, Sharma has been facing criticism for his poor form, with scores of 3, 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9 in recent matches. Former cricketer Irfan Pathan criticized Sharma’s performance, stating his place in the team is secured more by captaincy than merit. Pathan suggested that if Sharma weren’t captain, he might not make the playing XI. Sharma’s post thanked 2024 for its ups and downs.

As 2024 ended, people across the world celebrated the arrival of New Year 2025, with fireworks lighting up skies in cities like Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne. Kiritimati in Kiribati welcomed the new year first, followed by New Zealand's Chatham Islands. The festivities provided a stark contrast to the political turmoil and economic challenges of the past year. As countries face ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, citizens hope for peace and stability in 2025. Global events such as Kumbh Mela, the ICC Champions Trophy, and the return of BTS are highly anticipated.