Author: Press Room

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died today. She was 88.She died at home surrounded by her family, publicist Elaine Schock said in a statement. Flack announced in 2022 she had ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and could no longer sing,Little known before her early 30s, Flack became an overnight star after Clint Eastwood used The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face as the soundtrack for one of cinema’s more memorable and explicit…

An Auckland woman almost lost a deposit for her first home after scammers posed as her lawyers by using detailed information to trick her. It’s an example of the type of sophisticated email impersonation scams Netsafe says are becoming increasingly complex.Auckland woman Anna Strong was told by scammers to transfer her $41,000 deposit into an intermediary account late last year and, by the time she realised something was wrong — and that it wasn’t her lawyers’ account — it was too late.”I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a gut-punch moment,” she said.Looking back through her emails, she found just…

The centre-right party’s leader Friedrich Merz said CDU and SPD are to enter talks to form a coalition, one day after the German election on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENTTalks between the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) are to begin within the next couple of days, CDU leader Friedrich Merz announced during a press conference in Berlin on Monday.Merz said that initial talks about establishing a black-red coalition have already taken place and aims for the new government to be formed by Easter, which this year falls on 20 April.He highlighted his goal of steering Germany out of its economic…

Analysis: The naval exercise in international waters off the coast of Australia sends signals about China’s role and influence in the Pacific, says Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law at the University of Waikato.The appearance of three Chinese naval vessels firing live rounds in the Tasman Sea has caused understandable alarm in New Zealand and Australia. But this has more to do with the geopolitical context than the actual event.In fact, the Chinese navy is allowed to conduct exercises in the Tasman and has wide freedoms on the high seas in general. So far, China appears to be acting in accordance…

A whole host of world leaders convened in Kyiv on Monday to mark the third anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTVolodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine will insist that a tribunal be set up to hold those responsible for the war accountable “even when we go to diplomacy”, as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fourth year. “When we speak about just peace, it is difficult to find what is just about this war. We will never forget and we cannot forget. These people will answer,” the Ukrainian President said in response to a question…

A special summit of European leaders is to be held on 6 March. ADVERTISEMENTThe EU’s top diplomat said on Monday that she is “optimistic” leaders will quickly agree on fresh money to boost short-term military aid to Ukraine as Europe grapples with being sidelined from talks to end Russia’s three-year-old war against its neighbour.”Ministers broadly supported the new initiative for military aid for Ukraine, and of course, the details, and especially the numbers, will be decided and discussed at the extraordinary European summit on 6 March,” Kaja Kallas told reporters after a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels.The meeting,…

Nelson Airport is one step closer to extending its runway despite mounting opposition from the local community with one business saying it’s likely to go to the Environment Court. Nelson Airport today gave notice to the council of the plan to extend the main runway in the next 10-15 years. The plan would move the runway around 370m towards Tāhunanui. Airport chief executive Brendan Cook, who started in October, said the extension was important for the local economy. “It’s really important that as we grow naturally in the future and our passenger numbers increase as the population grows and business…

This week’s key events presented by Euronews’ head of EU news, Jeremy Fleming-Jones. Key diary datesWednesday 26 February – Commission to publish Action Plan for Affordable Energy and Clean Industrial Deal.Wednesday 26 February – Commission to publish ‘omnibus’ package to lighten reporting requirements for businesses.Thursday 27 February – College of Commissioners to visit India to launch negotiations for a strategic partnership.In spotlightADVERTISEMENTThis week’s publication by the Commission of its ‘omnibus’ proposal – set to contain measures designed to clip back at onerous reporting obligations for business – will likely chime with Germany’s new political landscape.European People’s Party lead environment MEP…

Firefighters are battling an “uncontrolled” scrub fire in a Northland coastal settlement this afternoon, which Fire and Emergency says has endangered local properties.Crews received multiple calls reporting the fire in Ngunguru at around 3.30pm.”There are 11 crews at the scene, and approximately 44 fire fighters in attendance. Three helicopters are also fighting the blaze,” a Fire and Emergency (FENZ) spokesperson said.They added that firefighters were battling the blaze from one side while helicopters handled the other side. FENZ said the fire was currently endangering properties. One resident told 1News that several locals have left their homes as a precaution.A fire…

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell between Q3 2023 and Q3 2024, mostly due to reductions in the electricity and gas supply chain. ADVERTISEMENTGreenhouse gas emissions in the EU decreased by 0.6% between the third quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024, totalling 767 million tonnes, Eurostat has reported.Emissions went down in 16 out of 27 member states, most notably in Austria (-7.8%), Hungary (-3.3%) and Denmark (-2.8%). On the other end of the spectrum, Lithuania reported the highest increase (+7.8%), followed by Luxembourg with 6.6% and Sweden with 6%. Results hampered by rise in water supply and wasteThe…