Royal Family

Australia's richest person receives highest honour after amazing act

Australia's richest person has been awarded the highest honour for an incredible act after she learned about the secret horrors going on in a country.

Leaders of Russia and China to meet in Central Asian summit in a show of deepening cooperation

Leaders of Russia and China to meet in Central Asian summit in a show of deepening cooperation - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Thursday for the second time in as many months as they travel to Kazakhstan for a session of an international group founded to counter Western alliances

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Erica Stanford announce standardised testing for primary schools

The 'progress monitoring' checks will focus on reading, writing and maths.

Every driver in the UK has been given a four-word warning

How a malicious phone call almost collapsed Lucy Letby's first trial

The first trial of neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby almost collapsed at the 11th hour when a malicious caller claimed one of the jurors was biased against her, it can be revealed today.

Rent increase: Hauraki mayor and councillors to visit tenants amid new proposal

Mayor Toby Adams and his councillors will visit tenants to discuss rent increases.

Security guard reprimanded for following woman to beach, pressuring her for phone number

The woman told police she felt pressured to give him her number and social media details.

Court rejects sentence appeal of Tīrau mother, Southern Thompson, who murdered her daughter

Southern Thompson said her difficult background and remorse warranted a greater discount.

SNP manifesto 2024: John Swinney’s election policies at a glance

The SNP will face its first national election tomorrow since Nicola Sturgeon stood down as SNP leader in March 2023. The Scottish Nationalists won 48 of Scotland’s Westminster seats in the 2019 election but polls suggest they are on course to lose at least half at the general election thanks to a combination of a resurgent Labour Party, the Scottis...

Boomer couple divide Aussies with question after winning $1million

An elderly couple has kicked off a fierce debate after posing a question that incensed younger Australians

Angel Baby Doe breakthrough as mother is arrested

Shelby Stotts, 48, left, has been arrested for allegedly leaving the baby girl to die on the side of the road in November 2001.

Massey murder: West Auckland man pleads not guilty to murder, keeps identity secret for now

The woman was found dead in a Chorley Ave home last month.

Landowner arrested after Indian worker bled to death in case that has shocked Italy

Landowner arrested after Indian worker bled to death in case that has shocked Italy - The landowner abandoned the bleeding worker and failed to call an ambulance, prosecutors said

Notable People who died in 2024

Auckland bus attack: Boy fearful of riding bus, Transport Minister Simeon Brown calls for investigation

Simeon Brown says he is seeking advice whether AT staff followed correct actions.

'Tip of the iceberg': Shocking data shows number of protected species being killed by commercial fishers

Dozens of albatrosses, fur seals, dolphins and penguins have been killed by trawling nets - and that's just from a fraction of boats.

Serious injuries after cyclist hit by car in Napier

A cyclist has been seriously injured in a crash on Marine Parade.

Man, 36, accused of killing young mom, 21, who went missing after leaving rehab and found dead in the woods

Man, 36, accused of killing young mom, 21, who went missing after leaving rehab and found dead in the woods - The funeral for Laci Whitson is set for Wednesday in Alabama

Fears Channel Ten could be axed in TWO Australian states - after shutdown in major city caused outrage

Ten stopped airing live in Mildura, Victoria, at midnight on Sunday in a huge blow to its media network Network 10, with the move prompting outrage from locals.

You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations

Serving time can be a very different experience depending on where you are in the world and which prison you end up in. Of course, being incarcerated is by no means a pleasant experience. Some institutions can make it a little bit more bearable for inmates, while others can make the experience not only unpleasant but dangerous. In this gallery, we explore some of the most bizarre prison rules and regulations from around the world, both past and present. Click on and prepare to be surprised.

The enigmatic stories of the English Channel

The English Channel is one of the most recognized waterways on the planet. Separating Southern England from northern France, this is the busiest shipping area in the world, with as many as 500 vessels a day plying the narrow seaway. The scene of battles, invasions, and heroic deeds of endeavor, the English Channel's location has given it immense significance over the centuries. Seen as both a route and a barrier, this celebrated body of water has a history as complex and as unpredictable as the currents and tides that rip through its depths. Click through the following gallery for an entertaining and fact-finding voyage around the English Channel.

Ben Vautier, French artist who offered himself for sale in London as a ‘living sculpture’ – obituary

Ben Vautier, who has died aged 88, was a French “lettrist” and prominent member of what became known as the Fluxus movement, whose proponents believed in the idea that “everything is art”; in France he was so famous that he was known simply as “Ben”, though his works of performance art, eccentric, often automated installations, and “écritures” – te...

The long-term decline in fertility, and what it means for the world

Since the 1950s, global birth rates have been declining, and recent research suggests they will continue to plummet until the end of the century. The shift will have profound effects across the world, impacting everything from demographics to economic structures. The cross-cultural shift towards people preferring and having smaller families is something we have not experienced in human history before. So what does it mean for the future? Click through this gallery to find out more.

Waipā District Council ‘back-to-basics’ plan still costs almost 15% more

Waipā District Council said it cut its cloth to reduce proposed rate increase.

Ukrainian parents are forced to put children in Putin's 'summer camps'

Russia is using a chilling tactic against Ukrainians trapped in occupied territories by demanding a 'tax' from parents that involves handing over one of their children.

Name supression lapses for Elizabeth Smith, accused of murdering Dean Fifield in West Auckland

She is accused of having used a car as a deadly weapon.

