US President Joe Biden and his incoming successor Donald Trump issued starkly contrasting Christmas messages Wednesday, with the latter doubling down on recent comments about seizing the Panama Canal,

The soon-to-be 47th president of the United States wished almost everyone a Merry Christmas on Wednesday, even the “Radical Left Lunatics” and the “wonderful soldiers of China.” Presidents and politicians have delivered holiday well wishes for decades — former President Calvin Coolidge issued the first official greeting in 1927 — but President-elect Donald Trump’s unique holiday greeting style

The Republican’s messages were in stark contrast to US President Joe Biden’s post emphasising ‘kindness and compassion’.

Surrounded by floating candy canes and a makeshift snowman made out of stowage bags, the astronauts aboard the International Space Station gathered together to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone back on Earth.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore won't be back on Earth before March, but they've got candy canes and Santa hats to celebrate the holiday.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be spending the holidays aboard the International Space Station, with their extended stay pushed back due to concerns over the safety of the Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

This year, the first night of Hanukkah will fall on the same day as Christmas for the first time since 2005. Christmas and Hanukkah both always fall on the 25th, but of two different months, with Christmas coming on the Dec.

Wednesday marks a rare holiday occurrence — when Hanukkah begins at sundown on Christmas night. It's just the fifth time in the last 114 years that both holidays are taking place on the same day, and it won't happen again until 2035.

While the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah often falls at varying points during November and December, this year's festival of lights begins a bit later - and it comes with a calendar rarity.

The Chiefs, Steelers, Texans and Ravens will own the NFL's Christmas spotlight, but some players see three games in 11 days as a coal in the stocking.

Lately the NFL has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That’s been met with mixed feelings among the players.

The Wales family joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for the traditional Christmas morning walk to St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham. Princess Kate beamed as she stepped out for the service, displaying a cheerful demeanour alongside her husband and children.