Author: Press Room
As the new European Commission and Parliament sets off for the first new year of its mandate, Euronews has picked 25 to watch in 2025. ADVERTISEMENTCheck out the movers and shakers who will attempt to define the course of the new mandate by kick-starting Europe in 2025. The obvious few1. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission After securing her second mandate, von der Leyen will keep running the EU from Brussels for the next five years. With a shaken international landscape and the goal to boost European competitiveness, she will also represent the bloc’s priorities on the global stage. 2. António…
The knitting work of a designer from Mahia is getting attention from world-leading brands and stars.Hawke’s Bay designer Natalie Robb has been busy in her Mahia home-based studio, spinning the cool back into New Zealand wool.Handcrafting lavish garments, everything from colourful scarfs, check cardigans or what’s become her most popular statement piece – a balaclava.Natalie Robb caught the knitting bug from her mum and brother – and now her work has been picked up by big names overseas. (Source: 1News)Robb said she caught the knitting bug from her mum and brother as she watched them make pieces for loved ones.Five…
A vegetation fire which broke out in Whangārei yesterday is “under control”, a day after the blaze led to evacuations of nearby homes.Incident controller Denis Cooper said crews would be standing down for the evening at 8pm.Several crews will return ion Saturday morning to extinguish the remainder of the fire and dampen down hotspots.”It’s been a big effort for our firefighters – who are both career firefighters and volunteers – and they’ve done a great job,” Cooper said.”We also appreciate the support of our community, and all the kind messages.”Residents of two homes were evacuated yesterday but were allowed to…
More people will be able to access a medicine for osteoporosis, as Pharmac says it is widening funding of the medicine called denosumab. Denosumab is an injection medicine that helps to maintain bone strength, prevent fractures, and keeps blood calcium levels healthy. It was first proposed to be funded by Pharmac in 2018. Today Pharmac announced it would widen access of the medication to people with osteoporosis, and a higher dose of the medicine would also be funded for people with cancer who have high levels of calcium in their blood. In addition to the 500 people currently using denosumab,…
A Hawke’s Bay woman whose parked car was smashed into has saved $500 thanks to council CCTV cameras.Tracy Murfitt was having lunch with friends in Havelock North the Monday before Christmas,“How nice is that? A catch-up and a nice meal. I arrived at 1pm and left about 2.30pm,” Murfitt said.“My car was in Treachers Lane, it was raining and I just hopped in and drove. When I got home my neighbour said: ‘Tracy what’s wrong with your car’?”The car had been smashed into. “It was a mess and looked as if it had been turned inside out like an envelope.…
Two people are assisting the Department of Conservation after a report of seabirds being captured and drowned in fishing nets near Coromandel’s Slipper Island/ Whakahau.A concerned member of the public reported the incident to DOC around noon on January 3.DOC Hauraki Operations Manager Avi Holzapfel said he was dismayed by the report of harm to wildlife.”It’s extremely frustrating and distressing to hear about this kind of wilful mistreatment of wildlife,” he said. “So far, we have images of the vessel alleged to be involved, and have made inquiries with local marinas and databases to identify its owner.” Principal investigation officer…
The Government says more warning notices and shorter complaint wait times show its crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants is working.The state landlord has issued 553 Section 55A notices — up from 41 issued during the same period the previous year.Of those notices, 83% were first notices, 16% second and 2% were third time notices — triggering the end of a tenancy.Housing Minister Chris Bishop said Government action taken in March 2024 — cracking down on unruly behaviour — was working.”Neighbours of Kāinga Ora residents, frequently KO tenants themselves, were tired of having to put up with people who abused the…
Just like Beyonce, bestselling children’s band The Wiggles have gone country.Their latest album Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!, set for release in March, features collaborations with some of country music’s biggest names, including Dolly Parton.The iconic singer recorded two new tracks with the Wiggles, with the album announcement making news in the country music capital of Nashville.There are also songs with US star Dasha, Lainey Wilson, Orville Peck, Jackson Dean, and even the late Slim Dusty, featuring music he recorded with The Wiggles before his death in 2003.”Wiggle up, Boots on the ground, Giddy up down to Wiggle Town,” sings Dasha…
Lotto NZ’s first Powerball millionaires of 2025 say winning the $7 million prize “shocked the heck out of us” as they were driving in Wellington.The couple, who wished to remain anonymous, saw that someone in Wellington had won $7 million from Wednesday night’s Powerball draw -— but never thought it would be them.”I thought the best thing to do was to log into the app and check, so I did and there it was, there were a lot of zeroes!” said the woman.The woman gasped and turned to her husband, who was driving, and said “‘it’s us! We’ve won $7…
The approvals gives Pacific Edge access to about 20 million Americans. Photo: Supplied / Pacific Edge Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge’s shares are in a trading halt while it considers the implications of new information from the United States federal health insurer. The Dunedin-based firm had been waiting two years to learn whether Medicare will cover the cost of its bladder cancer tests in the US. In a statement to the NZX, Pacific Edge said Medicare’s administrator Novitas has published a draft local coverage determination covering the reimbursement of its tests. “The determination covers significant new information and Pacific Edge…