A destructive tornado touched down in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday evening around 5:45PM, prompting a tornado warning. The powerful twister whipped through the heart of the city near Las Olas Boulevard, damaging homes, downing power lines and scattering debris across the area. Numerous residents captured dramatic videos depicting the tornado wreaking havoc, with swirling winds and sparks flying. While no injuries were immediately reported, the full extent of the storm's aftermath is still being assessed. Residents brace for significant damage reports to roll in once conditions stabilize after the tornado's rampage through the city center. The videos show the tornado's sheer intensity as it carved a path of destruction. (Video Courtesy: @rawsalerts on X)

An Indian student, Ram Raut from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Italy on January 2nd. Raut had gone to Italy for pursuing an MBA degree and was living in rented accommodation. His death came to light when his parents tried to extend New Year greetings over a phone call which went unanswered. They then contacted his accommodation owner and learnt of his death in another house's washroom. Following this, Raut's aggrieved family approached Jharkhand government authorities seeking help to bring his body back to India. The West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner confirmed receiving information about the death and having informed state departments to facilitate necessary action. The administration is monitoring developments and in contact with the bereaved family.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered the temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft after an Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing when part of the plane fell off mid-flight on Friday. The FAA said 171 planes will be affected and inspections will take 4-8 hours per aircraft. The Alaska Airlines flight with 177 people rapidly descended from 16,000 ft after takeoff when the fuselage panel came off, causing passenger oxygen masks to deploy. No injuries were reported but images showed insulation and debris coming out from the plane. United Airlines has started inspecting some of its 79 Max 9s, causing about 60 cancellations on Saturday. The UK's aviation authority said no UK-registered Max 9 planes are affected but it contacted non-UK carriers operating them to confirm inspections. (Image Source: Posted on X)

Doctors at AIIMS, Delhi successfully performed an awake brain tumor removal surgery on a 5-year-old girl, claimed to be the youngest patient globally to undergo such a procedure. The 3-hour 'awake craniotomy' procedure, done under local anesthesia on January 4th, involved removing a tumor adjacent to the speech area of the girl's brain while keeping her conscious. Techniques like functional MRI, ultrasound, and mapping functional areas of the awake brain ensured precise tumor removal without damaging critical areas. The child stayed awake throughout, quickly identifying images shown intra-operation. The surgery aimed to maximize tumor removal while minimizing neurological deficits. The child has recovered well and will be discharged soon. 

The official websites of the Maldivian President's office, Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry faced technical disruptions and were unreachable for several hours on Saturday night in a suspected cyberattack. While the President's office website was later restored, the Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry sites remained down at the time of reporting. The Maldives President's office acknowledged the disruption in a social media post, stating their National Center for Information Technology and relevant entities were working promptly to resolve the issue. They apologized for the inconvenience caused. Local media described it as a likely cyberattack. The investigation is still ongoing.

The flu and Covid infections surge in the US post-holidays, with 38 states reporting elevated respiratory illnesses, including fever and cough. CDC data reveals a rise in flu cases, expecting the elevation to persist. Although moderate, interpreting holiday-related flu reports is complex. Flu shots match the prevalent strain. Since October, 10 million flu cases, 110,000 hospitalizations, and 6,500 deaths are reported. Covid-19 hospitalizations haven't surged like flu, but cases rise. The CDC notes a new variant, JN.1, dominating cases, but its severity remains uncertain. Experts, including Lauren Ancel Meyers, anticipate uncertainties in the ongoing Covid-19 surge.

India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, asserts that Thomas Babington Macaulay was dispatched to India to mentally enslave its people by undermining traditional education. Speaking at the Patanjali Gurukulam's foundation ceremony, Singh advocates for gurukul revival to counter Macaulay's impact. He stresses the integration of traditional education with modern technologies like AI and quantum tech. Singh criticizes Macaulay's disparagement of India's cultural heritage and praises efforts to revive gurukuls. He commends Yoga Guru Ramdev for promoting Yoga globally and underscores the need to preserve Sanskrit. Singh participates in the foundation stone-laying ceremony along with other dignitaries.

Pakistan's caretaker government expresses dissatisfaction with The Economist for publishing an article attributed to Imran Khan, questioning the credibility of upcoming elections. Imran Khan alleges an engineered removal from power and criticizes the election process, stating, "I face almost 200 legal cases and have been denied a normal trial in an open court." The government denies the article's content, emphasizing ethical standards in journalism. Information Minister Murtaza Solangi announces plans to write to The Economist, saying, "We believe it is critically essential to uphold ethical standards and promote responsible journalism." Observers question whether the jailed Khan wrote the article, but his party insists it reflects his views. Khan expresses concerns about the fairness of the election process and accuses Nawaz Sharif of striking a deal with the establishment.

Violence erupted during a pro-Palestine protest in London as Metropolitan Police attempted to disperse the march near St James’s Park. Scuffles broke out as police moved towards the protest leader giving a speech, and attempts to cross Westminster Bridge were prevented. Demonstrators, including groups like Sisters Uncut and Black Lives Matter, chanted slogans and waved Palestinian flags. The Free Palestine Coalition, comprising grassroots organizations, organized the protest to emphasize Palestine as a political priority. Despite police attempts to engage with organizers, they hadn't shared the route, leading to increased deployment for crowd control in central London.

The UK's Labour Party is raising questions about Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the recent liquidation of her investment venture, Catamaran Ventures. The Opposition's Pat MacFadden has sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the closure. The letter highlights that Catamaran Ventures received £2 million through government Covid support schemes, devised by Rishi Sunak. It also questions the impact on education start-ups, the settlement of tax liabilities, and notes Murty's decision to make a significant donation to charity following the liquidation. This adds to previous scrutiny over Murty's tax status.