Author: Press Room

Two men wearing balaclavas exchanged fire outside the Clémenceau metro station in the Belgian capital early on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENTBelgian police are searching for armed gunmen following a shooting outside a metro station in Brussels on Wednesday morning. Two metro lines and multiple trams in the Belgian capital were disrupted as police hunted for the culprits. Footage shown on local media showed at least two men wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons exchanging fire outside Clémenceau station in the Belgian capital at around 6 am CET. A spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office told Euronews the police were actively searching the underground…

The Cook Islands is set to strike a major partnership deal with China — causing deep concern in the New Zealand Government, 1News can reveal. The move would be a big win for Beijing, which is trying to exert its influence and power across the Pacific. But it has taken the Beehive by surprise — as it is a potential breach of constitutional arrangements between the Cooks and Aotearoa.This year, the Cook Islands celebrates 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. That means it’s free to make its own moves on policies and partnerships — at home…

A man has died after being hit by a truck in central Auckland this afternoon.Police were called to The Strand shortly after 2pm following the crash between a truck and a pedestrian.The pedestrian was taken in a critical condition to nearby Auckland City Hospital, where he later died.The Strand was initially closed following the crash but has since reopened following a scene examination.”Enquiries are ongoing into the crash,” police said.There have been previous calls for changes to the traffic-heavy Auckland street, a major feeder between the port and motorway network.In May 2021, a cyclist was killed in a collision with…

A new residents’ group has formed in Nelson and they want to know what the council’s plan is for the deforested hills in the Barnicoat Ranges.“People just want to know what is happening up there,” said Friends of Marsden Valley member Kathryn Richards.Though the group has several priorities, the reforestation of bare hills around the popular recreational track of Glider Road was big on their agenda.Pine harvesting in the Marsden Valley started in 2021 following a windthrow event.Grass seeding had since occurred as cutover areas opened, and selective weed spraying had been ongoing.But the bare slopes were worrying residents, who…

An extraordinary pōwhiri played out on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds as the Government and opposition parties were welcomed to Te Whare Rūnanga.On Tuesday, we saw how proceedings usually unfold when esteemed guests are welcomed. Wednesday was a different story.New elements added – and taken away – from proceedings left no doubt about the message from haukāinga: They were against recent Government policies and actions. Here’s how they showed it. Kaiwero take matters into own handsThe placing of three taki, or challenges, is often straightforward. A taki is placed on the ground, it’s picked up, and the group moves forward. There…

At the end of February, the European Commission is expected to publish a new EU law on return of asylum claimants. ADVERTISEMENTIs the European Union ready to set up return hubs outside its territory? According to a document seen by Euronews, the European Commission and several Schengen member states are ready to propose so-called ‘return hubs’ in upcoming EU legislation.Such ‘return hubs’ are centres outside the EU where rejected asylum seekers would be located before being returned to their country of origin. The measure is considered controversial by many civil society organisations and NGOs citing negative impact on human rights.Today…

The savings scheme continues to be a political football – and some proposed changes are concerning. Professor of Finance Aaron Gilbert explains. New Zealand’s superannuation is no longer enough to live on for the country’s retirees. Research has found people need hundreds of thousands in savings to live a comfortable life after work.But the KiwiSaver scheme, introduced in 2007 to encourage New Zealanders to build their retirement savings, continues to be a political football. Since its creation, there have been multiple tweaks to the scheme, threatening to undermine its core purpose: supporting New Zealanders in their retirement.New Zealand’s superannuation is…

Lifeguards at a Canterbury pool now have an extra helper with a new AI system employed to help identify when people might be drowning.The tool used cameras to detect body shapes in the water at Selwyn Aquatic Centre and notified lifeguards if something was not right.”It’s essentially a second pair of eyes,” said lifeguard Dexton Green.”We basically get a map of the pool, it shows us wherean incident is and we’re prompted to go and check it.”Selwyn District Council head of sport and recreation James Richmond said the system ran off normal CCTV cameras.”It’s analysing some of the behaviour and…

The Parliamentary pōwhiri at Waitangi is a chance each year for politicians to have their say, and for the hau kāinga – home people – and te ao Māori, to respond.Today though, the Prime Minister won’t be there to listen.Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson thinks Christopher Luxon should be.”It’s a way of acknowledging to the people of the north, but [also] to the nation, the significance that this place holds. It’s expected for prime ministers to be able to show up and be accountable for their actions and actually needing to front up to people,” she said.Instead, Luxon will be…

House prices are likely to remain broadly flat for the next five years, Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen says, and New Zealanders may need to come to terms with not being able to “bet the house on” strong capital gains.He told a Financial Services Council event yesterday that there could be “ups and downs” in price movements but overall prices were likely to go sideways or slightly lift over the coming years.”Slightly up is an important shift from previously when it was solidly up all the time.”I think we’re becoming a little bit more accustomed to the idea … people…