Author: Press Room
ADVERTISEMENTThe majority of the political groups of the European Parliament will not back the vote of no-confidence tabled against von der Leyen’s European Commission, but even those from the coalition that voted her into office last year reproached her leadership, and some groups are split over how to vote. After the debate held in the hemicycle on Monday, some of the eight groups of the Parliament clearly staked their position ahead of the vote, while others were more ambiguous, and not all MEPs align with their groups.The European People’s Party (EPP), Ursula von der Leyen’s political force, is fully behind…
Business leaders from Auckland and Northland have spoken about the profound impacts on small to medium businesses coping with public health restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.They spoke at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government’s response to Covid-19, with one leader saying they didn’t think vaccine mandates would work in the future.The legal challenges for businesses to implement the mandates, and the enduring financial repercussions that are still felt today were among some of the issues raised.These are the first public hearings of the inquiry’s second phase, which was called for by the coalition Government last year.The hearings concentrate…
Average house values have dipped slightly in the June quarter, down 0.3% to an average value of $910,479.The June quarter period runs from April 1 to June 30.In the latest QV House Price Index, QV said values in the main centres have softened under high stock levels and cautious buyer sentiment, but some regions have had significant gains.The average home value is -0.6% lower than last year, and -14.5% lower than its peak in late 2021.Average house prices lifted in Queenstown (1.9%), Invercargill (1.6%), Whangarei (0.3%), and Hamilton (0.5%). They remained steady in Tauranga (0.1%), and Christchurch (0.1%), and dropped…
The Royal Mint in the UK has unveiled a commemorative coin celebrating 50 years of Iron Maiden is “spawned to be released”.The heavy metal band has joined the likes of Queen, Elton John and David Bowie in the Royal Mint’s ‘music legends’ coins series.Designed by Iron Maiden’s artist Albert “Akirant” Quirantes, the design features the band’s mascot Eddie as well as numerous hidden Easter eggs referencing the band’s career, albums, and world tours.Quirantes said the coin was the “perfect fusion of metal on metal”.”We expect it will prove to be a collector’s piece that’s highly sought after by both numismatists…
Last week semaglutide drug Wegovy was made available for prescription in New Zealand.Semaglutide originally arrived on the market in the US in 2017 as a diabetes medication, but has quickly been tied to extreme weight loss.Wegovy can be prescribed to people over the age of 12, but many of the 65% of New Zealanders who are overweight or obese will have trouble affording it, with an estimated price of $500 a month.The drug has transformed our ability to manage obesity and type 2 diabetes, and has shown potential for a wide range of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, addiction and depression.But…
New Zealanders selling a house held in a family trust will no longer be treated like potential criminals, the government says, as it plans to relax anti-money laundering checks for “low risk” transactions. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced the changes yesterday, saying the current rules saddled hard-working families with a “burdensome level of document verification and compliance checks” for little reason. “Families who’ve worked hard, paid off their mortgage, and saved for the future shouldn’t be treated like potential criminals just because they want to move house,” she said. “When there’s clearly nothing untoward going on, there’s no need…
Lawyers for the multi-billion dollar global ride-share company Uber are taking the fight over driver’s employment status to the Supreme Court in Wellington on Tuesday.Uber is appealing – for a second time – after losing a previous appeal against a landmark Employment Court decision in 2022 when four Uber drivers were granted workplace protection.This could give the drivers employee benefits such as leave entitlements, minimum wage and holiday pay.Uber appealed against the decision in June 2023, but the court dismissed the appeal, ruling in favour of the drivers.The company has now taken the case to the Supreme Court.Uber had previously…
A tourist bus has crashed on the Athol Five Rivers Highway in Southland, with four people taken to hospital amid “treacherous” black ice and fog in the area.Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 6 at 8.30am. Four people were taken to Southland Hospital with injuries — one in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and one in minor condition, according to Hato Hone St John. The 25-seater bus could be seen on its side at the crash site, resting on grass, with police inspecting the vehicle. Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Maguire told 1News there was “very,…
A car was spotted submerged in Christchurch’s Avon River last night, prompting an emergency response. Emergency services received a call from a member of the public at 7.10pm reporting a car spotted in the river near Pages Rd in New Brighton.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including what the jury saw at the mushroom murder trial, where house prices are climbing, and why YouTube’s biggest star has business plans in NZ. (Source: 1News)A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said no one was found in the car or in the surrounding river.Two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, with crews requesting…
A magnitude 6.0 quake shook the lower South Island early this morning.The quake hit at 12.53am, centred 115km northwest of the Snares Islands at a depth of 12km, according to GeoNet. The tremor was classed as “moderate”.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including what the jury saw at the mushroom murder trial, where house prices are climbing, and why YouTube’s biggest star has business plans in NZ. (Source: 1News)More than 1190 people reported feeling the quake.No tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.