Author: Press Room

Air raid sirens wailed over five hours in Kyiv as Russian drones rained down on the capital. ADVERTISEMENTFallen debris from intercepted Russian drones resulted in damage across Kyiv after Moscow targeted the Ukrainian capital in an hour-long drone attack. The debris caused destruction in six city districts, according to Kyiv’s City Military Administration. Ukraine’s air force said that Moscow launched a total of 71 Iranian-made Shahed drones towards the capital overnight on Saturday, most of which were intercepted or sent off-course using GPS jamming. Ukrainian forces shot down 39 out of the 71 drones, and ‘lost’ another 21. According to…

In an emotional and tearful ceremony, close to 60kg of pounamu has returned to its rightful guardians, Poutini Ngāi Tahu.The seized pounamu, including 12 pieces taken from a passenger at Auckland Airport in 2016 and two stones seized at the International Mail Centre in 2022 were returned to manawhenua at Arahura Marae in Hokitika on 1 November 2024.New Zealand Customs Service and Ngāi Tahu Pounamu said this return was a part of an ongoing joint commitment to stop the illegal trade of New Zealand taonga.Francois Tumahai, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chair, said he was pleased to have their pounamu…

A charity event raising money for a suicide prevention trust has been granted a liquor licence following a short-notice hearing.The fashion show, which will be hosted at Dunedin’s Wall St mall on Saturday and hit the spotlight following comments by Mike King, was granted a liquor licence by the city’s District Licensing Committee this morning, despite some opposition.The More than Just a Fashion Show is raising funds for Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust and awareness for mental health.Police and the licensing inspector opposed the licence being granted, “but all parties acknowledged the quality of the event’s organisation and objectives,” DLC…

Department of Conservation and Wellington Zoo staff attempted to release a rare Adélie penguin that washed up at Petone last month back into the wild today, but the Antarctic bird had other plans.The penguin was taken to the Ōrongorongo River east of Wellington to a release point so it could begin its 30-day journey back to Antarctica.Wellington Zoo senior veterinarian Kirsten Anderson said the penguin unfortunately chose not to go into the ocean.”She wandered back up the beach and we just gave her plenty of space, plenty of time, but monitoring her over the last kind of 20 minutes or…

It is getting closer to the time when locking in a longer-term home loan rate might be worth it, ANZ economists say, with retail rates having dropped further than the official cash rate might fall, and global rates pushing up.In their latest property market update, ANZ economists noted interest rates had fallen again through October, led by a fall in floating rates which followed the official cash rate (OCR) down by 50 basis points.”Large falls were also seen in the median six-month and one-year rates — down 0.36% and 0.3%, respectively — but two- and three-year rates fell only 0.1%…

Moldovan voters are choosing in their presidential elections between pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu and challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo, who favors closer ties with Russia, this Sunday. ADVERTISEMENTOn Sunday, Moldovan voters will choose their next president. During the first round on October 20th, Sandu led with 42% of the vote but failed to win an outright majority, while Stoianoglo, a Russia-friendly former prosecutor general, received 26%. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, they face a runoff election viewed as a choice between geopolitical opposites.On the same day, the country held a national referendum, and Moldovans voted by a…

A company director has been sentenced to nine months home detention and ordered to pay a reparation of $83,563.65 by the Christchurch District Court for falsifying records and dishonestly incurring debts.Colin Fitzgibbon, director of ACK Contractors Limited, entered into an invoice purchasing contract in 2018 with Canterbury Finance Limited. That company trading as FIFO Capital.ACK Contractors Limited then held a contract to undertake work on the Christchurch Northern Corridor Alliance project at the beginning of 2020.The roading project involved construction of a new four-lane motorway from south of the Waimakariri River, connecting to Queen Elizabeth II Drive and Cranford Street…

A grass fire that caused smoke to billow from the top of Auckland’s Mount Wellington this afternoon has now been contained.Fire and Emergency NZ said they received reports of a fire atop Mount Wellington at about 12.39pm.”It is 60 square metres and was spreading upwards atop the hill,” a spokesperson said.Six fire trucks and one helicopter were working to extinguish the fire at the peak of the blaze, they added.Almost half a hectare has been damaged by the fire and crews were dampening the area to prevent further damage.Tūpuna Maunga Authority chairperson Paul Majurey said he was “deeply disappointed” with…

Britain’s Conservative Party has elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, becoming the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the UK. Badenoch succeeds former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose tenure was marked by the Conservatives’ worst election performance since 1832. ADVERTISEMENTKemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, a crucial step for the party as it attempts to recover from a significant election defeat that ended its 14 years in power. Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick in a vote among nearly 100,000 members, making her the first Black woman to lead a…

Te Arawhiti — the Office for Māori Crown Relations — is being “gutted” with 40% of staff set to go, according to the Public Service Association.Under proposals revealed to staff today, 44 roles will move to Te Puni Kōkiri, which will take over some of its key functions, while a further 42 roles of the remaining 170 will be axed.Eight new roles will be established.Te Arawhiti — the Office for Māori Crown Relations will focus on its legislative functions to progress settlements under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.Te Puni Kōkiri will take…