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Appotronics Highlights Role of Laser Technology in Automotive Industry at Prestigious US Trade ConferenceVerstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Michael B. Jordan uses timeout at women's college basketball game to sign smoldering photo LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg strolled in wearing a jacket with JuJu Watkins’ name and number on the front and back. Michael B. Jordan thrilled a USC female fan with an impromptu autograph during a timeout. The stars came out to the showdown between third-ranked Southern California and No. 6 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won 74-61 to remain undefeated in the nationally televised game. The woman held up a smoldering magazine photo of the actor and he indicated he'd sign it. With the arena DJ egging her on, she climbed out of the stands and met Jordan at his seat. He leaned in to ask her name, signed and they shared an embrace.MONTREAL — Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for “making hateful remarks and gestures,” and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values ​​held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company’s operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the “final solution is coming your way” — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. “We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas said. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.” Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. “Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the coffee chain said in a statement on X. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement.” Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video “containing antisemitic and hateful messaging.” The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. “We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafés and terminating their lease agreement.” The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency “is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech,” Thériault said. “We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations,” Mammas said. “So we definitely have no issue with that and we don’t take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can’t accept that.”

Is conflict in Ukraine shifting in Russia’s favour? In 2024, Russian forces seized nearly six times more territory than in 2023, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as reported by BBC. The advancing Russian troops are concentrating and gaining territory in eastern Ukraine. The conflict after 1000 days and with republican Donald Trump, the new President-elect in the United States who is supposed to take the administration’s reign on January 20, 2025, is reshaping. Meanwhile, in the last two months of President Joe Biden’s rule, the United States approval of allowing Kyiv to use long-range missiles against deep Russian positions is increasing the threat of more sophisticated weaponry going to be tested or used against each other on the battlefield. Long-Range Missiles Enter the Fight Kyiv received a morale boost this week with US President Biden’s approval and the deployment of US-supplied long-range missiles. Now Ukraine, with the help of long-range missiles, are desperately going to strike deep into Russian territory to attempt to disrupt the Russian supply lines. Analysts suggest this move could help Ukraine hold onto contested areas like Kursk, which may serve as bargaining chips in future negotiations. However, introducing these advanced weapons escalates the tension and increases the risks. In the past, Russia has been warning against Western military support, cautioning of consequences if long-range missiles are used that could provoke further retaliation in all those countries helping and supplying weapons to Ukraine. Russia also has warned to use a strong response and even demonstrated it. On Thursday, Russians responded with a long-range ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro and warned of more retaliatory actions. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country has a stockpile of advanced Oreshnik hypersonic missiles “ready to be used,”. In an unscheduled television address, Putin claimed the missiles, capable of travelling at ten times the speed of sound, are virtually impossible to intercept and promised further testing in “combat conditions.” The strike on Dnipro, described by media quoting witnesses as highly unusual and involving powerful ballistic weaponry, marked a new escalation in the conflict. Ukrainian officials called the missile’s impact to that of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Meanwhile, Ukraine for the first time earlier used long-range missile strikes on Russian territory with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is further urging Western allies to deliver advanced air defence systems, including the U.S. THAAD and upgrades to Patriot systems, to counter these threats. Both developments reshape the conflict’s undercurrents and warn about its future. Russia’s campaign has so far focused heavily on key logistical hubs in the Donbas region. The ISW estimates that Moscow’s forces have captured around 2,700 square kilometres this year, compared to just 465 square kilometres in 2023. Recent gains include areas near Kupiansk in Kharkiv and Kurakhove in Donetsk, both critical for Ukraine’s supply lines. Kupiansk, once liberated by Ukraine in its 2022 counteroffensive, is now under severe pressure. Russian troops are reported to be just a couple of kilometres from a key bridge into the city. In Kurakhove, Russia is attempting to encircle Ukrainian defenders, inching closer to the strategic hub of Pokrovsk. Some of the media has reported that they have already captured the area and one can see Russian flags hurling on several buildings and bridges. Experts warn that Ukraine’s eastern defences may struggle to hold. Dr Marina Miron of King’s College London told the BBC that the eastern front could face collapse if Russian advances continue unchecked. Russia’s advances have come at a steep cost. According to BBC analysis, over 78,000 Russian soldiers have died since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Losses have been especially severe in recent months, reflecting what some analysts call a “meat grinder” strategy—waves of recruits deployed to exhaust Ukrainian defences. Ukrainian losses are also substantial, though official numbers vary widely. The Russian