CITV - Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 07:30 p.m. (ET) - Segment #1

>>> Join us for a circus adventure like no other. The international circus is back. Be immersed in the spectacle of the traditional big top of yesteryear. At your tickets today. Find more information online at globalnews.ca. >> Announcer: #ouryeg is brought to you by furnace family done right, day or night furnacefamily.com [ ] >> Carole Anne: the edmonton international, festival is back this saturday for its tenth anniversary. >> We are looking forward to a a-meow-zing event. >> Carole Anne: their welcoming three cat celebrities, including alberta feline that's a social media influence or. Not only has the cat festival raised more than $136,000 for cat rescues since its inception, but has also filled gap for cat lovers. >> It came about because dog people have dog parks, there's lots of social activities you can do if you love dogs. But as cat people, we really only had cat videos and no community to participate in. So cat festival was the first in canada and the longest running. >> Carole Anne: the festival will be at mcewan university from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. And once again, that's saturday, or cat-urday, as they because it -- call it. I see you have a pretty pawsome forecast. >> Phil: probably a few changes, but they're still going to be some shower chances if you're out and about tomorrow, so maybe keep the raincoat handy. >> Carole Anne: thank you. And thank you for watching. Coming up, talented twins from edmonton being praised for help in canada's three on three basketball team earned a spot at the paris olympics. We will here from the sisters

tonight at 6:00. But first, the big political gamble for britain's prime minister, who just called a snap election. Why is he risking >> Dawna: on this wednesday night, the u.k.'s surprise election call. >> Now is the moment for britain to choose its future. >> Why is rishi sunak risking it all and is voters ready for a change. >> Won't be voting for either of them. >> Dawna: three european nations recognize palestinian statehood. What it means. >> It could be significant. >>> And israel's angry response. >>> Hackers give a $25 million ultimatum to london drugs. The retailer's response and what it could mean for staff and customers. >> Honouring christine sinclair, the honour for the goal score canner. >> Dawna friesen delete s >> Announcer: "global national" with dawna friesen. >> Dawna: good evening, thanks for joining us. We begin with a huge political gamble in the U.K. prime minister rishi sunak called a snap election stunning even members of his own conservative party and the optics of his announcement were dripping with drama. He stood in a downpour outside 10 downing street, his words almost drowned out by the song "things can only get better," a labour party anthem from 1997 blaring from a street nearby. >> These uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future. You must choose in this election who has that plan. >> Dawna: after 14 years in power the tories who are trailing in the polls could face a wipe-out. Crystal goomansingh has our top story on a high stakes political gamble. >>> Alone, exposed to the elements, any shine rishi sunak may have had all but washed away. >> I hope that my work since I became prime minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take bold action necessary for our country to flourish. >> Reporter: come july 4th sunak will face the voting public for the first time. In 2022 his party chose him from a list of one. Rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader of the conservative party.

