Author: Press Room

When Kateryna Polishchuk began her studies to become an opera singer, she could have never imagined that one day she would be performing surgery without anaesthesia on a wounded soldier while hiding away in a bombed-out steel plant.But Russia’s war in Ukraine made the unthinkable possible.”The hell I went through in Azovstal – it cannot be dreamed by anybody or shown in any action film,” Polishchuk told Euronews. “Not even (Quentin) Tarantino would know how to make such a film.”The 21-year-ago paramedic was among the Ukrainian contingent that defended the Azovstal plant during the three-month siege of Mariupol. The industrial…

European Council President Charles Michel called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to exert his influence over Russia to end its war on Ukraine.The meeting between the two men in Beijing on Thursday lasted more than three hours and also touched upon human rights, Taiwan, trade relations and climate change.”I urged President Xi, as we did at our EU China summit in April, to use his influence on Russia to respect the UN charter,” Michel told a press conference.His spokesman had earlier said that “both leaders stressed that nuclear threats are irresponsible and highly dangerous.”Xi was quoted by state broadcaster CCTV…

Tired of standard travel itineraries and average service?COVID led us to re-assess practically everything about our lives, including our travel habits. After months of being trapped indoors dreaming up our future travels, cookie-cutter itineraries simply won’t cut it anymore.Travel has always been about personal experience, but the industry must now prepare to take things a step further.With the cost of living – and travel – increasing, holidaymakers want their trips to be transformative, not throwaway. This meansthink-outside-the-box adventures that are personalised in virtually every way. Hyper-personalised, if you will.Going the extra mile will mean far more than a hotel offering a complimentary…

CNN  —  A new expanded law on “foreign agents” in Russia comes into force Thursday, signifying an intensifying crackdown on free speech and opposition under President Vladimir Putin that has accelerated as his fortunes in Ukraine have deteriorated. It’s also further evidence of Russia’s determination to root out what it sees as Western liberal values, coming in the same week Russia’s parliament sent a bill expanding a ban on what it calls “propaganda” of LGBT issues to Putin’s desk. The 2012 law on Foreign Agents, passed after a wave of public protests against Putin’s return to the presidency, required organizations…

Boston CNN  —  The new Prince and Princess of Wales touched down in Boston Wednesday ahead of the second iteration of the Earthshot Prize Awards later this week, in their first trip to the United States since 2014. The couple flew into the city on a commercial flight as controversy erupted back home, after an aide resigned following “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” remarks to a Black executive visiting Buckingham Palace earlier this week. Lady Susan Hussey – a godmother to Prince William who served as Queen Elizabeth II’s lady in waiting for six decades – was identified by British media…

Less than 24 hours before the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team plays the Netherlands on Dec. 3, the team revealed that one of its star players, midfielder Christian Pulisic, who was injured earlier in the week, will play in the upcoming World Cup 2022 game.”UPDATE: Christian Pulisic has been cleared to play in tomorrow’s match versus Netherlands,” the Dec. 2 tweet from the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team explained.During the American team’s last match against Iran on Nov. 29, Pulisic scored the winning (and only) goal, but he collided with the goalie in the process, sustaining a pelvic contusion. Afterward,…

A group of astronomers is speaking out about the impact of a large satellite designed to connect directly with mobile phones. In a Monday statement, the International Astronomical Union Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU) said that the AST SpaceMobile BlueWalker 3 prototype satellite is now one of the brightest objects in the night sky – outshining all but the brightest stars. In addition, the scientists warned that the use of terrestrial radio frequencies poses a “new challenge to radio astronomy.””BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue and should…

Shay Mooney feeling healthier than ever.The singer and his Dan + Shay bandmate Dan Smyers stopped by the TODAY show’s Studio 1A on Wednesday to perform and catch up with the TODAY crew. At one point during the interview, co-host Craig Melvin couldn’t help but point out the duo’s new look.“You’ve always been very handsome, but it looks like you’ve both dropped like half of Dan and half of Shay,” he said, making the musicians chuckle.Smyers jokingly replied, “It’s all going to go out the window in New York City. You walk down the street, there’s pizza everywhere.”Mooney agreed, adding, “There’s…

The European Commission has proposed revised EU rules to reduce packaging, make it reusable and boost recycling.As part of the proposal, one of the key targets is to make packaging fully recyclable by 2030, the EU executive said in a statement.The Commission proposes banning certain types of single-use packaging for food and beverages in restaurants and fresh fruits and vegetables as well as banning miniature packing for shampoo or in hotels.The goal is to reduce packaging waste by 15% by 2040 per EU country based on population, compared to 2018.”The way goods are packaged can and should be done a…

Rail strikes that have caused travel chaos this year look set to continue in 2023.Walkout dates have already been announced for this December and January next year.Many travellers are now choosing trains over flying in an effort to reduce the impact on the environment. So what can you do if your flight-free travel plans are disrupted?Here’s what you should know about your passenger rights during a rail strike in the UK and EU.Where can you find information about train strikes?If you are travelling within the UK, make sure you check the National Rail website for travel information.You will find updates…