Author: Press Room

Belarus could be used as a launchpad for attacks on Ukraine and Western neighbours, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned on The Europe Conversation. ADVERTISEMENTBelarus is becoming an increasingly unstable player in Eastern Europe as the country falls further under Russia’s influence, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Euronews in an interview, warning that the country could serve as a launchpad for military aggression against Ukraine and other Western neighbours.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed in Munich last month that Russia plans to station up to 150,000 troops in Belarus this year, potentially targeting NATO countries. With Belarus aligning ever more closely…

Not all months are created equal when it comes to the job market — May stands out as the peak month for job listings, according to a recent report by employment website Seek.The NZ Seasonality Report found that, on average, the total number of job ads on Seek peaks in May each year going as far back as 2016 – excluding the Covid-affected years between 2020 and 2022.The spike in job listings during May could be attributed to a couple of factors, the report said.Firstly, many businesses reassessed their staffing needs in the new financial year. May also followed the…

Five MEPs who signed a letter on 5G reported to be at the centre of a corruption probe have told Euronews they received no payments from Chinese tech firm Huawei. ADVERTISEMENTMEPs who signed a 2021 letter on EU 5G policy that’s been linked to a probe investigating alleged corruption involving Chinese tech giant Huawei have told Euronews they received no payments or inducements to support the letter.Last week, five people were charged in a corruption probe linked to Huawei, suspected by Belgian prosecutors of bribing EU lawmakers. The Belgian Public Prosecutor’s office confirmed that four were charged with “active corruption and criminal…

Kiwis working while physically and mentally unwell is costing businesses $46 billion per year, according to new research.The research, undertaken by Umbrella Wellbeing, showed nine out of 10 people reported going to work while sick at some point in the last month, impacting productivity.About 8000 workers took part in the study – with a quarter of them admitted to struggling with mental illness.It found working while unwell meant it wasn’t enjoyable – and many said it was harder to handle stress and they lacked energy. It found overall productivity dropped 33%.Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff said people who…

A US team that spent nine months on Cyprus has produced a detailed report outlining specific recommendations and proposals including additional staff training, upgrading high-tech systems and amending existing legislation. ADVERTISEMENTAuthorities in Cyprus have said they will adopt the recommendations of a security initiative developed with help from the US to fight money laundering, sanctions evasion and other financial crimes.The announcement comes after a team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was seconded to the Mediterranean island nation for nine months.The FBI team helped to train Cypriot police to identify and prosecute cases of illegal financing and attempts to evade…

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an aggravated burglary in Miramar, Wellington earlier this month.Police were called to a Darlington Rd address around 2am on March 17, where the occupants located an intruder, unknown to them, inside their home.At the time, Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said after an alleged altercation with the occupants of the house, the alleged offender fled.One person in the house received minor injuries and the other three were uninjured, Leitch said.In an update, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said police have arrested and charged a 28-year-old man with aggravated burglary and aggravated injury.The…

The strikes mostly targeted residential areas, injuring at least 12 civilians, and come as a limited ceasefire between the two sides was agreed on Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENTAt least 12 people have been injured, including a 12-year-old girl, in a Russian strike late on Wednesday on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to local officials.The State Emergency Service (SES) reported that Russia launched a “massive drone” attack, with explosions causing fires in various locations. A video shared by them shows the moment of one of the explosions. The attacks targeted both civilian infrastructure and a residential sector of the city and sparked…

A driver who scraped another car with his vehicle while leaving a bar carpark has had an insurer’s decision to turn down his claim on the basis he had been drinking overturned.The man was at a restaurant bar in June last year, dispute service Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) said, when he drank two handles of beer over an hour-and-a-quarter without food.When he left, he misjudged the turn out of the carpark and scraped another vehicle.He exchanged insurance details with the driver of the other car, dropped a friend home and then went home himself.The car was a company vehicle…

The “unconditional withdrawal” of Russian forces from the territory of Ukraine is a key precondition to amend or lift sanctions, the European Commission has said in reply to the Kremlin’s demand. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union has emphatically rebuffed the Kremlin’s demand that the Russian Agricultural Bank, known as Rosselkhozbank, and other financial entities involved in the agrifood trade be re-connected to SWIFT as a pre-condition to halt attacks in the Black Sea and ensure safe navigation, arguing the continued invasion of Ukraine makes it impossible to grant sanctions relief, be it broad or targeted.The surprising demand was made public earlier this…

Southland’s The Fat Duck has been named New Zealand’s best gastropub. The Te Anau restaurant and bar was named Supreme Champion at the 2025 Estrella Damm Top 50 New Zealand Gastropubs Awards last night.The business, owned by Cam Davies and Selina Wright, was recognised for its “outstanding culinary offerings, service, and commitment to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere”. Hospitality New Zealand said the owners had set a “benchmark in the industry, showcasing innovative cuisine that honours local produce and reflects New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage”.”Winning the Supreme Award at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs is an incredible honour…