Author: Press Room
The EU and Africa have agreed to further green investments and regional infrastructure as the bloc’s representatives gathered in Angola’s capital Luanda for two days of the European Union-African Union summit. The EU is on a path to achieve net neutrality by 2050, a binding goal that will require large-scale deployment of renewable energy such as solar and wind, and batteries for electric vehicles. While the 27-member bloc is invested in domestic production, it sees Africa’s abundant sunlight and vast deposits of key raw materials such as lithium and cobalt as crucial to the energy transition. “We commit to continue…
Regional councillors would be scrapped under sweeping Government proposals that ministers say would deliver the most significant changes to the local government system in more than 35 years.Under the proposal, the 11 regional councils would be governed by “combined territories boards” made up of mayors from city and district councils within each region, rather than separately elected regional councillors.RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said: “The Government’s belief is that local government has lost the social licence and that New Zealanders have lost faith in local government. This is borne out by the fact that over half don’t bother to vote…
Spain has been decisively leading Europe’s car market during the first nine months of 2025. Madrid reported a remarkable 15% growth in new passenger car registrations between January and September, the highest in Europe, according to new data by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). One of the reasons was a €400 million extension of a massive EU incentive scheme — Moves III — aimed at boosting electric mobility. The programme, now open till the end of 2025, has spent more than €1.3 billion in the past four years — not just for purchasing vehicles, but also to install…
New Zealand’s ports are processing growing cargo volumes, and businesses are restocking, perhaps one sign that an economic recovery may finally be underway after years of false starts.Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Grey told TVNZ’s You, Me and the Economy special that the port had processed its highest container volumes in nine years last month, with car imports and agricultural equipment flowing through at increased rates.”The economy’s turned and we’re seeing that now,” he said. “We’re really seeing the cargo start to flow, and that means people are buying it.”The growth is reflected across New Zealand’s major ports, including…
A man is being sought by police after allegedly indecently assaulting a woman waiting at a bus stop in the Auckland CBD over the weekend.Graeme Dylan Shuter, 34, allegedly approached two women in a short space of time on Mayoral Dr on Saturday, Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend said. Around 9.20am, the first victim was approached by Shuter, who allegedly attempted to “grab her and subject her to an indecent assault”.”Fortunately, she was able to hurry away from Shuter and crossed Mayoral Dr.”Minutes later, the man approached a woman from behind as she waited at a bus stop. Friend said…
Published on 25/11/2025 – 13:42 GMT+1 The European Parliament approved on Tuesday a legal action against the Commission over the withdrawal of a proposal on high-tech patents meant to help small and medium-sized enterprises negotiate with tech giants. A total of 334 MEPs were in favour of the legal action, mainly from left-wing political groups, while 294 voted against and 11 abstained. The matter will be referred to the EU Court of Justice, which oversees the inter-institutional issues. The legal action concerns a proposalto reform standard-essential patents (SEPs) put forward by the European Commission in 2023 and withdrawn two years…
Senior National MP and minister Chris Bishop has categorically denied plotting a leadership challenge, insisting that Christopher Luxon remains the best person to be prime minister.Speculation surrounding the prospect of a coup has intensified in the past week given dissatisfaction within the National caucus after a series of worrying polls.Addressing reporters at Parliament earlier today, Bishop said he was “definitely not” planning to roll Luxon as leader and dismissed the commentary as people “interviewing their typewriters”.Asked if he could give a firm commitment that Luxon would remain prime minister through to the election, Bishop responded simply: “yes”.Bishop was asked several…
By Euronews Published on 25/11/2025 – 12:24 GMT+1 Countries of the European Union must recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded anywhere in the bloc, even if their domestic legislation does not provide for it, the European Court of Justice said in a ruling on Tuesday. Refusing the recognition of a lawful marriage is “contrary to EU law because it infringes that freedom and the right to respect for private and family life”, the judges said, and “may cause serious inconvenience at administrative, professional and private levels, forcing the spouses to live as unmarried persons.” The case involves two Polish citizens who…
The names of five people seeking compensation for sexual abuse in state care were published online in a privacy breach by the Ministry of Social Development.The ministry has removed the link to documents naming the five, but Google searches of the names were still bringing up the MSD information in the search engine’s AI summary yesterday morning.The ministry has apologised and says the breach was due to human error.Breach found by chanceWellington human rights lawyer Lydia Oosterhoff was searching online last week for an RNZ story when she discovered an Official Information Act request from her firm, Cooper Legal, on…
A motorcyclist has died after colliding with a car in Ashburton this evening. Police said they were called to the scene at the intersection of Hinds Arundel Rd and Gills Rd around 6pm.The motorcyclist died at the scene. The serious crash unit are in attendance.The road is expected to remain closed for some time.Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and expect delays.