Author: Press Room
A motorcyclist clocked speeding up to 200km/h in Central Otago yesterday has been arrested after he crashed while trying to drive around a parked police car, injuring himself and the officer. The rider was clocked speeding at more than 70km/h over the speedlimit near Wedderburn at around 11.30am. “Its rider failed to stop and was later seen accelerating to more than double the open road limit near Ranfurly,” Inspector Matt Scoles said. Police did not pursue it. A short time later, the same motorcycle attempted to drive around a parked police car at the intersection of Bypass Road and Ranfurly…
Most were jailed following mass anti-government protests in 2020, when Lukashenko secured his sixth term in a vote widely condemned as fraudulent. ADVERTISEMENTBelarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned a further 20 people who rights activists describe as political prisoners.That’s according to a statement published on Saturday on the president’s website.The announcement comes amid ongoing oppression of political opponents in the run-up to presidential elections which will take place next month and widely expected to extend Lukashenko’s decades-long rule.Belarusian officials did not provide the names of those released, but the statement posted online said that all of them had been convicted of…
Rebel Wilson has married Ramona Agruma for a second time.The 44-year-old actress initially tied the knot with her long-term partner Ramona in a ceremony held on the Italian island of Sardinia in September but she revealed on Saturday that they had also said their vows in her native Australia so her grandmother could attend the special day.She wrote on Instagram: “My sister Liberty officiated our legal wedding in Sydney! It meant my 94 year old grandmother Gar could come which was very special to us to have her included and just felt right to do it in my hometown at…
Fire and Emergency are warning people to be mindful of the products they purchase over the summer period with lithium batteries after the number of fires has doubled in four years.Data shows numbers have ballooned from 51 fires in 2020 to 104 this year as of November 22.Fire and Emergency said although they did not have any evidence on what could be behind the increase, it was putting it down to more lithium-ion battery products on the market.Lithium-ion batteries are in many everyday products, including e-scooters, phones and vapes.FENZ community education manager Tom Ronaldson said if not looked after or…
The Helsinki police department say the vessel, which was boarded on Thursday, was moved to inner anchorage near Porvoo as a better place to carry out an investigation. ADVERTISEMENTAuthorities in Finland have moved an impounded Russia-linked tanker closer to port after seizing control of the vessel earlier this week.The Eagle S is suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 power cable which runs under the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia by dragging its anchor along the seabed.The Estlink-2 power cable, which takes electricity from Finland to Estonia under the Baltic Sea, went down on Wednesday but there was little impact to…
A man who died in a “vehicle incident” in Napier on Friday night was riding on a mattress on top of a car when he fell off and was critically injured, police said.Emergency services were called to Nuffield Ave in Marewa at around 9pm on December 27 to reports of an unresponsive man on the road.The man died at the scene despite the efforts of first responders.Detective Sergeant Stacey Bailey-Tran said it was understood the deceased male was travelling on a mattress on top of a black station wagon and has fallen off.”The vehicle has travelled from the Marewa shops…
A McDonald’s employee was taken to hospital overnight after their arm became stuck in a rubbish compactor.Emergency services were called to the Matamata McDonald’s branch on Firth St at around 1.30am this morning.Police said it was advised that someone had their arm stuck in a rubbish compactor at a commercial address on Firth St.”Police are not investigating further at this stage,” a spokesperson said.St John said it was notified of a “workplace incident” at 1.36am.”One ambulance responded and transported one patient in a moderate condition to Waikato Hospital.”McDonald’s confirmed the incident and said it was pleased the employee had been…
The country’s largest New Year’s Eve festival is just hours away from kicking off, with Gisborne locals looking forward to the economic boost and jobs Rhythm and Vines creates.Weeks before the country’s largest New Year’s Eve festival the vital party preparations were in full swing, with lighting, and sound rigs hoisted up as multiple stages were being built.Building contractor Tim Crasborn said most of the nearly 4km of Himalayan cedar he was using to build one of its five stage sets came from Cyclone Gabrielle. His neighbour, an arborist, milled and supplied the logs.”It’s all getting used, too – front…
Thousands of people descending on Gisborne for the Rhythm and Vines festival have been warned to steer clear of waterways and beaches due to health risks.Severe rain on Boxing Day overwhelmed the city’s wastewater systems, and the emergency sewer valve had to be released.Surf Life Saving said this resulted in contamination in the Taruheru and Turanganui rivers, which flow into Gisborne’s beaches.SafeSwim have also issued a warning not to swim at Waikanae Beach, Wainui Beach, Tolaga Bay and Ocean Beach due to dangerous conditions, including large breaking waves, strong currents and strong winds.Surf Live Saving eastern region assistant life saving…
A jewellery store owner is still concerned about safety, months after being hospitalised in a robbery.In June, Gurdeep Singh and his family were tending to their store, Pooja Jewellers in Auckland’s Papatoetoe, when a group of men burst in, trying to grab trays of jewellery.Singh tried to intervene, and was struck multiple times in the head with a hammer by one of the assailants.The group fled the scene after Singh’s son chased them out of the shop with a sword.Five people were arrested in relation to the incident earlier in the year, including a 16-year-old who was charged with aggravated…