British government health officials announced on Saturday that there has been a sharp rise in flu cases in the country. Surveillance data tracking the outbreak shows that the number of flu-related hospitalizations has increased sharply, now four times the level recorded just a month ago.
- According to the BBC, the latest data from Britain shows that there were 5,000 flu patients being treated for the virus in hospital at the end of last week, which is almost 3.5 times more than the same week in 2023, although this is expected to increase by 2022. Not as much. The head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine told the BBC that hospitals are under huge pressure and flu is pushing them to the brink of collapse. Health officials have warned about the impact on vulnerable patients and the health system of the very cold weather expected this weekend. Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has warned of emergency services.
- According to Italian media reports, Italian Prime Minister Meloni is going to America to meet Trump. Italian media reported on Saturday that Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni is going to Florida. There she will meet President-elect Donald Trump. If his visit is confirmed, then this meeting will come at a time when Meloni is facing questions about his foreign policy after the arrest on December 19 of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was working in Iran under a regular journalist visa. . Sala was detained three days after the arrest of Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini at Milan’s Malpensa airport. Abedini had a US warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts. Washington says they were used in the 2023 attack in Jordan, in which three American service members were killed. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.
- On Saturday, banned separatist organization Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) targeted a passenger bus in a blast in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, killing four people and injuring 32 others. Officials said that the bus going from Karachi to Turbat was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in New Bahman area. They said that four bodies and 32 injured have been taken to the nearest hospital. According to a senior police officer, ‘Investigation is being done to find out the cause of the blast. BLA has taken responsibility for the blast and said that it targeted a military convoy.
- Tibetan MPs in exile living in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh in India have criticized China for imposing sanctions on two civil society organizations in Canada and 20 individuals associated with these organizations. Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, Canada Tibet Committee and 20 individuals associated with these organizations have been targeted by this ban. Dolma Tsering, vice-speaker of the exiled Tibetan parliament, said the decision shows how far the Chinese Communist regime can go. He has urged the United Nations countries and all independent democratic countries to stand against this and not delay in condemning China’s action.
- US President Joe Biden has honored 19 individuals with the country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Michael J Fox, U2 frontman Bono, retired basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and others were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony at the White House on Saturday (local time) When Hillary Clinton’s name was announced during the ceremony, the people present stood up and greeted her. Open Society Foundations founder George Soros has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His son Alex Soros accepted the honor on his behalf.
