Author: Press Room

The daylight saving time has proven difficult to scrap. Meanwhile, time zones do not match solar time in many EU countries. ADVERTISEMENTPutting a stop to the seasonal time change isn’t easy, largely for political reasons. This Sunday Europeans will once again lose an hour as the clocks wind forward.It’s something few people enjoy, as shown by a 2018 survey, according to which 84% of EU citizens are against the phenomenon.According to scientific studies, the hour change can upset our body’s alignment with sunlight, which may result in sleep deprivation and affect several diseases.Switching the clock seasonally is also at odds…

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake has jolted the lower North Island this afternoon. The quake hit at 12.59pm, and was centred 20 km south-west of Levin at a depth of 35km.At time of writing, more than 8000 people had reported feeling the “light” earthquake on GeoNet’s website. Many took to social media to report feeling it. “Heard it coming, then a decent jolt! Freaked the cat,” one user wrote on social media. Another said: “Sitting in Wendy’s Paraparaumu and [I] felt it. The glass windows shook.” Over the weekend, three earthquakes were recorded within seven minutes of one another in the…

The four soldiers, whose identities have not been released, went missing early on Tuesday when they were on a mission to recover another Army vehicle during unit training. ADVERTISEMENTUS and Lithuanian authorities are struggling to drain a swampy area in Lithuania in an ongoing effort to recover four American Army soldiers who went missing three days ago.The soldiers’ armoured vehicle was discovered submerged in 15 feet of water and so far teams have been unable to get inside or pull it out.US Army Europe and Africa said that cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel have…

Two Wellington councils have clashed over carparks, with the regional council accusing the city council of undermining its transport strategy.Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Daran Ponter, and the chairperson of its transport committee Thomas Nash, have written to Wellington City Council expressing “concern” over a decision to reinstate carparks on the city-to-Karori route.These parks were initially removed to allow for uphill bus and bike lanes on Glenmore St, alongside the Botanic Gardens. Daran Ponter (Source: rnz.co.nz)But on February 27, the city council’s regulatory processes committee asked council officers to investigate options for reinstating them, citing concern from residents.The regional council,…

Last year, Beijing announced provisional tariffs on European brandies after a majority of EU countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China. ADVERTISEMENTFrance’s foreign minister has said that France and China are making progress towards resolving a trade dispute over cognac imports.Jean-Noël Barrot said the conclusions of a Chinese investigation that could potentially lead to the permanent implementation of provisional duties on European cognac imports have been delayed until June.”We’ll be really pleased when the problem is behind us. And it’s clear that, step by step, we’re moving towards a resolution,” Barrot said.Last year, China announced provisional tariffs of between…

A Canadian mining company is seeking more than $2 million from investors to fund their hunt for gold in Otago. In a statement yesterday, KO Gold said it was selling a stake in the company to the tune of up to $C2m ($NZ2.44m) which would be used for general working capital and to fund their ongoing exploration and drilling programmes in Otago’s gold district. As soon as a drilling contractor was selected and permits obtained, the company would focus on discovering gold in the Carrick goldfield — southwest of Australian company Santana Minerals’ Rise and Shine deposit — and testing…

A prominent Palmerston North man jailed for sexually violating a 14-year-old boy in 2007 will keep his name secret for now.The man was sentenced to seven years and two months imprisonment in Palmerston North District Court last Friday.He was regarded as a leader in his profession and was well-known in the community.Judge Stephanie Edwards declined his application for permanent name suppression but made a temporary order until 11am today to allow his lawyer to file an appeal against the decision.The court confirmed this morning one was to be filed, so suppression would stay until a decision about that was made…

The trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes as relations between the US and the Nordic country nosedived after President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that the US should control the island. ADVERTISEMENTUS Vice President JD Vance, his wife and other senior US officials have visited an American military base in Greenland, part of a trip that was scaled back following an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were angry that the original itinerary was planned without consulting them.Soon after arriving on Friday, Vance briefly addressed US troops stationed at the base as he and his wife sat down to lunch with…

Think of a fashion photo shoot for Vanity Fair magazine and images of luxurious locations spring to mind. It would be safe to say the East Otago hill country, studded with sheep and the odd horse, has never featured among the glossy pages. Until now. In what has undoubtedly been a pinch-me moment for farmer’s wife and fashion designer Georgina Lawson, her wool coats feature in the magazine’s latest edition. But when she first received an email from Vanity Fair about six months ago, she thought it was spam and initially deleted it. Later double-checking and searching the sender’s name online, she discovered it…

An Auckland man who operated an unregistered home kill business continued to kill and sell pigs and chickens after being served with an order to stop.Peni Naivaluvou, 64, was fined $8000 at the Papakura District Court today after being sentenced on three charges under the Animal Products Act.Naivaluvou’s conviction resulted from a New Zealand Food Safety investigation which took place between 2022 and 2023.Naivaluvou killed and sold pigs and chickens without registering his business as required by law. It meant he was operating unlawfully and not subject to food hygiene standards and inspection checks that meat processors must undertake.During the…