Author: Press Room

ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union’s border protection agency has said it is investigating multiple alleged human rights violations by Greece in the way it deals with illegal immigration.Frontex said it is looking into 12 alleged serious incidents that mostly occurred in 2024 but gave no further details.Frontex spokesperson Chris Borowski said the agency had recently boosted its complaint mechanism.”There are currently 12 active Serious Incident Reports related to Greece under review by the Fundamental Rights Office. Each is being examined thoroughly,” he said.There has been no immediate response from the Greek government.Greece has come under increased international scrutiny and criticism from human rights groups following…

Otago chocolate lovers are among the most ethical when it comes to getting their sugar fix, with nearly 60% saying they would stop buying the confectionery from brands with ties to child labour. Research released by Tearfund New Zealand shows Otago is among the regions around New Zealand most willing to forego chocolate found to be unethically sourced. Asked how they would respond if their favourite chocolate was found to have ties to child labour, 58% of respondents from Otago said they would avoid buying it and seek more ethical alternatives. This was echoed by 63% of those polled from…

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) says an officer acted unjustifiably when he rammed a man with a patrol car and punched his head seven times.The incident happened in Whitianga on March 9, 2023, when two officers approached an apartment complex to arrest the man for aggravated robbery, according to the IPCA report.One officer drove while the second arrived on foot from another direction.When the offender noticed the police car, he approached the vehicle while yelling with a skateboard in hand. The man then smashed the patrol car’s windscreen and driver’s window, sending glass into the officer’s eyes.The policeman, fearful…

ADVERTISEMENTThe European Parliament’s budgetary control committee has provisionally signed off on the EU’s 2023 budget, largely voting down attempts by right-wing law makers to include harsh criticism of funding for non-governmental organisations in its final report.As well as rejecting a joint proposal by members of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party and France’s Rassemblement National to condemn an “enormous EU-NGO propaganda complex”, the committee rejected a slew of amendments tabled by conservative European People’s Party (EPP) lawmaker Monika Hohlmeier.Among them was a call for the EU Court of Auditors (ECA) to conduct a probe specifically into the LIFE Programme, the bloc’s funding instrument…

The sun-drenched walls of Kāinga Ora’s new Gisborne development reverberated with aroha on Monday morning during a blessing by a kaikarakia and students.New tenants, their friends and whānau, and Kāinga Ora and partners blessed each wall with love as they walked through the development while senior students of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou assisted with the chants of the karakia, led by kaikarakia Morehu Pewhairangi.The 10 two- and three-bedroom homes on the corner of Roebuck Rd and Norman Rd will help multiple families and individuals leave the uncertainty of living in emergency and transitional housing.Ivan Te Momo, a…

ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission is set this month to launch a consultation on a Data Union Strategy which is slated to be published in last quarter of this year and aims boost the EU’s AI capabilities, according to a leaked document seen by Euronews. A public consultation to glean feedback on its plans – which aim at making it easier to share data between businesses and administrations – will run from April until June, according to the paper, which is dated 8 April.The Data Union Strategy is one of the pillars that will contribute to the Commission’s plans to make Europe the leading continent…

A woman has been found guilty of theft in a special relationship, after she stole more than $180,000 from her elderly mother while she had control of her bank account.Gaylene Thomas was given the power of attorney to sell her mother Adela Cottam’s home, and then withdrew $188,000 from her mother’s account without her consent.Elder abuse advocates say this type of financial abuse has become more common, and is often carried out by the victim’s family.Anne Foley was a social worker with Age Concern when Cottam first contacted the agency with concerns her daughter was taking her money in 2019.She…

ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang offering “a negotiated resolution” to “the widespread disruption caused by the US tariffs” on Tuesday, according to a statement from the executive.Von der Leyen “underscored the vital importance of stability and predictability for the global economy” during the call, the statement said, stressing “the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of world’s largest markets, to support a strong reformed trading system, free, fair and founded on a level playing field.”China has retaliated to the imposition of 54% tariffs on its goods by the US by slapping…

Former Labour Party leader and Minister Andrew Little is actively considering running for Wellington Mayor.Little – who is currently a consultant for a law firm in Wellington – has confirmed to RNZ he is considering taking a tilt at the October election, saying he would have more to say soon.He left Parliament following Labour’s 2023 election defeat after first entering politics in 2011.Little has been sought after by Labour to run on the party ticket for mayor – up against incumbent Tory Whanau, who is running on the endorsement of the Green Party.He shot to the party leadership in 2014,…

ADVERTISEMENTBelgium’s Minister of Defence, Theo Francken, wants to increase the number of the country’s reservists from around 6,600 to 20,000 and to do so he hopes to recruit young people to voluntary military service.Following a similar initiative recently announced in the Netherlands, 18-year-olds will begin receiving letters later this year to encourage them to join the army.Belgium currently has a limit of 6,000 reservists, a number that has already been exceeded. Francken says there have been a lot of requests, but that all training programmes are full and there are not enough instructors to meet an increased demand for military…