Author: Press Room

Dozens of women say they were raped and sexually abused by Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of the famous London department store Harrods. ADVERTISEMENTLawyers representing dozens of women who say they were raped and sexually abused by Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of the famous London department store Harrods, said the case was akin to the crimes of sex offenders Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.At a press briefing in London on Friday in the wake of the BBC documentary “Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods,” the lawyers described the Egypt-born businessman who died last year at the age…

Wellingtonians will soon get to have their say on potential new flight path plans for Wellington Airport.The new flight path options will be for the airport’s northerly jet departures.This isn’t the first time Wellington Airport has changed flight paths. In 2022, changes were made to reduce departure routes over the suburbs of Newlands, Khandallah and Broadmeadows. While the route change reduced noise impacts for some residents, others experienced a noise increase.“The changes in 2022 were made for good reasons and have improved safety and efficiency, but we’ve listened to public feedback and want to hear views on these different proposals,”…

Ursula von der Leyen has announced a multi-billion initiative to help Kyiv plug the hole in its state budget and procure more weapons. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union will raise a €35 billion loan to support the Ukrainian economy and military as the war-torn country battles to resist a renewed Russian offensive that has badly damaged the power systems and made territorial advances in the East.The loan was announced by Ursula von der Leyen on Friday during her visit to Kyiv, promising “maximum flexibility” in how the money will be spent.”Russia keeps targeting your civilian energy infrastructure in a blatant and vicious…

“It felt like I was being ripped to shreds… I felt their intention and their instinct was to kill me.”A woman mauled by three roaming dogs in a Rotorua street this month has spoken publicly to lobby for stricter rules and enforcement, saying she believes her “local council allowed these dogs to almost kill me”.Suz Guet, still healing from wounds sustained in the September 3 attack on Sunset Rd, shared her experience at a Rotorua Lakes Council dog control bylaw and policy hearing on Wednesday.At the meeting, Guet wore slippers due to her swollen, bruised feet and her arms and…

This article was originally published in Portuguese The country has burned more than 121,000 hectares of land since Sunday with seven fatalities. ADVERTISEMENTPortugal has declared a day of national mourning to mark the deaths of seven who died in wildfires that have burned through the country’s west coast.According to official figures, there were five fatalities and 161 injured, 12 of them seriously. Civil Protection has registered five deaths, excluding two civilians who died of sudden illness linked to the fires. Three firefighters who were tackling the blazes were among those killed. Although the fires have largely died down, two are ongoing…

“Disappointed” and “sobering” is how Gisborne District councillors felt when they learnt their road safety funding would be 56% less than requested.In April, the council submitted a funding bid of $1.255 million from the 2024-27 regional road safety fund.However, in August, it was advised it would be allocated only $554,000.The council has been forced to cut back what it planned to offer, including scrapping a programme helping residents gain their driver’s licence.The council initially planned to address the region’s poor road safety from “inadequate levels of driving skills and reckless behaviour”, a council report said.During an extraordinary road transport meeting…

Political leaders have said the European Parliament will show its teeth when holding nominees to account. ADVERTISEMENTUrsula von der Leyen has cast the 26 European Commissioner nominees in their new roles, but they have plenty of hoops to jump through before they can take up their new jobs.The bloc’s only directly-elected institution, the European Parliament, will now launch the process of legally screening candidates before they are publicly grilled by its lawmakers.It means plenty of opportunities to uncover skeletons in the nominees’ cupboards.Personal controversies, divisive political stances, conflicting interests or lacking competence have all in the past led to lawmakers…

A man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a person in their vehicle in Christchurch’s Riccarton yesterday, leaving the victim with critical injuries.Police said the incident occurred at the intersection of Clarence St and Blenheim Rd at about 5.40pm.Detective Sergeant James Haigh said the two cars were at the red lights outside a carwash business when a man got out of one car and allegedly attacked the victim, who was in the other car.”The offender has then fled north on Clarence Street towards Riccarton Road.”Police said the incident occurred at the intersection of Clarence St and Blenheim Rd at about…

Students of a lower North Island school are safe after a fleeing driver smashed through its grounds this morning.Waikanae’s Kapakapanui School posted images of damage caused by the fleeing driver to its Facebook page.”This morning a car crashed through our front gates in an attempt to evade the police,” a post on the page read.”The car continued across the school field and turf and crashed through our rear fence then continued.”All children were inside at the time and remained inside. Police have apprehended the driver.”Damage caused by a fleeing driver at Kapakapanui School. (Source: Facebook/Kapakapanui School)Police confirmed officers took the…

A newly elected councillor has questioned why a controversial road closure in Mount Maunganui that has seen motorists fined $5 million continued despite huge community opposition.Another councillor claims drivers have been “penalised” to protect other transport modes.The eastern end of Links Ave in Mount Maunganui has been closed with numerous different restrictions on its use imposed by Tauranga City Council since March 2022.The closure was in response to concerns about the safety of children travelling to school and was originally going to be a four-month trial.Initially, it was closed at all times, then just peak hours of 7am–10am and 2pm–4pm.Now…