Author: Press Room

Criminal charges have been filed against former financial adviser David McEwen by the Financial Markets Authority, alleging he acted in violation of a permanent stop order.McEwen and several associated entities were issued with a stop order by the Financial Markets Authority in December 2023. The authority said the order was filed due to offers of financial products being “false or misleading”, containing a material misdescription or material error, and non compliance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 with respect to unsubstantiated claims made as to the value of the financial products offered.The permanent stop order prohibited McEwen from:Making offers,…

The EU plans to tighten controls on steel and aluminium imports to prevent market dumping and restrict countries from blocking waste metal imports. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission is set to seek stricter controls over imports of steel and aluminium due to fears of diverted global supplies being dumped onto its markets, according to a draft paper seen by Euronews.It also aims to restrict countries from closing themselves off to waste metal imports, according to the paper.The Commission is set to present its final action plan on steel and metals present on Wednesday, providing guidelines on how to make European metal production more…

Police are working to identify a man who was struck by a train in Invercargill yesterday afternoon. An adult male was hit by a train at the pedestrian crossing on the corner of Tyne and Ness St shortly after 5pm.The track and crossing on Elles Rd reopened around midnight following a scene examination.Inspector Stu Harvey said thanked the public for their patience while the area was cordoned off.”Police are continuing efforts to identify the deceased, which is likely to take some time.”Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact police on 105.On Thursday, high school student Sarie Morton was killed…

Further charges have been laid against an Auckland funeral director arrested by police investigating allegations of inappropriate handling of burials at Waikumete Cemetery.The man was initially charged by police on Friday in the second arrest by Operation Lola, launched last year to examine complaints after bodies were disinterred by the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023.Undertaker Fiona Bakulich, 48, was previously arrested and pleaded guilty to 14 charges, two of interfering with human remains and 12 of obtaining by deception. She would be sentenced in April.Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin confirmed the charges were being laid against an…

The Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor said on Tuesday that four people have been charged with active corruption and criminal organisation, and one person has been charged with money laundering. ADVERTISEMENTFive people have been charged in a corruption probe linked to Chinese company Huawei, which has been suspected by Belgian prosecutors of bribing EU lawmakers. The Belgian Public Prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday that four people have been charged with “active corruption and criminal organisation,” while a fifth person was charged with money laundering.The latter was released under conditions, but the other four were placed under an arrest warrant.The Public Prosecutor…

Three-quarters of Dunedin businesses are optimistic about the future, but there is “still a lot of work to do” before the results start to show, a business leader says. According to Business South’s latest quarterly survey, for the final quarter of last year, southern business confidence has continued to improve, coupled with a fall in interest rates and anticipated improvements in individual financial performance. The survey compiled the responses from 244 organisations across Otago and Southland, and 75% of businesses in Dunedin said they were expecting a stronger financial performance over the coming year. A total of 52% of businesses…

New Zealand could be under as much as 20% more rainfall in some places by the end of the century as atmospheric rivers become more intense and frequent, according to new research.The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research study – led by NIWA research assistant Felix Goddard – examined projections for the frequency and intensity of atmospheric rivers under a relatively high greenhouse gas emissions future.The one scenario investigated found the narrow bands of concentrated water vapour could increase and the “rivers in the sky” were likely provide a much greater proportion of the country’s total annual rainfall.The findings…

Ursula von der Leyen already unveiled a ReArm Europe proposal earlier this month she said could see up to €800 billion poured into the defence sector over the next four years. ADVERTISEMENTUrsula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced that the bloc’s plan to boost its defence will include a joint Task Force with Ukraine to coordinate military support to the war-torn country and a European Military Sales Mechanism aimed at strengthening the European defence industrial base.The European Commission chief said the two new instruments will be part of the highly-anticipated White Paper for Defence that will be released on Wednesday…

Brenworth’s new chairman Rob Hewett says a fresh approach is needed to drive the carpet company’s growth and earnings. Yesterday, the company announced Mr Hewett, Julie Bohnenn, Murray Dyer and Trevor Burt had been appointed independent directors with immediate effect. Incumbent directors Paul Izzard, Katherine Turner and Dianne Williams were stepping down while previous chairman George Adams and John Rae were staying on the board. Earlier this month, a group of disgruntled shareholders called for a special meeting to consider proposed director changes, citing “years of poor operational performance, erratic strategic direction and substandard execution under the stewardship of Bremworth’s…

Police have named a man found dead near Queenstown earlier this month and revealed they now believe he fell from a cliff prior to being hit by a vehicle on State Highway 6.Emergency services were called to the scene near Kawarau Bridge Historic Reserve on State Highway 6 at around 10pm on March 3.”Sadly, the man was located deceased at the scene,” a police spokesperson said.He was today named by police as 22-year-old Ryoma Seki from Japan.”Police extend our condolences to his family and are providing them with support during this difficult time,” a spokesperson said.Although police inquiries determined he…