Author: Press Room

This week’s key events presented by Euronews’ Polish affairs correspondent Dominika Cosic. Key diary datesWednesday 22 January: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to present priorities of the Polish EU presidency to the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg.Thursday 23 January: European Parliament to debate use of EU funds for buidling border security apparatus.Friday 24 January: European Commission to meet with German digital regulator, and large digital platforms, including X, to prevent interference during the German election.In spotlightADVERTISEMENTPolish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk will address priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council during the plenary session of the European Parliament on…

Tauranga-based electric motorbike company UBCO has gone into receivership, just months after signing a high-profile partnership with Australia Post.UBCO, known for its electric two-wheel utility bikes, made headlines in September when it announced a major deal to supply Australia Post with 175 e-bikes. The deal followed an 18-month trial across multiple states.At the time, Australia Post chief executive Paul Graham described the partnership as a “pivotal moment for Australia Post”.UBCO chief executive Oliver Hutaff told 1News last year that the company had “bet a large position” of its future on the success of fleet contracts, including deals with Domino’s New…

Six people died and more than 300 were injured when a Saudi-born doctor drove a car into a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg in December. ADVERTISEMENTA car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg — which left six people dead shortly before Christmas — will not be investigated as a terrorist attack, the country’s Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel told regional channel SWR.Rommel said the perpetrator of the attack, a Saudi-born doctor who described himself as an ex-Muslim, likely carried out the rampage “out of personal frustration” and didn’t target state institutions.Rommel said that,…

A US woman has today appeared in court after allegedly attempting to smuggle an estimated 31kg of methamphetamine through the border over the weekend.The 24-year-old arrived in Auckland on a flight from San Francisco on Saturday and following questioning, a Customs search located the methamphetamine in two suitcases.”It was found in vacuum-sealed plastic packages inside wet towels and was packed amongst new clothing.”The seized quantity equates to around 1.6 million individual doses and has a potential street value of up to $11 million.A US national has been charged after 31kgs of methamphetamine was discovered in a passenger’s suitcase at Auckland…

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that protecting borders is a ‘sacred duty’, but humanitarian organisations have expressed concerns. ADVERTISEMENTWatched by drones and guarded by a five-and-a-half-metre steel barrier, a border crossing near the Polish town of Połowce encapsulates the security challenges facing the EU, Poland has said. On the other side of the fence lies Belarus, a close ally of Russia which has used migration as a weapon against the bloc, according to Warsaw. As a result, Poland has recently toughened its migration policies, something the country says is vital to its and the EU’s interests. “We have…

A body has been found in the search for a jetskier seen struggling in the water on Lake Taupō yesterday.Police received a report around 12.40pm on Sunday that a person or people on a jetski were in trouble in the lake off Acacia Bay.”While one person and the jetski made it to shore with assistance from Police and Taupō Coastguard, a second person sadly did not, and was last seen struggling in the water,” Senior Sergeant Andy Livingstone said yesterday.A body was found this afternoon, police said today in an update.”Police offer condolences to the family and friends of the…

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) has called for a bonfire of EU red tape in a three-page statement adopted at a gathering of conservative leaders in Berlin. ADVERTISEMENTA raft of incoming climate, environmental and corporate sustainability law should be “put on hold for at least two years” and its scope limited to only the largest companies, the largest group in the European Parliament has said, setting a clear policy direction as the European Commission prepares a package of measures to boost EU competitiveness.The centre-right EPP had already launched a campaign to reverse key Green Deal legislation like tougher car…

The charges, which Arena has denied, are the latest in the Qatargate allegations that foreign lobbyists attempted to purchase influence in the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTMaria Arena, a former socialist party member of the European Parliament (MEP), has been charged with membership of a criminal organisation, the Belgian federal prosectuor has confirmed to Euronews.  The move follows the Qatargate scandal that rocked the Parliament in 2022, that has seen mulitple MEPs and staffers charged with corruption and money laundering. The charges were confirmed following revelations in newspaper La Libre, but the spokesperson declined to comment further on the investigation into the alleged…

A new turning lane will be constructed on State Highway 1 to make it easier for motorists heading to a new caravan park near Picton.The site has been the scene of three known crashes within a five-year period — including one involving a vehicle towing a caravan.That park will be open only to New Zealand Motor Caravan Association members, a condition of a resource consent granted after an appeal to the Environment Court.The association was initially denied consent for the site because there was no right-turn lane on the highway. It had applied to the Marlborough District Council to subdivide…

European friends of Donald Trump have accepted invitations for a ringside seat at today’s inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. ADVERTISEMENTAs Donald Trump is sworn in today at around 12pm EST (6pm CET) as the 47th President of the United States, European politicians will be listening attentively to his second-term inaugural address, while several of the his political allies will attend in person.Trump’s statements since his election victory on 5 November have raised concerns in Europe over the speed at which a ramp up of contributions from NATO member states will be sought and how quickly and…