Author: Press Room

The Republican People’s Party, Turkey’s main opposition party, condemned the arrest as politically motivated, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu calling it an attempt to sway public opinion. ADVERTISEMENTThe mayor of Beşiktaş, a key opposition stronghold in Istanbul, was arrested on Monday as part of a bid-rigging investigation, according to Istanbul prosecutors.Rıza Akpolat, the mayor of the municipality on Istanbul’s European side, was detained at his summer residence in Edremit, on Turkey’s west coast, domestic media reported.Beşiktaş, governed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is a major entertainment hub and home to the popular football club of the same…

The partial remains of a waka have been recently found on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island.According to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage the waka was discovered by a local family, who informed the ministry of their find.Glenis Philip-Barbara, Pou Mataaho o Te Hononga Deputy Secretary Māori Crown Partnerships at the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage said the family was “instrumental” in securing the site and the ongoing monitoring of the waka.The ministry said it has been “engaging closely” with landowners, Hokotehi Moriori Trust, Ngāti Mutunga ki Wharekauri, Moriori Imi Settlement Trust, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the…

Some politicians and social media users have been accused of using the incident for political gain. ADVERTISEMENTWeeks after a car was rammed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring more than 200 others, false claims about the attack are still being shared by internet users and politicians alike.One video for example has been shared with a caption saying that German police arrested Muslim extremists who support terrorism, the day after the attack which saw a Saudi-born doctor plough into civilians. It shows Berlin Police officers chasing after and arresting several people at Berlin Central Train Station.However, the video…

Investigations are continuing into a crash in Clarkville, Canterbury, which killed two people. Inspector Peter Cooper said the pair were a 20-year-old male and a 17-year-old female.”While investigations into the cause of the crash continue, initial indications suggest high speed was a factor in this crash, where the vehicle collided with a power pole.”Police said it continues to work with the families involved and offer their sympathies to them during this traumatic time.On Saturday, 1News reported some homes were without power following the accident, north of Christchurch.At the time, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said fire crews were called to…

As LIV Golf and PGA Tour attempt to finalise a merger, the impact on sports entertainment and conditions for players will raise regulatory questions on both side of the Atlantic – but the outcome of US and EU merger scrutiny may differ. ADVERTISEMENTA landmark tie-up between the world’s largest golf competitions could prove an early test for different handling of merger control between the new regime of President-elect Donald Trump and the European Commission.In June 2023, PGA Tour, the largest golf tour in the world, and LIV Golf, which entered the market in 2022 and is financed by Public Investment…

Whakaari/White Island is currently “passively” emitting a “weak-to-moderate” steam and gas plume containing minor quantities of volcanic ash, volcanologists say.GNS Science issued a volcanic alert bulletin on Monday which upgraded the aviation colour code to orange. The volcanic alert level remained at 2, indicating “moderate to heightened volcanic unrest”.The aviation colour code was last raised to orange on December 17 when larger steam and gas plumes were visible above the volcanic island located 48km offshore of Whakatāne, before returning to yellow just before Christmas. The aviation colour codes are only intended for use by the civil aviation community.Duty volcanologist Craig…

It was a busy weekend for lifeguards up and down the country who helped beachgoers through medical incidents, rescues, shark sightings, and even a person being kicked by a horse.According to Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) lifeguards spent a combined 8000 hours on patrol this weekend. During that time, 11 rescues were performed, while first aid was provided to 35 minor and seven major incidents. In the northern region, SLSNZ said lifeguards were called to assist with a “high number” of people experiencing medical events. About 9000 lifeguards around New Zealand are underway patrolling at more than 90 locations. …

Belief in Zelensky has dipped, with trust among Ukrainians falling from 77% in 2023 to 52% in 2024, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). ADVERTISEMENTDo Ukrainians still trust their president, Volodymyr Zelensky? How to explain dipping trust levels? Is he as popular abroad as he is in his own country? Today Radio Schuman discusses this issue with Sasha Vakulina, Euronews’s Ukraine expert.According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), trust in Zelensky has declined, with 77% of Ukrainians saying they trusted him in 2023, compared to 52% a year later, though his leadership in Ukraine appears…

By Pretoria Gordon of RNZ Ecostore will invest around $323,000 in health and safety after an Auckland worker’s sight was permanently damaged by chemicals. The man had been working in a factory in the East Auckland suburb of Pakuranga when he suffered chemical burns to his eyes while making dishwasher powder in March 2023. The injury caused permanent damage, impacting his vision. He was trying to shut off a pressurised hose that had come loose and was spraying hazardous liquid into the air. Ecostore was later charged with one offence of the Health and Safety at Work Act. WorkSafe had…

Drugs have been stolen in a burglary of an air ambulance in Otago.Helicopters Otago chief executive officer Graeme Gale said the theft took place from the Queenstown-based rescue helicopter which had just taken a critically ill patient to Dunedin Hospital at the weekend.“The helicopter and crew were forced to hold over at the base in North Taieri due to bad weather.”He said the stolen bag held critical medical equipment and supplies.“If the helicopter and crew had responded to an incident, unaware that the bag had been taken, there could have been fatal consequences.”Police acting area investigations manager Detective Sergeant Hayden…