Author: Press Room

Ukrainian soldier Yevhenii spoke exclusively to Euronews about his journey from DJing to the front lines, sharing how music provides solace amid the chaos of war. ADVERTISEMENTWhen Russia’s full-scale invasion started in February 2022, Yevhenii called his mother, saying: “Mum, I’m leaving Kyiv. Missiles are striking all around me. It’s deafening.” In her calm and typical way, she replied: “Alright, son, I’m makingborshch. We’ll be waiting for you.” Today, he chuckles at the memory. Before the war, he worked as a DJ and dancer, but his life was to change drastically in 2022. When Russia started attacking Ukraine, many were faced…

Two people have been injured, one critically, after an assault in Auckland’s Papatoetoe this afternoon.Police said they were called to a commercial address on East Tamaki Rd at around 1.19pm.”Two people had been reportedly injured with a weapon (not a firearm),” a spokesperson said in a statement.Hato Hone St John said it responded to the scene with two ambulances at 1.13pm.”Two patients have been transported to Middlemore Hospital, one in a critical condition and one in a moderate condition.”Police said they were making a “number of inquiries” to locate those believed to be involved.Anyone with relevant information should contact police…

A controversial housing development north of Wellington has been granted resource consent.The Plimmerton Farm project in Porirua seeks to build 2400 new homes in addition to a commercial area, retirement village, and school.It has been widely criticised by environmental groups amid concerns about runoff into the wetland, known as Taupō Swamp.The project — earmarked by the Labour government for fast-track consenting under the Covid-19 Recovery legislation — received the green light to be included in the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill last month.At the time, Porirua mayor Anita Baker, a longtime advocate for the project, said the region was in desperate…

The new aid package includes weapons that will be pulled from existing US stockpiles, including air defence interceptors for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and munitions for HIMARS rocket systems. ADVERTISEMENTThe Pentagon has said it will send an additional $425 million (€392 million) in military assistance to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares to face Russian forces augmented by more than 10,000 North Korean troops.The new aid package, announced by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, includes weapons that will be pulled from existing US stockpiles, including air defence interceptors for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and…

The majority of submissions made about a McDonald’s restaurant opening in Wānaka are not lovin’ it.Consent is being sought to open a 455 square-metre restaurant at the Wānaka-Luggate Highway, with a drive-thru operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Of the 366 submissions made to the Queenstown Lakes District Council, 339 were opposed, 21 were in support, and six wanted changes.One hundred and six people have agreed to speak at a meeting later in November.Wao Aotearoa Charitable Trust, strongly opposed to the idea, had concerns about the visual and aesthetic impact on the town.”The proposed site is highly visible…

Further north in Sumy, a nine-storey building was hit by a Russian air strike on Friday evening, injuring at least five. ADVERTISEMENTAt least one police officer has been killed and 40 other people injured in Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.The Prosecutor General’s office said in a statement that a location used by police officers had been hit, without clarifying what exactly it was.”At 16:00, the enemy struck twice at the Osnovianskyi district of Kharkiv. They hit a private residential area. The explosion destroyed two private houses, damaged five private houses, damaged the facades of five multi-storey buildings…

Rapper Young Thug is a free man after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges.About two-and-a-half-years after he was arrested on the charges in a sprawling gang and racketeering indictment, Young Thug was released from custody Thursday evening (local time). It was a remarkable development in a trial that’s dragged on and been plagued by problems.Jury selection at the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta began in January 2023 and took nearly 10 months. Prosecutors had called dozens of witnesses since opening statements last November in the trial of six defendants.Here are some things to know about the plea:Who is…

Massey University will stop funding its Students’ Association from next year — a move that the student body says will set an alarming precedent for the future of independent student unionism in New Zealand.It said it meant they would be silenced from speaking out against Massey University.Te Tira Ahu Pae — Massey University’s Students’ Association — currently provides independent representation, advocacy, clubs and events, however Massey University said it would continue to provide these services itself.In a statement to RNZ, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of students and global engagement Dr Tere McGonagle-Daly said the university had not “axed funding” to the student…

Shane Jones wants international coral limits reviewed to avoid bans on fishing when bottom trawlers haul up more than the rules allow.The comments from the Oceans and Fisheries Minister come in the wake of a New Zealand vessel catching more than double the legal amount of 15kg of coral.It triggered an automatic suspension of fishing in the Lord Howe area of the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia until at least 2026.Jones told RNZ he was “astounded a trifling amount of 37kg has been catastrophised”.”We need to revisit what’s an acceptable amount to extract accidentally when harvesting.”He told RNZ…

By Tess Brunton of RNZ Cruise leaders say last season injected more than $1.3 billion into the economy, but they are concerned rising costs now have cruise lines looking elsewhere. An industry-commissioned report, released on Friday, aimed to provide the first comprehensive picture of New Zealand’s cruise economy. The report showed passengers, crew and cruise lines directly spent $637 million last financial year, with indirect or induced spend of close to $730 million. But it was not all smooth sailing, with the industry warning millions of dollars could be in jeopardy as it grapples with high costs and regulations. Close to…