Sunday, April 26

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US voters speak many languages, but non-English campaigning remains risky for Harris and Trump
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
World News

US voters speak many languages, but non-English campaigning remains risky for Harris and Trump

By Geoffrey Miller and Miriam Neigert* of This combination of file pictures created on August 3, 2024 shows US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaking on March 26, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina; and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking in the first presidential debate with US President Joe Biden in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024. Photo: AFP Analysis - Tim Walz speaks Mandarin. But don't expect to hear Kamala Harris' running mate deploying his Chinese language skills on the US election campaign trail. While languages are inextricably interlinked with identity, they are also becoming a political hot potato. In February, Donald Trump warned supporters that migrants "have languag...
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PM, mayors, local iwi meet to discuss saving threatened mills
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

PM, mayors, local iwi meet to discuss saving threatened mills

Photo: 123RF The prime minister, mayors, and local iwi have met to try and hash out a way to keep mills threatened with closure in operation. Soaring electricity prices means Tangiwai Sawmill and Karioi Pulpmill face being shuttered. The mayors from Ruapehu, Kawerau and Taupō said they were "cautiously optimistic" after discussions with Christopher Luxon and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. The mayors all expressed concerns for the central North Island economy and their communities following the proposed closure announcement by Winstone Pulp International. They warned the impending shutdown is only the tip of the iceberg unless urgent solutions are found to help with the unsustainable energy costs. The government has invited the mayors to collaborate with the mill to put togeth...
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‘New Caledonia is France’: French diplomat says ‘this is how it is’ in tit-for-tat row
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
World News

‘New Caledonia is France’: French diplomat says ‘this is how it is’ in tit-for-tat row

France's top diplomat in the Pacific, Veronique Roger-Lacan, says the argument of New Caledonia Congress President Roch Wamytan that the French territory is not France "does not fly" and Paris has a "totally impartial" stance on the decolonisation process. Photo: RNZ Pacific The French Ambassador to the Pacific wants to set the record straight reminding people the France is the "administering power" and in control of New Caledonmia for now. "New Caledonia is France and it's legally in international public law," Véronique Roger-Lacan told RNZ Pacific on Wednesday. "This is how it is. New Caledonia is France," Her comments follow New Caledonia Congress President, Roch Wamytan, doubling down on indigenous Kanaks' aspirations to seek self-determination. Wamytan told RNZ Pacific that Paris "...
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Former CBL Insurance chief fined $1.4m
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

Former CBL Insurance chief fined $1.4m

The High Court has penalised a former insurance group head $1.4 million. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Head of failed CBL insurance group ordered to pay $1.4m Admitted accusations of not disclosing key information to investors Judge says rule breaches serious and undermine integrity of markets. The head of the failed CBL Insurance group has been ordered to pay $1.4 million for breaching financial market rules. The High Court penalty followed a settlement between the Financial Markets Authority and Peter Harris over not disclosing key information about the state of the group's finances. The FMA had alleged that Harris did not disclose that CBL needed to strengthen its reserves; that the group had a large amount of insurance premiums owed which had not been paid; and that regulators in ...
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Sphen the penguin, known for same-sex love story, dies at Sydney aquarium aged 11
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
World News

Sphen the penguin, known for same-sex love story, dies at Sydney aquarium aged 11

By Millie Roberts Sphen (right) and Magic (front left) pose with a Pride rainbow at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Photo: Supplied / Sea Life Sydney Aquarium One half of a famous same-sex penguin couple, Sphen, has died aged 11, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said The gentoo penguin was known for adopting and raising two chicks with his partner Magic since 2018 Sea Life said the penguin colony started singing in honour of the celebrity penguin's life A penguin who inspired a Mardi Gras float after making international headlines for his same-sex relationship has died aged 11. Sphen shot to fame in 2018 after partnering up with fellow gentoo penguin Magic at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. The couple, who spent six years together, successfully fostered two chicks Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in...
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SkyCity posts $143m full year loss
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

