Notre-Dame held its first Christmas mass since 2019, while Russia launched 70 missiles at Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving 500,000 homes without power in Kharkiv. Zelensky called the attack "inhumane."
The Christmas Eve train disruptions near Paris were revealed to stem from a conductor's suicide. SNCF's automatic safety systems prevented casualties, leading to debate about worker conditions and mental health. The company offered full refunds to affected passengers.
New Justice Minister Darmanin visited Amiens tribunal, promising budget increases to address "slow justice." In Mayotte, field hospitals opened to handle cyclone casualties amid growing concerns about accurate death toll counts, with local representatives disputing official figures.
An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan, with 32 survivors among 67 passengers. The wreckage images dominated evening coverage.