Author: Press Room

Moldovan voters to choose between pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu and challenger Aleksandr Stoianoglo, who favours closer ties with Russia. ADVERTISEMENTWhile much of Europe is focused on the final week of the razor-thin race for the White House, another significant presidential election is unfolding closer to home in Moldova.Moldova’s election runoff on Sunday is between Maia Sandu, the pro-Western incumbent who has pushed strongly for greater EU integration, and Alexandr Stoianoglo, a Russia-friendly former chief prosecutor seeking closer ties with Moscow.The first round of the presidential race in the country of 3 million was held on 20 October alongside a referendum…

Police are investigating the destruction of a carving gifted by mana whenua and displayed at Pukekohe Train Station.In a Facebook post, the Franklin Local Board said the vandalism was “upsetting and disrespectful”.”We are saddened at this vandalism at Pukekohe Station and gutted that a beautiful carving by Ngāti Tamaoho kaumatua Ted Ngataki, who has only ever shown us kindness and a willingness to share his wisdom, should suffer in this way.”We are deeply sorry this happened,” the post read.In a statement to RNZ, police said a report was first made on October 27 when it was noticed the carving had…

Fire and Emergency services are at the scene of a well involved fire at a rural school, northeast of Hamilton.A FENZ spokesperson told 1News the fire broke out just before noon in a Puketaha School building “used as a school hall”, and has a size of approximately 10 to 15 metres.”The building has been evacuated with all persons accounted for.”A post from the school, shared on Facebook, said: “The staff have done an incredible job keeping the children safe and cared for.”Two crews, equipped with breathing apparatus, were working to contain the fire.”In attendance is four fire trucks, two water…

The Baltic nation had repeatedly blocked an attempt to impose up to 25% value-added tax on online platforms offering short-term rentals and ridesharing. ADVERTISEMENTEU diplomats have agreed a reform to VAT rules that would mean tax hikes on short-term rental and taxi-style services such as Airbnb and Uber, after Estonia dropped its opposition.Estonia, home to ride-sharing app Bolt, had previously voiced concerns over unfair treatment of online platforms, and the often small-time suppliers that use them.The redrafted text includes a longer transition period, meaning the online platform rules will become voluntary in July 2028 and mandatory from January 2030, an…

A staff member at one of the country’s most prestigious schools who resigned over allegations of inappropriate online activity did not commit any criminal offences, police say.The staff member, who boarded at the school and was involved with football, admitted to the activity, King’s College confirmed last week.It was believed he had been engaging with a minor.The school notified police, and contacted parents and guardians, asking them to talk with their child if they had any concerns.In a statement released by the school last week, it said as far as staff were aware, the online activity did not involve any…

Eleven Vietnamese nationals have been deported and cannabis valued at $18 million has been destroyed after police hit the operations of an organised crime group across Auckland last week.Searches were carried out at 30 homes being used as “sophisticated indoor cannabis growing systems” across Counties Manukau, Auckland City, and Waitematā districts, Acting Detective Inspector Greg Brand said.Approximately 3385 cannabis plants at various stages of growth and 48kg of dried cannabis – worth an estimated $18 million – were seized and destroyed.Eleven people were arrested following the crackdown.”The majority of those arrested were in New Zealand illegally and a result, Immigration…

Former rugby star Matua Parkinson has been sentenced to nine months of home detention after admitting to on-selling several firearms he had purchased.Parkinson, 49, pleaded guilty in June to unlawful possession of five Alfa Carbine rifles which he supplied to an unlicensed person, police said.At the time, Parkinson “admitted travelling from his Tauranga home to two Gun City stores in Auckland where he paid almost $11,000 in cash for five Alfa Carbines in June 2022.”The firearms have not been recovered.”During the early 2000s, Parkinson captained the New Zealand Sevens team to victory in the world championship and played for the…

Pressure groups, known as PACs, with European ties are pouring money into US electoral campaigns. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean corporations have indirectly funnelled around $14.3 million (€13.2 million) in funds towards US electoral campaigns during the current voting cycle, Euronews’ analysis of data provided by non-profit Open Secrets reveals.Of those funds, around 56% went towards Republican campaigns, while 44% went to Democrats.Although foreign companies are technically barred from directly contributing to US electoral campaigns, they can easily bypass those guardrails by using their American subsidiaries to establish political action committees known as PACs.Those PACs collect money from their American employees, which is then…

ACT leader David Seymour says he does not support banning swastikas in public, because he likes “knowing who the idiots in society are”, despite the coalition recently prohibiting the display of gang patches.The comments come amid a large Mongrel Mob tangi in Lower Hutt and weeks out from the coalition Government’s ban on gang insignia kicking into effect.Speaking in Auckland on Tuesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked whether the Government would follow Australia in also banning the Nazi salute and symbols, both of which are sometimes used by the Mob.Luxon gave no indication such a move was being actively…

Pacific people are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, but there’s also heartening signs of improvement in employment, youth suicide, and crime statistics, a new report shows.The Salvation Army’s State of the Pacific Peoples report highlights a decline in unemployment and crime rates within Pacific communities while exposing ongoing challenges in child poverty, education, and family violence.Social policy analyst Ana Ika, who authored the report, said at the heart of these issues lies the deepening housing crisis, which disproportionately affects Pacific families.”This report is ultimately an offering to our communities to put into their kete of knowledge and see how…