A New Zealand Army officer was surprisingly informed by the Firearms Safety Authority that, due to his service in Afghanistan, he needed to obtain a criminal record check from Afghan authorities (ie. the Taliban), to renew his firearms licence. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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NZDF veteran told to seek police check from the Taliban for firearm licence renewal

A New Zealand Army officer applying to renew his firearms licence was informed by the Firearms Safety Authority that, due to his service in Afghanistan, he needed a criminal record check from local Afghan authorities (ie. the Taliban). The officer, who served in conflict against the Taliban, was stunned by the request, which would require him to seek a positive reference from the very group he fought against.

24 August 2024

Surge in 5-year-olds with low speaking skills concerns teachers

A growing number of five-year-olds are starting school with underdeveloped speaking skills, and teachers are pointing to COVID and excessive screen time as major culprits. According to a report by the Education Review Office (ERO) released today, teachers across New Zealand are witnessing a decline in the oral language abilities of new entrants, particularly in schools located in poorer neighbourhoods.

24 August 2024

Google’s newsroom reaches deal with California lawmakers to fund journalism

In a first-of-its-kind deal, Google has reached an agreement with California lawmakers to pour a combined USD$180m over five years to support local news outlets through a nonprofit housed at UC Berkeley’s journalism school.

But the deal, which includes USD$70m earmarked for AI development, doesn’t sit well with many journalists and Democratic lawmakers alike.

24 August 2024

Harley-Davidson reverses course, scraps DEI policies after activist pressure

Harley-Davidson has bowed to intense pressure from anti-DEI activists, announcing that it will no longer support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The iconic motorcycle brand stated it was “saddened” by the backlash but has decided to abandon its DEI policies to better align with the “needs of both our business and community.”

24 August 2024

WHO official clarifies: Mpox is not another COVID-19, lockdowns not expected

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made it clear that the recent mpox outbreak is not comparable to COVID-19 and will not lead to lockdowns or similar restrictive measures. “Are we going to go in lockdown in the WHO European region like it’s another COVID-19? The answer is clearly: ‘no,’” stated Han Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, during a media briefing.

24 August 2024

Jordan Peterson’s ongoing free speech battle

Jordan Peterson, the outspoken clinical psychologist and media commentator, who first drew widespread attention in 2016 for his criticism of gender identity and expression, is now facing mandatory training imposed by his regulatory college. The outcome of Peterson’s battle could set a precedent for how free speech is treated in Canada, particularly for those within regulated professions.

24 August 2024

Self-represented litigants to be eligible for costs awards from September

Starting 1 September, successful litigants who represent themselves in court will be able to claim up to $500 per day in costs for cases in the District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.

This development comes amid a sharp rise in the number of self-represented litigants, particularly in the District Court’s civil jurisdiction. 72% of active cases involved self-represented parties by June 2023, up from just 2% in 2014.