Yaccarino resigned as CEO of X in July last year after two years at the helm of the company. The French probe focuses on alleged offences including complicity in possessing child sexual abuse material and denial of crimes against humanity. Telegram founder Pavel Durov – who is under investigation in France over illegal content on his messaging app – also blasted the raid. In January, the European Union also hit X with an investigation over Grok’s generation of sexualised deepfake images of women and minors. Musk has faced criticism for backing right-wing parties in Europe, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

February 04, 2026 00:31 UTC

A new gadget promises to speed up livestock vaccination by sterilising needles between jabs. A new gadget promises to speed up livestock vaccination by sterilising needles between jabs. Photo / 123rfBy RNZThe final touches are being put on a new gadget promising to speed up vaccinating or giving pain relief to livestock. Around 20 New Zealand deer farmers were trialling a locally designed holster for their livestock vaccination gun that sterilised the needles in an attached reservoir between jabs. Since then, the Waikato-born graduate in product design said she had created around 100 iterations of the Sterineedle before its commercialisation.

February 04, 2026 00:27 UTC

“(He) felt, given there are 160,000 plus visitors to come here, is that the best we could do?”Ministers and the local council gather for a pōwhiri to open a newly tar sealed road near Waitangi. “This small gesture is evidence of working together with Moko (Tepania, the local mayor), council, council staff,” Jones said. Vibes between the parties were so jubilant the local mayor even joked that every Government MP could have a road named after them if such collaboration continued. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. “It means some of our communities are still three decades and waiting for important roads to be sealed.”Ministers and the local council gather for a pōwhiri to open a newly sealed road near Waitangi.

February 04, 2026 00:19 UTC

Nicola Flint told people she had terminal cancer for almost a decade. Police say there is no evidence she was ever diagnosed with any form of cancer. A Moment In Crime: Podcast special looks at impact of Nicola Flint’s alleged terminal cancer deceptionNicola Flint told people she had terminal cancer for almost a decade. When Christchurch woman Nicola Flint told friends she was dying from cancer - even showing them the spot where her ashes would be scattered - they were heartbroken. But police have now confirmed there is no evidence Flint was ever diagnosed with cancer.

February 04, 2026 00:15 UTC

Co-defendants (from left) Zac Kameta, Hassan Al Fadhli and Matthew Snaylam have been sentenced for the murder of Jayden Mamfredos-Nair in April 2023. Murder victim Jayden Mamfredos, 19, was described by family as the "heartbeat" of his home. Head Hunter Zak Huaki Kameta was convicted by a jury of murdering Jayden Mamfredos at a rural North Auckland property. Hassan Al Fadhli was convicted of participating in a plot to murder Jayden Mamfredos. He described Jayden Mamfredos’ family as having been “incredibly composed” through the four-week trial last year.

February 04, 2026 00:09 UTC





The prosecution presented details of the alleged rapes and assaults to the packed courtroom as Høiby, his head bowed, fidgeted nervously. One of his alleged victims testified, in tears, about an after-party in 2018 at Høiby’s residence on his parents’ Skaugum estate outside Oslo. Police discovered footage on Høiby’s phone showing what they described as Mette-Marit’s son raping the alleged victim while she slept. The victim told the court that she could not remember having fallen asleep after cutting short a brief sexual encounter with Høiby. Kicks and punchesThe identities of the seven alleged victims cannot be disclosed, with the exception of ex-girlfriend Nora Haukland, a model and influencer who has publicly accused him of physical abuse.

February 03, 2026 23:57 UTC

Montgomerie, 58, has been on trial since last week, accused of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others. A cocktail party at a Westmere property turned into a crime scene in April 2021 after Auckland property developer Andrew Montgomerie allegedly smashed a broken wine glass against another man's neck during a heated exchange. Montgomerie wasn’t resentful about the rumours regarding him cheating contractors, he said, suggesting he blew the comments off because “everybody knows what [the complainant] is like”. Andrew Montgomerie consults with defence lawyer Ron Mansfield, KC, at the start of his wounding trial in the Auckland District Court. It was an intentional and forceful strike to [the other man’s] neck, wasn’t it?” she asked.

