Author: Press Room

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…

Two men have been arrested and a number of drugs and firearms have been seized following a police investigation into two drug rehab facilities on Auckland’s North Shore.Police officers carrying out searches at the two facilities this morning located an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, a lever actioned rifle, and a pistol with a silencer attached. Officers also found an estimated 2kg of crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and cash.”It was also noted that controlled drugs had been or had attempted to have been, flushed down the toilet,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams said.(Source: New Zealand Police)Two men, aged 35 and 37, were…

A live python found in an Auckland industrial estate earlier this month was likely a “lone hitch-hiker”, Biosecurity New Zealand has said.It said it found the coastal carpet python from Australia earlier this month.RNZ understands the snake was two metres long and “well fed”.Wendy McDonald, manger of surveillance and incursion at Biosecurity NZ, said staff responded to an alert.”Trained snake handlers visited the site and quickly secured and captured the snake, which was humanely euthanised. We thank the estate staff for alerting Biosecurity New Zealand about the detection,” she said.”It is likely the snake was a lone hitchhiker that arrived…

Two paddocks of decaying cars near an Invercargill river have been described as an “eyesore” by the city’s mayor.But the council is limited in what it can do about the site, admitting rules it introduced cannot be applied in retrospect.On Invercargill’s Bay Rd, just a stone’s throw from the Waihōpai River, long grass surrounds hundreds of cars.Many have smashed or missing glass, while some have plants growing inside them.Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark said people had come to him with concerns about leaks, corrosives and oils coming from the old vehicles.”I don’t particularly like it, I think it’s an absolute eyesore.…