Author: Press Room

The US wants to help Europe save its identity. Speaking on Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today, US Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder defended a controversial national security document in which the Trump administration called on the EU to change course or face a civilisational demise. In Europe, the document was met with surprise and criticism. Ambassador Puzder defended the US position, stating that the document seeks to restore Europe’s “greatness” and should not be understood as an attack, but rather as a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening Europe. “The section on Europe is titled ‘A Proposal…

Convicted murderer Mark Lundy is expanding his social contacts, but isn’t able to have his own social media accounts.He was otherwise fully compliant with conditions imposed on his release from prison when parole was granted earlier this year, according to a monitoring report released today by the Parole Board.The board had relaxed some of the conditions imposed on Lundy, taking away the night-time curfew he was subjected to as well as the order preventing him speaking to media.The then-66-year-old was released from Tongariro Prison in May, having been granted parole following a hearing the previous month.Lundy has always maintained his…

A new app that allows users to access government information and services from their phones – and will, eventually, hold digital driver licences – has been released today.Digitising Government and Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the govt.nz app was a secure and easy way for people to access what they needed, and was “an important milestone in our work to ensure we have a digital public service that is customer-focused, efficient, and future-ready”.It would allow users to access trusted information and services from across government, customise the user experience for what was most relevant, and receive emergency warnings from…

Fears have resurfaced over violence on public transport in the wake of a horrific fatal bus stabbing earlier this week – even as transit operators insist services are safe, with Auckland officials pointing to millions of incident-free journeys.A 59-year-old man died, and a 51-year-old man was seriously injured after being stabbed in what police described as unprovoked and random attacks as the route 76 bus travelled from Glen Innes towards Ōrākei on Monday night.But more than 1.7 million journeys passed without incident on the city’s public transport network last week, Auckland Transport group manager of metro services Stacey van der…

By Susan Edmonds of RNZ People shopping from IKEA are having to wait for their orders – but one marketing expert says it probably won’t stop them going back for more. The home furnishings giant opened its first New Zealand shop in Auckland last week, with online deliveries around the country. A spokesperson said it had been “bowled over” by the response from New Zealanders. “The sales and orders secured over the first few days have surpassed our expectations, but as a result our fulfilment operations are taking longer than anticipated to meet these orders. “As a brand new team,…

A Government programme aimed at bridging the gap between high school classroom learning and hands-on skills is set to expand into new regions after saying its pilot delivered “standout results”.The Earn as You Learn pilot was launched in Waikato in February this year, and would expand into the Hutt Valley and Canterbury next year, followed by Auckland in 2027.Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk called it “a government-backed and industry-led initiative that gives students paid, real-world experience in manufacturing while they study.”“Students spent two days a week in the classroom at Wintec’s Rotokauri Campus and three days working with…

Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee has shut the chamber’s gallery to members of the public for the rest of the year after pro-Palestine protesters disrupted proceedings by shouting and throwing papers at MPs.By Craig McCulloch of rnz.co.nzHe called the decision “very disappointing” but necessary given protesters had indicated they intended further action.The directive means only those with Parliamentary swipe cards would be allowed into the public gallery until next year. Parliament is set to rise on December 17 and return in late January.Brownlee said the move was about keeping MPs safe, warning there could have been a “catastrophic result” if a…

Germany is drawing up plans to quickly ready its airspace if the country needs to defend itself, the air navigation service provider told Euronews, warning that airlines and airports remain too naive about the possibility of such an event. “We are working currently with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Transport on a requirement catalogue to be prepared for a defence case,” Arndt Schoenemann, the chairman and chief executive officer of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, which oversees Germany’s airspace, told Euronews. “There are three levels of defence. The first level is that there is only a threat. The second…

Police have named the man killed in an Auckland bus stabbing on Monday night. A 36-year-old man accused of stabbing two people on the bus appeared in court earlier today, charged with murder and causing grievous bodily harm. A homicide investigation was launched after the separate stabbings on the vehicle travelling from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei.Police confirmed the name of the man killed just before 5pm on Wednesday.He was Sefo Leger, 59, of Wai o Taiki Bay.”Our investigation team extend our deepest sympathies to Mr Leger’s whānau for their loss, especially at this time of the year,” Detective Inspector Glenn…

Rotorua’s Night Market will return to the inner city after Rotorua Lakes Council voted to end a trial move to Kuirau Park, two months after it began.By Mathew Nash of Local Democracy ReportingElected members voted eight-to-three to return the market to its previous Tūtānekai St location “as soon as reasonably practical”, in the council’s final meeting of the year today.The motion was brought by councillor Robert Lee, who told the meeting the results of the Kuirau Park trial were “manifestly obvious”, calling it “not a success”.He said returning to the inner city would help businesses regain tourist foot traffic and…