February 03, 2026 23:51 UTC

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters meets German Foreign Minister Dr Johann Wadephul at The Landing in Northland. The New Zealand and German friendship pin created for the meeting of NZ's Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Germany's Foreign Minister Dr Johann Wadephul. For Peters, Germany is useful precisely because it’s not the usual script: a heavyweight European power turning up in the “blue continent” with capabilities and attention. For Wadephul, New Zealand is a stable anchor at the far edge of the map. And Peters was determined, by hosting the meeting at this wondrous jewel in the North, to be the very best of friends.

February 03, 2026 23:51 UTC

“An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defence,” Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement. While Trump and Pezeshkian insisted they were dedicated to talks, US and Iranian forces were in action at sea. A US-flagged tanker was challenged on Tuesday by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said. Spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said two Iranian boats and a drone approached the M/V Stena Imperative “and threatened to board and seize the tanker”. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based NGO, says it has confirmed 6854 deaths, mostly protesters killed by security forces, with other rights groups warning the figure is far higher.

February 03, 2026 23:51 UTC

Photo / SuppliedThe mandate process, the first step of an iwi settlement, involves an iwi or hapū group receiving authorisation from members to negotiate on their behalf with the Crown. It could be clusters of hapū forming regional groupings for their own cultural redress and one overarching commercial settlement. One cluster representing four Ngāpuhi hapū groupings secured a mandate with the Crown in July last year – the first for a group of Ngāpuhi hapū. Four days later, hundreds of Ngāpuhi iwi members gathered outside Parliament to oppose the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. Former Waitangi National Trust board chairmain Pita Tipene speaks following last year's Waitangi Day dawn service.

February 03, 2026 23:36 UTC

If it was the same groups as 2023 then Australia could have faced Wales or Fiji in the opening game – a much more appealing option. Hopefully World Rugby is thinking a slow start won’t matter if it’s a strong finish to the tournament. Losers – European viewersMaybe this is revenge for making Australian fans have to get up at 1.45am, 2am, 5am and 2.45am to watch pool matches in France three years ago. Think of it as a warm-up for all the long-haul flights needed for the USA World Cup in 2031. But the schedule has also worked in their favour with all three matches on the east coast, similar night kickoff times and with an eight-day gap before their final pool game.

February 03, 2026 23:36 UTC

“Worse, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg as they exclude the likes of Auckland Transport and Watercare,” Williams said. Former Mayor Phil Goff spent $4110 over four years on consultants, compared to $2.5m by Wayne Brown over two years. Brown did not specifically comment on the spending in the mayoral office compared to Goff’s modest outlay. That year, the council spent $42.2m on consultants, including $423,000 from the mayoral office. The consultant costs were released to Josh Van Veen of the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, who was Brown’s deputy chief of staff in the mayoral office before last October’s local body elections.

February 03, 2026 23:34 UTC

And in a significant move planned for some time, he is bringing the responsibilities of chief digital officer into the Public Service Commission itself. Sir Brian Roche is planning to bring the Government Chief Digital Officer into the Public Service Commission. Roche’s strategic direction was tabled in Parliament in the three-yearly State of the Public Service report just a few weeks before the Manage My Health breach. The 2025 Public Service Census found that while a third of public servants had tried AI, only 14% used it regularly. Roche did not have a “shrink-wrapped” answer to the question of how to integrate the fast-moving developments of AI into a cumbersome public service model of operation.

February 03, 2026 23:32 UTC

Photo: ODT FilesThe Warehouse Group is looking to axe about 270 jobs in a restructure of its head office as it looks to cut costs and improve its finances. The group earlier indicated it would be cutting jobs, but on Wednesday confirmed the number of roles going. He said the company was looking to get the cost of doing business below 31 percent of its sales revenue. The restructuring and outsourcing overall was planned to save $70m over the next five years, on top of the estimated $40m already announced last year. The operator of the Red Sheds, Warehouse Stationery, and appliance and electronic chain Noel Leeming has consistently struggled with poor sales and losses over recent years.

February 03, 2026 23:32 UTC

He said while he could not speak about a specific case, in general people could apply to withdraw money under significant hardship or serious illness criteria. “Under a serious illness application, people may meet criteria for ‘imminent risk of death’ as stated by law, allowing a full withdrawal of their KiwiSaver investment. “As part of the withdrawal application, the person will need a doctor or nurse practitioner to complete a declaration form confirming their illness. “Under a serious illness withdrawal application, a person may meet criteria to withdraw if they are totally and permanently unable to work due to their illness. We encourage people to speak to their KiwiSaver provider in the first instance to discuss early withdrawal options.”

February 03, 2026 23:28 UTC