Author: Press Room

ADVERTISEMENTPolish President Andrzej Duda has said that only the United States — and in particular, his US counterpart Donald Trump — has the power to bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Duda warned that a future peace deal will require painful compromises from both sides, including concessions from Ukraine, and called for renewed transatlantic cooperation to ensure long-term stability in the region.“Today my conclusion is absolutely unequivocal, there is no one outside the United States who can stop (Russian President) Vladimir Putin,” Duda said. “That’s why I believe that President Donald Trump,…

People heading out to dawn services across the country tomorrow won’t need an umbrella, but will need warm layers, says a MetService meteorologist. The forecaster expected settled but cooler temperatures for much of the country for the rest of the week. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told Breakfast it would be “a chilly start” for many parts of the country on Friday morning, with some beginning the day with single-digit temperatures. Watch the full interview with MetService on TVNZ+. “For most of us, we won’t be needing an umbrella on Friday morning, apart from just a few spots. Parts of Northland,…

A new NZ First member’s bill seeking to define the meaning of a “man” and “woman” in law is a “distraction” from other issues, two MPs from National and Labour say.The proposed legislation, submitted by NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft, would “ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law,” according to the party. NZ First leader Winston Peters said the bill would “fight back against the cancerous social engineering” and what he called creeping “woke ideology”.While the bill was not Government policy, and would only be debated if pulled from the ballot, it has seen…

Lorde has dropped her new single What Was That after weeks of cryptic posts and teases that set fans buzzing.It’s the lead single from her upcoming fourth album and her first original solo release since 2021’s Solar Power.The single, which is three minutes and 28 seconds in length, was released at 4pm New Zealand time.Some fans had been lucky enough to hear the track in full earlier this week.On Wednesday, Lorde posted a picture of Washington Square Park yesterday with the caption “tonight 7pm”.Fans flooded the park an hour before she was supposed to appear, with photos shared of eager…

Nearly $30 million worth of cocaine was seized at a business in Auckland’s Mount Wellington after a worker discovered the illicit haul while unloading a shipping container.Police were called to the Carbine Rd premises after the worker found five duffle bags containing cocaine in the container.Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill said more than 75 packages of cocaine were wrapped in cellophane in the duffle bags.Police said there were around 75kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of close to $30 million.”Cocaine is a highly addictive drug and causes a concerning level of harm in our communities,” Darvill said.”This is…

ADVERTISEMENTTensions flared in Bosnia on Wednesday following reports that Bosnian state security officers tried to arrest the pro-Russian Bosnian Serb president but were prevented by his armed police.Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia, is facing legal action for his separatist policies. Bosnian courts issued an arrest warrant for Dodik in March after he failed to appear for questioning.Details surrounding Wednesday’s events east of Sarajevo, where Dodik was holding meetings, were unclear.A spokesperson for the State Investigation and Security Agency, or SIPA, Jelena Miovcic, said the agency members “tried to implement a (court) order but SIPA…

Pharmac says there has been an increase in supply chain issues for the medicines it funds in recent months. There were 61 ‘supply issue’ notices posted on the drug-buying agency’s website on Thursday afternoon. Pharmac’s acting director of Pharmaceuticals Nat James said the number of supply issues had increased in recent months. “There are a range of factors that can contribute to this. “Supply issues are complex and can often take time to resolve. Delays can be caused by manufacturing delays, shipping delays and delays in regulatory processes in different countries.” She said the full impact of tariffs on New Zealanders’ medicines…

Bolstering trans-Tasman relations ahead of Anzac Day, the opposition has pledged to retain the direct citizenship pathway for New Zealanders should it win the Australian federal election.Access to Australian citizenship — and its associated benefits — was a long-running bugbear for Kiwis living in Australia for two decades until changes made in 2023.In the days leading to Anzac Day, two years ago, Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese announced Kiwis would in almost all cases automatically qualify for citizenship after four years of living in Australia.At the time, the centre-right Coalition opposition queried the changes on the basis of congestion, cost…

Parts of State Highway 1 in Northland and Waikato are expected to be closed for an extended period following two serious crashes that occurred within 15 minutes of each other this morning.A crash has also blocked part of State Highway 25 on the Coromandel Peninsula.A section has been closed south of Whangārei following a crash between a truck and a pedestrian. Police said it was notified of the crash at 9.34am.”At this early stage it appears one person has been critically injured,” a police spokesperson said.Fire and Emergency NZ responded with one truck from Whangārei. The road had been closed…

Four teenagers, aged 14 and 15, have been apprehended after a dairy was allegedly ram-raided in Auckland’s Mt Wellington overnight.Officers were called to Commissariat Rd at around 2.50am, following a “report of a vehicle being used to enter the premises.”Police alleged that four offenders were involved and also broke into a store next door, taking several items before leaving in another vehicle. Inspector Rachel Dolheguy said: “A short time later a Police unit spotted a vehicle travelling at high speed on Ireland Road. The vehicle then crashed into a fence in Panmure and three occupants have fled on foot.”She said…