Author: Press Room

Five endangered turtles have been returned to the wild at a Northland beach after being rescued near death and nursed back to health.The green turtles were released yesterday at Rangiputa Beach, on the Karikari Peninsula, while a crowd of hundreds – including children from local schools and kohanga reo – watched from the shore.The release also marked the start of New Zealand’s biggest turtle-tracking study to date, with two of the juvenile turtles fitted with satellite tracking tags that will transmit data on their movements every time they surface.Project leader Karen Middlemiss, a senior marine science advisor for the Department…

This article was originally published in Portuguese The government, led by the Social Democrats in an alliance with a smaller party, fell amid a controversy that has revolved around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of outgoing Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s family law firm. ADVERTISEMENTPortugal will hold an early general election on May 18, the country’s president announced Thursday, two days after a minority government lost a confidence vote in parliament and stood down.President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has no executive power but can dissolve parliament and call elections, described the government’s collapse as a shock that was neither…

A curious white pointer shark has been snapped getting up close and personal with a research team’s underwater camera equipment in Fiordland. Department of Conservation staff and researchers from Sea Through Science were carrying out a baited remote underwater video (BRUV) survey in Fiordland’s Tamatea/Dusky Sound in February when the shark was seen sniffing around – and mouthing – a bait pot attached to the equipment.Sea Through Science researcher Adam Smith, who was contracted to undertake the work said it was “quite a shock” to see the curious mature male pointer shark getting so close to the BRUV cameras. “The…

Hungary’s resistance has put the EU in a situation of maximum suspense less than 72 hours before the individual sanctions are set to expire. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Union countries are in a race against time to convince Hungary to renew the sanctions that the European Union has imposed on more than 2,400 individuals and entities, mainly from Russia, in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Sanctions need to be renewed every six months by unanimity.The veto has played out throughout the week in meetings between ambassadors. After unsuccessful attempts on Monday and Wednesday, envoys gathered again on Thursday, hoping a breakthrough could…

A student who died yesterday after being struck by a train in Waikato has been named by Matamata College as Sarie Morton. “It is with deep sadness that we inform our school community of the sudden passing of one of our beloved students, Sarie Morton, following an incident after school yesterday,” Matamata College board presiding member Craig Alexander and principal Dr Angela Sharples posted today on the school’s Facebook page.”Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sarie’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”Emergency services were called to the railway tracks alongside Firth St, near the intersection with College St,…

Belgian judicial authorities sealed two offices of parliamentary assistants on Thursday as part of the latest corruption investigation in the European Parliament. ADVERTISEMENTThe offices of two parliamentary assistants from the European People’s Party and Renew Europe have been sealed by Belgian judicial authorities amid investigations on alledged bribes from Chinese tech company Huawei to influence EU decision-making. One belongs to the assistants of Marco Falcone (Italy/EPP), Paolo Campisi and Francesco Vasta. The other is the office of Adam Mouchtar, assistant to Nikola Minchev (Bulgaria/Renew Europe). Belgian authorities have accessed the offices of Falcone’s assistants around 17:00 CET, for over an hour. As…

The owner of a Palmerston North window installation company — which shut its doors owing customers hundreds of thousands of dollars — has avoided jail for now.Owner of Green Innovations, Michael Wright appeared in Wellington District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to seven charges of obtaining by deception.But sentencing was delayed when he made an unexpected offer of reparations.The charges related to just over $300,000 paid to Green Innovations — between December 2022 and July 2023 — as deposits and progress payments for window installations that never eventuated.Judge Noel Sainsbury told the court and a gallery of…

Alexander Pumpyanskiy is a son of Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, who until 2022 was the head of Russia’s largest pipe manufacturer TMK. He was present at Vladimir Putin’s first meeting with businessmen after the start of the full-scale invasion. ADVERTISEMENTSwiss-Russian Alexander Pumpyanskiy has told Euronews that his continued inclusion on the EU sanctions list is aberrant and shows the Council is flying against a decision of the EU Courts.Alexander Pumpyanskiy, son of Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, is a long-term resident of Geneva who previously held positions in companies formerly owned by his father.He was originally included in sanctions lists as…

Police believe that a man wanted for arson attacks on Masterton church last month is receiving help to evade officers.Detective Senior Sergeant Philip Skoglund said Michael Kane McRae, 44, has not been found “despite wide-ranging enquiries”.”We believe McRae is still in the Wairarapa area; my message to anyone helping him evade capture is to come forward now, do not put yourself at further risk of prosecution,” said Skoglund.Four Masterton churches suffered damage ranging from moderate to significant following a group of suspicious fires believed to have started between 4.25am and 4.35am on February 22.The blazes were believed to have started…

The EU Commission will present its White Paper on the Future of European Defence by 19 March. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission will present a specific omnibus package for defence by June 2025, according to a draft of the forthcoming White Paper on the future of European defence seen by Euronews.The special simplification regulation will aim to reduce fragmentation within the single market and increase defence production through a simpler and more harmonised regulatory environment for defence products and services, the Commission plans.”Simplification is necessary to boost industrial defence production,” the draft says, adding that harmonisation will overcome the “additional administrative burdens…