Author: Press Room

The latest receipts for ministers’ credit card spending show some unexpected purchases, including a harmonica, trips to McDonald’s and insect repellent.Thousands of dollars are being legitimately spent by the Offices of Ministers on their work credit cards according to documents released by the Department of Internal Affairs. The majority of the spending involves flights, ubers and taxis, car parking, dinners while on trips and gifts for foreign dignitaries. But the ledger for April to June this year also details some buys are more unusual, though still within the rules, and sets out which ministers are spending the most.Prime Minister Christopher…

Italian authorities were forced to cull nearly 120,000 pigs since swine fever appeared in the country back in January 2022. Now, they have slaughtered three-quarters of those over the past two months. ADVERTISEMENTSwine fever has gripped northern Italian food-producing regions, threatening livelihoods and the production of prized pork products. In Giovanni Airoli’s farm south of Milan, all 6,200 of his pigs were slaughtered under strict protocols to halt the disease which is threatening Italy’s €20 billion prosciutto, cured sausage and pork products industry. “It happened to us despite applying all of the safety measures required. There was obviously a failure. We don’t…

Creditors of failed Southland construction firm Prospec Structures remain out of pocket to the tune of just over $4 million as no funds were recovered during the liquidation, the liquidators’ final report says. Incorporated in January 2020, the Gore-based construction business, which specialised in temperature-controlled buildings for the agriculture, horticulture and viticulture sectors, was placed in liquidation in November last year by special resolution of the company’s shareholders. Total preferential creditors totalled $103,856 — which included staff wages and holiday pay of $48,856 and Inland Revenue GST and PAYE of $55,000 — secured creditors of $1.58m, and unsecured creditors —…

Analysis: The pain that small businesses are experiencing now could be worse than what they felt during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, write Antje Fiedler and Benjamin Fath for The Conversation.With rising costs and drops in consumer spending, small businesses have been struggling lately.Continuous economic pressure is causing significant stress and burnout among small business owners, while confidence continues to decline.Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment show company liquidations are up 40% in the first eight months of 2024 compared to 2023. Construction, retail and hospitality have been hit hard due to rising costs and declining…

The European Commission failed to correctly follow EU law when it forgave Madrid for its high deficit earlier this year, a legal panel of fiscal advisors has said. ADVERTISEMENTSpain was shown undue largesse over its high budget deficit – and should have been deemed to have an excessive deficit alongside the likes of France, Italy and Romania earlier this year, a panel of EU fiscal advisors has said.  The EU is this year returning to fiscal discipline after putting its stability and growth pact, designed to avoid Greece-style eurozone crises, on hold for the pandemic – but the Brussels executive…

Political leaders across the continent have denounced Tehran’s overnight ballistic missile strikes, for which Israel has promised retaliation. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is among scores of European leaders strongly condemning Iran’s Monday night missile attack on Israel – an assault that threatens to destabilise the Middle East and throw the region into all-out war.“I urge all parties to protect the life of innocent civilians,” von der Leyen said in a statement circulated on Tuesday.“The European Union continues to call for a ceasefire across the border with Lebanon, and in Gaza, and for the release of all hostages…

Drivers parking illegally will face a much steeper fine from today as new rates for infringements kick in to keep up with inflation.But Auckland’s mayor wants the government to go further and says the council should be able to set its own fines.Parking fines have not changed since 2004, and in many places they barely cover the cost of towing a vehicle.The fines are set by the government under the Land Transport Act, while parking is policed by local authorities.A driver parking without paying would have been charged $40 on Monday – that has been hiked to $70 from Tuesday.Auckland…

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews. The EUDR requires stringent due diligence that sheds light on long supply chains that often obscure human rights violations. Voluntary pledges cannot substitute for this regulation. Luciana Téllez Chávez writes. ADVERTISEMENTThese last few months have been fraught with pushback against the EU’s bold new anti-deforestation regulation. Pressure has come from within the EU, egged on by the Austrian agriculture minister, and from external trading partners.Finally, on 12 September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz piled on by urging delaying…

Police have named a man who died after a three-vehicle crash in Pūhoi in north Auckland last week. The crash was reported on Pohuehue Rd at around 6.13am on Wednesday, September 25. Police said two vehicles collided before a “secondary crash” at the scene involving a third vehicle.The driver of one of the vehicles, 32-year-old Franck Lucien Kirikau Friconnet of Warkworth, died at the scene. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” police said. The driver of another vehicle was taken to Auckland City Hospital.”Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.”

A woman was arrested in Auckland’s Papakura over the weekend after she allegedly tried to steal $200 worth of mayonnaise. Police were called to Woolworths Roselands at about 12pm on Sunday after a woman was spotted allegedly loading several jars into a suitcase before leaving the store. Inspector Matt Hoyes said that when officers arrived, “staff were able to provide a really detailed description of the woman”.Soon after, police found a woman matching that description and wheeling a suitcase at a bus stop on Porchester Rd.”The woman was quickly taken into custody without issue, and the items were returned to…