Author: Press Room

Voting started following a period of almost non-existent election fever. In the capital Minsk, there’s an almost total absence of billboards promoting the candidates and there has been little in the way of campaigning. ADVERTISEMENTPolls have opened in Belarus in a presidential election which is all but certain to see incumbent Alexander Lukashenko win a seventh term in office.And voting started following a period of almost non-existent election fever. In the capital Minsk, there’s an almost total absence of billboards promoting the candidates and there has been little in the way of campaigning.Even Lukashenko himself seemed disinterested in the process.”I’m…

Zelenskyy said last year he had no intention of renewing the gas transit deal, stressing the importance for Europe of moving on from Russia and not allowing the Kremlin to ‘earn additional billions’ on Ukrainian blood. ADVERTISEMENTUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu in Kyiv to discuss the energy needs of the Transnistria region.Natural gas supplies to the Russia-aligned strip of land stopped on 1 January due to Ukraine’s decision not to renew a gas transit agreement with Russia.Ukraine has said it can offer coal to the Transnistrian authorities to make up for the shortfall.”Now Russia…

One person has sustained moderate injuries following a house fire in Gore this morning. Fire and Emergency New Zealand services were called to a house on Churchill Ave around 10.30am.Four fire crews were sent to the scene.At its peak, more than 30 crews were helping tackle the blaze, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson told 1News. “The house sustained significant damage.”A Hato Hone St John spokesperson told 1News one person was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to Gore Hospital in a moderate condition. The blaze is now contained.

A meteorologist says while it was not confirmed that the weather system that ripped through Mangawhai overnight was a tornado, the conditions aligned with what usually spawned them.Around 50 homes and buildings were damaged and two people seriously injured when strong winds tore through the Northland town at around 3am this morning.Nearly 5000 properties were without electricity overnight, but power has since been restored to most — except for 247 households on Moir St and Old Waipu Rd.MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said a “very active front” passed over Northland in the early hours of the morning, bringing strong gusts, bursts…

Two people have died in separate crashes within ten minutes of each other in the Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury regions today, while two others died in hospital following separate crashes last week, police said.The first fatal crash involved a truck and a car in the Hawke’s Bay region, with police receiving a report of the collision on State Highway 2, north of Takapau shortly after 8am.”One person died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said.”The road remains closed and will be for most of the day. We advise motorists to avoid the area.”Detours are in place via State Highway 50.”Ten…

Paul McCartney urged the British government not to make a change to copyright laws that he says could let artificial intelligence companies rip off artists.The government is consulting on whether to let tech firms use copyrighted material to help train artificial intelligence models unless the creators explicitly opt out.McCartney told the BBC that would make it harder for artists to retain control of their work and undermine Britain’s creative industries.”You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants…

Police are investigating the “unexplained” death of woman in Queenstown.Emergency services were called to the Windsor Place property about 2.30pm on January 25.In a statement, a police spokesperson said they were now working to establish the full circumstances of how she died.”Her death is currently being treated as unexplained,” a police spokesperson said.As part of inquiries, police wished to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Windsor Place between 8am and 3pm who might have information.Anyone who could help should contact police on 105, or share anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

A group of up and coming female mountain bikers were the first to take on Christchurch Adventure Park’s newest track today, learning from one of the sport’s top riders.Two-time national downhill champion Rae Morrison is happy to take on the coaching role, as she transitions from her 10-year professional riding career. The event, Ride with Rae, marks the return of the Crankworx Summer Series, which had to be called off last year because of the Port Hills fires.”I’m super passionate about trying to help the next generation…For girls coming up they are so fast, and keeping me on my toes.…

New Zealand’s economy has fallen significantly but it fell from a high point after strong activity in the latter stages of the pandemic, according to one economist.HSBC’s Australasian chief economist Paul Bloxham said in an update this week that Aotearoa, which he once hailed as a “rockstar” economy, had the economy has fallen largest decline in economic growth in the developed world last year, driven by interest rate increases in response to post-pandemic inflation.But Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen said while the New Zealand economy had “clearly gone through a pretty tough pitch, it’s important to keep things in perspective”.Olsen…

A new population of a critically endangered beetle has been discovered after 20 years in “magnificent news” for the species’ long-term survival, the Department of Conservation says.Naturalist John Evans was out clearing traps in the Ashburton-Lakes area late last year when he came across three distinctive-looking weevils.”My curiosity got the better of me and I stopped and managed to get them before they disappeared and took a photo and thought ‘this is big’… I’ve been farming for 50 years so I know what a weevil looks like,” Evans told 1News. And so began his hunt for more information. “Got home…