Wednesday, April 22

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Wellington’s The Hudson to close next month for refurbishments
Business

Wellington’s The Hudson to close next month for refurbishments

Photo: Supplied / Google Maps Wellington's The Hudson bar is the next in line to close next month as businesses in the capital face challenging times. A staff member confirmed to RNZ The Hudson will close on 11 October for refurbishments and is expected to reopen sometime next year. They said the plan is to upgrade furniture and repaint the establishment. They said The Hudson is still in the process of debating whether it will keep its same name or rebrand. Source link
Taylor Swift’s Harris endorsement draws 9 million ‘likes’
World News

Taylor Swift’s Harris endorsement draws 9 million ‘likes’

Taylor Swift backed Kamala Harris for president in a post on Instagram. Photo: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen / ANP MAG / ANP via AFP By Kanishka Singh, Reuters Pop megastar Taylor Swift drew more than 9 million "likes" to her Instagram post backing Vice President Kamala Harris for president from celebrities that included Jennifer Aniston, US basketball star Caitlin Clark and Selena Gomez. Soon after Harris, a Democrat, finished debating her Republican rival Donald Trump on Tuesday night, Swift, 34, told her 283 million followers that Harris and running mate Tim Walz would get her vote in the 5 November election. Her post encouraged first-time voters to be sure to register for the election, and a US General Services Administration spokesperson reported on Wednesday receiving 337,826 visitors at ...
What the energy shortage shows about future power supply
Business

What the energy shortage shows about future power supply

Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer New Zealand's recent energy shortage sparked several urgent conversations about increasing supply to shore up security in dry years. And with EVs and industry electrification expected to push up demand going forward, the country could be looking at a renewable energy boom. But getting the projects from proposal to operational was key, and sector experts say New Zealand is a long way off an energy system that is comprised entirely of renewable sources. The government wants to reduce processing times for consents, but according to economist Geoff Bertram, there are bigger issues at play. "The incumbents, the people who already own the system, have no incentive to expand their capacity beyond the point where there is an ongoing scarcity of supply which keeps th...
The Jubilee effect! Aparshakti Khurana says, ‘Scripts coming my way show…`
Entertainment, Movies

The Jubilee effect! Aparshakti Khurana says, ‘Scripts coming my way show…`

When Aparshakti Khurana had auditioned for Vikramaditya Motwane’s Jubilee (2022), little did he know that it had earned him another project in Berlin. After all, Atul Sabharwal, who has directed ZEE5’s upcoming bureaucratic thriller, also served as the writer of Jubilee and was privy to the actor’s audition. “Atul sir had seen my Jubilee audition. So, the first time we met for Jubilee readings, we began talks for Berlin,” recalls Khurana.  For the actor, Berlin—also starring Rahul Bose, Ishwak Singh and Anupriya Goenka—was an easy yes as the thriller’s style and world building was novel. “The moment Atul sir narrated Berlin, I asked him for the script and finished reading it the same day. It was a world I had not heard of or seen before.” Khurana’s career took a turn two years ago when h...
Smiling King Charles accepts ‘healing’ group hug from Black Ferns
World News

Smiling King Charles accepts ‘healing’ group hug from Black Ferns

King Charles III was hug-bombed by the New Zealand women's rugby team at a Buckingham Palace reception. Rugby world cup champion Ayesha Leti-I'iga asked the King for a hug at the reception. "A hug? Why not?" Charles said. A group hug followed with other members of the Black Ferns joining in and embracing the monarch. A visibly amused Charles said: "I've been battered by a scrum." Later Charles paid tribute to the team. Britain's King Charles III poses for a photograph with members of New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby team at Buckingham Palace, 2024. Photo: AFP "I much appreciated this chance to meet you and to have such a warm hug from most of you, very healing." Charles told the team he was split in his loyalties ahead of their game this weekend. "I hope that you have great success......
UN Palestinian refugee agency says six staffers killed in two air strikes in Gaza
World News

UN Palestinian refugee agency says six staffers killed in two air strikes in Gaza

A member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) checks the courtyard of the Al-Jawni (Jaouni) school after an Israeli air strike hit the site, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on 11 September 2024, amid the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. Photo: AFP / EYAD BABA The UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said six staffers were killed after two air strikes hit a school in central Gaza on Wednesday, marking what it said was the highest death toll among its staff in a single incident. "Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members providing assistance to displaced people," UNRWA said on X. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army said in a statement that it conducted a strike on a comma...
In Kyiv, US and UK diplomats offer aid but no breakthrough on strikes into Russia
World News

In Kyiv, US and UK diplomats offer aid but no breakthrough on strikes into Russia

By Daphne Psaledakis and Olena Harmash, Reuters US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L), Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (C) and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy (R) attend a joint press conference following their talks in Kyiv on 11 September 2024, amid the Russian invasion on Ukraine. Photo: AFP / ANATOLII STEPANOV The US and British foreign ministers met President Volodymyr Zelensky on a visit interrupted by air raid warnings, unveiling new support but no breakthrough on the long-range strikes into Russia that are desperately wanted by Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British foreign minister David Lammy, in Kyiv at a critical juncture in Ukraine's struggle against Russia, said they talked about Ukraine's war goals and what they could do to help. ...
Mortgage brokers push back on Commerce Commission advice to present multiple offers
Business

Mortgage brokers push back on Commerce Commission advice to present multiple offers

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson Mortgage brokers are concerned a Commerce Commission suggestion they present buyers with at least three bank offers could end up making things harder for borrowers. In its final report into the banking sector, the commission said mortgage advisers needed to "become champions of price competition" and where possible they should present clients with at least three actual offers from lenders. They should also highlight to clients any banks they were not able to work with, as well as the interest rates that might be available there. The commission said about two-thirds of new home lending by value was happening through mortgage advisers. In 2014, it was just under 30 percent. Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said the suggestion the adviser should pre...
Hunter Valley bus crash driver Brett Andrew Button sentenced to 32 years in jail
World News

Hunter Valley bus crash driver Brett Andrew Button sentenced to 32 years in jail

By Giselle Wakatama, Carly Cook and Bridget Murphy, ABC News Flowers were left at the scene of the bus crash. Photo: AFP / SAEED KHAN A judge has said a Hunter Valley bus driver abandoned responsibility and engaged in risky behaviour in the lead up to a fatal crash, as he handed him a 32-year jail sentence. Brett Andrew Button, 59, was driving wedding guests from the Hunter Valley vineyards to Singleton on 11 June last year when the bus rolled and hit a guard rail at Greta. Button was originally charged with 10 counts of manslaughter but those charges were later downgraded to dangerous driving occasioning death after a plea deal was done with the Department of Public Prosecutions. He had also pleaded guilty to dozens of charges relating to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodil...
She was running Move it Mama – then her husband got cancer and life turned upside down
Business

She was running Move it Mama – then her husband got cancer and life turned upside down

Lisa Fong built a business based on exercise making you feel good. Then she realised she might have to change her tune. Photo: Stacey Cavalier By Emily Brookes Lisa Fong has "banged on" about how women should take time to exercise to make themselves feel good. She's built a successful business out of it. The 41-year-old is known to many as the founder of Move It Mama, the virtual fitness platform that began when she was at home in Christchurch with four boys under five, doing high intensity workouts by herself. "My arms were drawn like an octopus because I had so many children, so it was the only thing I could do to pick myself up and get a bit of a boost just for me." Move It Mama has a thriving online community of women trying to fit exercise into their lives. Photo: Supplied Wh...