Author: Press Room

The US and EU countries limit the use of weapons they provide to Ukraine for fear of escalating the war. ADVERTISEMENTUkraine changed tactics last month with its surprise military offensive inside Russia’s Kursk region. The war-torn country reprised calls for restrictions on use of western-supplied long-range weapons to be lifted during an EU foreign affairs meeting in Brussels last week – so it can target installations inside Russia used for attacks against it.Will the EU lift those restrictions?Radio Schuman discusses this today with Euronews journalist Sasha Vakulina.We’ll also look at the Russian President’s trip to Mongolia, despite the country being…

A wildfire in north Canterbury is spreading again, fanned by strong winds.Fire and Emergency New Zealand said five helicopters were being used to battle the blaze, which had been burning since Thursday night in a forestry block north of Waipara.Firefighters had managed to contain the fire, which has burnt through more than 100 hectares, on Sunday morning before the winds picked up.”High gusty winds have caused multiple break-out fires this afternoon,” Fire and Emergency said in a statement.”The fire has jumped the containment line and is now not contained and not controlled.”We are putting all our resources into bringing the…

Many more New Zealanders will be renting in their retirement, but the country’s rental market isn’t prepared for that silver tsunami. Anna Murray explores potential solutions to a growing problem. The demographics of New Zealand’s renters are changing.With the declines in home ownership and an ageing population, Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission modelling predicts there will be around 600,000 New Zealanders aged 65 and over needing to rent a home by 2048 – a 100% increase on 2022 levels.It means the assumption that New Zealanders will be settled in their own mortgage-free home by the time they turn 65…

What do the original Batman Michael Keaton and Schitt’s Creek’s Catherine O’Hara have in common? They’re back in the sequel to the cult classic film Beetlejuice, which is aptly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. When the original film was released in 1988, no one had had really seen anything like it.Messy in camera special effects, comedy, horror and bonkers characters, it was all the brainchild of a little-known director called Tim Burton. Now, almost four decades later, they’ve done a sequel. I got the chance to attend a press screening of the new film before the release, and my expectations were low.…

Jason Hema has the job of maintaining the grounds of Hastings’ Frimley School — but has added some extra responsibilities to his job description.Hema began his working life in the navy, then spent a quarter of a century at Watties.Fast-forward to now, Hema hosts musical jam sessions, is in the school band, and leads an outside class for boys who don’t want to spend the whole day indoors, as well as helping keep the school in tip-top shape. The outdoor education involves lessons in te reo Māori, martial arts, marching and even finishes with kai.His jam sessions involve sitting down…

Firefighters continuing to battle a blaze burning for five days in a north Canterbury forestry block could witness “extreme fire behaviour”, with strong winds forecast for the region.The blaze north of Waipara first reported on Thursday was initially contained on Saturday, but gusty winds caused multiple “break-out” fires on Sunday afternoon.Fire and Emergency NZ incident commander Des Irving said drone mapping overnight revealed the fire to be around 85 hectares in size — double its size last night.”The fire is still burning through trees within the forestry block and we had crews on the ground monitoring the fire overnight.”He said…

The tunnel was closed in August last year after a broken wheel caused a freight train to derail, causing extensive damage. ADVERTISEMENTThe Gotthard Base Tunnel, the main rail connection between Switzerland and Italy and a key goods transport route, will reopen on Monday more than a year after an accident forced its closure.The accident took place on 10 August last year when a Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) freight train derailed due to a broken wheel.The derailment caused the train to crash into the gate separating the western and eastern tunnels, causing severe damage.An investigation after the crash revealed that hairline fractures in…

The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell was diagnosed with a “very rare and aggressive form” of blood cancer a year ago.The 68-year-old keyboardist has shared the importance of getting checked out for any symptoms of the disease to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month – after he “ignored” his own.He began a lengthy post on X: “In September last year, I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma.”I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went for a scan, and after surgery, the result of the biopsy was devastating.”The musician says his prognosis is positive. Roger…

A nationwide America’s Cup Tour is bringing the Auld Mug to communities across the country over the next three weeks.Toyota New Zealand is celebrating the sport’s rich past by taking the trophy, held by Emirates Team New Zealand after victory on the Waitematā Harbour in 2021, on a nationwide road trip.From September 2 to 20, the Cup will travel 4500kms and appear in 40 locations over 19 days.It will give Kiwis a unique opportunity to connect with the storied history of the Auld Mug.Attendees will have the opportunity to sign the Emirates Team New Zealand supporters’ sail and have their…

Police have launched a homicide investigation after an eight-year-old boy critically injured in a reported violent altercation in Hamilton last night died of his injuries.Emergency services were called to the incident in Anthony Crescent, Bader at about 5.20pm on Sunday.The child who was critically injured and two other adults who were moderately and seriously injured were taken to Waikato Hospital.”Sadly, the boy died from his injuries yesterday evening,” Inspector Darrell Harpur said.Emergency services were called to the incident in Anthony Crescent, Bader at about 5.20pm on Sunday. (Source: 1News)A 37-year-old man arrested at the scene has been charged with murder…