Author: Press Room

The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on murder and arson charges, a prosecutor said on Saturday, as authorities continue working to confirm the victim’s identity.The indictment comes days after Sebastian Zapeta’s arrest and subsequent police questioning, in which authorities say he claimed not to know what had happened but identified himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit.Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez told reporters the indictment will be unsealed on January 7 and that Zapeta has been charged with multiple counts of murder…

Saturday will be a day for assessing damage and mopping up for many after high winds battered parts of the country yesterday.By late last evening, MetService had lifted many strong wind watches around the country, although Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne were advised to remain cautious until early Saturday morning.Heavy rain was also anticipated for Wairoa until noon Saturday.Assessments were being carried out on the Interislander ferry Kaitaki yesterday after the vessel experienced “significant roll” on a sailing from Wellington to Picton.Several passenger vehicles shifted as result of the rolling and sustained damage. One person received minor injuries on the ferry…

2024 was a year marked by a number of stories involving planes — from engine problems to turbulence events that caused some aircraft to “drop” mid-flight.So ensure your seatbelt is fastened and your tray table stowed as we take a journey back through some of the bumpier moments to grace our skies this year.Turbulence-related tripsOne of the most shocking plane stories of the year happened on board Singapore Airlines Flight 321 in May, which dropped 54 metres due to severe turbulence. One person died of a suspected heart attack. One passenger said anyone not wearing a seatbelt “launched into the…

After food prices soared in 2021 and 2022, over five essential food products saw price drops in 2024, including milk and cereals. ADVERTISEMENTIn 2024, agricultural prices in the European Union saw a modest decline, falling by 2% compared to 2023. This price decline followed sharp increases in 2021 and 2022 that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite a surge in olive oil prices in 2024, the prices of cereals dropped by 15%, eggs by 8%, and vegetables and horticultural products declined by 2%. The price of pigs and poultry also shrank…

Rewiring Aotearoa chief executive Mike Casey is the 2024 Otago Daily Times business leader of the year. He talks to business editor Sally Rae about shaping New Zealand for the future it deserves. He is way more than just a megaphone. In his acceptance speech at the Sustainable Business Awards in November where he was named transformational leadership winner, Mike Casey said he was ‘‘just a megaphone’’ for the incredibly hard work of the Rewiring Aotearoa team. But the judges agreed he was much more than that, saying he was a tribute to the power of a first and a…

A large scrub fire that broke out near a busy road in Auckland’s Silverdale this afternoon has been put out. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told 1News it received multiple calls to a large scrub fire at on the Hibiscus Coast Highway shortly before 2pm this afternoon.At its peak, there were five trucks, one tanker and two support units in attendance. The spokesperson said the bush and grass blaze was approximately 200m by 30m, but has since been extinguished. A fire investigator attended the scene, and has since left, the spokesperson said. Photos shared with 1News taken earlier this afternoon…

An alcohol ban will return for the streets of Renwick during next year’s Marlborough Wine & Food Festival and there’s talks of the ban becoming permanent.The ban was first launched at the 2024 festival in February after a request from police.At a full council meeting on December 12, solicitor Claudia Mark talked the council through a renewal of its Alcohol Control Bylaw which had recently been reviewed.The review found the bylaw was the best way to deal with alcohol consumption in public places, Mark said, as there were already permanent alcohol bans for central Blenheim and Picton.”It has been very…

A person was flown to hospital in a serious condition today after a motorcycle accident at Woodhill Forest in Auckland’s Muriwai. Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre told 1News it was coordinating the rescue of a male motorcyclist from the Woodhill Forest area, following the activation of a personal locator beacon just before 11am. Auckland Rescue helicopter said a crew was sent to Woodhill to find a male patient suffering “multiple injuries from a motorcycle accident”. One patient in a serious condition was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital. (Source: Auckland Rescue)Hato Hone St John confirmed the patient was flown to Middlemore…

Drug testing services are warning recreational drug users of synthetic opioids and cathinones — just as summer parties and festivals kick into gear.Illicit party drugs such as MDMA were often imported here illegally from Europe, but that distance meant supply here could be unreliable and more dangerous.Meanwhile, testing service Know Your Stuff has confirmed it wouldn’t return to at least seven events these holidays, where lagging ticket sales have cut budgets for some onsite drug checks.The service set up stations at more than 170 events last year, where staff took testing faciltities to as many parts of the country as…

When Russia takes Ukrainian children from their homes and families, Ukrainian mothers have no other choice but to risk their lives trying to bring their kids back, even if that means weeks of travel through Russia and days-long FSB interrogations Otherwise, entire generations might be lost forever. ADVERTISEMENTWhen Russian forces occupied Kherson in the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow troops soon started targeting Ukrainian children. Tetyana Bodak from Kherson is raising eight children. When the city was under occupation, she did her best to protect them from the Russian troops, resisting as long as she could and not…