Thursday, April 23

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Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies, days after boyfriend set her on fire
World News

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies, days after boyfriend set her on fire

By John Wanyama in Eldoret for Reuters Uganda's Rebecca Cheptegei, left, competes in the women's marathon final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on 26 August, 2023. Photo: FERENC ISZA / AFP Warning: This story discusses graphic details of violence against women. Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died, four days after she was doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya, in the latest attack on a female athlete in the country. Cheptegei, 33, who competed in the Paris Olympics, suffered burns to more than 75 percent of her body in Sunday's attack, Kenyan and Ugandan media reported. She is the third prominent sportswoman to be killed in Kenya since October 2021. "We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Ch...
Auckland apartment sells for $1m less than it was bought for
Business

Auckland apartment sells for $1m less than it was bought for

An apartment in this building on Remuera Road was sold in 2024 for $1 million less than the seller paid for it in 2018. Photo: Supplied / Google Maps An Auckland property that sold for $300,000 less than the owner paid for it two years ago might have made the news this week - but it is far from the biggest loss sustained by a seller this year. The Māngere East property sold at mortgagee sale for $490,000 but last changed hands for $750,000 in March 2022. But Nick Goodall, the head of research at property value firm CoreLogic, said the biggest loss recorded so far this year was for a Remuera apartment, which sold for $1 million less than it had previously been bought for. It was sold for $5.5m on 12 April, after being bought for $6.5m in March 2018. Goodall said it was a higher-end apart...
Bayesian sinking: Four victims on Mike Lynch yacht died of suffocation, autopsies suggest
World News

Bayesian sinking: Four victims on Mike Lynch yacht died of suffocation, autopsies suggest

The British tech tycoon and six others died when the family's yacht sank off the Italian coast last month. Photo: VesselFinder Initial examinations of four of the people killed when British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's family yacht sank off Sicily last month indicated they had died of suffocation as oxygen ran out on the stricken vessel, judicial sources said on Thursday. Lynch, his daughter Hannah, an onboard cook and four guests died when the Bayesian, a British-flagged 56-metre superyacht, sank during a severe and sudden weather event off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, on 19 August. First results from autopsies on four of the victims - Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda - suggested that they died from suff...
How much should your KiwiSaver balance be, at your age?
Business

How much should your KiwiSaver balance be, at your age?

Photo: 123RF How does your KiwiSaver balance compare others your age? The retirement savings scheme has become a key part of many New Zealanders' financial lives since it was launched in 2007. There is now about $110.8 billion invested in the scheme. The average balance is $31,828, although that is affected by the large number of people who do not contribute to the scheme. Milford said its average balance was about $79,000. Data from actuaries Melville Jessup Weaver for December 2023 shows that balances generally increased as people became older. Under 17-year-olds had an average balance of $2869. People aged 18 to 25 had an average of $8867. For those aged 26 to 30, the average increased to $17,326. People aged 31 to 35 had an average of $21,096. Those 36 to 40 had an average of $26,829...
Reports Hunter Biden intends to plead guilty in federal tax case
World News

Reports Hunter Biden intends to plead guilty in federal tax case

By Jackie Luna for Reuters Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, intends to plead guilty to federal tax-related charges. Photo: AP / Matt Rourke Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, intends to plead guilty to federal tax-related charges, US television networks have reported - a move that would head off a potentially embarrassing trial shortly before the 5 November presidential election. NBC News, Fox News and CNN reported that the younger Biden would plead guilty in federal court in Los Angeles, where the trial was due to begin on Thursday. His lawyers and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He was expected to appear in court at 11am Pacific time (6am NZT). Hunter Biden had previously pleaded not guilty in the criminal case, whi...
UK launches probe into Ticketmaster over Oasis shows
World News

UK launches probe into Ticketmaster over Oasis shows

By Radhika Anilkumar and Catarina Demony, Reuters Some fans ended up paying more than double for the Oasis tickets. Photo: OLI SCARFF Britain's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis tickets, including the use of "dynamic pricing" to hike the cost to fans at the last minute. Thousands of fans waited long hours in virtual queues last weekend to get their hands on tickets for the British band's reunion shows next summer, only to find that prices had jumped in a "dynamic pricing" scheme. Many thought they would pay the advertised rate of £148.50 (NZ$320) but ended up paying more than double at £355.20 (NZ$765). The Competition and Markets Authority said on Thursday it was scrutinising whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster,...
Dietary deficiency major risk factor for osteoporosis in women, say experts
Health

Dietary deficiency major risk factor for osteoporosis in women, say experts

Dietary deficiency, which can be prevented, is a major risk factor for osteoporosis in women, said experts on Thursday. National Nutrition Week is observed annually from September 1 to September 7. The theme this year is ‘Nutritious Diets for Everyone’. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that weakens bones, making them thinner and more susceptible to fractures. The disease majorly affects women, particularly after menopause. Six crore people in India reportedly have osteoporosis and 80 per cent of them are women. A decline in oestrogen levels -- the female hormone essential for healthy bones -- directly affects bone density explains why women are more at risk. “The most important cause of osteoporosis is a dietary deficiency, which can be prevented with a recommended dietary allowance of 1...
Trump says he will appoint Elon Musk head of government efficiency commission if elected
World News

Trump says he will appoint Elon Musk head of government efficiency commission if elected

By Helen Coster and Gram Slattery, Reuters Photo: AFP Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he will establish a government efficiency commission headed by billionaire supporter Elon Musk if he wins the 5 November election, during a wide-ranging speech in which he laid out his economic vision for the country. The former president has been discussing the idea of a government efficiency commission with aides for weeks, people with knowledge of those conversations have told Reuters. His speech to the New York Economic Club on Thursday, however, was the first time he had publicly endorsed the idea. It was also the first time Trump said that Musk has agreed to head the body. He did not detail precisely how such a commission would operate, besides saying it would develop a pl...
HoD: George RR Martin criticises change of `Blood and Cheese` scene, HBO reacts
Entertainment, Movies

HoD: George RR Martin criticises change of `Blood and Cheese` scene, HBO reacts

The `Game of Thrones` author George RR Martin opened up about the issues he has with the changes made in the fantasy drama `House of the Dragons`, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Martin shared his views in his blog mentioning that the co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal has made significant changes in his novel Fire & Blood adaptation, which he is not happy about as he feels that the alteration in seasons two as well as three and four can cause serious problems. Although his post was deleted within hours. HBO also replied to it by issuing a statement. "In the show, Aegon and Helaena have two young children (the 6-year-old twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera). In the book, they have three -- there`s an even younger brother, 2-year-old Maelor. In a sprawling show with many characters ...
Harvey Weinstein indecent assault case ended by UK prosecutors
World News

Harvey Weinstein indecent assault case ended by UK prosecutors

Harvey Weinstein in court in Los Angeles. Photo: AFP / Pool British prosecutors said on Thursday (local time) they had discontinued indecent assault charges against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein after concluding there was no realistic chance of securing a conviction. When it authorised charges against Weinstein two years ago, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said the alleged assault had taken place in August 1996 in London, with police adding the accusation had involved a woman now aged in her 50s. "Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein," said Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS' Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division. "The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous revie...