Author: Press Room

Russia’s security service says it detained a 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan over the assassination of General Igor Kirillov. ADVERTISEMENTA 29-year-old Uzbekistan citizen has been detained in Moscow over the killing of top general Igor Kirillov, according to Russia’s security service.Russian state agency TASS reported on Wednesday that the man was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), claimed responsibility for Kirillov’s death.Kirillov, the head of the Russian military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed in an explosion outside an apartment building on Tuesday from a remotely detonated device hidden in an electric scooter. His assassination…

The idea that wearing jandals while driving will mean you can’t claim on insurance if you crash is a common misconception, the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman says.Karen Stevens said it was important that people checked their insurance was in order before summer, particularly if they were planning to travel.But she said the jandal myth was a common one.”Many people think that wearing jandals while driving will invalidate any insurance claim. But that’s not necessarily the case — insurers will decline your claim if you’ve been driving recklessly, but not just because you’re wearing jandals,” she said.”There are, however, other…

Human Rights Watch urged the EU to review its sanctions on Syria, arguing they hinder humanitarian efforts and worsen economic hardship for Syrians. ADVERTISEMENTToday Radio Schuman talks all things Syria with Adam Coogle, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. What should the EU’s approach be to the new regime in Syria? Should the EU lift sanctions in the country and start a dialogue with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which is defined as a terrorist organisation by the EU?Radio Schuman also examines the next steps in the European Commission’s investigation into…

Tom Cruise has been awarded the US Navy’s highest civilian honour for being a “staunch advocate” for the service.The Mission: Impossible star received the Distinguished Public Service Award from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in a ceremony held at Longcross Film Studios in Surrey, England today to celebrate his movie work which has raised public awareness and appreciation for Navy personnel.Cruise said in a statement: “I’m happy I have been able to be a source of inspiration to many of the sailors who serve today or have served in the past.”The effort was not just on my end,…

Decisions have been reached on proposals to change 12 place names around New Zealand. Proposals to change the names of Wellington’s Petone and Manawatū-Whanganui’s National Park village were among those considered.The Minister for Land Information Chris Penk made the determinations on these proposals in his statutory role as final decision maker.Petone will remain Petone, The Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board said in a release. The proposal to change its name to Pito One was declined.But National Park village will be renamed to Waimarino, which is “the original Māori name for the area and refers to calm…

Numerous Chinese-language posts across social media platforms are spreading a narrative that the Russian president has allowed his son to fight in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTA video is going around on social media which allegedly shows Russian President Vladimir Putin sending his son to the front line in Moscow’s war against Ukraine.The Chinese-language post on X says that, just like China’s Chairman Mao Zedong before him, Putin has sent his son off to war, in an act which shows he’s truly defending his country.The leaders of the supposed “aggressor countries” meanwhile just hide their children away, according to the…

The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister has revealed she will consult on engineered stone, a benchtop material that can lead to a lung disease in those working with the product. Engineered stone, a mixture of resin and quartz, is frequently used to make benchtops because it is cheaper and more durable than marble and granite. While it is much cheaper to buy, the material can be hazardous to manufacture as it contains 90% silica, which is a rate “considerably higher” than natural stone, according to WorkSafe.High exposure to silica dust can cause accelerated silicosis, a deadly progressive lung disease.In December…

Two men have been arrested and charged following an investigation into an alleged text scam in West Auckland.The pair were arrested last week after police searched a property in Henderson as part of Operation Cargo — a joint investigation involving Waitematā Police and the Department of Internal Affairs. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said SIM cards and phones, a sawn-off shotgun, a Ruger 270 bolt action rifle, and ammunition were found and seized during the search. The criminal operation allegedly involved spam messages sent from the house “utilising the ‘hi Mum’, banking and Netflix scams to try and con unsuspecting…

The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress for survivors of torture at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit. Erica Stanford, the Minister in charge Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care, confirmed details of the process to media this afternoon. Survivors of abuse could opt for a one-off payment of $150,000 “which recognises an individual’s experience of torture as a child”, or chose an individualised payment process where each claim is assessed by an independent arbiter who will make determinations on payment amounts.As well as the payment, survivors would be…

An Auckland construction company has been fined $500,000 as part of the country’s first criminal prosecution for cartel conduct, where two or more businesses agree not to compete with each other.The company’s director has also been sentenced to six months of community detention and 200 hours of community work.Earlier this year, Munesh Kumar, and his company Maxbuild Limited, admitted to bid rigging of publicly funded projects in Auckland, between January and May 2022.Those projects were the Northern Corridor Improvement Project and The Middlemore Railway Bridge Project.Bid rigging is a process where two or more companies agree on who will bid…