SkyCity posts $143m full year loss

SkyCity has reported a full year loss of $143.3 million, on flat revenue growth of $928.5m. The casino operator's bottom line was eroded by a number of extraordinary items, including a more than $94m [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/525561/skycity-warns-shareholders-of-94-point-3m-writedown writedown in the value of Adelaide Casino's assets] and a tax adjustment of nearly $130m. When these items were excluded the company made an underlying net profit of $123.2m, in the year ended June, which was 7.2 percent down on the year earlier. Chief executive Jason Walbridge said it was a solid result given the economic circumstances, with cost of living pressures in New Zealand and Adelaide, as well as ongoing regulatory issues. SkyCity said the Auckland casino will be closed for five days next ...
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Genesis Energy ‘carrying our fair share of the burden’ amid power problems
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

Genesis Energy ‘carrying our fair share of the burden’ amid power problems

Genesis Energy's head office in Auckland. Photo: Supplied / Genesis Energy Genesis Energy says it is doing its bit to deliver energy to New Zealand and sudden changes to power market rules can be unfairly costly. This comes after Transpower, the grid operator, announced it would allow generators to access more water from hydro lakes to combat the country's power supply problem. Genesis has posted its full-year profit, which fell to $131 million due to low gas, hydro and wind levels and an outage at its Huntly power station. Costs increased for the company as it had to burn more coal to make up for the shortages. Chief executive Malcolm Johns said his company's customers have been protected from the volatility in the sector. "We've put $160m more into fuel in the last 12 months... We've ...
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Electricity supply crisis: What you need to know
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

Electricity supply crisis: What you need to know

Photo: 123rf.com New Zealand is heading towards an electricity supply crisis. Months of dry weather have led to low hydro storage and that along with falling gas reserves are being blamed for soaring wholesale electricity prices. The crunch is already hurting businesses and forcing closures, with residential consumers next in line to feel the pinch. RNZ explains how we generate electricity, why demand is increasing, how that affects the cost and what could happen next. Where does our power come from? In New Zealand, electricity is generated through hydropower, geothermal power and wind energy - with generation from the combustion of coal, oil, and gas providing baseload or backup electricity supply. Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) showed that in 2023,...
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Highly adapted microbes found in microwave ovens: Study
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Health

Highly adapted microbes found in microwave ovens: Study

Microwave ovens harbour specialised communities of highly adapted microbes, according to a new study.  This finding is significant for hygiene and potential biotechnological applications, as the hardy bacteria inside microwave ovens could be utilised in industrial processes. “Our results reveal that domestic microwaves have a more ‘anthropised’ microbiome, similar to kitchen surfaces, while laboratory microwaves harbour bacteria that are more resistant to radiation,” said Daniel Torrent, a researcher at Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL in Paterna, Spain. Torrent and colleagues sampled microbes from 30 microwave ovens: 10 from single-household kitchens, 10 from shared domestic spaces like corporate centers and cafeterias, and 10 from molecular biology and microbiology laboratories. T...
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Bumper kiwifruit crop boosts Seeka profits 63%
22Aug By Raayan ThompsonNo Comments
Business

Bumper kiwifruit crop boosts Seeka profits 63%

Seeka profts and revenue were up due to a bumper kiwifruit crop. Photo: Seeka A bumper crop has helped the country's largest kiwifruit grower turn its fortunes around. Seeka has reported a net profit after tax of $17.1 million for the six months June, a 63 percent increase on the same period last year. Revenue is up 34 percent to $284.2m. In February the company reported a full year loss of $14.5m for the 2023 financial year due to lower kiwifruit volumes. Chief executive Michael Franks said following two challenging seasons, kiwifruit volumes have rebounded. "In New Zealand, our orcharding business grew 17 million trays, a 53 percent increase on 2023, and production from our Australian kiwifruit orchards was up 164 percent. "Seeka handled a record 43 million class one trays for New Zea...
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