“You’ve been ordered by subpoena and by Congress to turn over six million documents, photographs and videos in the Epstein files, but you’ve turned over only three million.”The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November, compelled the DOJ to release all documents in its possession related to Epstein within 30 days. It required redaction of names or other personally identifiable information about Epstein’s victims, who numbered more than 1000 according to the FBI. “Even worse, you shockingly failed to redact many of the victims’ names,” he added. She refused a request from a Democratic lawmaker to turn and apologise directly to the Epstein victims in the room but did say she was sorry for their suffering. Raskin and other Democratic lawmakers condemned the prosecutions brought by the DOJ against Trump’s political foes such as former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Photo: RNZA proposed liquefied natural gas terminal will bypass even the fast-track process in order to be built in time for winter next year, documents show. The Cabinet paper, released after the announcement, noted that "timing is very tight" to get the facility up and running in time for winter next year. Photo: suppliedEnvironmental Defence Society chair Gary Taylor said the LNG proposal and the timeframe "sounds like another rushed project, redolent of the [Interislander] ferry fiasco". The Cabinet paper referenced the BCG report several times, including its estimate of a $10/MWh saving on electricity prices. The Cabinet paper underscored the importance of not creating an ongoing dependency on LNG, which it said would risk an overall increase in power bills.

Photo: RNZA panel investigating the behaviour of a judge accused of disrupting an NZ First event has heard from its first witnesses today, members of the NZ First party. Later in the afternoon, panellists heard evidence from Dorothy Jones, an NZ First board member and the person who organised the event. He asked about a report of the incident made by NZ First to the Northern Club following the incident. Dorothy Jones denied that, to which Jones KC did suggested she hadn't mentioned it because it wasn't important enough to actually say. Dorothy Jones said she had privacy concerns for the donors present at the event.

Water Polo NZ says it has not received “any formal complaints from players in relation to allegations of bullying or favouritism”. That debrief - conducted by performance consultant and former All Blacks manager Darren Shand - was completed in December and is now in the hands of Water Polo NZ. “The name reflects a growing sense of identity, pride, and professionalism within the programme,” said a Water Polo NZ press statement last year. Howieson, an HR professional, said Water Polo NZ had “clear safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting pathways”. Water Polo NZ chief executive Jan Shearer - another Olympic sailing medalist - said she was unaware of a commission investigation.

The Salvation Army is warning that families are starving and it wants the government to urgently increase food aid. Photo: RNZ/Mark PapaliiThe Salvation Army is warning that families are starving and it wants the government to urgently increase food aid. Salvation Army social policy and parliamentary unit director Dr Bonnie Robinson said the statistics were getting worse, rather than better - and it showed on the front line at food banks. "The amount someone can receive for a food grant varies depending on their circumstances," she said. "Any decisions on food grant limits would require legislative change and would be for Ministers to make," said Voight.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Queenstown cable car station in Frankton. Image: Southern InfrastructureThe planned route of a billionaire-backed cable car linking Queenstown Airport to the town’s CBD has been revealed. The maps show one line linking Queenstown Airport to the CBD and another linking to Frankton and Ladies Mile. Southern Infrastructure was advancing the Queenstown Cable Car alongside the proposed Southern Lakes Secondary Hospital as part of a wider programme to address the region’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, Mr Copland said. Refinements of the project, including the proposed route, will be incorporated and assessed as part of the substantive application.

Bevan Gardiner, Matt Joe Gow and Melissa Partridge perform a set at the Niagara Falls Bluegrass Festival. PHOTOS: SANDY EGGLESTONA Canadian duo has been a hit with the crowd at the Niagara Falls Bluegrass Festival. About 15 years ago during a psychic reading Mr Zonnis was told if he wanted to find musical success he should go to New Zealand, Mrs Zonnis said. Matt Joe Gow, formerly of Dunedin, performed with Dunedin artists Melissa Partridge and Bevan Gardiner. He enjoyed performing and networking in the south, Gow said.

A charge sheet seen by The Associated Press accused Wan, who is in his 40s, of damaging a natural gas pipeline and submarine telecom cables between Finland and Estonia “without lawful excuse” and said he was “reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.”