>>> In the aftermath of the brexit vote which led to david cameron's resignation the U.K. has churned through several prime ministers. Sunak, the fifth, hopes to hold on to power but faces opposition. >> We'll stop the chaos. Time and again they pursue their own interests rather than tackling the issues that affect your family. >> Reporter: keir starmer is also a novice in terms of running in a general election, as for his party labour was last in office in 2010. >> I don't care too much. >> Won't vote for either of them to be honest. >> Guided by what is right not what is easy, I can't say the same thing for the labour party. >> Reporter: in terms of conservative leaders, sunak is good on paper, but the financier and oxford graduate often seemed out of step with the public and his party. >> We certainly need some changes. >> Why an election now is the question. Inflation is at near lows in almost three years, but the popularity of the tory leader is also near a near record low. So in less than two months all of the party leaders will have to find a way to inspire voters and get them to turn up at the polls. Dawna. >> Dawna: crystal goomansingh in london, thanks. >>> Ireland, spain and norway took a big step. Plan to recognize a palestinian state. Leaders from those three countries made carefully coordinated announcements today saying palestinians have a legitimate right to statehood and recognizing that is essential to creating a two-state solution. It is a symbolic step. It won't change anything on the ground but israel's prime minister immediately condemned it as a reward for terrorism. Mike armstrong reports. >> Reporter: in three european capitals coordinated announcements. Madrid the spanish prime minister, oslo the norwegian prime minister, and in dublin, the irish prime minister, each saying that they will recognize the state of palestine officially may 28th and that they hope others will follow. >> I'm confident that further countries will join us. >> Reporter: the reaction from israel was immediate. The country's foreign minister standing with the families of hostages says the move supports hamas atrocities while the israeli prime minister said it was rewarding terrorism. Israel announced wednesday it will allow israelis to return to three former west bank settlements, access had been blocked since an evacuation order in 2005 under international law the settlements are illegal. Israel is also recalling its ambassadors to the three countries. >> Ireland, norway, and spain are telling hamas in a loud and clear voice that the october 7th massacre pays off. >> Reporter: the news was greeted much differently by palestinians. In the west bank a spokesman for the palestinian authority says a two-state solution is the only path to peace. While in gaza, there was hope the new recognition leads to change. We have the right to live like other countries, this man says, to have a state and to live in freedom. Now whether the move by the three governments leads others to follow is the big question. In each recognizing a palestinian state analysts say will play well domestically. >> The result of the vote is as follows... >> 143 countries voted earlier this month at the U.N. to recognize a palestinian state. The addition of three more isn't moving the needle in the U.S. or canada. >> Canada's long-standing position has been to support, to call for a two-state solution. >> Reporter: one thing the three countries are saying is that while they will recognize a palestinian state, they insist they also stand behind israel's right to defend itself. But what was legitimate and even necessary, they say, has dragged on too far. Mike armstrong, "global news," montreal. >> Dawna: some harrowing video was released today by families of israeli hostages. It is disturbing. It shows the kidnapping of five women by hamas on october 7th. Their families wanted it made public to pressure the israeli war cabinet to make a deal to release the hostages. It is body cam video from hamas fighters. They are seen binding the hands of the women. The women were working as lookouts near the gaza border on the day hamas attacked. At least two are seen with their faces bloodied as men threat and then assault them. Hours after this footage was released thousands of israelis took to the streets demanding revive hostage talks with hamas.

>>> Students and administrators at ontario tech university say they reached an agreement to end a pro-palestinian encampment on it was set up at oshawa's campus on may 6th. As part of the agreement ontario tech agreed to nine conditions including disclosing an annual report of all investments establishing a responsible investment working group, and funding three undergraduate scholarships for palestinians displaced by war. Hundreds of students are still camped out in protest at several other canadian universities. >>> Potentially dangerous storms are tracking across large parts of ontario and quebec tonight. A number of areas under severe thunderstorm warnings. Environment canada says toronto and surrounding areas could be hit by strong winds, heavy rain and toonie sized hail. And across the U.S. severe storm watches are in effect for over a dozen states from texas to new york. Recovery efforts are underway from deadly tornadoes yesterday. In iowa, authorities still aren't certain how many people are dead or missing. This satellite image captured the powerful line of storms that ripped across the U.S. midwest on tuesday. As jackson proskow reports, it is just the start of what's already been a devastating season. >> Reporter: there is almost nothing left in greenfield, iowa after a powerful tornado flattened houses, tossed cars like toys and cut a wide swath through the centre of town. >> I know that my friends were hurt, couldn't get a hold of them, I was scared. >> The first warning sounded 40 minutes before the tornado struck. Not everyone had time to escape. There are missing and dead. >> I had to climb out of here. >> Reporter: survivors have harrowing stories. >> Before I went down the basement I went all around my house and I prayed, prayed for god to keep us safe. >> Just a bunch of crashing. I heard windows shattering and I heard like branches from trees creaking and snapping. 18 tornadoes swept >> Reporter: at least 18 tornadoes swept across iowa tuesday. Snapping wind turbines like twigs leaving smoldering craters in the ground. This transport truck was tossed off the side of the highway. Across the central and southern u.s., it has already been a brutal season for severe weather, with above average tornado activity and more high strength tornadoes and severe thunderstorms than usual. In houston, where a brutal heat wave has taken hold, the power is only now coming back on for thousands of people left in the dark by last week's powerful storms. >> My wife is eight months pregnant, so we're sweating it out waiting for the power. >> Reporter: back in iowa, small miracles in the devastation like this dog pulled from under the rubble of a home. >> Kind of like untouched and she was just waiting for us to find her. >> Reporter: with this disaster unfolding so early in tornado season, residents will be picking up the pieces while watching the sky. Jackson proskow, "global news," washington. >> Dawa: in texas the families of victims of the 2022 uvalde school shooting have reached a settlement with the city for more than $2.7 million. In addition to the payout uvalde will overall the city's police force and create a permanent memorial to the victims. Lawyers for the families say they are suing 92 state police officers because of their response to the tragedy. 19 grade 4 students and two teachers were killed in uvalde. The botched police response has been condemned in a number of U.S. government reports.

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