Yashasvi Jaiswal's explosive 68 and Shivam Dube's powerful 63* secure India's unassailable 2-0 series lead against Afghanistan. Despite Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's early dismissals, the young duo showcased their T20 World Cup potential. Jaiswal's fearless batting, clearing boundaries against pacers and spinners, solidifies his claim for a World Cup opening slot. Dube's aggressive innings, featuring three consecutive sixes, adds to India's batting depth. Afghanistan posted 172, with Gulbadin Naib's brisk 57. Axar Patel's crucial breakthroughs limited Afghanistan, ensuring India's successful chase and setting an optimistic tone for future T20 engagements.

Astrobotic's Peregrine, the inaugural U.S. private moon lander, confronts an imminent collision with Earth following a fuel leak post-launch on January 8. Hindered by the propellant loss, Peregrine's intended moon landing in February becomes unfeasible. The leak's deceleration allows extended operational life, but the craft is now positioned for atmospheric burn-up on Earth. While engineers explore salvage options, uncertainty surrounds the impact date. The mission's significance lies in being the first U.S. private lunar lander, carrying NASA experiments and commercial payloads. A joint press conference by Astrobotic and NASA is scheduled for January 18.

UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, dismisses South Africa's claim of genocide against Israel during a two-day hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South African lawyers argue that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide, citing decades of oppression and over 23,000 deaths. Lord Cameron calls the accusation "nonsense" and asserts Israel's self-defense stance after the October 7 attack. Labour's Wes Streeting views the case as a distraction from diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire. The ICJ's ruling, potentially legally binding, could take years. Israel's compliance remains uncertain, with the possibility of facing UN sanctions.

Flood alerts spread across London as the River Thames poses a risk in 13 areas due to high spring tides. National security is heightened, with low-lying roads and footpaths potentially flooding for 1-2 hours around high tide, peaking at 4-6 pm and 4 am. Homes are not expected to flood, but concerns arise as the river flow at Teddington Weir reaches 230 cubic meters per second. The identified areas include Custom House, Limehouse, Rotherhithe, Greenwich, Tate Modern, Bow, Putney, Chiswick, Mortlake, Twickenham, Richmond, and areas below Teddington Lock. Authorities stress vigilance as temperatures drop, intensifying flood risks.

In the first meeting of the India-Maldives high-level core group, India and Maldives engaged in extensive talks to find a "mutually workable solution" following President Mohamed Muizzu's request for the withdrawal of all Indian troops by March 15. Discussions centered on enabling the continued operation of Indian military and aviation platforms providing humanitarian services in the Maldives. The core group, formed after a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Muizzu, aims to enhance bilateral cooperation. This development adds strain to already tense relations, marked by derogatory remarks from Muizzu's ministers, sparking a Boycott Maldives campaign in India.

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport faced significant disruptions with about 10 flights diverted and over 100 experiencing delays due to dense fog caused by severe cold. The fog, lasting for three days, led to near-zero visibility between 4 am and 10 am on Sunday. IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and Akasa Air reported operational impacts, with some flights rescheduled or canceled. Officials cited lack of CAT III training for diversions. The India Meteorological Department warns the fog's persistence for the next 3-4 days. Passengers are urged to exercise caution on highways.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah cautioned that American and British strikes on Yemen were a threat to global maritime navigation. Denouncing the strikes as "stupidity," Nasrallah asserted that Yemen's Houthis would persist in targeting ships connected to Israel in the Red Sea. Expressing concern, he stated that the Red Sea had become a battleground with repercussions for all maritime traffic, affecting ships unrelated to the conflict. Hezbollah's warning raises alarms about the broader impact of military actions on international waterways. The group, rooted in Lebanon, holds significant political influence and economic interests, shaping regional dynamics.

Columbia University's study challenges the uniqueness of fingerprints, revealing an AI model's ability to determine with 75-90% accuracy if prints belong to the same person. Conducted by an undergraduate student, Gabe Gua, and co-authors, the study employed a deep contrastive network to analyze 60,000 fingerprints. It discovered significant similarities in fingerprints from different fingers on the same person, upending the conventional belief in fingerprint distinctiveness. The AI tool focused on ridges' direction rather than minutiae, presenting potential applications in cold cases but requiring further comprehensive research for real forensic use.

National security advisors from 83 countries convened in Davos to discuss Ukrainian President Zelensky's 10-point peace proposals, acknowledging the challenge of involving Russia. Co-chaired by Andriy Yermak and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, the talks aimed at preparing for future negotiations with Russia, emphasizing the need for collective dialogue beyond Western nations. Brazil, India, and South Africa's participation, as BRICS members in communication with Moscow, added crucial perspectives. Cassis highlighted the urgency to include Russia in the peace process while addressing ongoing civilian casualties in Ukraine. The discussions focused on criteria to end hostilities, troop withdrawal, justice, and de-escalation prevention.

Measles cases in England and Wales skyrocketed to 1,603 in 2023, fueled by vaccine hesitancy over the MMR jab, reveals the UK Health Security Agency. This marks a substantial increase from 735 cases in 2022 and 360 the previous year. The surge is concentrated in the West Midlands, reporting the highest cases since the mid-1990s. A significant outbreak in London accounted for 44 cases. Dr. Naveed Syed warns of the virus's rapid spread and severe consequences, emphasizing the need for MMR vaccination. Vaccination rates declined, hitting 84.5% in 2022-23, prompting health authorities to organize catch-up clinics.