Members of the Brighton Friendship Club gather at the Brighton Bowling Club to celebrate fifty years of fun and connection. PHOTO: SAM HENDERSONA 50-cent subscription and a $50 piano were the start of a half-century legacy. The Brighton Friendship Club celebrated its 50th anniversary this week at the Brighton Bowling Club with wine, cake and a reflection on its enduring relevance. "The need to form such a group is the same now as it was then, to provide contact and friendship combined with fun and security. In 1976, the club subscription was 50 cents each and expenses in its first year included buying a piano for $50.

The Foundations: Festival of Dunedin’s Past, Present and Future programme, a collaboration between the Southern Heritage Trust and the Dunedin City Council, will replace the Heritage Festival. The Southern Heritage Trust in a statement said the new festival represented a major step forward in how Dunedin’s outstanding heritage was shared and celebrated. "My expectation is that a heritage festival will attract significant visitor numbers in the offseason during April to October and will grow to be a marquee national event fitting to the Heritage Capital of New Zealand. "The Southern Heritage Trust has for many years run an informative and enjoyable heritage programme. ‘We are excited to incorporate and develop the Heritage Festival kaupapa within this new event."

Dunedin woman Nikki Cockburn stands with the former suicide memorial tree in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, which had to be removed due to damage from high winds. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDA much-loved suicide remembrance tree in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, which had to be removed due to damage from high winds, will be replaced with a new tree in a special ceremony this Saturday, February 14. Buried among the roots of the tree, which stood behind the rose beds in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, were tokens and messages from loved ones. Ms Cockburn said, while the Through the Other Side Trust had since gone into recess, the tree had remained as a powerful symbol of remembrance for the community. Thankfully, because the memorial plaque was still intact, the council had arranged a new tree to be donated by Nicols Garden Centre, who had also donated the original tree, Ms Cockburn said.

Cabaret, comedy, city planning, theatre, storytelling, music, dance, visual art and more will be on offer in the Dunedin Fringe Festival, running March 12-22. The Dunedin Fringe Festival co-leadership team of Katrina Thomson, Ruth Harvey, Vanessa Beck and Hannah Molloy have been hard at work to co-ordinate performers from Dunedin, across New Zealand and around the world for the festival. The flagship events for the Fringe Festival will include the opening night showcase on March 11 at Te Whare o Rukutia, which will offer a taster of the festival fun to come. The Late Night Line Up, featuring a selection of the festival’s comedy acts, will run throughout the festival at Te Whare o Rukutia. Molloy encouraged Dunedin people to support the Fringe Festival and "to step outside your comfort zone a little and experiment with some fringe fun".

A whānau household memorial to NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea. WorkSafe's investigation found the helicopter drifted up to a metre away from the roof when Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea fell to his death. NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea with partner Dr Sophie Walker. NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea was an expert handler of military working dogs. Lois Pamment holds the photograph she carries of her son, NZSAS soldier Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea.

PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERY"They’ll have to think of other ways to start conversations," Mr Henderson quipped. Ardie Field, 2, from Hillend, near Balclutha, was keen to check out the mud at Southern Field Days. In officially opening the event, Mr Henderson encouraged those attending to "spend heaps" and put cash into the exhibitors’ pockets so the Otago-Southland economy could keep going "around and around and around". A large crowd attended the first day of the three-day long Southern Field Days at Waimumu, which this year features more than 700 exhibitors. But that signified that when rural New Zealand — "the backbone of this country" — stood up, the whole of New Zealand took notice and that power should never be underestimated.

"There is insufficient basis to warrant further investigation, and so I dismiss the complaint," independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg said. "Although Cr Ong was offended by what he thought Cr Chambers said, the evidence indicates Cr Chambers’ remark was misinterpreted," her report said. She also observed Cr Ong was "resistant to participating openly in the complaint process, despite it being his own complaint". Asked by the Otago Daily Times if he would apologise to Cr Chambers, Cr Ong said "I believe it is time for Cr Chambers to apologise". "I stand for what is right and what is needed to serve and deliver to our community," Cr Ong said.