Pug Dances with Woman

This pug, Pugnacious Petunia, who is an incredible dancer, was dancing with their owner. They twirled, jumped, rolled, and hopped on two legs. They even jumped on her shoulder and walked on it, circled her leg, and even performed a handstand. The underlying music rights are not available for license. For use of the video with the track(s) contained therein, please contact the music publisher(s) or relevant rightsholder(s).

US presidents without college degrees

It's hard to imagine that you could become a US president without a university education, but there are several examples that prove otherwise, In fact, did you know that it's not a requirement to have a college degree to be sworn into the White House? The US Constitution doesn't set forth any education requirements for presidents. And while it's common for presidents to have a degree from America's most elite universities, this wasn't always a prime consideration among voters. When we look back at former heads of state, fewer than half of the nation's first 24 presidents held college degrees. Click on to discover who they are.

Urgent warning over contaminated sleeping drug after death

Urgent warning over contaminated sleeping drug after death - The insomnia drug has left several in hospital

First Ladies who dabbled in the occult

Many famous people engage with the world of the occult, and the First Ladies of the United States are no exception. From the years of Spiritualism and séances to palm reading, astrology, and everything in between, there were several women who brought esoteric practices and the supernatural into the White House. In this gallery, you'll get to know which First Ladies dabbled in the occult and their fascinating stories. Click on.

Climate changed: Why our scientists are having to redefine ‘normal’ in 2024

Global warming is forcing scientists to redefine what New Zealand’s 'normal' climate is.

What was the fake disease that saved dozens of Jews during WWII?

It was one of the most audacious ploys of the Second World War: a fake disease with no cure that saved dozens of Jews from the Nazis in occupied Rome. The fictitious disorder was known as Syndrome K, and was 'treated' in a hospital right under the noses of the Germans. Fearing infection, the Gestapo and SS refrained from investigating the hospital. But soon clues began to unravel about the mysterious malady. If the ruse was discovered, the repercussions would be swift and deadly. So, what was Syndrome K, and what were the reasons behind its invention? Click through and find out more about the lethal wartime contagion that never was.

Face masks return to major hospital as summer Covid spike rages across Britain

Almost four years on since most lockdown restrictions were first lifted on July 4 2020, Stoke-on-Trent’s largest hospital is bringing back face masks to tackle a recent rise in Covid infections

Psychology scholar allegedly knifed at uni campus 'doing fine'

Mr Kurniawan was walking inside campus when the random attack allegedly took place.

Banking Ombudsman releases recordings of complainant’s ‘private’ phone conversations to Westpac

Westpac says it hasn't listened to the recordings and will hand them back in 'good faith'.

The scientific explanation for alien abduction

Believe it or not, alien abduction is not just something we see in sci-fi movies. Indeed, many people in real life have claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrial beings. Many display all the signs of emotional distress associated with such a traumatic experience, and some even claim to have been abused by aliens. In this gallery, we delve into what science has to say about alien abduction and those who claim to have experienced it. Click through to learn more.

Five officers rushed to hospital after man dies during arrest

The officers were visiting a home on Windridge Way in Kyneton, Victoria, at 2.30pm on Tuesday as part of an investigation.

Socotra—an unworldly island in the Arabian Sea

Remote and isolated, the Socotra archipelago is often described as the "most alien-looking place on Earth." The islands, part of Yemen, are scattered in the Arabian Sea, with Socotra, the largest island, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But while once a discerning destination for hardcore adventure tourists, visitor numbers have dwindled since the outbreak of the Yemeni civil war in 2014. Browse this gallery and get an idea of what this unworldly island looks like.

Aussie retailer plunged into voluntary administration, mass sackings

Booktopia has been placed in voluntary administration.

New Zealand woman dies in US after being robbed and run over by car - reports

US media reported the 69-year-old woman was run over outside a California shopping mall.

Deadly discovery found lurking in a plie of shoes

A Queensland family were left stunned after making a deadly discovery in a pile of shoes left outside their home.

Worker took boss to court over office return refusal, referred to AFP

Imran Karim Budhwani claimed he had been unfairly dismissed by IT multinational Infosys after he refused to return to the office after the Covid pandemic.

Teenager accused of strangling college administrator mother to death

A 19-year-old Indiana man now faces decades in prison and questions about his mental health after strangling his mother to death for extremely petty reasons.

Sydney University stabbing: Online radicalisation in focus after campus stabbing by 14-year-old

Online radicalisation of young people is under scrutiny once more.

Truck’s load downs power line, leads to Hastings road closure

Police were called to the incident just after 12.00pm.

Auckland dethroned by surprising region in latest economic scoreboard

Southland surged 10 places up the leaderboard.

Is a Third World War coming? The accurate predictions of Our Lady of Fatima explained

Every year, millions of pilgrims roam to the Sanctuary of Fátima in Portugal. This is where it's said that in 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children and revealed three secretes to them. Not only that, but Fátima is also the spot where a crowd witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun," attributed to the Virgin Mary, who then became known as Our Lady of Fátima. But how much do we know about these apparitions and miracles? Click through the gallery to find out.

Russian ships dock in Venezuelan port after Cuba visit feared by the US

Russian ships dock in Venezuelan port after Cuba visit feared by the US - Two Russian naval ships have docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira

Gang member Dylan James Anderson appealing sentence for fracas outside Wellington High Court

Dylan Anderson was jailed for 12 months in May for his part in a fracas outside court.

Stronger than fentanyl and heroin: Nitazenes are causing fear amongst Australian law enforcement and medical authorities

There are fears of more overdoses as nitazenes infiltrate Australia's underground drug supply, with occasional recreational drug users warned the synthetic opioid is being found in drugs like cocaine.