Author: Press Room

Spain’s Canary and Balearic islands top the list of EU regions with 83.2 and 61.7 million nights spent in 2023 by foreign tourists, while the Greek island of Zakyinthos and Croatia’s Istrian peninsula are those suffering the highest pressure compared to the number of residents. ADVERTISEMENTMallorca was the favourite destination by foreign tourists in 2023, according to new data released by Eurostat that considers the number of nights tourists spend in the location. Spain’s Balearic island tops the list of EU destinations with over 47 million nights.Second and third place can also be found in the southern European country —…

Police have charged a third person with the murder of a man who died in hospital after he was found injured on the side of a Waikato road following an alleged assault. Police also named the man as Darshak Narran, 43, from South Auckland. Narran was found critically injured early on Monday morning last week on Hampton Downs Rd in the vicinity of the racetrack near Whangamarino.He never regained consciousness and died at Auckland City Hospital on Thursday. A 23-year-old Papakura man will appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow.Two men, aged 32 and 42, were earlier arrested and charged…

A cross-party compromise saw MEPs agree weak wording on the future of coal, oil and gas, but strong support for getting major polluters like China to contribute to a global support scheme for poorer nations, and sharp criticism of the choice of Azerbaijan as host country. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Parliament’s environment committee wants the EU to push for more major economies and polluters to contribute to a global climate adaptation fund at the COP29 summit next month, but showed little bite when it comes to exiting oil and gas.A central agenda point at the forthcoming Baku summit is the post-2025 new…

Lotto’s Powerball jackpot has hit $30 million for the fourth time this year — an “unprecedented” spell.A spokesperson called it a “record-breaking run for the nation’s lottery”.”Wednesday’s draw will see $30 million up for grabs once again, following three earlier big jackpot wins in April, June and August.”This is a streak we’ve never seen before in our history,” said head of corporate communications Will Hine.”It’s unprecedented for the Powerball jackpot to reach $30 million four times in a year. It’s previously happened twice in a year but never more than that.”It means 2024 has been an interesting year for those…

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said the authorities have clear evidence of malign interference and “fraud of unprecedented proportions” at the vote on October 20. With the presidential elections now going into the second round, what can the Kremlin do within the next 10 days to influence the vote? ADVERTISEMENTWhile Moldovans who went to the polling stations on Sunday opted for their country’s EU future by the slimmest of margins, the Kremlin — which has long been vying to bring the eastern European country under its sphere of influence — has hardly been deterred.If anything, Moldovan authorities have been adamant in their claims…

Crews will return at first light to continue battling a large vegetation fire in “environmentally significant” scrub and wetlands in northern Waikato.Eight helicopters, two fixed-wing aircraft and around 40 personnel have supported fire crews fighting the blaze off Island Block Rd near Meremere.Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) incident commander Mark Tinworth said the fire has a perimeter of 11km and has burned through around more than 520 hectares, including the Whangamarino wetlands.”It’s continuing to spread through the wetlands, but it’s not threatening any residential or commercial properties at present.”Tinworth said Island Block Rd was now closed to all except…

A Korean NGO says it will sue the German capital’s district, which ordered the removal of a statue memorialising sexual abuse victims during World War II after calls from Japan. ADVERTISEMENTA South Korean diaspora NGO says it will sue a local Berlin district to keep a statue memorialising victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Japanese soldiers during World War II in place after it was ordered to be removed.Japan has long called for the statue to be taken down, and some politicians in Berlin are siding with the country.Korea Verband, the local organisation behind the memorial known…

Former Green Party MP Darleen Tana has been removed from Parliament.Tana left the party in July, following an investigation into what she knew about allegations of migrant exploitation at her husband’s business.Last week, Green Party delegates agreed that she should be removed from Parliament using the so-called “waka-jumping” law.Today, speaker Gerry Brownlee announced her seat had been vacated.The former Green Party MP spoke to 1News Political Editor Maiki Sherman. (Source: 1News)Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick reacted to the move by saying: “The Speaker has this morning Gazetted notice that Darleen Tana is no longer a Member of Parliament.”Throughout this process,…

Labour has asked the Auditor-General to investigate a government decision to slash tax on heated tobacco products, claiming there are signs of “industry influence”.Labour’s health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall has asked Controller and Auditor General John Ryan for an urgent investigation under the Public Audit Act.Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, who is also Customs Minister, halved the excise tax on heated tobacco products (HTPs) in July and her Cabinet colleagues agreed to set aside a contingency of $216 million to cover the foregone revenue.Costello said she slashed the tax to encourage chronic smokers to switch to HTPs.But the change was made…

A group of youths have all been “brought down safely” after they climbed onto the roof of an Auckland youth justice residence last night.Oranga Tamariki alerted police to the incident in Wiri at about 6.40pm with 13 young people involved.Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Oranga Tamariki’s Iain Chapman speak after 13 young people got on the roof at Korowai Manaaki, Auckland. (Source: 1News)By about 9.40am this morning, just four youths remained on the roof at Korowai Manaaki– and at about 10.50am, the last of them came down.”Whilst it is disappointing that this occurred, we can confirm at no point…