Author: Press Room

‘Alcohol-free’, ‘0.0%’ and ‘alcohol light’ are the new standardised denominations proposed by the European Commission for no and low-alcohol (NoLo) wine products in a bid to enhance their appeal. ADVERTISEMENTAs part of its newly presented wine package, the EU executive has proposed three new classifications seeking to harmonise terminology across member states and support the growing market for non-alcoholic wines.The overall package introduces targeted measures to help the sector manage its production potential, adapt to changing consumer preferences, and exploit new market opportunities.The proposed designations define ‘alcohol-free’ as wines with an alcohol content not exceeding 0.5% by volume, while ‘0.0%’…

A Dunedin outdoors retailer is among ten branches closing around the country as part of a nationwide brand shakeup. The Torpedo7 Dunedin store, in 205 Andersons Bay Rd, will officially shut its doors on May 4. In a statement, Tahua Group Ltd — which owns Torpedo7 along with Burger King and Starbucks in New Zealand — said they would be converting 10 existing stores, including Dunedin’s, into an “off-price retail concept” called The Outlet. The Outlet would offer “quality brands, products and everyday essentials” and was part of a strategy to build a more resilient and sustainable business model. Six…

Three iwi representatives who will sit on Tauranga City Council committees have been welcomed to their roles.Late last year, elected members voted to reinstate tangata whenua representatives and their voting rights to the council’s three committees.A pōwhiri was held for Arthur Flintoff, Rohario Murray and Jacqui Rolleston-Steed at Wairoa Marae on Wednesday as part of the council’s tangata whenua committee meeting.Environmental planner Flintoff will join the city future committee. He is a board member of Ara Rau Tangata and was a Smartgrowth adviser for four years.Lawyer Rohario Murray was appointed to the audit and risk committee. She was on the…

By giving American companies preferential treatment in Ukraine, the proposed minerals deal runs the risk of contradicting the EU’s competition and single market rules, which provide for equal and fair access. ADVERTISEMENTThe minerals deal that Kyiv and Washington are currently negotiating will be closely examined in Brussels to determine its compatibility with Ukraine’s membership bid, the European Commission has said, as the latest version of the text revives fears it would derail the country’s ambitions to join the bloc.The accession process requires candidate nations to gradually align with EU legislation, including fundamental principles of fair competition and non-discrimination.”The line has…

A Queenstown councillor who revealed a confidential council plan to discharge treated sewage into the Shotover River may be stripped of her responsibilities.Niki Gladding last week revealed the council was planning to invoke emergency powers to pump at least 12,000 cubic metres of treated sewage into the Shotover River per day.The council had been plagued by compliance issues relating to sewage disposal from its wastewater treatment plant and said ponding wastewater created danger for planes at the neighbouring Queenstown Airport.An extraordinary meeting was called by Mayor Glyn Lewers for next Tuesday.Stuart McLauchlan, the independent chairperson of the council’s audit, finance…

The Hungarian prime minister said the EU Commission’s call for people to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit was scary. “What’s on these people’s minds? Are they up to something?” the politician lamented, speaking on public radio. ADVERTISEMENTHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the first national leader to react to the EU Commission’s advice for people to prepare a 72-hour survival kit for emergency situations. The EU wants every member state to develop a 72-hour survival kit for citizens to face any new crisis that might emerge as part of its Preparedness Union Strategy which also calls for more stockpiling of…

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the death of Tyrone Munns in Christchurch earlier this month.At about 2pm today, the armed offenders squad and police officers arrested the man at a Christchurch address.Police detective senior sergeant Damon Wells said he was due to appear in Christchurch District Court on March 29, charged with murder.The homicide investigation was launched when Munns, from Mairehau, was found with critical injuries on Innes Road at around 9.15pm on March 9.The 39-year-old died at the scene.On Wednesday, police launched an appeal for sightings of a vehicle of interest.Today, Wells acknowledged Munns’ family…

The documents also included details such as soldiers’ ranks, emails, shift patterns, and weapon issue details, which experts say could represent a security threat for the named individuals. ADVERTISEMENTPiles of papers containing confidential military information were found scattered in the streets of Newcastle, a city in northern England, earlier this month.Football fan Mike Gibbard was parking his car on 16 March as he headed to a match when scraps of paper littering the street caught his eye. Gibbard got out of his car and was astonished to discover that the pieces of paper were, in fact, a trail of military…

Shoppers blindly accepting credit card surcharges need to understand the full impact they can have over the course of a month or a year, particularly if they’re allowed to compound, one investment adviser says.Credit card surcharges have become common as retailers try to recover the cost of increasing use of contactless payment technology.Use of the much cheaper eftpos network has fallen in recent years, as more shoppers opt for contactless debit and credit cards, as well as cards loaded on to phones.In January 2017, eftpos cards were used for about 40% of in-person payments. By July 2023, its share had…

The Russian leader suggested that Ukraine be under temporary UN control until a “competent” government was elected, despite it being contrary to Ukrainian law. ADVERTISEMENTWashington has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that Ukraine should be put under temporary UN control, according to reports.Putin said this could be done until a “competent” government is elected, amid further talks on a ceasefire and long-term peace that would end Moscow’s ongoing full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.However, a White House National Security Council spokesperson responded to Putin’s pitch on Friday by stating that governance in Ukraine was determined by its constitution,…