Author: Grace Johnson

Putin repeats his demand for a Ukrainian retreat Vladimir Putin insists that Ukrainian forces must leave the Donbas region. He warns that Russia will take the territory by force if Kyiv refuses. He tells India Today that Moscow already controls about 85% of the region. Volodymyr Zelensky rejects any proposal that includes giving up land. Trump’s team notes limited progress in Kremlin talks Putin’s remarks follow comments from Donald Trump, whose envoys say Russia’s leader appears open to ending the war. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to meet Ukraine’s negotiating team in Florida next. Trump calls the Kremlin talks “reasonably…

Meta begins early removals ahead of new lawMeta now removes Australian children under 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads. The company starts this action one week before the national youth ban begins. Meta said last month that it alerted users aged 13 to 15 about closures starting on 4 December. The company expects around 150,000 affected Facebook accounts and about 350,000 impacted Instagram profiles. Threads also loses young users because access requires an Instagram login. Australia’s new law begins on 10 December and forces platforms to block under-16s. Companies face fines of up to A$49.5m if they fail to act.…

Prada Grows Its Luxury Empire Prada announced on Tuesday that it acquired Versace and brought two major Italian fashion houses together under one roof. The company paid $1.38bn, far below the roughly $2bn that Capri Holdings spent on Versace in 2018. The deal broadens Prada’s portfolio, which includes Miu Miu, and sharpens its competition with giants like LVMH, owner of Dior, Fendi and Louis Vuitton. A New Direction for Versace Donatella Versace stepped down in March after 27 years marked by glamour and the famous Medusa logo. She took over the brand in 1997 after the murder of her brother…

High-Stakes Diplomatic MeetingRussian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House says it feels very optimistic about advancing a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, will also participate. The meeting follows two days of discussions in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials. Witkoff and Kushner refined a US-backed peace plan previously considered favourable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks constructive but emphasized that major issues remain unresolved. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon.…

McLaren’s costly mistake reshapes the title raceFormula 1 heads into its first final-race showdown with more than two contenders in 15 years. Max Verstappen claimed victory in a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix after a major McLaren strategy error. Lando Norris called it “not our greatest day”, which felt mild after his team threw away a clear win, though not for him. Norris now holds a reduced 12-point lead over Verstappen before Abu Dhabi. Oscar Piastri sits another four points back. Piastri looked stunned after he saw a certain win turn into second place. He also watched his championship position slip…

Government Denounces US Threat Venezuela reacts with strong anger to Donald Trump’s claim that the nation’s airspace should be treated as closed. The foreign ministry calls his message “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people”. Officials say the United States holds no lawful authority to shut another country’s airspace. They accuse Trump of making a “colonialist threat” that undermines global standards. Military Moves Heighten Regional Strain The United States expands its military presence near Venezuela. US forces carry out at least 21 strikes on boats they say transported drugs. More than 80 people die in these strikes.…

Radiation threat exposes computer flaw Airbus grounded thousands of planes after discovering that intense solar radiation can disrupt vital flight control computers. The move caused worldwide delays because around 6,000 A320 aircraft have the same vulnerability. Most planes will return to service once they receive a quick software update. Regulators caution travellers about disruptions The UK aviation regulator warned that passengers may face delays and cancellations, although airports report only limited impact so far. Airbus identified the flaw while investigating an October incident where a jet flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude. The JetBlue aircraft diverted to…

Tesla opens its largest Indian sales and service hub while it struggles with slow demand. The new site in Gurugram combines a showroom, charging points and after-sales services in one location. The company sold just over 100 cars since its much-publicised July launch, according to dealership data. People familiar with Tesla’s plans say the firm now focuses on strengthening India’s EV ecosystem to regain momentum. Tesla did not offer a direct response when asked about the weak sales results. Early interest fades as competition rises The company has tried to secure a solid position in India since its July debut,…

Retail spending is showing resilience this holiday season, with consumers expected to spend more than last year despite inflation and tariffs. Analysts say this trend could push total retail sales toward a historic year-end total, highlighting strong consumer demand. Many retailers have reported healthy pre-holiday sales, with shoppers increasingly drawn to electronics, fashion, home goods, and gift items. This sustained demand indicates that consumers are willing to prioritize spending on essentials and seasonal purchases, even amid economic pressures. Economic analysts note that while inflation and tariff-related costs remain concerns, many shoppers are adapting by seeking deals, taking advantage of promotions,…

Music enters the operating room Surgeons in Delhi prepare to remove a woman’s gallbladder while soft flute music plays through her headphones. She lies under general anaesthesia, a mix of drugs that induces deep sleep, blocks memory, relieves pain and relaxes muscles. Her auditory pathway stays partly active despite the medication. She will wake faster and clearer because she needs less propofol and fewer opioid painkillers than patients who hear no music. A peer-reviewed study from Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital reports these results. The journal Music and Medicine presents the findings and shows how music helps…