Latest news with #KnowledgeBank
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Russia accuses Ukraine of escalating air attacks to thwart peace talks
RUSSIA HAS ACCUSED Ukraine of increasing air barrages with the aim of disrupting peace talks and said that its own massive assaults on Ukraine were a 'response' to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia. US-led efforts to force peace negotiations between the neighbours have failed to reach a breakthrough, and left president Donald Trump frustrated with both sides. Yesterday, Moscow launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the start of its 2022 full-scale offensive. 'Kyiv, with the support of some European countries, has taken a series of provocative steps to thwart negotiations initiated by Russia,' Moscow's defence ministry said, adding that the Russian army was striking Ukraine 'in response to mass Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian regions'. Russia claimed it was hitting 'only military targets' in Ukraine – but it launched an attack on Sunday that killed 13 civilians, including three children from the same family, in Ukraine's central city of Zhytomyr. Advertisement The rubble of a destroyed house in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Russian officials said they had launched the attacks after Ukraine sent 1,465 drones into Russia since 20 May. It said Russian civilians, 'including women and children', were wounded in the Ukrainian attacks, and warned that it would continue strikes 'in response to any terrorist attacks or provocations by Kyiv'. After the massive attacks on Ukraine, Trump said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had gone 'crazy', in rare criticism of the Kremlin chief. Want to know more about what's happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
On the Up: Knowledge Bank keeps Hawke's Bay story alive despite limited funding
It documents everything from family letters to records of orchards, old books, remarkable videos, sports clubs and storm recovery. Keeping the doors open and the archives running comes at a cost – dozens of volunteers and at least $100,000 a year are needed. Bainbridge says the organisation receives $30,000 a year from Hastings District Council, a small contribution from Napier City Council, and some lottery and community grants. Each year, the Knowledge Bank has to reapply, fundraise and manage how it will fund the projects. This year it's looking to spread its arms a little bit. Right now, it relies on volunteer power. About 80 people help to scan, transcribe, upload and proofread hundreds of records, pouring in about 1000 volunteer hours each month. Yet the backlog continues to grow. For every photo they capture, each click demands about three hours of work. 'At the moment we've got 70 boxes sitting in the container, and that's over 100 years of architectural history,' Bainbridge said. 'We can't start any projects without funding.' The bank is currently working on a Cyclone Gabrielle history project, capturing stories from 150 residents across Hastings affected by the devastating storm. Grant Nicholson, a six-year volunteer at the bank who is interviewing people for the project, said the experience has been deeply emotional and real. 'We don't worry about editing or saying, 'Oh, you can't say that'. We want criticism, we want the good stuff, the bad stuff and the tears stuff, and there's plenty of it.' Bainbridge said, unlike museums that prioritise notable artefacts or public institutions that focus on structural history, the Knowledge Bank's mission is to preserve stories of everyday life. 'You don't have to be important to bring your family history here.' The organisation is looking to implement a suggested donation system when accepting new collections, so the burden doesn't fall entirely on grant funding. 'We want to spread our arms and start being a little bit more self-sufficient,' Bainbridge said. The organisation is now partnering with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Hazel Belleza is one of the volunteers referred by the MSD. She has been volunteering for the bank for two months and does 40 hours a week. 'When I am at home, I get bored. Here I can get busy clicking and digitalising the books. I enjoy it,' she says. Bainbridge says the work done by the Knowledge Bank is essential. One of her favourite memories is from one of her first tasks at the Knowledge Bank when she started in 2016. She transcribed the official handbook of Hastings, published in 1929. 'There is so much information, like how many streetlights, footpaths and shops. It talks about Cornwall Park and about how they've got monkeys in the zoo there. And how it was going to be a world-renowned zoo. 'They had all these great ambitions and plans about how Hastings was going to be. And then we had the earthquake in 1931, and it totally devastated the landscape. I often think about it.' Bainbridge says that despite any financial struggle, they will keep fighting to preserve the Bay's memories. 'If we don't continue to preserve these stories, they're going to be lost.'
