Author: Press Room

The British prime minister has previously said the US’ ‘backstop’ is crucial for a Ukrainian peace deal — a notion the Trump administration has rejected. ADVERTISEMENTKeir Starmer will reiterate a shared US and UK commitment to peace in Ukraine as he arrived for talks with Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday. “The prime minister will reiterate shared US-UK commitment to reaching a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine, and the need for Europe to step up to the challenge,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, has previously offered to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in…

The time it took to alert Australia’s military to Chinese live-fire drills at sea has been downplayed by Defence Minister Richard Marles.He has defended the time lag in the notification by New Zealand of the live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea an hour and a half after the Chinese flotilla’s window for firing activity opened.Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday the warning from the NZ military, which Australia was relying on to track the warships in the Tasman Sea, came in about 11am on Friday (local time).Defence only learned of the drills…

In an interview with Euronews, president of Catalonia Salvador Illa talked about the possibility of Catalan, Galician and Basque becoming official EU languages. ADVERTISEMENTMight Catalan, Galician and Basque become EU official languages? That’s what the president of Catalonia Salvador Illa is advocating in an interview with Euronews featured on today’s Radio Schuman.Illa visited Brussels last week, where he met with the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the Vice President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera. A key priority on his agenda was advocating for the inclusion of Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official languages of the European…

The sale of Tauranga’s marine precinct could cause “irreversible harm” and drive some businesses out of town, a court has been told.Tauranga City Council’s $13.98 million sale of the precinct to Christchurch developer Sam Rofe was due to settle in November 2024, but was halted by a last-minute High Court interim injunction.The injunction was filed by Sean Kelly, managing director of marine service company Pacific7, who owns land at the precinct.Kelly also applied for a judicial review of the council’s processes relating to the transaction.Pacific7 managing director Sean Kelly on the Tauranga Harbour in 2018. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)Justice Peter…

Catalan president, Salvador Illa, is fighting for Spain’s regional languages Catalan, Basque and Galician to be recognised as official EU languages. ADVERTISEMENTPushing for Catalan to become an official EU language has been one of the key goals of the President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, during his last visit to Brussels. The language, spoken by around 10 million people in the Spanish regions of Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, Andorra and parts of France and Italy, is in a bid together with Basque and Galician to become an EU language. He believes this is a key demand for its…

A Hawke’s Bay man is shocked after he was trespassed from his local supermarket following raising concerns about trolleys blocking the fire exit.Tony Hughes was visiting New World Havelock North earlier this month when he noticed the fire exit was blocked by trolleys filled with reduce to clear goods and some baskets of clearance goods on the floor.Hughes snapped a couple pictures of the fire exit and showed it to the store manager as he finished his shopping.He told Morning Report he asked the manager if they would clear the exit and they agreed and thanked him.However, when Hughes next…

Wellington public transport provider Metlink says fares will increase by 2.2% and the off-peak discount reduced from 50% to 30% when using a Snapper card from July.Currently, an adult travelling off-peak from Karori to the CBD would pay $2.22, but with the increase this would bump up to $3.17. The peak fare price for the same journey would be $4.53. Greater Wellington Regional Council agreed to increase fares in line with inflation and keep rates affordable, and continue off-peak discounts to ensures passengers still benefit when travelling outside peak hours.SuperGold card users would continue to travel for free at off-peak…

One person has died and a homicide investigation has been launched after a shooting at a waterfront reserve in Whangārei this morning.Police received a report of a person injured at Beach Road Reserve in Onerahi at around 11.10am.”Upon arrival, one person was pronounced dead at the scene,” a police spokesperson said.A second person was taken to hospital in a critical condition.St John said three ambulances, one operations manager and one rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene.”One patient, in a critical condition, was transported to Northland Base Hospital by ambulance.”Police said they did not believe there was ongoing risk…

Residents in south Auckland are sick of the “absolutely out of control” speeding on their roads, and say Auckland Transport needs to take action or more people will die.Randwick Park residents in Manurewa have been trying for years to get speed bumps and other speed calming measures on their roads.A teenager died in a crash in December, just a few months after residents spoke out about their safety concerns.Speeding and burnouts were a regular occurrence on Riverton Rd, Hyperion Dr and Magic Way, with drivers using streets like “racing tracks”, residents said.At a residents’ meeting on Monday, the community was…

The community is rallying to help those displaced by a fire in Waipoua in Kaipara, Northland. The vegetation fire which began yesterday sits around 70 hectares in size, with a 4.5km perimeter. Fire and Emergency New Zealand said eight helicopters will be in operation today. There will be five heavy machinery units along with 50 firefighters on the ground, who will work to further establish containment lines.As the fire battle continues, Waikarā Marae is providing respite to the community, offering kai and a place to stay for firefighters and impacted whānau.Cheryl Tane told 1News the marae has received many donations…