Author: Press Room

This article was originally published in French A project that houses cows in a floating barn aims to demonstrate how farming can change its relationship with water and energy. ADVERTISEMENTIn the heart of Europe’s largest port lies a little corner of the countryside, where 30 cows have settled on the waters of Rotterdam. This one-of-a-kind floating barn, spread across three levels, is moored to a meadow that the cows can freely access via a footbridge whenever they want.Minke van Wingerden, co-founder of Floating Farm, is working to develop a sustainable type of farm that used a variety of technologies to minimise…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ A battle that appears to have broken out between Air New Zealand and Jetstar in the domestic aviation market may just be the start of a run of good news for consumers, one aviation expert says. This week Air New Zealand and Jetstar have announced sales. Air New Zealand said on Monday it was making more than 200,000 seats available for travel periods between January and June next year. Auckland to Kerikeri was advertised from $59 each way, and Auckland to Wellington $69. Auckland to Queenstown was promoted from $99 each way. Christchurch to Wellington…

Metallica will play a one-off show at Auckland’s Eden Park next November.Having signalled last month that they would be touring this part of the world, it’s now confirmed they will perform on November 19.They will be supported by Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies.Fan club pre-sales open on October 29, with general sale tickets available from November 4.Since opening in April last year, Metallica have played to around three million fans on their M72 tour.The band’s highly anticipated 2019 NZ tour was cancelled after lead singer James Hetfield checked into an addiction recovery programme just over a month out from the scheduled…

A wide-scale search is ongoing into an 83-year-old man believed to be missing in the water off Whangārei since Sunday.The man, who was reported missing on Monday, was believed to have been swimming off Onerahi the morning prior.He typically went for a daily swim in the Whangārei Harbour and wore a wetsuit and pink swim cap, police said.The police, Coastguard, Far North Search and Rescue, and Surf Life Saving New Zealand are involved in the search. The police Eagle helicopter has also been deployed to carry out an aerial search.The Coastguard will be conducting a dummy exercise in the water…

This article was originally published in Portuguese Rioting in several districts around the city erupted when a Portuguese police officer shot and killed a Cape Verdean man. ADVERTISEMENTPortugal’s capital experienced a second night of riots into the early hours of Wednesday morning, triggered by the death of Odair Moniz, a Cape Verdean man who was shot and killed by a police officer late on Sunday night.Unrest returned to areas including Amadora near Lisbon, with bins and even buses set on fire. “Today, regrettably, we once again witnessed situations of disorder within the Zambujal neighbourhood … with the theft of a Carris…

You don’t have to look far on social media to find someone promising to tell you “the things the banks don’t want you to know” or a “secret strategy” to pay off your mortgage faster.But one property investment company is warning people should not be tempted to part with their money for the courses, which can cost thousands of dollars.In most cases, the courses are simply pitching a revolving credit strategy, which anyone can implement, at no cost. (An explanation of how to do it is at the bottom of this story.)Opes Partners economist Ed McKnight said with demand for…

The two Commissioners-designate argue that unanimity is slowing down decision-making in the field they are to helm for the next five years. ADVERTISEMENTThe use of constructive abstentionism and so-called passerelle clauses should be strengthened for European Union decisions pertaining to foreign affairs and enlargement in order to bypass unanimity rules and make the bloc faster on both fronts, Kallas Kallas and Marta Kos suggested to MEPs on Tuesday.“The EU’s decision-making in Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) must be faster and more efficient, including through the use of constructive abstention, as well as Qualified Majority Voting where it is foreseen…

Tauranga councillors will reconsider a controversial cul-de-sac in central Tauranga a landlord says has taken thousands of dollars off her property’s value.The Cameron Rd end of 7th Ave west was turned into a cul-de-sac as part of the $110 million first stage of Tauranga City Council’s Cameron Rd project.The project made safety improvements, added separated cycleways and bus lanes to the arterial route.Century-old water infrastructure was also upgraded to allow for denser housing in the future.In May 2023, 7th Ave was permanently closed during construction and stage one of the Cameron Rd project was completed in February.At a Project Planning…

With politicians focussing on poverty in old age, many are calling on the German government to reform the pension system. But how serious really is the situation? ADVERTISEMENTAs political parties including Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) promise more money for pensioners, pensions has become a hot topic in Germany ahead of the federal election next year. The coalition government has also found itself in political hot water, after Finance Minister Christian Lindner announced plans to shake up private pensions earlier in 2024, a few years after significant unrest broke out in France when President Emmanuel Macron…

They say the apple does not fall far from the tree. But when it comes to Central Otago’s Rhoades family, the crumbs do not scatter far from the cookie. Chris Rhoades and his identical twin sons Tim and Tony all work in the Cookie Time business, based in Cromwell. Chris Rhoades is a finalist in the franchisee of the year — small business category — in this year’s New Zealand Franchise Awards which will be announced at a gala dinner at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on November 9. The franchising sector contributed the equivalent of 12% of New Zealand’s…