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Pro-EU politicians planning coup, Georgia alleges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

Georgia’s national security agency claims it has discovered a Ukrainian-backed plot to overthrow the country’s increasingly pro-Russian government, just weeks before a highly anticipated verdict on its long-standing application to join the EU.In a briefing on Monday, Bacha Mgeladze, deputy director of the counterterrorism unit of Georgia’s State Security Service, alleged that “conspirators are preparing to overthrow the state” on the basis that Brussels will issue a negative opinion on its membership bid as part of the bloc’s enlargement plans in October.While Mgeladze provided no evidence to support the explosive assertions, he named a number of senior opposition politicians tied to jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili who he claimed were behind the plot, as well as Kyiv’s “deputy head of military intelligence.” According to Mgeladze, volunteers from the Georgian Legion currently fighting against Russia in Ukraine would h...

Ukraine counteroffensive: Slow going, but we’re making progress, Zelenskyy says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

KYIV — Ukraine’s counteroffensive may be progressing slowly, but the military is reclaiming more territory every single day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with CBS’s “60 minutes.”“The situation is tough. We stopped the Russians in the east and started a counteroffensive. Yes, it is not that fast but we are going forward every day and de-occupying our land,” Zelenskyy said. “Everyone wants to win now and doesn’t even want to wait until tomorrow. But even a year ago, some people doubted whether we would be able to go on the offensive. The question was whether we would survive as a whole or not. Today we have the initiative.”He added that even though Ukrainian forces are often outnumbered by Russian troops on the eastern front and face heavily mined Russian fortifications on the southern front, they won’t stop their forward march because Moscow uses every pause in the war to rebuild its strength.According to Zelenskyy, time is Ukraine’s main weapon, as Kyiv’s...

Tractor-trailer rollover closes 2 lanes on I-93 southbound in Wilmington

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

A tractor-trailer rollover has closed two travel lanes on Interstate 93 in Wilmington and is having a major impact on the Monday morning commute.Drivers are being diverted around the crash, causing lengthy delays on I-93 and on Route 495.The crash caused miles-long backups with delays of more than two hours. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online as provide the latest updates.

Official says 5 prisoners sought by the US in a swap with Iran have flown out of Tehran

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An official has told The Associated Press that five prisoners sought by the U.S. in a swap with Iran have flown out of Tehran on Monday.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the exchange was still in process.Flight-tracking data analyzed by the AP showed a Qatar Airways flight take off at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, which has been used for exchanges in the past.Iranian state media soon after said the flight had left Tehran.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States will exchange prisoners on Monday after nearly $6 billion in once-frozen Iranian assets reached Qatar, a key element of the planned swap, officials said.Despite the deal, tensions are almost certain to remain high between the U.S. and Iran, which are locked in various disputes, including over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran says the program is peaceful,...

Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez earns Bill Belichick’s praise with ‘outstanding’ play

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

One of the biggest bright spots to the Patriots’ 0-2 start to the 2023 season has been the play of rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez through two difficult matchups to begin his NFL career.Gonzalez made the Patriots’ best defensive play in Sunday night’s 24-17 loss to the Dolphins, running over and jumping in front of wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a deep shot from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to take the ball away with an impressive interception.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez shines again in tough loss New England Patriots | Matthew Judon gives impassioned state of the Patriots address after loss New England Patriots | Patriots react to rare 0-2 start: ‘Something’s got to happen’ New England Patriots | Mac Jones’ plan to make sure Patriots don’t spiral after two tough losses New England Patriots | Patriots react to wild over...

UN experts say Ethiopia’s conflict and Tigray fighting left over 10,000 survivors of sexual violence

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — U.N.-backed human rights experts say war crimes continue in Ethiopia despite a peace deal signed nearly a year ago to end a devastating conflict that has also engulfed the country’s Tigray region. The violence has left at least 10,000 people affected by rape and other sexual violence — mostly women and girls.The experts’ report, published on Monday, comes against the backdrop of an uncertain future for the team of investigators who wrote it: The U.N. Human Rights Council is set to decide early next month whether to extend the team’s mandate in the face of efforts by the Ethiopian government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to end it. The violence erupted in November 2020, centering largely — though not exclusively — on the northern Tigray region, which for months was shut off from the outside world. The report cites atrocities by all sides in the war, including mass killings, rape, starvation, and destruction of schools and medical facilities.Mohamed Chan...

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Indigo founder Heather Reisman returns as CEO

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

TORONTO — Indigo Books & Music Inc. says founder Heather Reisman has returned to the retailer as chief executive officer.More coming.Companies in this story: (TSX:IDG)The Canadian Press

Man arrested after filming students and posting videos online

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

Toronto police have arrested the male suspect who allegedly entered a Danforth high school, recorded videos of students and shared them online.Authorities said the man attended Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, in the Danforth Avenue and Greenwood Avenue area, on Sept. 5 and 6 during school hours.It’s alleged that while inside the school, the man recorded students and engaged some of them in conversation. He later posted the videos online.On Sunday, Johnny Ghicas, 51, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with two counts of mischief, two counts of making indecent communication and two counts of common nuisance.He is scheduled to appear in court at Toronto Bail Court on Monday at 10 a.m.With files from Lucas Casaletto.

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts down 1% in August

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in Canada edged down one per cent in August compared with July.The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in August came in at 252,787 units compared with 255,232 in July.The decrease came as the rate of urban housing starts fell one per cent to 233,075 units in August.The pace of multi-unit urban starts decreased one per cent to 191,250, while the rate of single-detached urban starts rose two per cent to 41,825.The annual rate of rural starts was estimated at 19,712.The six-month moving average of the overall monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 244,507 units in August, up 0.8 per cent from 242,552 in July.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bodies of 5 Greek military personnel killed in Libya flooding rescue effort are flown home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:06 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s armed forces declared three days of national mourning after five members of a military rescue team were killed in a road accident in flood-hit Libya. The bodies of the five — three military officials and two civilians — were flown back to a military base near Athens early on Monday, together with 13 injured team members who were taken to military hospitals in the Greek capital. A bus transporting the Greek team crashed on Sunday en route to the city of Derna, which has suffered devastating flood damage. The bus hit an oncoming car, also killing three Libyan passengers, according to Libyan officials.“We are all shocked by the deaths of rescuers who were participating in a humanitarian mission to show solidarity to the suffering Libyan people,” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said. “I am deeply saddened by their unexpected death.”Heavy rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding across eastern Libya a week ago. It overwhelmed t...