Author: Press Room

Hungary’s resistance has put the EU in a situation of maximum suspense less than 72 hours before the individual sanctions are set to expire. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Union countries are in a race against time to convince Hungary to renew the sanctions that the European Union has imposed on more than 2,400 individuals and entities, mainly from Russia, in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Sanctions need to be renewed every six months by unanimity.The veto has played out throughout the week in meetings between ambassadors. After unsuccessful attempts on Monday and Wednesday, envoys gathered again on Thursday, hoping a breakthrough could…

A student who died yesterday after being struck by a train in Waikato has been named by Matamata College as Sarie Morton. “It is with deep sadness that we inform our school community of the sudden passing of one of our beloved students, Sarie Morton, following an incident after school yesterday,” Matamata College board presiding member Craig Alexander and principal Dr Angela Sharples posted today on the school’s Facebook page.”Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sarie’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”Emergency services were called to the railway tracks alongside Firth St, near the intersection with College St,…

Belgian judicial authorities sealed two offices of parliamentary assistants on Thursday as part of the latest corruption investigation in the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTThe offices of two parliamentary assistants from the European People’s Party and Renew Europe have been sealed by Belgian judicial authorities amid investigations on alledged bribes from Chinese tech company Huawei to influence EU decision-making. One belongs to the assistants of Marco Falcone (Italy/EPP), Paolo Campisi and Francesco Vasta. The other is the office of Adam Mouchtar, assistant to Nikola Minchev (Bulgaria/Renew Europe). Belgian authorities have accessed the offices of Falcone’s assistants around 17:00 CET, for over an hour. As…

The owner of a Palmerston North window installation company — which shut its doors owing customers hundreds of thousands of dollars — has avoided jail for now.Owner of Green Innovations, Michael Wright appeared in Wellington District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to seven charges of obtaining by deception.But sentencing was delayed when he made an unexpected offer of reparations.The charges related to just over $300,000 paid to Green Innovations — between December 2022 and July 2023 — as deposits and progress payments for window installations that never eventuated.Judge Noel Sainsbury told the court and a gallery of…

Alexander Pumpyanskiy is a son of Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, who until 2022 was the head of Russia’s largest pipe manufacturer TMK. He was present at Vladimir Putin’s first meeting with businessmen after the start of the full-scale invasion. ADVERTISEMENTSwiss-Russian Alexander Pumpyanskiy has told Euronews that his continued inclusion on the EU sanctions list is aberrant and shows the Council is flying against a decision of the EU Courts.Alexander Pumpyanskiy, son of Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, is a long-term resident of Geneva who previously held positions in companies formerly owned by his father.He was originally included in sanctions lists as…

Police believe that a man wanted for arson attacks on Masterton church last month is receiving help to evade officers.Detective Senior Sergeant Philip Skoglund said Michael Kane McRae, 44, has not been found “despite wide-ranging enquiries”.”We believe McRae is still in the Wairarapa area; my message to anyone helping him evade capture is to come forward now, do not put yourself at further risk of prosecution,” said Skoglund.Four Masterton churches suffered damage ranging from moderate to significant following a group of suspicious fires believed to have started between 4.25am and 4.35am on February 22.The blazes were believed to have started…

The EU Commission will present its White Paper on the Future of European Defence by 19 March. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission will present a specific omnibus package for defence by June 2025, according to a draft of the forthcoming White Paper on the future of European defence seen by Euronews.The special simplification regulation will aim to reduce fragmentation within the single market and increase defence production through a simpler and more harmonised regulatory environment for defence products and services, the Commission plans.”Simplification is necessary to boost industrial defence production,” the draft says, adding that harmonisation will overcome the “additional administrative burdens…

Twenty people who entered an Auckland motorway on foot during a protest convoy organised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki in November have been fined.In November, the “Make New Zealand Great Again” protests saw a convoy travel from Mercer in Waikato to the Auckland Domain.They were protesting the flying of flags other the official NZ ensign.At one stage it blocked State Highway 1’s northbound lanes near Bombay as people rushed into the lanes on foot to perform a haka.Police at the time said the actions were “reckless, unlawful, and extremely irresponsible” .Today Superintendent Naila Hassan said police were able to…

China was the third largest partner for EU exports of goods and the largest partner for EU imports of goods in 2024. ADVERTISEMENTIn 2024, the EU exported goods worth €213.3 billion to China and imported €517.8 billion. This led to a trade deficit of €304.5 billion, according to the latest Eurostat figures.  The only EU countries toreport trade surpluses with China were Ireland and Luxembourg. The other 25 EU countries experienced trade deficits, with the Netherlands facing the largest deficit at €85 billion.China remained the EU’s largest trade partner for imports, accounting for 21.3% of the total, followed by the United States at 13.7% and the United…

A back-to-back victory at the top of a national economic ranking shows Otago is consistent with its strengths, an economist says. Otago beat 15 other regions around New Zealand to place at the top of ASB’s latest regional economic scoreboard for the final quarter of 2024 — repeating its top placing in the organisation’s previous ranking, for the third quarter of last year. The quarterly scoreboard ranks the economic performance of the country’s 16 regions on employment, construction, retail trade and house prices. Coming in second — also for the second time in a row — was Canterbury, followed by…