Author: Press Room
ADVERTISEMENT A wave of viral claims has brought Spain’s 2023 amnesty law, which sparked controversy when introduced, back into the spotlight. A series of posts initially posted in 2023, claiming that 16 European countries issued a statement against Spain’s amnesty law, have resurfaced. Other resurfaced claims announced the EU itself labelled Spain’s system for appointing the attorney general a “democratic anomaly.” However, both claims are false. Fact-checkers confirmed that no such statement was made, and the European Commission’s Rule of Law report never used such wording. It did note concerns raised by outside stakeholders. What is Spain’s amnesty law? Spain’s…
A Northland man has been fined $15,000 for cruel treatment of calves he was supposed to be raising.Animal welfare inspectors found nine calves dead over the course of three visits to Dargaville calf rearer Vivian Philip Flett, and had to euthanise four more.The inspectors weighed 250 calves and only 12 of them were at a healthy weight.The animals lived on poor quality pasture and were fed kūmara and mouldy hay, MPI regional manager of animal welfare Brendon Mikkelsen said in a statement.”These welfare problems were avoidable if Mr Flett had been providing sufficient feed and meeting the physical health and…
Published on 29/09/2025 – 14:36 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The Council of Europe (CoE) is “ready to create the tribunal for Ukraine”, but now member states must make it a reality, the institution’s Secretary-General, Alain Berset, told Euronews in an interview. “We had a strong commitment addressing the necessity to create this tribunal. We are ready to have an advanced team to make it real. What we need now is really a clear support and commitment from states,” Berset said in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Special Tribunal for Ukraine is a new international judicial body…
Nine firearms have been seized and four people arrested after police carried out a search warrant at a Whanganui home last week.Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Carey Priest said items were found throughout the house, shed, and in a roof space at the Puriri St property on Thursday.”Officers found a significant number of items and arrested four people, one of whom had a warrant out for her arrest.”Priest said the seizure of the items was an “excellent result” from a combination of police teams.”Nine firearms were seized ranging from .22 calibre rifles, through to .308 calibre and other high-powered rifles.”Some of…
The Reserve Bank could have moved more quickly or aggressively to counter rampant inflation during the pandemic, but struggled against conflicting forces, according to a new report.The central bank has reviewed how it handled monetary policy – setting interest rates to manage inflation and supporting employment – between 2021 and 2024, which included the response to the pandemic.In that period the official cash rate (OCR) was reduced to 0.25% by October 2021, but then rapidly increased to 5.5% by May 2023 as inflation surged to 7.3% by late 2022.RBNZ chief economist Paul Conway said the rate rises had helped to…
By Euronews Published on 29/09/2025 – 12:01 GMT+2 Key diary dates Monday 29 September: EU Competitiveness Council to discuss Multiannual Financial Framework. Tuesday 1 October: Informal meeting of EU heads of state in Copenhagen. Wednesday 2 October: Meeting of the European Political Community in Copenhagen. ADVERTISEMENT In spotlight When EU leaders meet to discuss defence and drone incursions for an informal summit in Copenhagen this week, the urgency of the discussion will be reflected in the level of security. Drones were again observed at several military facilities over the weekend in Denmark following multiple reports of drone sightings last week that…
Residents near the country’s maximum security jail are writing to MPs and councillors as they take issue with plans to expand the prison.Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, under Auckland’s Unitary Plan, is designated to hold up to 681 inmates.The Department of Corrections, under the fast-track legislation, is seeking to change that to 1120 inmates.It would be for up to 960 low to high security prisoners, and 260 maximum security.There are no immediate funding decisions, but Corrections said a designation increase would let it plan, design and eventually build.The department said the country’s prison population is rising and it had a responsibility…
A man has been charged after allegedly placing three puppies into a bag and punching them near an Auckland train station on Sunday.Police said they were called to the scene near Parnell Train Station just before 7pm yesterday by members of the public, who reported seeing a man making threats to seriously harm the puppies in his possession, Senior Sergeant Dave Plunkett said.”Camera operators tracking the incident on CCTV reportedly saw the man put the puppies into a bag and punch them.”Shortly after, police intercepted the man on Cheshire St and arrested him.The puppies were taken to the Auckland City…
A gastropub north of Auckland has lost its right to sell alcohol after renewal applications for both its on and off licences were rejected by a district licensing committee.The District Licensing Committee (DLC) released its decision on September 19, declining off and on licence renewals for Parāoa Brewing Company at Whangaparāoa Rd, Stanmore Bay.Residents Richard and Vivan Field strongly opposed the renewals, complaining of the noise at night, particularly from live bands and events.At a hearing in August, the couple said they had complained to the owners for years and had spent $8000 to soundproof their home.”We shouldn’t have to…
The Government has announced an overhaul to the classification of earthquake-prone buildings, introducing a new system that will see thousands of buildings moved out of the regime. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk revealed the “refocus” of the system for earthquake-prone buildings alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at an announcement in Wellington this afternoon. The previously teased changes to the rules would “reduce repair costs and reinvigorate communities,” Penk said in his announcement, suggesting the new system would save more than $8 billion that would otherwise be spent on demolition and remediation.Under the changes, existing New Building Standard (NBS) percentage…