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By Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov, Reuters Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence / SUPPLIED Russia says it has detained an Uzbek man who had confessed to planting and detonating a bomb which killed a top general, Igor Kirillov, in Moscow on the instructions of Ukraine's SBU security service. Kirillov, who was chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside his apartment building on Tuesday along with his assistant when a bomb attached to an electric scooter went off. He is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated in Russia by Ukraine. Ukraine's SBU intelligence service took responsibility for the killing after Ukrain...

Rescuers search damaged buildings in Vanuatu for anyone trapped after the 7.3 earthquake. Photo: Supplied / Vanuatu Police Force There are warnings the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu for people trapped in collapsed buildings. The government confirmed yesterday at least 14 people had died, though a former Vanuatu prime minister said officials told him that had already risen to 19. Hundreds more were injured. International military and emergency support was on the way, including from New Zealand. But access was difficult with the international airport still closed for commercial flights. Follow RNZ's liveblog for the latest updates: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every w...

Vanuatu seasonal workers check into a hotel in Nadi to await the resumption of commercial airline services to Port Vila. December 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins Dozens of Vanuatu workers returning home from working on orchards and vineyards in New Zealand are stuck in Fiji with commercial flights yet to resume to the quake-stricken country. Local authorities said on Wednesday the Bauerfield International Airport would likely remain closed until at least Saturday. Similar scenes were playing out for their colleagues across the ditch, with Australian airlines the first to announce the cancellation of flights to Port Vila. RNZ Pacific caught up with a cohort of more than 80 workers trying to sort out their accommodation for the night at the Grand Melanesian Hotel in Nadi. Danson Kir...

A damaged building after a strike in the city of Zaporizhzhia on 10 December, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: HANDOUT Far from their homes in one of the world's most isolated and secretive states, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers find themselves at the centre of Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. Little is known about the North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in its devastating yearslong war in Ukraine - or what exactly they will be ordered to do - and their presence hasn't even been officially acknowledged by Moscow or Pyongyang. US, Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence says the North Koreans have already engaged in combat operations, joining a Russian force of tens of thousands to carry out an assault on Ukrainian positions in Russia's western Kur...

As the search for those feared trapped continues, New Zealand Defence Force is among those from several countries being sent to assist. Photo: AFP / NZ Defence Force / Sgt Maria Eves New Zealand emergency workers from both the Defence Force and Fire and Emergency are joining the race to save those trapped under buildings that have collapsed in Port Vila after a 7.3 earthquake hit Vanuatu. There are fears some remain trapped under landslides also. The death toll climbed to 14 on Wednesday while at least 200 are being treated for injuries. Two Chinese nationals were among the fatalities, the Chinese ambassador told Reuters. There were concerns for two New Zealand embassy staff who were unaccounted for overnight but they were safe, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced this mor...

By Maki Shiraki and Norihiko Shirouzu, Reuters A combined Honda and Nissan would create a $54 billion company. Photo: 123RF Honda and Nissan face competition from Tesla and Chinese EV makers. Merger would create $54 billion company, world's number 3 auto group by vehicle sales. Honda, Nissan also exploring ways to cooperate with Mitsubishi - source. Honda and Nissan are in talks to deepen ties, two people said on Wednesday, including a possible merger, the clearest sign yet of how Japan's once seemingly unbeatable auto industry is being reshaped by challenges from Tesla and Chinese rivals. A combined Honda and Nissan would create a $54 billion company with annual output of 7.4 million vehicles, making it the world's third-largest auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota and Volkswa...