Reports and witnesses say that Iran is involving children in security roles amid ongoing conflict, with a recent air strike in Tehran killing an 11-year-old boy who was manning a checkpoint. This development highlights the human cost and complexity of the conflict in the region. Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced that Israel will maintain control over parts of southern Lebanon after its war with Hezbollah ends. Additionally, Katz stated that houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border will be demolished. These actions may affect future relations and security arrangements between Israel and Lebanon.
In related developments, two Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in Lebanon by a roadside explosion, just a day after another Indonesian peacekeeper died in the country. The ongoing violence continues to pose risks to international peacekeeping forces in the region.
In Baghdad, US journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped, and the US State Department has linked a suspect in her abduction to Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group. This incident underscores the dangerous environment for journalists and foreign nationals in parts of Iraq and the role of militia groups in regional instability.
A Republican-appointed judge has temporarily halted the construction of a ballroom in the White House, ruling that Donald Trump is a "steward" of the property rather than the owner. This decision interrupts Trump's plans and raises questions about the legal authority over modifications to the White House.
Oracle, a leading global technology company, has made "significant" job cuts, with thousands of employees reportedly affected. This move reflects broader trends in the tech industry and may have implications for the company's operations and the job market.
In Italy, a Christmas meal poisoning case is now being investigated as a murder inquiry after tests suggested the presence of ricin in the deaths of two women. Police have not yet identified a suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.
In Germany, a woman was bitten by a wolf on a busy shopping street in Hamburg. This is believed to be the first wolf attack on a human since wolves began reestablishing themselves in the country decades ago, raising concerns about human-wildlife interactions.
In China, authorities have banned the storage of cremated remains in so-called "bone ash apartments," where mourners have been keeping ashes instead of using cemeteries. This policy aims to regulate funerary practices and manage space for the deceased.