Author: Press Room

The European Commission President has called on the bloc to look into so-called innovative solutions to stem the flow of irregular migrants, including the creation of return hubs outside the bloc to detain rejected asylum seekers awaiting deportation. ADVERTISEMENTMost of the political groups that supported Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election at the helm of the EU’s executive on Wednesday criticised her stance on the bloc’s migration policy. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Socialists, Greens, and Renew Europe lambasted several key points outlined by the President of the Commission in a letter sent to the 27 EU leaders ahead of the last…

They say the apple does not fall far from the tree. But when it comes to Central Otago’s Rhoades family, the crumbs do not scatter far from the cookie. Chris Rhoades and his identical twin sons Tim and Tony all work in the Cookie Time business, based in Cromwell. Chris Rhoades is a finalist in the franchisee of the year — small business category — in this year’s New Zealand Franchise Awards which will be announced at a gala dinner at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on November 9. The franchising sector contributed the equivalent of 12% of New Zealand’s…

The sight of a crop never grown before in New Zealand has been puzzling residents north of Kerikeri.The conversion of former dairy paddocks alongside State Highway 10 at Kapiro has sparked much conjecture in recent months about what the plants are, who’s growing them, and why.It turns out there’s a good reason even seasoned horticulturalists don’t recognise the young trees — hwangchil, a Korean medicinal plant, is new to New Zealand.The trees are being grown on a farm bought by Kerikeri resident Ilchi Lee, who is variously described as an author, a businessman and a spiritual leader.Hwangchil, a Korean medicinal…

The European Ombudsman has called for “concrete criteria” to suspend EU funds for Tunisia in case of human rights abuse. ADVERTISEMENTThe controversial deal signed between the European Union and Tunisia has come under renewed scrutiny over the human rights situation in the North African country and the lack of transparency on Brussels’ side.In a statement published on Wednesday, the European Ombudsman criticised the European Commission for failing to publish “any information” related to the risks it identified before signing the agreement in July 2023. This evaluation was done “carefully and diligently,” but fell short of the traditional human rights impact…

Two people have been arrested after allegedly attempting to sell a stolen barbecue in Hamilton – while parked in a disability car park.Police were called after the pair allegedly broke a window to enter a house in Fairfield around 3.30pm on Monday, setting off an alarm and alerting a passerby, who saw them running from the house carrying a television set.Witnesses spotted the pair ditch the television over a back hedge before fleeing in a white Holden vehicle which had been parked in the victim’s driveway, Inspector Andrea McBeth said.Police officers recognised the vehicle as suspicions had been reported about…

This article was originally published in French A project that houses cows in a floating barn aims to demonstrate how farming can change its relationship with water and energy. ADVERTISEMENTIn the heart of Europe’s largest port lies a little corner of the countryside, where 30 cows have settled on the waters of Rotterdam. This one-of-a-kind floating barn, spread across three levels, is moored to a meadow that the cows can freely access via a footbridge whenever they want.Minke van Wingerden, co-founder of Floating Farm, is working to develop a sustainable type of farm that used a variety of technologies to minimise…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ A battle that appears to have broken out between Air New Zealand and Jetstar in the domestic aviation market may just be the start of a run of good news for consumers, one aviation expert says. This week Air New Zealand and Jetstar have announced sales. Air New Zealand said on Monday it was making more than 200,000 seats available for travel periods between January and June next year. Auckland to Kerikeri was advertised from $59 each way, and Auckland to Wellington $69. Auckland to Queenstown was promoted from $99 each way. Christchurch to Wellington…

Metallica will play a one-off show at Auckland’s Eden Park next November.Having signalled last month that they would be touring this part of the world, it’s now confirmed they will perform on November 19.They will be supported by Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies.Fan club pre-sales open on October 29, with general sale tickets available from November 4.Since opening in April last year, Metallica have played to around three million fans on their M72 tour.The band’s highly anticipated 2019 NZ tour was cancelled after lead singer James Hetfield checked into an addiction recovery programme just over a month out from the scheduled…

A wide-scale search is ongoing into an 83-year-old man believed to be missing in the water off Whangārei since Sunday.The man, who was reported missing on Monday, was believed to have been swimming off Onerahi the morning prior.He typically went for a daily swim in the Whangārei Harbour and wore a wetsuit and pink swim cap, police said.The police, Coastguard, Far North Search and Rescue, and Surf Life Saving New Zealand are involved in the search. The police Eagle helicopter has also been deployed to carry out an aerial search.The Coastguard will be conducting a dummy exercise in the water…

This article was originally published in Portuguese Rioting in several districts around the city erupted when a Portuguese police officer shot and killed a Cape Verdean man. ADVERTISEMENTPortugal’s capital experienced a second night of riots into the early hours of Wednesday morning, triggered by the death of Odair Moniz, a Cape Verdean man who was shot and killed by a police officer late on Sunday night.Unrest returned to areas including Amadora near Lisbon, with bins and even buses set on fire. “Today, regrettably, we once again witnessed situations of disorder within the Zambujal neighbourhood … with the theft of a Carris…