Author: Press Room

After the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell called the situation in Lebanon “extremely dangerous and worrying”, is the world now witnessing another fullscale war? ADVERTISEMENTWe are joined this week by Virginijus Sinkevičius, Lithuanian MEP from the Greens, Maria Martisiute, a security and defence analyst from the European Policy Centre and Matthew Robinson, director of the Euro-Gulf Information Centre.The panel discussed whether the world is now witnessing another fullscale war, after the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell warned that the situation in Lebanon is “extremely dangerous and worrying”. The panel also discussed the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the…

The coalition Government has secured its first free trade deal, an agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The deal would see almost all tariffs removed from exports to the Gulf country. “This is the fastest we have ever negotiated a deal in New Zealand and it is one of the highest-quality on entry into force,” Trade Minister Todd McClay said. Negotiations with the UAE took just four months. “This high-quality trade agreement will provide New Zealand with duty-free access for 98.5% of our exports to the UAE, rising to 99% after three years.”UAE Trade Minister Thani Bin…

Sean “Diddy” Combs was hit with new sexual assault allegations as a woman filed a lawsuit in New York saying she was repeatedly raped and drugged at the music mogul’s homes and became pregnant after one of the encounters.It’s the latest of several similar lawsuits by women against Combs, who also was arrested last week on a federal sex trafficking indictment.The lawsuit was filed against Combs, his companies and several associates and seeks undisclosed damages for physical injuries, severe emotional distress, humiliation, anxiety and other harms. A lawyer for Combs, his company and one of his representatives did not immediately…

Auckland property developer and investor Du Val Group owes close to $240 million to creditors and investors, as its statutory managers reveal the extent of its financial obligations.The group was placed into statutory management last month, as authorities became increasingly concerned about its “significant liabilities”, not long after it was placed into interim receivership by the High Court.In their first report, statutory managers John Fisk, Stephen White and Lara Bennett of PwC, said $196.4m was owed to creditors, including $18.1m to unsecured creditors, $170.7m to secured creditors and $7.6m to preferential creditors.PwC said a further $41.2m was owed to investors.Du…

“Can’t” is a word that doesn’t exist in Casey Brady’s vocabulary.The 31-year-old former motocross champion spends hours every day proving those who tell her she can’t wrong.Brady was left paralysed from her lower chest down after a motocross accident in Taupō in June 2017. After suffering a spinal cord injury, specialists informed Brady that she would never walk again.Up the road from where she grew up, Brady still lives a rural life in Te Puke.”I grew up with three sisters, so we were always busy making huts and running around the farm, being kids.”Casey Brady lives a rural life in…

Key points:The Government is seeking advice on two options to deliver the new Dunedin Hospital project.Labour say the Government’s attempt to placate the people of Dunedin “has fallen short”.Dunedin’s mayor says the community is “outraged”, with a march planned for Saturday. Dunedin’s mayor says the community is “absolutely outraged” following the announcement of the Government’s proposed new options for the new Dunedin Hospital project.It follows a report released yesterday commissioned by the Government which found current plans could not be delivered within the current appropriated budget of $1.88 billion.Two options are now on the table — to reduce the number…

New Zealander Liam Lawson says he “always believed” he’d get his shot in Formula 1 — and he “definitely” feels ready for it.It was announced this morning that Australian Daniel Ricciardo was released by Red Bull Racing and Lawson will immediately replace him for the remaining six races of the season. Lawson told 1News: “It’s very cool. Obviously it’s been a very long time coming, and a lot of hard work for a lot of people, so it’s very special.”I found out about this a couple of weeks ago but had to sort of keep it under wraps.”Now it’s finally…

Rumour became reality for 600 meat workers in Timaru yesterday as Alliance announced plans to close the Smithfield plant by the end of the year. Talk had swirled over the future of the 139-year-old plant over the past six months but the worst nightmares for many came to fruition yesterday with the plant falling victim to over-capacity in the industry, declining stock numbers and a poor financial performance from the meat company. There was little obvious surprise at the announcement, although some emotion was evident outside as workers processed the news. Silence came across the room as Alliance safety and…

A Waikato farming company, company director and farm manager have been hit with a combined $305,900 in fines after unlawfully discharging dairy effluent into the environment.A statement from Waikato Regional Council announced the convictions for Flint Farms Limited, farm owner Barry Flint and farm manager Gavin Flint.They were sentenced in Hamilton District Court this week on 14 charges under the Resource Management Act, over offences between August 2022 and June 2023. “This is the largest fine for discharging contaminants into the environment in the Waikato region since the Resource Management Act was introduced over 30 years ago,” the council said.And…

Speaking alongside Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sergio Mattarella warned against the rise of political populism and said peace in Ukraine didn’t have to mean submission. ADVERTISEMENTItalian president Sergio Mattarella has hailed the “great relationship” between Rome and Berlin on a three-day state visit to Germany.Speaking at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, the official residence of Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Mattarella said, “We need a stronger and more united EU to respond to international challenges.””Germany for Italy is not only a co-founder country of the Union, an ally in NATO, but it is an indispensable partner in every aspect of co-existence…