Thursday, March 12

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Donald Trump says he had ‘every right’ to interfere in 2020 election
World News

Donald Trump says he had ‘every right’ to interfere in 2020 election

By Jasper Ward, Reuters Donald Trump dances as he leaves a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 30 August 2024. Photo: AFP Former US President Donald Trump, who faces federal and state charges for allegedly trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden, insists he had "every right" to interfere in the election. "Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it?" Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired on Sunday. A federal indictment accuses Trump of defrauding the United States by preventing Congress from certifying Biden's victory and depriving voters of their right to a fair election. He faced a revised federal indictment last month accusing him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election los...
How can we get away with spending less on our cars?
Business

How can we get away with spending less on our cars?

Do you really need to get your car serviced? How often do you need an oil change? Do you know how to check your tyres? Photo: Unsplash While it's tempting to think that your car is going along okay and could skip its service, don't. "When we see significant motor issues or failures, it's generally because people haven't serviced them," AA mechanic Grant Waters warns in the latest episode of RNZ's Thrift podcast. Grant Waters is a southern franchise manager for the Automobile Association. Before that, he ran the vehicle testing workshops for the southern region. And before that, he was a mechanic. Photo: Supplied Sometimes it's up to five years with no oil or filter, he says. There will be almost no oil on the dipstick and "it's literally turned almost like rock inside there". Foll...
What are ultra-processed breakfast foods?
World News

What are ultra-processed breakfast foods?

Ultra-processed foods have been making a (bad) name for themselves in the news lately. Nutritionist Claire Turnbull Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro And rightly so. Often, ultra-processed foods (UPF)s, are lab-formulated food designed so that "once you pop you can't stop" (to quote the famous marketing tagline from the chips Pringles, which are solidly in the UPF category). Not only do we tend to overeat them, they are often void of many of the nutrients and minerals our bodies need. "If you turn to the back of the packet and something has 50 ingredients in it, lots of names and things that you don't recognise, that is the first red flag," says Claire Turnbull, an Auckland-based nutritionist and author. UPFs are sneaking their way into our daily foods courtesy of convenience and clever front-of...
How to boost your energy and stop feeling tired with wellness expert Jackie Lynch
Life Style

How to boost your energy and stop feeling tired with wellness expert Jackie Lynch

Life is tiring. With so many plates to spin, it’s no surprise many of us are exhausted. If you are feeling fatigued more often than not, you might need to take action and seek the help of a professional, which can be expensive, timely, and ironically, tiring. In this online masterclass, experienced nutritional therapist and author, Jackie Lynch shares her simple and tested changes to diet and lifestyle that can make a world of difference to how you feel. You will understand how your body actually produces energy, the factors that can disrupt this process, and what practical strategies you can put in place to resolve your personal energy weak points.Grounded in scientific principles and brimming with practical insights, this online masterclass will empower you to recognise different types o...
Agriculture industry hits out at proposed ‘tax on a tax’
Business

Agriculture industry hits out at proposed ‘tax on a tax’

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the changes were about ensuring CAA was financially stable. Photo: New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association Agricultural aviators say a proposed increase of its industry levy is a tax on a tax that will disproportionately impact agriculture over other aviation sectors. New Zealand had just over 100 certified agricultural aviators - who sprayed agri-chemicals or fertiliser, worked for conservation purposes or to manage biosecurity threats, and also supported forestry and horticulture. Its governing body, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched consultation on a raft of proposals around changes and increases to fees, levies and charges. The Crown provided nearly half-a-billion dollars of funding to the CAA since 2020, to cover the loss of reve...
PCOS Day: 90 pct of women aged 18-36 with PCOS are susceptible to hair loss
Health

PCOS Day: 90 pct of women aged 18-36 with PCOS are susceptible to hair loss

As the world observes World PCOS Day on September 1, a new study has found that 90 per cent of women aged 18-36 with PCOS are susceptible to hair loss. The study conducted by QR678, a hair science company, has unveiled the study `Uncovering the hidden link: PCOS` that highlights the significant impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on hair health with hair thinning and loss. Conducted from 2020 to 2024, it involved 150,000 patients treated with the QR678 treatment, revealed that 28 per cent of women with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) only discovered they had PCOS after starting treatment for their hair thinning or loss. So, hair loss can actually be the first indicator of a woman suffering from PCOS.  PCOS is a complex endocrine disorder that affects millions of women worldwide, wi...
New Zealander dies after falling out hotel window in Thailand
World News

New Zealander dies after falling out hotel window in Thailand

Akuhata Edward Robert Hammind. Photo: Supplied The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has confirmed a New Zealander has died in Pattaya, Thailand. The Bangkok Post reported a man from New Zealand fell to his death from a luxury hotel in Pattaya last week. MFAT says it was providing consular assistance to the family, but would not provide further information due to privacy reasons. The Post said he was Akuhata Edward Robert Hammind, aged 36, and suggested drug use may have been a factor. He was reportedly seen shouting "help me" and appeared to be hallucinating before he fell seven storeys onto electric wiring. A number of people from different countries had died in Pattaya in recent months under similar circumstances, the paper said. A Givealittle page was set up by Hammind's ...
‘They’re just not spending money’ – consumer credit demand continues to tumble
Business

‘They’re just not spending money’ – consumer credit demand continues to tumble

Credit card applications are up 5 percent on last year, but are still 40 percent down on 2019 levels. Photo: 123RF Demand for consumer credit continues to fall, with business liquidations on the rise. The latest report by credit bureau Centrix also indicates an improvement in the number of consumer arrears in July, though demand for credit was down 3 percent on the year earlier, along with a 22 percent drop in new car loans. "There is a drop off in discretionary spending, so things that aren't required, such as motor vehicles, have really slowed down as far as consumer demand is concerned. They're just not spending money," Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said. He said the Reserve Bank's 25-basis-point cut to the official cash rate last month had sparked a round of interest ra...
New offence for accidentally feeding Queensland crocodiles
World News

New offence for accidentally feeding Queensland crocodiles

People could be fined up to $7000 for accidentally feeding crocodiles in Queensland. Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP By Jack McKay, ABC Queenslanders who unintentionally feed a crocodile by leaving scraps at a jetty or campsite could be by hit with a A$6400 (NZ$7092) fine under new rules brought in by the state government. Penalties for disturbing or deliberately feeding crocodiles are also more than quadrupling to above A$25,000 as part of a crackdown that the government says is about boosting safety. Under the reforms, which have already come into effect, it will be illegal to "unintentionally" feed a crocodile by discarding food in a way that attracts them to a public place. It could include leaving behind fish frames or bait at a jetty and pontoon, or discarding food scraps at a camping are...
Cyber threats: SMEs don’t know where to start
Business

Cyber threats: SMEs don’t know where to start

Cyber attacks that take down entire computer systems are becoming increasingly common. Photo: RNZ Small and medium sized businesses have a one in three chance of being the target of a cyber attack. New research from the National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of New Zealand's Government Security Bureau (GCSB), reveals that despite the high risk, many businesses do not put cyber security measures in place until it was too late. NCSC works to provide trusted and authoritative information and advice, while also collating a profile of the threat landscape in New Zealand. Director Michael Jagusch says businesses need to improve their defences before they're attacked. The latest NCSC research - the Cyber Security Behaviour Tracker - found 36 percent of small and medium businesses (SMEs)...