Thursday, December 25

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‘Terrorist’ Putin fuels division ‘like an animal’, Zelenskyy says | World News
Business

‘Terrorist’ Putin fuels division ‘like an animal’, Zelenskyy says | World News

Russian President Vladimir Putin fuels division within Europe "like an animal", Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned.Speaking to Sky News's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, the Ukrainian president described his Russian counterpart as "a killer" and "a terrorist". He said when world leaders are afraid, they communicate with their countries and other leaders and "divide the unity in Europe"."Putin understands this and fuels it like an animal," he said.Ukraine war latest: MI6 uncovers 'staggeringly reckless' Russian sabotage in Europe Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Sky's Stuart Ramsay Asked if it was unhelpful when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke directly with Mr Putin last month, Mr Zelenskyy said he did not support it...
Holy Family Hospital in Bandra celebrates rare birth of quadruplet girls
Health

Holy Family Hospital in Bandra celebrates rare birth of quadruplet girls

Holy Family Hospital in Bandra has successfully carried out the birth of healthy quadruplet girls, an exceptionally rare event that has brought immense joy to the family and medical community. Born on October 7, the quadruplets are thriving under the care of the hospital’s expert team, marking a milestone in maternal and neonatal care.   Quadruplet births occur in only 1 in 700,000 pregnancies worldwide, making this event a truly extraordinary occurrence. Due to the seamless collaboration between the hospital’s specialists and its state-of-the-art facilities, the mother and her babies are in excellent health.   The quadruplets were delivered under the expert care of Dr Jacintha Mathias, consultant gynaecologist at Holy Family Hospital who managed the high-risk pregnancy and delivery with...
Emotional Zelenskyy opens up on peace, sacrifice and family in exclusive interview | World News
Business

Emotional Zelenskyy opens up on peace, sacrifice and family in exclusive interview | World News

In the freezing mist, heavily-armed soldiers checked our passports and press accreditation.  We're in an exclusive district of Kyiv, home to the city's presidential palace.We waited on a near-deserted street until an adviser to the president arrived and led us to another set of guards, who checked our papers again. Eventually, we were taken to the rear of the palace where our paperwork was scrutinised for the third time.We had been told to come early so that our equipment and bags could be scanned and checked by sniffer dogs.Ukraine war latest: MI6 uncovers 'staggeringly reckless' Russian sabotage in Europe We passed through airport-style security arches and then had to remove phones and watches. The watch was a new one to me, as my battered 35-year-old one barely keeps time these days, le...
ABC asked Australian parents what they made of the social media ban for under-16s – here’s what they said
World News

ABC asked Australian parents what they made of the social media ban for under-16s – here’s what they said

The Australian government's bill to ban children and young teenagers from social media is expected to pass this week. Photo: ABC / Luke Stephenson By Geraden Cann, ABC Dani said it took just four months for her 13-year-old son to become "addicted" to the mobile phone app Snapchat. "When he woke up in the morning ... he'd go straight to the phone," she said. The Melbourne mum says she tried to put in place measures to restrict his usage - even drawing up a "contract" laying out the rules - but it wasn't enough. "There was a lot of notifications, constant notifications coming up on his phone ... you couldn't hold a conversation with him because he was wanting to check his notifications," she said. Several parents say their children have developed addictive behaviours towards the messag...
Hezbollah flags still fly in Lebanon as the fragile peace deal continues to hold | World News
Business

Hezbollah flags still fly in Lebanon as the fragile peace deal continues to hold | World News

Mother and daughter, their car loaded with luggage, are driving together back to their house in this bombed-out suburb of Beirut. I ask them how it feels coming home."Nothing feels like home," Samara Diab, the daughter, says. Dahieh, in the south of Beirut, is Hezbollah territory and much of it has been levelled. Its leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated by an airstrike two months ago.But the children here shout his name out of cars as they pass.His picture is draped over the tower blocks that have collapsed into rubble. And the yellow flags of Hezbollah still fly. The neighbourhood was a ghost town during the last two months of heavy bombardment. Image: Much of Dahieh has been levelled Read more:Analysis: Dark clouds ha...
Trump’s Ukraine envoy has a plan to end the war that Putin may revel in
World News

Trump’s Ukraine envoy has a plan to end the war that Putin may revel in

By Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine. Photo: AP / Mariam Zuhaib Analysis - In a single post, the US president-elect told the world what the end of the Ukraine war might look like. And it is going to be a big diplomatic ask, to say the least. "I am very pleased to nominate General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia," Trump wrote on his Truth Social channel. "Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!" By appointing Keith Kellogg as his special envoy to Ukraine, Donald Trump has also chosen a very specific, pre-announced plan for the thorniest foreign policy issue on his plate. Kellogg, Trump's 80-year-old former national security advi...
As Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, army closes airport and roads, sources say
World News

As Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, army closes airport and roads, sources say

The rebels are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it. Photo: AFP / BAKR ALKASEM By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Reuters Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city, three military sources told Reuters, as rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo. The opposition fighters, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies. Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the rebels, two military sources said, adding new ha...
Biden says his administration working with FBI on hoax threats to lawmakers, Trump cabinet picks
World News

Biden says his administration working with FBI on hoax threats to lawmakers, Trump cabinet picks

President Joe Biden said that his administration was working with the FBI to address the bomb threats and swatting incidents. Photo: AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS By Jeff Mason and Rich McKay, Reuters US President Joe Biden said that his administration was working with the FBI to address "swatting" and bomb threats made this week targeting lawmakers and several of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks. Seth Magaziner, a House Democrat from Rhode Island, said on Friday local time he was targeted by a bomb threat at home, a day after six Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut reported similar threats to their homes over the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Law enforcement in each case found no evidence of explosive devices, the lawmakers said. Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice to become US de...
Sinn Fein and Fine Gael neck and neck to be largest party in Ireland election, exit poll suggests | World News
Business

Sinn Fein and Fine Gael neck and neck to be largest party in Ireland election, exit poll suggests | World News

Sinn Fein and Fine Gael are neck and neck to be the most popular party following Ireland's election, an exit poll suggests.Sinn Fein have picked up 21.1% of the vote, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%, the poll by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4, Trinity College Dublin and Ipsos B&A suggests. The poll has a margin of error of 1.4% and was published after voting ended at 10pm on Friday. Counting will begin on Saturday morning at 9am.While the exit poll is a good indicator of how well each party has done, how many seats they will pick up is still unclear due to Ireland's electoral system. Voters in Ireland rank their choices rather than choosing one candidate. Prospective politicians must then reach a quota after rounds of vote counting, with between three and five seats ...
Police, pro-EU Georgians clash for second night at protests over accession freeze
World News

Police, pro-EU Georgians clash for second night at protests over accession freeze

By Felix Light, Reuters Protesters carrying Georgian and EU flags pressed towards the parliament building in the nation's capital, Tbilisi. Photo: AFP / GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE Police deploying water cannon and pepper spray moved against thousands of pro-European protesters massed in the centre of Tbilisi after Georgia's ruling party said it was halting EU accession talks until 2028. EU accession is overwhelmingly popular in Georgia according to opinion polls, and the move saw thousands protest outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on Thursday, with riot police using water cannon and gas to disperse them. Protesters carrying Georgian and EU flags pressed towards the Soviet-built fortress-like parliament building and hurled fireworks at police officers trying to disperse them. Elene K...