Cricket Australia announced its Test Team of the Year for 2024, naming India’s Jasprit Bumrah as captain. Bumrah, who led India to a historic win in Perth last month, was praised for his leadership and outstanding five-wicket haul. The team featured two players each from India, New Zealand, and Australia, with three from England and one each from Sri Lanka and South Africa. Yashasvi Jaiswal, another Indian star, was recognised for scoring 1,478 runs, including three centuries. Other notable players included England’s Joe Root, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis. Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma were excluded.

Jeju Air CEO Kim Yi-bae stated that no safety issues were found during pre-flight checks before the Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport, South Korea. The crash, which occurred on Sunday, killed 179 people. Kim pledged to "repair trust" by enhancing safety measures and reducing winter air traffic by 10-15% for maintenance. The airline will provide emergency compensation and cover funeral costs for victims' families. Investigators are examining the plane’s black boxes, but data extraction from the flight recorder is delayed due to a missing connector. Families of victims await identification of loved ones, with some facing heartbreaking delays.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh apologised for the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. Speaking at a press conference in Imphal, he urged people to “forgive and forget” the past. “This entire year has been very unfortunate. I feel regret and apologise to the people of the state,” Singh said. Over 200 people have lost their lives, and thousands have been displaced. Singh assured that peace was being restored and hoped for normalcy by 2025. He announced measures like resettling families, recovering arms, subsidised airfares, and Aadhaar-linked birth registration to tackle population and migration issues.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been ranked as the poorest among all Indian chief ministers, with assets worth just over ₹15 lakh, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu topped the list as the richest, with assets over ₹931 crore. The average wealth of a chief minister is ₹52.59 crore. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien called Mamata Banerjee's journey "extraordinary" and praised her simple lifestyle and dedication to public service. Jammu and Kashmir’s Omar Abdullah and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan followed as the second and third poorest, respectively.

Sunil Gavaskar faced backlash after calling Yashasvi Jaiswal’s controversial dismissal in the fourth India-Australia Test an "optical illusion." Jaiswal, batting on 84, was dismissed by Pat Cummins after the third umpire overturned the on-field call, citing a deflection off the glove despite no Snicko spike. Speaking for Channel 7, Gavaskar questioned the reliability of technology, sparking criticism on social media, where fans termed his remarks "ridiculous" and "embarrassing." Warren Brennan, of Snicko's operator BBG Sports, clarified the absence of noise was due to a glance-shot. The dismissal proved pivotal as Australia clinched the match, taking a 2-1 series lead.

South Korea mourns the tragic loss of 5 female colleagues killed in the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport, which claimed 179 lives. The victims, public education employees, were returning from a celebratory trip to Bangkok. "She is still lingering in my eyes. Whenever seeing flowers on that empty desk, ah, sadness rushes in," said Lee Dae-keun, a colleague. At their workplace, empty desks adorned with white chrysanthemums and a memorial altar stand as poignant reminders. Families and colleagues continue to grieve, with many recalling the victims’ kindness and dedication. This crash is South Korea's deadliest air disaster.

Poornima Ramarao, mother of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer found dead in San Francisco on Nov 26, claims her son had crucial evidence that could have exposed the AI industry's flaws. Balaji, 26, was named as a potential witness in a lawsuit by The New York Times against OpenAI before his death, ruled a suicide. Poornima alleges foul play, stating Suchir had documents revealing unethical AI practices. While denying he was an OpenAI whistleblower, she emphasized his intent to expose the harmful impacts of AI's large language models. Balaji left OpenAI in August, citing ethical concerns.

Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, continues to dominate the box office, earning ₹1760 crore within 25 days of release. Actor Aamir Khan's production house congratulated the team, calling the success a testament to Indian cinema's potential. "Huge congratulations... Wishing you continued success," AKP wrote on X. Allu Arjun responded warmly, thanking the team and extending regards. Mythri Movie Makers also acknowledged AKP's message, wishing them a Happy New Year. Directed by Sukumar and released on Dec 5, Pushpa 2 edges closer to the all-time record held by Aamir's 2016 blockbuster Dangal, which grossed ₹2070.3 crore worldwide.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh publicly apologised for the ethnic violence that has gripped the state since May 2023. Addressing a press conference in Imphal, he urged citizens to "forgive and forget," acknowledging the pain caused by the unrest. Singh expressed regret for the loss of lives and displacement of families, stating, "This year has been very unfortunate. I apologise to everyone affected." He highlighted progress made over the past few months and expressed hope for full restoration of normalcy by 2025. Singh has faced criticism from opposition parties for his handling of the crisis but emphasised ongoing efforts to ensure peace.

India has launched its first space docking test, the SpaDeX mission, aboard the PSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, which involved a two-minute delay due to space traffic, aims to demonstrate satellite interlinking, a crucial step for future Indian space projects, including the development of a space station and the Chandrayaan-4 moon sample return mission. If successful, India will join the US, Russia, and China in mastering space docking technology. The docking test, slated for January 7, will showcase precision maneuvers between two satellites, a vital capability for future crewed missions.