Author: Press Room

The former European Commissioner has denied criminal allegations made against him, after reports police found thousands of euros while raiding his properties. ADVERTISEMENTDidier Reynders on Friday formally denied criminal accusations made against him, after it emerged that the Belgian police were investigating him on suspicion of money laundering.On Friday, Belgian media outlet RTBF reported that the investigation into Reynders – previously Belgian finance and foreign minister and more recently EU Justice Commissioner – concerned around €1 million in suspicious funds.Speaking through a lawyer, Reynders said he was helping the magistrate in charge with inquiries and that the case related to…

Almost five days after three climbers from the US and Canada went missing on Aoraki Mt Cook, police revealed today they “do not believe the men have survived”. The search for Kurt Blair (56) and Carlos Romero (50) from the United States, and a Canadian national was launched on Monday after they were reported overdue.Due to poor weather conditions on the mountain, the search was paused late Monday and only resumed today when two drone operators were helicoptered up. Police believe the trio suffered a fatal fall, Donna-Marie Lever reports. (Source: 1News)Today, Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said a…

Macron is set to choose a new prime minister after the government lost a no-confidence vote this week. ADVERTISEMENTAfter a no-confidence vote toppled Michel Barnier’s government, French President Emmanuel Macron received several political parties on Friday in Paris to discuss forming a new government. The Socialist Party, part of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) seems to be open to the idea of working with other parties to attempt to break the current institutional deadlock.”There’s a choice between making grand speeches and doing nothing,” said Olivier Faure, the Secretary General of the Socialist Party.”We’re ready to take on our…

Two teenagers on the run from the coalition’s boot camp programme is not a reason to end it, the Children’s Minister says.Karen Chhour appeared at select committee this afternoon, just a day after news broke that one of the boot camp participants had died in a car crash in Tīrau last week.Earlier in the day, Oranga Tamariki was grilled by MPs and revealed two participants of the programme have absconded since the tangi for the deceased teenager earlier this week.Chhour was only told about one of the escapes, and said it was “unacceptable” that information was not passed onto her…

In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Jakov Milatović calls EU enlargement an insurance policy for “the security of the European continent”. ADVERTISEMENTMontenegro’s youngest-ever president at the age of 36, Jakov Milatović, was elected in May last year, winning a landslide majority on an unabashedly pro-EU platform.An economist by trade and former minister of economic development, Milatović has balanced his ambitions for Europe with a desire for closer relations with Serbia. This is despite the fact that he disagrees with his former federal state partner on crucial issues, most of all the recognition of Kosovo.Whereas Serbia has not yet recognised Kosovo…

After watching sales soar during the Covid-19 pandemic, a Mosgiel bedding manufacturer is seeing even more growth with the help of a new purpose-built store. Tim Scott chats to Eiderdown sales director Lucas Mills about how a global pandemic presented an opportunity to build the business.  Pillows are “such a personal product”, Lucas Mills says. So personal, the Eiderdown sales director says customers from even Auckland and Australia have made sure to pay their store a visit when in town to look at a few options. Pairing a customer with the right pillow was definitely the most satisfying part of the job, he said. “Having two young kids, I know the value…

A 46-year-old female kiwi has hatched an egg with a 9-year-old male kiwi in the hills of Mākara in Wellington.”Our queen Anahera is at least 46 years old, her current partner Nouveau is 9, so age gap relationship,” Capital Kiwi Project founder Paul Ward said.”She just gets a new young boyfriend every decade or so, so she’s living the dream I suppose you might say.”The kiwi couple had an egg last year, but it didn’t hatch.”This year their egg has hatched, and I guess she’s a symbol for middle-aged wahine everywhere, still going strong in her forties, and still wild…

Leaked document seen by Euronews shows the European Commission is considering a rethink of funding rules, as NGOs warn they need public support to act as a counterbalance to powerful industry lobbies. ADVERTISEMENTEnvironmental and climate campaign groups in Brussels have urged the European Commission not to cut operational grants through its €5.4bn LIFE Programme amid fears of a clampdown on funding for advocacy work.While the LIFE budget for the period 2021 to 2027 already represents only 0.3% of EU spending when post-COVID recovery funds are taken into account, the amount of funding earmarked for the day-to-day working of NGOs amounts…

Rachel Butler. File photo: Gregor Richardson Startup Dunedin has announced a one-off microgrant fund and is looking for start-up projects that could use some financial assistance to test their idea. With a total fund of $10,000 available, suggested amounts for applicants ranged from $500 to $3000, depending on what it was going to be used for, general manager Rachel Butler said. “This is a one-off funding round to support Dunedin to grow ideas and learn by doing in a safe, supported way. Our goal is to encourage Dunedin-based founders to plan an experiment and run it to understand more about…

Firefighters are “close to containing” a large vegetation fire in Canterbury, as winds are forecast to strengthen.Seven crews will be monitoring the blaze overnight, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said today in a 7.20pm update.”It’s important we keep on top of the fire tonight as we are close to containing it,” incident commander Brian Keown said.”We hope to have containment completed tomorrow before the extreme fire danger day on Sunday.”The fire covers around 980 hectares — almost double the size of Fire and Emergency’s previous estimate yesterday.Keown said Saturday will see an increase in ground crews and fewer aerial support,…