Author: Press Room

Teresa Anjinho, a human rights lawyer who previously served as Portugal’s deputy ombudsman, has gained MEPs’ support to succeed Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly probing maladministration in the EU bureaucracy. ADVERTISEMENTPortugal’s Teresa Anjinho was on Tuesday elected EU ombudsman, after fending off competition from five other rivals to gain support from members of the European Parliament (MEPs).She’ll succeed Emily O’Reilly, the Irishwoman who has for over a decade been responsible for probing maladministration in EU bodies such as the European Commission.At a 3 December hearing with MEPs, Anjinho pledged to “ensure that our EU administration adheres to the highest standards of transparency,…

Four teenagers have been arrested after they allegedly robbed a Whangārei liquor store armed with hammers and knives over the weekend.Police received a report of a group of people armed with weapons going into the store on Kamo Rd at around 1.40pm on Sunday.Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said cash, alcohol and cigarettes were targeted by the group.”The offenders fled in a stolen car prior to police arrival, which was abandoned shortly after.”A police dog then tracked from the stolen car to a nearby Kamo address where police executed a search warrant.”Three people were taken into custody at the…

The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against TikTok over potential breaches of the Digital Services Act, following evidence of Russian interference in Romania’s election. The EC is gathering data to determine if TikTok violated EU law. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission announced today the opening of formal proceedings against TikTok, suspected of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA) by not adequately mitigating risks linked to the integrity of Romania’s election.The Romanian presidential election on 24 November saw the unexpected victory in the first round of Georgescu, an independent nationalist and Eurosceptic candidate who was previously little known to the public. The…

The Government is making changes to the Accredited Employer visa to make it easier for businesses to hire migrants.Cabinet has also agreed in principle to bring in two new seasonal visas from late 2025.The AEWV changes, taking effect from March, included:Removing the median wage threshold, so jobs will not need to pay the median wage or higher to be eligible for the visaReducing the minimum experience requirement for lower-skilled migrants to two yearsVisas for new applicants in lower-skilled ANZCO level 4-5 roles will last three years, instead of two — aligning with the maximum continuous stayAEWV applicants will have work…

Minister Botchorishvili emphasized peaceful reconciliation for Georgia’s territorial integrity, addressed EU membership aspirations, and responded to recent protests and criticism. ADVERTISEMENTEuronews: Welcome to the programme, Minister. It’s great to have you on.Maka Botchorishvili: Hello. Thank you for inviting. Thank you for your interest.Euronews: Now, you have been in office just for a few weeks. What are your first impressions?Botchorishvili: Well, first days in the office – not an easy period for Georgia. We have plenty of challenges that we face. And of course, we have to handle this situation. I had a couple of possibilities to meet my colleagues, and…

An advocate for a group of homeless people being forced from a makeshift Whanganui camp site says the eviction a week before Christmas is inhumane.Whanganui District Council is evicting about 15 homeless people from the council’s Kowhai Park freedom camping site and the reserve alongside it on Anzac Parade.On Monday, the council served the campers notices saying they must remove their belongings and leave by Wednesday.“They’re extremely distressed,” said Sherron Sunnex, founder and manager of charitable organisaton The Koha Shed.“A lot of them have chronic mental health issues. Mental health organisations that are involved with them are also anxious and…

Ukrainian soldier Mykola reveals forced redeployments to the frontlines, highlighting a lack of training, strained resources, and dwindling morale. ADVERTISEMENTIn early December, Ukrainian soldier Mykola* discovered he could be among those from his unit redeployed to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine to help resist Russian advances. “The focus of the deployment lies on those who have joined the air defence forces and air forces in 2022 voluntarily”, said Mykola, who is part of the logistics personnel of an air defence unit. His real name and current location have been withheld for his safety.”My commander told me the General Staff (of…

A Department of Internal Affairs-led investigation has led to a child victim being rescued, a network of seven New Zealand paedophiles being charged, and more than 12,000 pieces of child sexual abuse material being located.Warning: This article includes details of assaults on very young people that may be distressing to readers.Operation AB was launched by Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team following an alert from US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about an offender distributing images of child sexual exploitation and abuse via an online messaging platform.The operation led the exploitation team and police to apprehending the seven…

A ministerial debate on the future of Europe’s energy system saw calls to build up cross-border power grids and end dependence on Russian fossil fuels, while France said it was time bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy. ADVERTISEMENTAn EU law that has been instrumental in boosting wind and solar power deployment since 2009 should be replaced with one that recognises nuclear power as a crucial form of clean energy, France’s ecological transition minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said while debating the bloc’s future energy strategy on Monday.“France encourages the European Commission to establish a clear path to adequately…

The death of 43-year-old Sean Remnant after being found critically injured on a Porirua street earlier this month is now being treated as a homicide.At 2am on December 1, police were called to an address on Kotuku St where Remnant was found in a critical condition.Police said Remnant died in hospital a few days later.”Police are continuing to work through a range of information to determine what occurred.”No charges have been laid at this stage.”Police would like to hear from anyone who has information, CCTV footage or dashcam footage around the Kotuku St area which could assist with the investigation.Information…