Luke Walford, a 40-year-old youth pastor from Rockhampton, was fatally attacked by a shark while fishing with his family near Humpy Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The predator inflicted a life-threatening neck wound, and despite efforts, Walford died within 90 minutes. Queensland police confirmed the incident, noting that a report would be prepared for the coroner. Humpy Island, a popular destination for snorkeling and diving, witnessed this tragedy in its serene waters. This marks Australia's first fatal shark attack of 2024, adding to over 250 fatal incidents since 1791.

A political row erupted over the location of Manmohan Singh's last rites at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat. The Congress accused the Centre of disrespecting the former Prime Minister by holding the funeral at a public crematorium. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi criticized the government for poor arrangements and disrespect to Singh's legacy. BJP leaders, including JP Nadda and Sambit Patra, countered, calling Congress's remarks cheap politics and stressing that space for a memorial had been promised. The dispute also referenced past grievances with Congress's treatment of leaders like Narasimha Rao and Pranab Mukherjee.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's three dropped catches during Day 4 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground left India captain Rohit Sharma furious. The first drop came off Usman Khawaja, followed by a costly error on Marnus Labuschagne, and another dropped chance in the 49th over off Pat Cummins. Despite Jaiswal's blunders, Jasprit Bumrah's remarkable spell helped India gain the upper hand, reducing Australia to 135/6. However, commentators criticized Rohit's body language, suggesting he should have been more supportive of the young player. Australia still holds a significant lead in the match.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, traveling from Bangkok to South Korea, crashed while landing at Muan Airport, killing at least 120 people onboard. The plane had 181 passengers, including six crew members. Footage shows the plane skidding off the runway, crashing into a wall, and bursting into flames. The cause is yet to be confirmed, but the fire service suspects a bird strike and adverse weather conditions may have contributed. Two survivors, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage. Rescue operations continue as authorities investigate the crash.

Delhi experienced a foggy morning on Sunday as the temperature dropped to 13°C, six notches above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a further dip, with the minimum temperature reaching 5°C by December 31. A dense fog alert has been issued for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Following record-breaking rainfall earlier, Delhi’s air quality worsened to the 'poor' category, with an AQI of 230 at 9 a.m. The IMD warns of intensified cold wave conditions across northern states, urging caution for travelers amid reduced visibility. No further rainfall is expected for the year.

An Air Canada flight from St. John’s narrowly avoided disaster Saturday night at Halifax airport. The plane’s landing gear malfunctioned, causing it to tilt at a 20-degree angle during landing. The wing skidded along the runway, sparking a fire. Passenger Nikki Valentine described loud crash-like sounds and flames on the left wing. Smoke entered the cabin as the pilots halted the aircraft. The incident occurred at 9:30 p.m. Atlantic Time. No injuries were reported. Air Canada Flight 2259, operated by PAL Airlines, is under investigation for the mechanical failure.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 flight from Bangkok crashed at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on Sunday, likely killing 179 of the 181 onboard. Two survivors, a crew member and a passenger, were rescued from the wreckage. Officials suspect a bird strike and adverse weather as possible causes, with a joint investigation underway. The plane landed with smoke billowing from its engines before being engulfed in flames. Jeju Air issued an apology, vowing support for victims’ families. This devastating accident underscores the importance of addressing aviation safety concerns globally.

Jasprit Bumrah became the fastest Indian to reach 200 Test wickets during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne. Achieving the milestone in 44 matches and 8,484 deliveries, Bumrah surpassed Mohammed Shami’s record. Globally, he’s the fourth-quickest bowler to this feat, after Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn, and Kagiso Rabada. Bumrah also set a record with a phenomenal sub-20 bowling average, surpassing Joel Garner. His performance in the World Test Championship further cements his legacy, with 151 wickets since 2019. This milestone highlights Bumrah’s dominance and contributions to Indian cricket.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 flight crashed at Muan International Airport, South Korea, killing 85 of the 181 on board. The Bangkok-origin flight veered off the runway, struck a concrete fence, and burst into flames. Emergency responders rescued three survivors and continue searching for others. Officials suspect landing gear failure, possibly from a bird strike. Acting President Choi Sung-mok directed urgent rescue efforts, while investigations proceed. This is Muan Airport’s first major disaster. Earlier this week, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash-landed in Kazakhstan, killing 38. The aviation sector faces heightened scrutiny following these tragedies.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honours at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat. Leaders across party lines, including PM Modi, paid tribute to the architect of India’s economic liberalisation. Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, led Singh’s final journey from the party headquarters. Foreign dignitaries, including Bhutan’s King and Mauritius’ foreign minister, attended. The Centre allocated space for a memorial after a BJP-Congress spat. A seven-day national mourning period has been declared, with flags at half-mast nationwide. Singh, a two-time PM, was lauded as a visionary economist whose reforms reshaped India’s economic trajectory.