Have Your Say

President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s statement on the terrorist attack by the Kiev regime on the Starobelsk Pedagogical College on May 22:

The statement was made during President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s meeting with graduates of the first cohort of the Time of Heroes educational programme.
On May 22, the neo-Nazi regime that seized power in Kiev carried out a terrorist attack on the student dormitory of the Starobelsk Pedagogical College. At night, while the students were asleep.

According to the reports I have been receiving throughout this time, as of now, six people have been killed, 39 injured, and 15 are listed as missing, as debris removal continues. We will, of course, do everything to help the victims and the families of those killed.

I want to stress – this is important – that there are no military facilities, no intelligence or related service facilities near the dormitory. Therefore, there are no grounds whatsoever to claim that the projectiles hit the building as a result of our air defence or electronic warfare systems. No one can say that they were trying to strike some other facility, while the UAVs were allegedly intercepted by our own systems and accidentally hit this building.
The strike was not accidental: it came in three waves, with 16 UAVs hitting the same site.
Of course, we will investigate the details. The appropriate conclusions will be drawn. But it is clear to us – and once again becomes obvious – who we are dealing with, who we are fighting, and what we are fighting for. This is a manifestation of neo-Nazism. It once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.

The reasons behind the Kiev regime’s criminal conduct are clear. Constant failures at the front, surrendering positions, populated areas and territories.
For the AFU, the situation at the front is gradually turning from difficult and critical into catastrophic. Neither Western aid – which is regularly stolen, they simply cannot resist stealing it – nor forced mobilisation helps, when people are rounded up in the streets like stray dogs and then thrown to the front. Against this backdrop, desertion is also growing catastrophically for the enemy. It is becoming large-scale.

The situation for the ruling clique is further aggravated by all-consuming corruption that is corroding society and is covered up by the regime’s ringleaders. In fact, they themselves are part of these corruption schemes, which is why they later help one another flee the country and escape to Israel and other countries abroad.
Everyone knows perfectly well – both in Ukraine and around the world – that the Ukrainian authorities steal from absolutely everything. It has even reached military property and personal protective equipment intended for those very people who are driven to the front like cattle – driven to die for those who are plundering Ukraine and foreign aid.
The Kiev regime undoubtedly needs such crimes in order to divert attention from what is happening at the front and inside the country, to provoke a response from Russia, and then – as we know, and have seen many times before – to blame everything on us, on Russia, on our country: all escalations and all consequences of such crimes.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has been instructed to inform international organisations and the international community about this crime.
But, of course, you and I understand that in such cases, MFA statements alone cannot suffice. Therefore, Russia’s Defence Ministry has been ordered to submit its proposals.

I would now ask everyone to rise and honour the memory of those who were killed (a minute of silence).
Read in full: http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79814See less

Tait Communications and AI agritech start-up Hectre were among the big winners at the Hi-Tech Awards 2026.
The gala dinner event was held at Auckland’s Spark Arena with a record 1300 attendees from the industry.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Penny Simmonds, Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer and Labour leader Chris Hipkins were also on hand.
The political firepower was a measure of the industry’s rise.

The top 200 New Zealand-founded technology companies generated revenues that rose 9.9% to $20 billion last year, according to the Technology Investment Network’s measure – albeit with a 12.4% fall in the local tech workforce as offshore hiring grew.
Christchurch-based Tait Communications, founded by Sir Angus Tait in 1969, was named Company of the Year.
“While Tait was founded 57 years ago, the company continues to innovate on the global stage and move at speed – not an easy achievement for such a well-established company,” the panel of international judges said.

“Tait is coming off a phenomenal year, passing the half-billion-dollar revenue mark.
“It grew organically and by acquisition, expanding into new countries and introduced technically advanced new products, and it competes strongly on the world stage.”

The maker of radio communications gear has had a focus on keeping manufacturing local at its sprawling Christchurch campus.
Its biggest growth spurt in recent times came over 2023 and 2024 as revenue jumped from $421.6m to $426.6m on Tait’s acquisition of distressed Australian player RFI.
In 2025, Tait made a net profit of $44.1m on $516m revenue.
October last year saw the Christchurch firm buy NZX-listed struggler Vital in a deal worth $18m.
Tait has itself been the subject of acquisition. In 2018, Japan’s JVC Kenwood received Overseas Investment Office approval to acquire 40% of the Christchurch firm, with the option to acquire the remaining 60% at a future date.

It has yet to do so; the Sir Angus Tait Trust still owns a majority of the shares.
Tait’s customers in 150 countries include the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London’s 10,000-strong bus fleet, and various public safety agencies and utilities across the United States.
But one of its biggest projects has been at home with its involvement in the $1b-plus Public Safety Network overhaul of emergency communications. Tait took full control of the behind-schedule project in 2024 as Kordia was reduced to subcontractor status.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/hi-tech-awards-2026-tait-communications-and-hectre-among-big-winners/CSQHISDHQVAKXOGOFQ4XQRESQI/

Theres a lot more on there.