Author: Press Room

Published on 17/10/2025 – 16:44 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The European Commission has called on Israel to lift restrictions on the delivery of aid to Gaza, one week after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into force. The agreement, brokered by US President Donald Trump, stipulates that Israel must grant passage to 600 aid trucks daily. So far, Israel has limited the flow of aid with authorities only allowing the entry of half the agreed-upon amount daily. Israel says that’s in response to Hamas allegedly breaching the truce agreement by returning the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages too slowly. For instance,…

Liquidators are counting up the debts of Christchurch glass and plastic jar supplier Croftpak Ltd as estimates climb to more than $914,000. Unsecured creditors are unlikely to be repaid as the company is short on funds to cover debts to 39 creditors. Rodgers Reidy insolvency practitioners Lynda Smart and Derek Ah Sam were appointed liquidators of the company by shareholder Gregory Croft on October 1 and have put out a first report. The company, formed in 2003, has ceased trading, with the liquidators taking possession of assets to be sold. Mr Croft, who is the sole director, told them the…

If you fixed your home loan more than a few months ago, you might have mixed feelings as you watch interest rates continue to fall.While interest rates are likely to stay low through next year, you might worry you are missing out on some potential savings right now.From an average 5.59% for special one-year rates in January, banks are now offering rates below 4.5%.So what can you do if you now have rate regret?You really only have two options: Wait it out or break your fixed term.If you break a fixed term, this will come at a cost.The bank is…

ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin is coming to Budapest. At least, that is what the invitation says. After a lengthy phone call with Donald Trump on Thursday, the leaders of the United States and Russia tentatively agreed to meet in the EU and NATO capital sometime in the near future to discuss a possible end to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whether that tête-à-tête happens is still unclear, but the news itself sent shockwaves across capitals, as the trip could mark Putin’s first intrusion into the European Union’s territory since early 2020 and further undercut the Western effort to isolate him. But…

A St John worker who helped with the response to 2019’s Whakaari / White Island eruption says he had trouble sleeping for weeks after.At the Coronial Inquest into the disaster, which killed 22 people, he said what happpened was “a very challenging time”.”During the event I don’t think it really hit hit me until after the event, I didn’t sleep for quite a few weeks very well at all,” he said.The staffer, who was working on the St John Air Desk which coordinates and dispatches air rescues, cannot be identified.”I kept replaying over in my head, what decisions have been…

ADVERTISEMENT The Party of European Socialists (PES) has expelled the Slovak prime minister Robert Fico’s party from its political group in the European Parliament. The Socialist group’s assembly took the decision unanimously on Friday and it was announced by Secretary General Giacomo Fillibeck during the Socialist Congress in Amsterdam. “Smer has been taking over the past couple of years political positioning that contradicts severely and deeply the values and the principles our family stands for,” he said. “The message is clear: if you belong to the PES family, you share the same values we all do.” The move has been…

The Health Minister is standing by his criticism of doctors as the feud over a mega strike escalates, and says he might consider a law change.Simeon Brown has accused doctors of “crossing an ethical line” with industrial action that “was hurting patients” during a speech at the senior doctors’ annual conference.That’s angered doctors, who are set to strike over pay and conditions next week.However, leading patient advocate Malcolm Mulholland said the minister’s comments on a possible law change were “pathetic”.”I think the reason why our doctors and our nurses are striking is because there’s just simply not enough staff. I…

ADVERTISEMENT The need to ramp up basic defence equipment like rifles and small-calibre ammunition is not being discussed enough by EU policymakers with big-ticket weapon systems like counter-drone measures and missiles too often receiving all the focus and money, the head of Beretta told Euronews. Most of the Italian company’s business is civilian, for hunting essentially, but defence and law enforcement have been gaining ground over the past four years, now accounting for a third of sales. Europe has seen a surge in defence spending since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The EU put forward…

The future of the Manawanui wreckage and potential compensation payments remain a major talking point in Samoa.The Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground on a reef off the south coast of Upolu in October last year and sank.New Zealand paid NZ$6 million to the Samoan government over it, however communities are yet to see any money.Tafitoala village has been directly affected by the maritime disaster.Resident Fagailesau Afaaso Junior Saleupu said the New Zealand High Commission and Samoa government held a short meeting regarding potential compensation options this week.Three options were tabled around the distribution process. One involved the Samoa…

The Kaipara District Council’s deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen has been elected to the top job with a total of 3138 votes. Final results posted by the council tonight showed Larsen won the race by 21 votes, ahead of iwi leader Snow Tane who attracted 3117 ticks. The tight race included the third placed previous Kaipara mayor Jason Smith, 36 votes behind Tane. Earlier today, the council held a public-excluded meeting to discuss an election process complaint letter from outgoing mayor Craig Jepson. Jepson sought council support for an election process complaint he wanted to forward to the Department of Internal…