Thursday, December 25

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Eight people arrested and weapons seized after Kosovo canal explosion | World News
Business

Eight people arrested and weapons seized after Kosovo canal explosion | World News

Eight people have been arrested after a powerful explosion in Kosovo damaged a canal, temporarily stopping power and water supplies to the country's cities. Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Friday's blast in Vrage, 37 miles (60km) north of capital Pristina, on groups supported by Serbia. Police have detained eight people suspected of being part of the attack, which disrupted the supply of water to some cities and major power plants, according to interior minister Xhelal Svecla."Somehow we managed to fix the damage, arrest the suspects and confiscate a huge arsenal of weapons," he said in a live-streamed news conference.Kosovo police chief Gazmend Hoxha said officers raided 10 locations, seizing more than 200 military uniforms, six shoulder-fired rocket launchers, long weapons, pistols and...
Trudeau promises border helicopters at ‘very productive’ Trump meeting: source – National
Politics

Trudeau promises border helicopters at ‘very productive’ Trump meeting: source – National

President-elect Donald Trump says a surprise meeting with Justin Trudeau at his Florida home was “very productive,” after the prime minister flew down to discuss the growing threat of American tariffs on Canadian goods, the border and national defence. On Friday evening, Trudeau landed in Florida and travelled to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club for a hastily arranged dinner and discussion with the United States’ incoming president that a senior Canadian government source said was successful.In a post on his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said the meeting between the two had gone well.“I just had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, where we discussed many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address,” Trump wrote.He said t...
Harness the power of visualisation: Goal setting for 2025
Life Style

Harness the power of visualisation: Goal setting for 2025

Have you ever noticed how your best-laid plans often fade by February? That's because traditional goal-setting misses something crucial: the connection between your deepest values and daily choices.In this opening session of The Bigger Life Festival, wellbeing expert Ciara McGinley shares powerful visualisation and intention-setting practices that actually work. No 5am starts or rigid routines required – just clear, practical tools to help you map out a purposeful 2025.Uncover your core values through focused visualization techniquesCreate a practical roadmap that aligns your everyday decisions with your goals so you can live more intentionally Master a versatile visualisation tool for moments when you need clarityIdentify concrete actions you can take today toward your desired futureCulti...
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...