INDIA HAS CONFIRMED CASES OF AVIAN FLU IN MULTIPLE STATES. 50 CROWS THAT WERE FOUND DEAD IN THE CENTRAL INDIAN STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH TESTED POSITIVE WITH THE H5N1 INFLUENZA VIRUS.

In another development over 1800 migratory birds have been found dead in Himachal Pradesh. samples of dead migratory waterbirds found at the pong dam lake in Himachal Pradesh have tested positive for avian influenza or bird flu as well. The virus has spread to 5 states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. the government of India has put out a high alert to control the spread of the virus.

THE NUMBER OF NEW DAILY CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN THE UK HAS TOPPED 60,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

According to UK government figures on Tuesday, the number of people who tested positive was 60,916. One in 50 people in private households in England had Covid last week and one in 30 in London. 830 people have also died within 28 days of a positive test. All of the UK is now under strict curbs, with Wales, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland also in lockdown.

UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON HAS CANCELLED HIS VISIT TO INDIA. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PART IN THE REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS ON JANUARY 26 AS THE CHIEF GUEST

The decision has been taken in light of the national lockdown announced in the UK recently and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading. He has expressed regret about not being able to grace the Republic Day celebrations in India.

LAI XIAOMING FORMER CHINA BANK CHIEF WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ECONOMIC CRIMES.

He was sentenced after the court indicted him for bribes of $277 million over a span of 10 years.XIAOMING was found guilty of corruption, bigamy and bribery. He confessed to taking cash bribes last year in a televised show. Mr Lai was kicked out of the Communist Party in 2018 for violation of party laws. His death sentence showed Beijing's rare use of capital punishment for such crimes.

SIGNS OF THE NEW PRESIDENCY IN THE US ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW. THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY REVERSED ITS DECISION ON DELISTING 3 MAJOR CHINESE TELECOM COMPANIES

Earlier this year the New York Stock Exchange had started delisting Chinese telecom firms following Trump orders. The order would restrict US investments in Chinese companies that were allegedly tied to the Chinese military. However, NYSE abruptly reversed its plan to delist three of the biggest Chinese telecommunication companies. This step will help de-escalate the already heightened US-China tensions.

ENRIQUE TARRIO, LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES RIGHT-WING PROUD BOYS GROUP HAS BEEN ARRESTED.

Tarrio has been held for burning the Black Lives Matter flag last month which was taken from a church during a violent protest. He has been charged with destruction of property at the Asbury United Methodist Church and illegal possession of two high capacity firearms. Washington police have warned the public that anyone carrying firearms would be arrested.

BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF RECORD-BREAKING FLOOD

The city of Sucre was hammered with an unprecedented amount of rain and hail that culminated in deadly flash flooding. Four people lost their lives in the disaster and a dozen were hospitalized. President Luis Arce released a statement on Twitter extending his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. The Vice Ministry of Civil Defense is assessing the damage and coordinating the necessary care actions with the local authorities.

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, HAS SAID THAT EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COUNTRY CAN BE VACCINATED BY SEPTEMBER 2021

500,000 doses of Pfizer BioNtech and Moderna vaccine have been delivered to Canada. The federal government of Canada aims at delivering more than one million doses by the end of January. Trudeau announced that the first ones receiving the vaccine will be the citizens of the countries they are made in. He has been criticized by the opposition for not ensuring Canadians priority access to the vaccine.

PANAMA WILL BEGIN RECEIVING COVID-19 VACCINES ON JANUARY 18TH

Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes announced the arrival of 40,000 units of Pfizer's vaccine against the coronavirus. This is the first instalment of a total of 5.5 million doses that have been purchased by the government. In the first quarter of the year, 450,000 doses are scheduled to arrive. Priority will be given to the nation's health care workers and the elderly.

INDONESIA IS GOING TO START ITS COVID-19 VACCINATIONS DRIVE ON JAN 14. Medical workers and public officers will be the first ones to take the shot.

The Health Minister said that President Joko Widodo and his Cabinet members will initiate the vaccination programme by getting the first shots of China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine on January 13. Indonesia has received 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, named CoronaVac

MALAYSIAN RESEARCH TEAM TURNS PINEAPPLE WASTE INTO DISPOSABLE DRONE PARTS

Malaysian researchers have developed a way to transform fibre from discarded pineapple into a strong material that can build frames for aircraft & drones. They have been trying to find sustainable uses for pineapple waste generated by farmers. If the drone is damaged, the frame could be buried in the ground and would degrade within two weeks.