Author: Press Room
Published on 19/09/2025 – 14:15 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The European Commission has unveiled a new round of sanctions to cripple Russia’s ability to wage war on Ukraine and bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. The proposal, presented on Friday by President Ursula von der Leyen, targets banks, 118 vessels from the “shadow fleet” and, for the first time, the cryptocurrency platforms that Moscow uses to launder transactions in the global financial market. If approved by member states, it will mark the 19th package of sanctions since February 2022. Discussions among ambassadors are already underway. “Our economic analysis is clear: our…
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Trump slams Kimmel ahead of UK departure, new details on Jorja Miller’s injury, and is chocolate about to get cheaper?Donald Trump has left the UK after talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.The president also took the chance to criticise talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, after his show was suspended indefinitely. A surge in job advertisements has fuelled cautious optimism about the job market. New details have been released about the injury keeping Jorja Miller out of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada. Commodities traders say cocoa prices should ease off from record…
Hobson’s Pledge says it’s not concerned if its advert against Māori wards impacts the mana of a New Plymouth councillor, whose name and photo were used despite his objections.Last election, councillor Dinnie Moeahu regained his general seat as New Plymouth’s top-polling candidate – but he’s devoting most of his 2025 campaign to keep Māori wards in Taranaki and beyond.The Hobson’s Pledge social media ad says Moeahu’s win shows “Māori don’t need mandates to lead”, urging a no vote in this year’s referendums.Moeahu said the ad “reeks of disinformation.”“It’s just disgusting: It’s my name, it’s my whānau.“I couldn’t believe Hobson’s Pledge…
Lake Hāwea locals have made it clear the water’s not going down without a fight, as Contact Energy pushes for fast-track approval to drop the lake’s levels.The company has proposed reducing the lake’s minimum operating level from 338m to 336m above sea level – and, in extreme circumstances, dropping it as low as 330m – to boost renewable energy generation and help safeguard electricity supply.It lodged a referral application with the government in June to enter the proposal into the fast-track consenting process.On Thursday night, nearly 300 people packed into a public meeting, where 12 speakers set out what they…
By Julian GOMEZ & Damaso Jaivenois Published on 19/09/2025 – 10:41 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The study, published by online food delivery company Foodora, included data from Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The survey revealed that sushi, for instance, has experienced the fastest-growing demand for food delivery in Stockholm and Helsinki. In Oslo, delivery orders for sushi increased by nearly 14% in 2024 compared to 2023. It also highlighted that, surprisingly, suburbs have overtaken city centres as the primary destinations for delivered food. Some outer districts around Budapest or Prague, for instance, spent up to 20% more than the average in the inner…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon maintains he has full confidence in Finance Minister Nicola Willis after New Zealand’s GDP fell 0.9% in the June quarter.The drop, which was larger than some economists had predicted, led to calls for Willis to resign from the finance portfolio. Among those calling for her to step down were former finance minister Roger Douglas and University of Auckland Matthew Abel chair of macroeconomics Robert MacCulloch. Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said the Government’s efforts to tame the economy were “not good enough”. Speaking to media while at Air New Zealand’s new hangar in Auckland, Luxon was…
A Tararua iwi has launched a set of bilingual books retelling the journey of their ancestor from Hawaiki to Aotearoa, as part of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.Copies of Whātonga: In Search of Man were gifted by Te Whare Taiao o Rangitāne to local schools, where they would be a local addition to the New Zealand History Curriculum.Mākirikiri Marae in Dannevirke was full of students and teachers on Wednesday there to listen to the story of Whātonga and his journey to New Zealand in search of Toi – his grandfather.Author and Rangitāne iwi historian Dr Manahi Paewai said in…
Woolworths NZ has been charged over a “significant rodent infestation” which led to the nearly three-week closure of its Dunedin South supermarket last year.New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said following a “thorough investigation into rodent activity at Countdown Dunedin South last year, New Zealand Food Safety has laid a charge against Woolworths New Zealand Limited under the Food Act 2014”.The charge related to a failure to ensure a significant rodent infestation was promptly identified and escalated in accordance with its food control plan. It carried a maximum fine of $200,000.Woolworths NZ director of stores Jason Stockhill…
Kāpiti Line services have resumed this afternoon after a downed overhead wire caused widespread disruption and left one train stuck on a rail bridge earlier today.KiwiRail Wellington metro general manager Andy Lyon said a cable came down at 7.50am on the line near Wellington Station.The resulting power loss affected three trains, forcing them to stop away from platforms.”Two were moved earlier this morning so that people could disembark,” Lyon said in a statement.A third train was moved into Wellington Station by a diesel locomotive after it was stuck on a rail bridge over Hutt Rd.KiwiRail and Metlink said 152 passengers…
The number of pet turtles found in waterways across the South Island is increasing, with concerns about the impact they are having on native plants and animals.The South Island’s only dedicated turtle rescue service said it’s already at capacity, having taken in more than 100 strays in the last eight years.Donna Moot has run Turtle Rescue in Christchurch for almost 20 years and she’s currently caring for almost 80 turtles at her three-bedroom home in Somerfield, with up to 30 more waiting for adoption being cared for in a large purpose-built pond on another property.She’s worried about what the next…