Sunday, November 23

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Georgia protests: President says government ‘not legitimate’ as thousands take to streets for third night | World News
Business

Georgia protests: President says government ‘not legitimate’ as thousands take to streets for third night | World News

Georgia's president has said the Caucasian country's government is "not legitimate" as thousands of protesters gathered again in the capital after a halt to EU membership talks. The US State Department condemned the "excessive force" used against demonstrators and suspended its strategic partnership with the country after more than 100 arrests were made on Friday. Georgia was thrown into crisis on Thursday after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement that talks on Georgia's EU membership bid will now be delayed until 2028.Joining the EU is overwhelmingly popular in Georgia, according to opinion polls, and the aim is enshrined in the country's constitution. Image: Fireworks explode as police and protesters clash in Tbilisi on Saturday....
Ireland election: Several ministers fighting for their seats – as attention turns to forming a coalition | World News
Business

Ireland election: Several ministers fighting for their seats – as attention turns to forming a coalition | World News

Ireland's Green Party, one of the three previous governing parties, may lose a significant number of seats as attention turns to forming a new coalition.Counting is still in the early stages, with the first seats filled in the late afternoon. The final result may not be clear for days. But that hasn't stopped the leaders of Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail speculating about the formulation of the next government. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:19 What to look out for in the Irish election Mary Lou McDonald told Sky N...
People in Ukraine remain united against Russia as Zelenskyy looks to end fighting | World News
Business

People in Ukraine remain united against Russia as Zelenskyy looks to end fighting | World News

On a freezing cold, misty day, small groups of people gather, sometimes hugging, sometimes crying, sometimes just silent. In front of them, the wall of St Michael's golden-domed monastery in the centre of Kyiv's old town. The walls are now festooned with the faces of thousands of soldiers, all dead, all killed in this war with Russia.It started as a single picture of a fallen soldier placed on the wall. This memorial now stretches into the distance, and there's no space left except on the very top of the wall.A cafe worker brought out a ladder so a family could reach up and place their loved one's picture alongside fallen comrades. Image: The Kyiv memorial wall A short distance away, a funeral procession enters the grounds ...
In Georgia, people worry about ending up like Ukraine as government leans towards Russia | World News
Business

In Georgia, people worry about ending up like Ukraine as government leans towards Russia | World News

Levan is sitting in his very old car smiling at us through the snow, his eyes twinkling, amused by our discomfort. Not many people come to visit this corner of Georgia, and today the snow is billowing around us. It is biting cold and there is a large stray dog staring at us with a slight air of menace. Welcome to Brotsleti. We are just a few kilometres from one of the most significant borders in continental Europe. Along the road is a heavily fortified checkpoint that protects the entrance to South Ossetia, the Georgian region that was annexed by Russia 16 years ago.Russian tanks rolled through this small village; missiles landed; troops marched in.Over the course of five days of one-sided conflict, the Russians took control, established borders and claimed that South Ossetia had become a ...
Drinking water may help prevent kidney stone, lose weight: Study
Health

Drinking water may help prevent kidney stone, lose weight: Study

Researchers, who reviewed 18 studies on benefits of drinking water, found the most evidence related to preventing kidney stones and helping people lose weight.Drinking eight cups of water a day significantly lowered one`s chances of getting another kidney stone, the researchers at the University of California San Francisco found. They added that evidence from several studies suggested drinking about six cups of water a day helped adults lose weight. However, a study involving teenagers found that drinking a little more than eight cups of water a day had no effect. Further, studies raised the possibility of benefits for patients with migraine, urinary tract infection, diabetes and hypotension (low blood pressure) despite the limited quality and quantity of scientific evidence on the bene...
Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump meet in Florida amid tariff threats – National
Politics

Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump meet in Florida amid tariff threats – National

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.A person familiar with the details called it a “positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, ...
What to look out for in Ireland’s general election | World News
Business

What to look out for in Ireland’s general election | World News

Counting is under way in Ireland's general election.But unlike the UK, it will take more than a few hours for all 174 seats to be filled - and much longer for a government to be formed. Here's three things you should look out for as the votes are being counted. Image: A first preference vote for Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonlad as ballot papers are counted at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin. Pic: PA 1. The main parties' race to 88That's the number needed for a majority in Ireland's lower house of parliament, the Dail. But the three largest parties - Fianna Fail (FF), Fine Gael (FG) and Sinn Finn (SF) - have not fielded enough candidates to reach this, so they will be on the hunt for coalition partners.In the last election, FF wo...
Syrian rebels take control of most of Aleppo city
World News

Syrian rebels take control of most of Aleppo city

By Eyad Kourdi, Gul Tuysuz and Sophie Tanno, CNN Rebels brandish their guns as they ride through Aleppo. Photo: AFP / Omar Haj Kadour Syrian opposition forces have taken control of much of the country's second largest city Aleppo, according to video verified by CNN and residents in the city. A rebel alliance launched a surprise attack this week, sweeping eastward through villages outside the city and reigniting a conflict that had been largely static for years. It is the first time Syrian rebels have set foot in Aleppo since government forces regained control during the Civil War in 2016. By Saturday morning local time (Saturday night NZ time), rebel fighters had taken control of large swathes of the city, according to footage geolocated by CNN. Rebel fighters have been seen at key l...
Israel claims it has killed Palestinian allegedly involved in 7 October attack | World News
Business

Israel claims it has killed Palestinian allegedly involved in 7 October attack | World News

Israel claims it has killed a Palestinian involved in the 7 October attack by Hamas.The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that it had carried out a strike in Gaza on a "vehicle with a terrorist that took part in the murderous 7 October massacre". The IDF said it was investigating claims that the person worked for the international humanitarian organisation, the World Central Kitchen (WCK)."The terrorist was monitored for a while by IDF intelligence and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location," they said."We emphasise that it was a civilian unmarked vehicle and its movement on the route was not coordinated for transporting of aid." The World Central Kitchen provides food in conflict zones. Sky News has reached out to the WCK for c...
Syria’s rebel offensive: A setback for the regime, or the start of a major escalation? | World News
Business

Syria’s rebel offensive: A setback for the regime, or the start of a major escalation? | World News

It had appeared to be a conflict frozen in time, but the operation launched with blistering speed by Syrian opposition fighters has turned all of that upside down.It is also a potent reminder of the complexity of the Syrian conflict. What was a stalemate has revealed that the regime of President Bashar al Assad may very well be standing on clay feet.Whether the rebel push continues its momentum and transforms into a wider offensive remains to be seen - but its significance politically and militarily is immense.Aleppo was once the country's largest city and was a key battleground in the civil war - it has also been a stronghold for the regime. Image: Rebels stand in front of University of Aleppo. Pic: Reuters What's happeni...