179 killed as Jeju aircraft landing gear malfunctioned; two rescued
A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea crashed on arrival on Sunday (December 29, 2024), smashing into a barrier and bursting into flames, leaving all but two feared dead. A bird strike was cited by authorities as the likely cause of the crash — the worst ever aviation disaster on South Korean soil — which flung passengers out of the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”, according to fire officials. A total of 179 people were killed the plane crash in South Korea, the country’s fire agency said as it announced a final toll from the disaster. “Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified,” the fire agency said of the crash at Muan International Airport, which two members of the crew survived.
SA vs PAK first Test: South Africa wins thriller against Pakistan, books WTC final spot
Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen turned batting heroes on Sunday (December 29, 2024) as South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets to win a thrilling first test at Centurion and book themselves a place in next year’s World Test Championship final. Rabada scored 31 and Jansen 16 in an unbeaten partnership of 51 off 50 balls to see South Africa over the line and deny Pakistan a dramatic comeback victory after Mohammed Abbas took six wickets as he shredded through the home batting order. The test had a finish more like that of a Twenty20 match as the tailenders delivered success after South Africa had slumped dramatically before lunch and seen Pakistan on the verge of success.
Azerbaijan accuses Russia of trying to hide causes of plane crash; says the plane was shot from Russia
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday (December 29, 202) said the Azerbaijan Airlines jet that crashed this week was shot at from Russia and called for Moscow to admit “guilt” in the disaster. He said the jet which crashed this week, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard, was hit “by accident” by Russia. On Saturday (December 28, 2024), Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised for the crash but stopped short of accepting that it might have been hit by Russian fire.
Koneru Humpy is World rapid champion
Koneru Humpy regained the women’s World rapid chess championship after a gap of five years on Sunday (December 29, 2024). The 37-year-old from Vijayawada finished with 8.5 points after beating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in the final round in New York. The win helped Humpy move ahead of the other six joint leaders, including compatriot D. Harika, who had to settle for fifth place. Among other Indian women, Divya Deshmukh (seven points) finished 21st, Padmini Rout (6.5) was 26th, R. Vaishali (5.5) 52nd and Vantika Agrawal (five) 67th.
Former PM Manmohan Singh’s ashes immersed at Astha Ghat in Delhi
The ashes of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been immersed at the Yamuna Ghat near the Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tila Sahib in Delhi, a day after he was cremated with full State honours at Nigambodh Ghat. The family of the late Dr Manmohan Singh will perform rituals at the Gurudwara including Shabad Kirtan (musical recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib), Paath (recitation of Gurbani) and Ardas.
Impeached South Korean president defies summons third time in a row
South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol refused a summons to appear for questioning on Sunday (December 29, 2024), the third time he has defied investigators’ demands in two weeks. Investigators probing Yoon had ordered him to appear for questioning at 10 am (GMT 0100) on Sunday, a demand he rejected. Yoon, a former prosecutor, also failed to attend a hearing he was summoned to last Wednesday, giving no explanation for his absence.
Boy who fell into borewell in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna dies
“A 10-year-old boy, who fell into a 140-feet borewell in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district, lost the battle for life despite hectic efforts by multiple agencies for 16 hours to save him,” officials said on Sunday (December 29, 2024). The boy, Sumit Meena, slipped into the open shaft of the borewell at around 5 p.m. on Saturday (December 28, 2024) in Pipliya village under Raghogarh assembly segment, located 50 km from the Guna district headquarters.
Outgoing Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan bids adieu to the State after a five-year politically tumultuous tenure
Outgoing Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who often broke the conventionalities of the gubernatorial office by recurrently adopting an arguably combative stance against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, left student unions and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] during his five-year politically tumultuous tenure, left the State on Sunday (December 29, 2024) to assume charge as the new Governor of Bihar. Mobbed by journalists at the Thiruvananthapuram airport, Mr. Khan refused to stir further controversy by declining to hold forth on why the State government had not accorded him a ceremonial farewell with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues and opposition figures in attendance.
Internet shut down 60 times in 2024, fewer than last year
India saw the fewest number of mobile internet shutdowns in eight years in 2024, rounding out a period where the country became the most frequent deployer in the world of the measure, according to data from the Internet Shutdowns Tracker maintained by the Software Freedom Law Centre, India. The reduction — there have been 60 shutdowns so far this year, with 96 last year — comes with fewer shutdowns imposed in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, where administrations have imposed a disproportionately high number of curbs in past years.
Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 4: Australia extend lead to 333 against India at stumps
A genius, high on speed and tempered with sense, largely owned a Sunday under Melbourne’s deep blue skies. Jasprit Bumrah’s inroads into Australia’s second innings and the host’s gritty lower-order resistance left the fourth Test poised on the razor’s edge. At close on the fourth day, Australia posted 228 for nine in its second innings and has an overall lead of 333. The last-wicket pair of Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland resisted all that the visitors flung at them and frustrated Rohit Sharma’s men. After India finished its first innings at 369 in the morning with centurion Nitish Kumar (114) being the last man to be dismissed, Australia had the task of converting the 105-run lead into a challenging target. Bumrah, though, had other ideas and relentlessly probed around the stumps.
How Composite Skill Labs help bridge education and practical skills
Education is evolving at breakneck speed, with rapid technological innovations playing an increasingly critical role in the learning process. The traditional approach, which relies heavily on theoretical learning and rote memorisation, is no longer enough to meet the needs of students who are preparing for a future shaped by rapid technological advancements and a constantly evolving job market. Recognising this, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced Composite Skill Labs (CSLs), an initiative that emphasises practical skills, critical thinking, and a more personalised approach to learning. While conventional schooling provides a solid foundation in academic subjects, it often doesn’t fully prepare students for the challenges of the real world. CSLs aim to fill this gap by blending classroom learning with practical, hands-on experiences that help students understand what they are learning and apply it in meaningful ways.
Delhi polls: AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleges BJP trying to get his wife’s vote deleted
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday (December 29, 2024) alleged that the BJP was trying to get his wife’s name deleted from the voters list of the New Delhi Assembly constituency ahead of the polls in February. Addressing a press conference, the senior AAP leader accompanied by his wife Anita Singh alleged that the BJP was trying to delete the names of Purvanchali people settled in Delhi.
PM remembers Raj Kapoor, Mohd Rafi, ANR, Tapan Sinha in 2024’s last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (December 29, 2024) remembered four icons of Indian cinema — Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Tapan Sinha — during their birth centenary year in his final Mann Ki Baat address of 2024. Speaking in his monthly radio broadcast, the Prime Minister said: “In 2024, we are celebrating the birth centenary of several film personalities who were instrumental in bringing global recognition to the country. The lives of these personalities are a source of inspiration for our film industry.” “Through his films, Raj Kapoor ji made the world aware of India’s soft power,” Mr. Modi noted.
It’s a great program: Trump appears to side with Musk in H-1B visa row
President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Mr. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday (December 28, 2024), praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base.
Published – December 29, 2024 06:30 pm IST
