Start your week smart: South Korea plane crash, Putin apology, Florida train collision, TikTok ban, bird flu

There were a lot of memorable moments captured on video this year, from the failed assassination attempt against Donald Trump at a campaign rally to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. And then there was Buster, the disobedient dog who insisted on going for a swim. CNN’s Boris Sanchez breaks down the videos everyone was talking about.

Here’s what else you need to know to Start Your Week Smart.

The weekend that was

• A plane crash-landed on a runway in South Korea before skidding off and bursting into flames, killing 179 people. Two survivors were found in the tail section of the Jeju Air jetliner, both crew members. Experts said the aircraft’s landing gear appeared not to have fully deployed. Follow live updates.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the fact that an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed after entering Russian airspace in Chechnya but did not say that Russia was responsible. He said Russia’s air defense systems were active at the time.
• Three firefighters and 12 passengers were injured when a train collided with a fire truck on an emergency call in Delray Beach, Florida, authorities said. An investigation is underway. Brightline provides passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami.
• President-elect Donald Trump urged the Supreme Court to pause a controversial ban on TikTok that is set to take effect next month, telling the justices in a legal filing that a delay would allow his administration to “pursue a negotiated resolution.”
• The US hasn’t learned lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic that it could use to mitigate the threat of pathogens like H5N1 bird flu that keep showing signs of their own pandemic potential, health experts told CNN.

The week ahead

Tuesday
It’s Michael Regan’s last day as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In a letter to employees, Regan said he is proud of the EPA’s work on climate change and air and water pollution.

Wednesday
January 1 is the day many new state laws go into effect, including minimum wage hikes for more than 9 million workers in 21 states.

Millions of Americans with a Medicare Part D plan will see their out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs capped at $2,000.

And a new law in Florida will require social media platforms to prohibit minors under 14 from creating accounts. Companies also will terminate any existing accounts held by someone younger than 14.

Thursday
Hanukkah concludes at sunset, marking the end of the eight-day “Festival of Lights.”

Friday
The 119th Congress will be sworn in, and House Speaker Mike Johnson will face a vote to retain the speakership. While Johnson appears to have the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, some Republicans took issue with the deals he made to get a three-month spending bill across the finish line and avoid a government shutdown.

Listen in

One Thing: 🎧 Online free speech in 2025
In this episode of the “One Thing” podcast, CNN’s David Rind speaks to three reporters who were kicked off Twitter/X two years ago by Elon Musk to discuss the state of free speech online now that Musk has the ear of President-elect Donald Trump. Listen here.

People we’ve lost in 2024

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Click here for more of CNN Photo’s “People we’ve lost in 2024.”

What’s happening in entertainment

TV and streaming
Got plans for New Year’s Eve? Cancel them and spend your night with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen as they return for the eighth consecutive year as co-hosts of CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.” Special live coverage of celebrations around the world begins at 7 a.m. ET on CNN, CNN International and streaming on Max. Cooper and Cohen will kick off the main event at 8 p.m. ET live from New York City’s Times Square. Travel back in time to December 31, 2023, for a glimpse at what you might expect from the evening’s esteemed hosts.

There’s no place like home… to watch the “Wicked” movie. The hit film will make its streaming debut on New Year’s Eve, with deleted and extended scenes.

And on Thursday, get ready to MOVE THAT BUS! The reboot of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” premieres with new hosts and a team of builders and contractors who reconfigure homes for deserving families who give back to their communities. Many happy tears will be shed.

What’s happening in sports

At a glance …
The NFL season is coming down to the wire. Here’s a look at who has made the playoffs and who is still battling to get in. In Saturday’s games, the Los Angeles Chargers secured a playoff spot, and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their season alive with a wild overtime victory.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals begin Tuesday when Penn State takes on Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. On New Year’s Day, Texas will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, Oregon will play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl and Georgia will square off against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS Sports broadcaster described as “broadcasting royalty,” died following a battle with cancer, his family said. He was 78.

For more of your favorite sports, head on over to CNN Sports as well as Bleacher Report, which — like CNN — is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Quiz time!

A lot happened in 2024, from a solar eclipse to hurricanes to a chaotic presidential election. Only 3% of readers got a perfect score on CNN’s Year in Review News Quiz. How will you do?

(Editor’s note: CNN’s weekly news quiz will return on January 10, 2025)

Play me off …

‘Espresso’
Let’s close out the year with Spotify’s most-streamed song of 2024. (Click here to view)

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