Ministry of Defence has given figures of over 33,990 Ukrainian soldiers who have died in the Kursk region alone. The number of casualties and destruction highlights the brutal nature of the conflict. The U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with antipersonnel landmines has further drawn criticism for risking civilian casualties and marks another shift in American policy on the controversial weapon. Officials argue the mines are essential to slowing Russian advances, but anti-landmine campaigners say that 164 countries have already banned the use of landmines and it should not be encouraged in any circumstances. In addition, Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August marked a bold strategy. At that time, Kyiv briefly gained control of several border areas, aiming to draw Russian forces away from the eastern front. However, the operation has stalled. Russia has since deployed 50,000 troops to the region, regaining much of the lost territory. Dr. Miron has called the operation a “tactical success but a strategic failure,” noting that it diverted some of Ukraine’s best units from the more critical eastern front. Instead of slowing Russia’s advance in the Donbas, the operation has tied down resources at a crucial time. The support Russians are getting from North Korea is also helping Russian troops in advancing. North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia, and Ukrainian forces say they have faced these troops in battles in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine controls some areas. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed he approved Ukraine’s use of longer-range ATACMS missiles to strike targets inside Russia in response to Russia using North Korean troops in the war. The Bigger Picture Russia’s recent gains have strengthened its negotiating position. The ISW estimates that Moscow now controls over 110,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. By contrast, Ukraine’s territorial gains in its Kursk incursion are shrinking, with Russia retaking nearly half of what Kyiv initially seized. The conflict’s human toll also continues to grow. The Russian government has allocated $58.7 million to support residents in the Kursk and Belgorod regions affected by Ukrainian shelling. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at G 20 meeting in Brazil while speaking to the media last week accused France of direct participation in the war, citing its training of Ukrainian troops and supply of advanced missiles. Russia has revised its nuclear doctrine , expanding the conditions under which it might deploy its arsenal. The approval of the Russian Doctrine shift coincides with Washington’s decision to allow Ukraine to fire long-range US missiles into Russian areas. The updated policy now considers an attack by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear-armed ally, as grounds for a nuclear response. Additionally, large-scale conventional attacks on Russia, Belarus, or threats to critical sovereignty could meet the threshold. As per the state-run TASS news agency, the changes and shift in strategy broaden the scope of potential nuclear targets and escalate the stakes of any coalition-led aggression. Political observers see Russia’s assertive nuclear posture as an action in response to Western provocations. Chances are that Russia, as a deterrence act, may wheel in tactical nuclear weapons closer to NATO’s borders. This could be further dangerous that might further escalate the conflict. This doctrine shift introduces a new phase. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson in a veiled warning urged the nations to analyse it carefully. Meanwhile, Moscow has warned that US involvement via advanced weaponry could be interpreted as direct participation in hostilities. What Comes Next? The war’s trajectory remains uncertain. While Russia has momentum, its progress is slow and costly. Ukraine, for its part, continues to resist, employing strategic withdrawals to preserve its forces for a prolonged fight. The hope from the elected United States President, Donald Trump adds further unpredictability. The US president-elect has promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, though he has not explained how he is so confident on the issue. The world keeps its hope on Donald Trump now. The question remains, will the US cut military aid to Ukraine, shifting the balance of power on the battlefield? However, it is certain that as the conflict continues as it has already surpassed 1,000 days, both sides are likely positioning themselves for eventual negotiations holding some strength to bargain. For now, the war’s outcome will depend on who can sustain their efforts longer, a question with no easy answer. Author is National Editor, Greater Kashmir.World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29

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NoneThis week, an initiative aimed at making it easier to become Swiss cleared the 100,000 signature hurdle required to qualify for a referendum, reported RTS. Switzerland is one of the most difficult places to gain citizenship. The referendum, for which 104,603 valid signatures were collected, aims to make naturalisation easier in several ways. Currently, there is a 10-year residence requirement, the last 5 of which must have been on a C-permit. The initiative wants this cut to 5 years on any permit. It also wants to remove other requirements, such as evidence of integration and the requirement to not have received welfare in the years preceding an application for citizenship. Other requirements, such as mastering the local language and not having a criminal record, would remain but be applied less strictly. Language requirements would be lowered to a basic level and only crimes that result in long prison sentences would be considered when disqualifying someone from citizenship. Non citizens are largely excluded from voting. Some exceptions allow some to vote at a municipal level. The vote organisers point out that around a quarter of Switzerland’s population are not Swiss. Excluding such a significant part of the population from the democratic process is undemocratic. Swiss citizens on the other hand get to decide on issues that sometimes specifically affect non-Swiss residents. The initiative’s website sets out the arguments of the organisers in more detail.All eyes on Chelakkara: By-election verdict to be decisive for Kerala’s Left and Congress

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