Author: Press Room
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…
Five people have been arrested across Auckland after allegedly making 3D printed firearms and dozens of parts.The group was arrested after police carried out searches at addresses in Mt Eden, Lynfield, Te Atatū South and Onehunga yesterday as part of Operation Bismark, Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong said.Police seized a “significant amount of illegally manufactured firearm parts and firearms”, including two assembled firearms, 23 pistol lower receivers, 12 pistol slides, four rifle uppers, four rifle lowers, and ammunition.Four 3D printers were also seized – two of which were “still in operation” when officers arrived.”This is a significant seizure, and I…
1News can reveal that a National Party MP is part of a religious group embroiled in alleged child abuse being investigated in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.Ilam MP Hamish Campbell said while he’s been made aware of the historical allegations through the media, he has no personal knowledge of the individuals involved.The church, which has no official name, has been called the ‘Two By Twos’ and ‘The Truth’. It’s estimated there are 2500 members in New Zealand and thousands more overseas.Campbell said the church was “a non-denominational Christian group just trying to live the best way possible”.“I have an…
Voters’ approval of how Christopher Luxon is handling his job as Prime Minister has fallen compared to nearly a year ago according to the latest 1News Verian poll.Luxon, National Party leader, also scores below Opposition Labour leader Chris Hipkins.The PM attracted an approval rating of -7 in the poll, while his opponent Hipkins’ popularity increased – going from +13 nearly a year ago, up by 3 points to +16 in the latest poll.Luxon’s figure is a two-point drop from his approval rating of -5 last June.However, in the preferred PM stakes, Luxon remains ahead on 23%, compared to Hipkins’ 20%.The…
ADVERTISEMENTA misleading news headline claiming US President Donald Trump was considering a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs caused a brief spike in the US stock markets on Monday, but they collapsed again when the White House denied the reports.The claim spread quickly on social media, creating an estimated $2.4 trillion (€2.2 trillion) in market value before being erased in just minutes.The rumours seem to originate from a Fox News interview with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, which took place at around 8:30 Eastern Time (2:30 pm CET) on Monday.Asked on air whether his administration would “consider” a “90-day…
ADVERTISEMENTLast month, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, was found guilty of embezzling EU funds and barred from running for political office in France for five years, causing a political firestorm.Her €100,000 fine and four-year prison sentence — of which two are suspended and the other two served with an electronic bracelet — will be put on hold until the appeals process is exhausted.However, this is not the case for her ban from public office or “ineligibility sentence,” which comes into force immediately despite her appeal.This is because that part of her sentence has been…