On Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Virat Kohli and 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas clashed after Kohli appeared to shoulder push the youngster. Konstas, undeterred, continued his fearless innings, scoring a 52-ball half-century. Umpires and players intervened to defuse the heated exchange. Konstas, the fourth youngest Test debutant for Australia, impressed with his aggressive stroke play. The Australian batter has already tallied 718 first-class runs at an average of 42.2. The fiery moment highlighted Konstas’ composed mindset and Kohli’s intense competitive spirit.

Japan Airlines faced a cyberattack on Thursday, disrupting domestic and international flights and halting ticket sales. The airline reported a system malfunction at 7:24 am local time, affecting its internal and external networks. By 8:56 am, the issue's root cause—a malfunctioning router—was identified and addressed. Temporary measures included shutting down the router and suspending ticket sales for all flights scheduled for the day. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and is monitoring system recovery. Founded in 1951, Japan Airlines operates from hubs at Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka’s Kansai and Itami airports.

Syria's new rebel-led authorities reported the death of 14 interior ministry personnel in an ambush by forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad near Tartous. The security forces were targeted while attempting to arrest a former officer linked to Saydnaya prison abuses. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) noted three militants also died during clashes, with reinforcements deployed afterward. Concurrently, a curfew was imposed in Homs following unrest linked to an attack on an Alawite shrine. HTS, now leading Syria, faces criticism for failing to safeguard minorities, following Assad’s ousting and his family’s escape to Russia.

A riot at a prison in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, on Christmas Day left 33 dead and 15 injured, said Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael. Over 1,500 prisoners escaped during the chaos, though 150 have been recaptured. Authorities attribute the unrest to civil tensions following disputed election results favoring the ruling Frelimo party. Justice Minister Helena Kida claims the violence began inside the prison, unrelated to outside protests. Mozambique has witnessed increasing turmoil, with at least 21 more deaths reported during nationwide clashes after the court upheld election results. Officials warn of a likely crime surge within 48 hours.

North India is enduring a severe cold wave, with temperatures plummeting across states like Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Srinagar recorded a frigid -7.3°C, while Tabo in Himachal Pradesh reported -10.6°C. Over 134 roads, including three national highways, remain closed in Himachal due to snowfall. Despite the chill, Shimla and Srinagar missed out on snowfall, disappointing tourists. Delhi recorded a minimum of 8.4°C, while parts of Rajasthan saw dense fog. Meanwhile, Kashmir's "Chillai-Kalan" has led to freezing water bodies and supply lines. Weather agencies predict isolated snowfall in Himachal over the weekend.

An Azerbaijani Embraer 190 airliner, carrying 67 people, crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The accident, confirmed by Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev, killed 38 and left 29 survivors. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, diverted due to severe weather and possibly a bird strike, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called the tragedy a "tremendous sorrow." Among the passengers were 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. Videos showed the aircraft nosediving before bursting into flames, with survivors aiding others from the wreckage.    

The Christian community in Bethlehem faces a somber Christmas for the second year as war in Gaza and expanding Israeli settlements cast shadows over festivities. The Church of the Nativity remains desolate, with no outdoor tree or celebrations. Residents like Alice Kisiya recount ongoing demolitions and legal battles over their homes. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa's arrival brought hope amid despair, urging unity and justice. Tony Marcos, restricted from visiting sacred sites, laments, "Our country is shrinking." Despite challenges, the community prays for a brighter year, striving to overcome hatred and division.

A sexual assault at Anna University in Chennai has led to protests and political blame. The incident occurred on the Guindy campus on Tuesday night when two attackers assaulted a female student and beat her male friend. One suspect has been arrested, and police are investigating. Protests by student groups and the All India Women Welfare Federation are calling for justice. Political parties, including AIADMK and BJP, have criticized the ruling DMK government over law and order, while the DMK defended its actions and condemned the politicization of the issue.

Dense fog covered Delhi on Wednesday, reducing visibility below 100 metres in many areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert until Sunday, predicting dense fog and light to moderate rain due to a western disturbance. Wednesday’s temperature ranged from 8.4°C to 22.4°C, above normal for December. Light rain was recorded in some parts of the city. The air quality improved slightly, with an AQI of 336 ("very poor"), better than the previous day’s 369. Experts predict further improvement as wind speeds increase. However, dense fog and rain may cause travel disruptions.

Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine’s energy system on Christmas Day, using missiles and drones. The Russian defence ministry said the strikes targeted critical infrastructure tied to Ukraine’s military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it "inhuman." In Kharkiv, half a million people were left without heating after the strikes. Moldova reported a Russian missile violating its airspace, though Romania denied any breach of its territory. The strikes come amid ongoing conflict, with both sides intensifying military actions. Ukrainian authorities are working to restore power and heating to affected areas amidst freezing winter temperatures.