Author: Press Room

ADVERTISEMENT Economists are keeping a close eye on the French political arena ahead of the 8 September vote of confidence, which could lead to the resignation of the government. Prime Minister François Bayrou has pledged the government’s confidence in an attempt to win MPs over to his budget recovery plan. France could be set to get its third government in a year, instability that does not please the markets. “Clearly, the markets are watching the situation and thinking about what it could mean. And of course, if the political turmoil were to worsen, that could put pressure on French bond…

Global Women chief executive Katie Bhreatnach describes studying at the University of Otago as a key life choice that has helped shape her career. In Dunedin recently for a Global Women event, she talks to business editor  Sally Rae. Katie Bhreatnach is a big believer in keeping it real. As she sat talking in her car outside a stadium where her youngest daughter was playing basketball in the Aims Games this week, she reflected back 16 years when she was a breastfeeding, working mother. While people often implied doing that was impressive, she was ‘‘real’’ about the challenges of juggling a newborn and a…

MetService says to expect “yo-yoing temperatures” typical of spring across the country this weekend.MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris: “People shouldn’t expect the weather they’ve got on Saturday morning to last throughout the weekend.”Orange rain and wind warnings were in place for Canterbury’s High Country.Showers in Fiordland and Westland on Friday would move northward, bringing a wet Saturday morning for the North Island.Thunderstorms were forecast to remain around the South Island’s southwest areas.MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said there was a chance more watches and warnings could be added to the list over the weekend. (Source: Breakfast)Ferris said those going to the All…

ADVERTISEMENT France is bracing for potential disruptions on 10 September — two days after a planned no-confidence vote in the government — after calls for a nationwide shutdown by fringe online groups gained the backing of mainstream political parties. The viral push for mass demonstrations and an all-out boycott of services is seen as a response to deeply controversial austerity measures unveiled by Prime Minister François Bayrou in July, which would see two public holidays axed and social benefits and pensions frozen. It’s triggered a political crisis, with Bayrou’s government likely to be toppled in a no-confidence vote next Monday.…

A last-ditch plea to discuss options to retain Tasman’s Eves Valley sawmill was snubbed by its owners Carter Holt Harvey, Nelson’s mayor says.It has been confirmed that the sawmill near Nelson would close, resulting in the loss of more than 140 jobs.Tasman mayor Tim King and his Nelson counterpart Nick Smith had appealed to the company to delay the closure for a year so the ‘wall of wood’ left behind from winter storms could be salvaged.But the union E tū said the company had confirmed it would close its operations from next month after staff were called to a meeting…

Published on 01/09/2025 – 12:41 GMT+2 •Updated 03/09/2025 – 18:27 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Russia has been accused of jamming the GPS of the airplane carrying Ursula von der Leyen during her official visit to Bulgaria on Sunday. The incident was first reported by the Financial Times. “We can confirm there was GPS jamming, but the plane landed safely in Bulgaria. We have received information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia,” a Commission spokesperson said on Monday. “We are aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are a regular…

The mother of a missing woman last seen in Auckland more than two weeks ago has made a plea for her daughter to be returned home safely. Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving SkyCity on August 21 at around 5.06am on August 21, having left all her belongings at the hotel.Today, Pomana’s mother, Catherine Anderson, travelled from Dunedin to help with the search for her daughter. Te Anihana Beau Pomana’s mother Catherine Anderson. (Source: 1News)”We are here because we are determined to find her,” Anderson said. She described Pomana as a “much-loved daughter, sister, aunty, niece, friend…

Published on 01/09/2025 – 16:10 GMT+2 •Updated 02/09/2025 – 10:46 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT French MEP Rima Hassan has told Euronews she’s “honoured” by the controversial decision of students at Brussels Free University (ULB) faculty of law to name their graduating class after her. The decision by the students to name their class after Hassan, a politician of Palestinian origin born in a refugee camp and raised in France, has sparked protests in Belgium and France, where at the request of the Home Secretary, the Paris public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into her for “glorifying terrorism”. In June, she made headlines…

A major shake-up of Auckland Transport has been confirmed, with its core focus to be delivering public transport services for the city. The changes, which had previously been signalled, will make Auckland Council responsible for all transport policy and planning work, the road controlling authority, and deliver transport capital projects while maintaining transport infrastructure.It will also establish the Auckland Regional Transport Committee, which will comprise of both Auckland Council elected members and Ministerial appointees, alongside an independent chair.“Auckland Transport will become a smaller transport council-controlled-organisation so it can focus on its core role of delivering high-quality public transport services for…

Published on 02/09/2025 – 6:38 GMT+2 •Updated 9:03 ADVERTISEMENT Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, set to open on 9 September, according to Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. “Palestine will be recognized by Belgium during the UN session! And firm sanctions are being imposed on the Israeli government,” Prévot announced in a post on X. Belgium’s top diplomat revealed that the government will implement 12 sanctions on Israel at the national level following what is unfolding as a “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine” and in response to violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of…