Author: Press Room

The incident in Novi Sad, which left 15 dead, has triggered a wave of protests against the authorities over the past weeks. ADVERTISEMENTClashes between police and protesters continued for a second day in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad over an awning collapse at the city’s railway station that left 15 people dead earlier this month.Anti-government protesters on Wednesday sought to block a courthouse in Novi Sad, where the roof collapsed at the station on 1 November. According to the authorities, riot police acted swiftly to prevent protesters from entering the building after a group of opposition lawmakers managed…

The closure of a section of Desert Rd over summer will provide a welcome boost to Ruapehu businesses which have been hit with indifferent ski seasons and the mothballing of the Tongariro Chateau, its mayor says.The New Zealand Transport Agency plans to shut down State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru for most of January and February to undertake major roadworks.Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton said up to 20,000 vehicles would be diverted to regional roads more familiar with 2000 vehicle movements a day, and take motorists through towns such as Ohakune, National Park and possibly even Taumarunui and Raetihi.”It will…

Member states close the door to further tweaks to the new deforestation rules pushed by unusual right-wing majority in the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTEU diplomats have rejected European Parliament amendments to the Commission’s proposal to push back the entry into force of the bloc’s new deforestation rules by one year.Instead, member states insist on adhering to the original text presented by the EU executive in October.The legislation aims to combat global deforestation by imposing due diligence obligations on traders importing raw materials such as beef, cocoa, coffee, and soy into the EU.Among the amendments, largely championed by the centre-right European People’s…

Nelson’s mayor has shut down a community’s plea to speak about controversial airport extension plans due to the legal risk it could have for council.Emotions were running high at the public forum of Tuesday’s joint committee of the Nelson and Tasman councils.Three speakers wished to discuss Nelson Airport and its contentious proposal to extend its runway, but one was barred from presenting while another speaker was cut off during their presentation.Even before they spoke, elected members debated whether they should be able to present.The meeting was then closed to the public while the committee took advice on whether the presentations…

A Wellington dairy owner says she was alone only for 15 minutes — but in that time, four masked men stormed the shop, assaulted her, and made off in a stolen vehicle with thousands of dollars worth of cash and cigarettes.Police are still investigating Sunday evening’s aggravated robbery at Lower Hutt’s Two Ten dairy, and have expressed concern at the level of violence shown by the offenders.Shreya Gandhi said her husband, Dhruvin, had only just left when a car full of masked men pulled up outside the Knight’s Rd store shortly before 7pm.The Two Ten dairy in Lower Hutt. (Source:…

Singing filled Parliament’s debating chamber after members passed a bill which will restore New Zealand citizenship for thousands of Samoans who were stripped of it four decades ago.The Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Bill was unanimously backed by all political parties in Wellington today, closing a bitter chapter in New Zealand-Samoa relations.Green MP Teanau Tuiono, who submitted the bill, said there had been powerful testimonies from the impacted Samoan community during the consultation period.”I hope that the passage of this bill is a milestone in addressing historical injustices acknowledging inter-generational harm and fostering accountability for past actions,” he said.Dawn Raid…

Residents are returning home after a large vegetation fire burned through 3.5 kilometres of shelter belt in the Western Bay of Plenty this afternoon.Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called following reports of numerous shelter belts on fire near Snodgrass Rd in Te Puna around 3.20pm.”Multiple shelter belts are on fire, but the fire is currently contained to the area,” Fire and Emergency said in an update this evening. Ten properties were evacuated. Sixteen fire crews and multiple support vehicles would be working to extinguish the fire overnight. A helicopter would provide assistance with firefighting efforts until twilight. “The fire…

The mother of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is boycotting the world premiere of Rust at a film festival in Poland on Wednesday, saying she views it as an attempt by Alec Baldwin to “unjustly profit” from her daughter’s death.The Western is premiering at the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage in the city of Torun three years after Hutchins was shot accidentally on set.Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for Rust, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on the set outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 when the revolver went off, killing…

A day after a nationwide hīkoi ended with tens of thousands marching to Parliament, it’s protest inside the debating chamber that’s prompting complaints.The pictures of yesterday’s Hīkoi mō te Tiriti are now etched in the minds of the masses as a police-estimated crowd of 42,000 converged at Parliament. The hīkoi forced politicians to take note amidst a contentious debate over the proposed Treaty Principles Bill.Now, all three Government coalition partners have written to Speaker Gerry Brownlee calling for tougher rules and penalties at Parliament after Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke ripped up a copy of the bill in the…

A senior member of Black Power Aotearoa Auckland says he is concerned about the impact the Government’s gang patch ban will have on families.The Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill comes into effect on Thursday, making it an offence to display gang insignias in public places.Police have said displaying patches will not be tolerated and officers were ready to enforce the news rules.Black Power Aotearoa senior member, Puks*, said insignias were not the problem.”What people wear is not the issue, bro,” he said. “It’s people’s behaviours, be it gang members or not, at the end of the day when it comes to…