Author: Press Room

Despite the legal and political barriers to prosecution, human rights experts are optimistic that al-Assad and regime officials could one day be held accountable for their crimes in a court of law. ADVERTISEMENTIn Syria, celebrations of the fall of Bashar al-Assad have been mingled with a sense of horror, as gruesome evidence of the atrocities committed by his regime emerge.Mass graveyards and the infamous prisons that were central to the deposed dictator’s coercive rule have been uncovered.They bear traces of the brutal suffering inflicted by the regime.Chaotic scenes of former detainees, their relatives and journalists trawling through paperwork in the…

Forty products made for babies and young children and sold at international bargain chain Panda Mart are being recalled by the Commerce Commission amid safety concerns.The products listed on the Commerce Commission’s website include children’s toys, baby rattles, bikes, hot water bottles, sunscreen, and baby walkers.Seven bikes were identified as non-compliant, including two children’s bikes which did not have rear pedal brakes. “Businesses must ensure that the products they supply comply with legal requirements and are safe for the intended user – particularly toys for small children where the consequences of unsafe items can be dire,” Commerce Commission deputy chairwoman…

“Syria shows us that Russia is not invincible and we shouldn’t underestimate our own power,” Kaja Kallas said on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENTForcing Ukraine into rushed negotiations with Russia to end the nearly three-year war risks leading to a “bad deal” for Kyiv, Kaja Kallas has warned, as calls for a quick settlement continue to grow across Europe and around the world.The High Representative made the comments on Thursday morning before heading into a summit of European Union leaders where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine tops the agenda.”Any push for negotiations too soon will actually be a bad deal for Ukraine,” Kallas told…

The coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech.The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues.Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” consistent with the central government’s expectations.The changes will also prohibit tertiary institutions from adopting positions on issues that do not relate to their core functions.Associate Education Minister David Seymour said fostering students’ ability to debate ideas is an essential part of universities’ educational mission.”Despite being required by the Education Act and the Bill of Rights…

As threats to Western Europe grow more pressing, the German military has been having difficulty attracting enough recruits. ADVERTISEMENTGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced an ambitious plan to grow the ranks of his country’s armed forces up to 230,000 personnel, a marked increase from the current target of 203,000.Answering questions in the Bundestag on Wednesday, Pistorius referred to NATO requirements.”There is the Two Plus Four Agreement. It stipulates how many standing forces and how many may be in reserve. Nobody is planning any increase beyond this limit, but it is simply a matter of setting up the armed forces…

Emergency services are responding to a serious two-vehicle crash in Canterbury this evening.Police said they were called to the crash on State Highway 1 south of the Hurunui River bridge at around 7.15pm.”The road is closed while emergency services staff work at the scene.”Fire and Emergency responded with crews from Scargill and Cheviot.The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said in a statement that SH1 was closed at near Stonyhurst Rd.”Avoid the area and consider using an alternative route if possible,” a spokesperson said.1News has contacted St John for comment.

The EDPB responded to the Irish authority, clarifying AI model anonymity, the legitimacy of using personal data for their development while leaving leeway to national data protection authorities. ADVERTISEMENTThe EU’s data protection agency has clarified in what circumstances developing AI models may access personal data in an opinion which sets out a three-stage test for legitimate interest of such use.The opinion published this week by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) – the coordination body for national privacy regulators across the EU – followed a request from the Irish Data Protection Authority in November, seeking clarification on whether personal data…

A fire which caused extensive damage to a business in Hastings overnight is being treated as suspicious.Police were alerted to the fire at Hastings Tyre Service Centre on Omahu Rd at about 2.50am.The fire caused “extensive damage to the business, including customers’ vehicles”, a police spokesperson said.There were no reports of injuries.A person on a bicycle seen in the area at the time of the incident is now being sought by police.”Police are seeking further information on their identity and/or movements around the time of the fire.”Anyone with information or CCTV footage which may assist police in their investigation has…

One person has died and 20 others have been injured after a serious crash involving a tour bus and two cars south of Queenstown this afternoon.Emergency services were notified of the crash near the intersection of Glen Nevis Station Rd at around 4.05pm.Police said a person from one of the cars was confirmed dead at the scene and that at least two others were reported to have critical injuries.”At least two people from the bus are reported to have serious injuries and a number of other people have moderate injuries,” a spokesperson said.St John said 11 vehicles attended the incident…

Today, EU leaders convene in Brussels for the final regular European Council meeting of the year, with key discussions anticipated to focus on Ukraine, Syria, and the implications of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. ADVERTISEMENTAs EU leaders gather in Brussels today for a one-day summit, Radio Schuman previews expectations for leaders’ discussions with Euronews journalist Jorge Liboreiro.Key topics on the agenda include the current state of EU support for Ukraine, the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House in January, and the EU’s next steps in addressing Syria’s fragile political landscape following the collapse of Bashar…