Researchers in New Zealand have recently uncovered two new lineages of coronavirus in native long-tailed bats. During the study, it was found that over 60% of the native bats became infected with the virus. Due to the large numbers of these creatures in confined spaces such as caves or tree cavities, the environment becomes ideal for virus transmission through respiratory droplets. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):Q: Can the new lineages of coronavirus in native bats infect humans? Their close proximity in confined spaces provides an ideal environment for virus transmission.

The America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah was the second of the AC40 foiling boat events, with the first taking place in Vilanova, Spain, in September. In that race, American Magic emerged as the champion, beating Team New Zealand by three points—with the final race cancelled because of bad weather. The three days of racing in Jeddah were close and compelling, with the six America’s Cup teams involved in 8 fleet races. The country’s development fund, NEOM, was the sponsor of the Jeddah event, which was organized by the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina. The America’s Cup in front of the Jeddah waterfront as the venue tries to attract international events.

The best books published in New Zealand this year, according to a bunch of good readers and books editor Claire Mabey. This year has been a big one for New Zealand publishing – I do not envy the current crop of Ockham NZ Book Awards judges their task of longlisting,

The writer, actor and TV presenter looks back on her most memorable celebrity encounters, a sticky game show situation and making The Jaquie Brown Diaries. Jaquie Brown has traversed many corners of our local television universe. She’s beentrapped under a pianowith Andrew WK on Space, taken a limousine...

A health worker has been apprehended by the authorities for an alleged misuse and disclosure of vaccination data. Te Whatu Ora, the organization where the health worker was employed, has confirmed that the employee has been removed from their position. Additionally, Te Whatu Ora has initiated an internal employment investigation to further understand the scope of the incident. What charges has the health worker been arrested for? The health worker has been charged with accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes.

On Wednesday Christopher Luxon claimed that if the reforms passed there would only be one tobacco retail outlet in Northland. This morning on Q&A former Tobacco lobbyist and current Minister Chris Bishop doubled down on the claim. The back and forth with minister Chris Bishop on the smokefree changes being scrapped – full interview here: https://t.co/IkV9qxvcNW pic.twitter.com/43NwBXevgG — Q+A (@NZQandA) December 2, 2023The claim is easily disproved. The Director General’s list is readily available and I presume people within National can count. And clearly Bishop has not read the Director General’s reports.

The Shadow Cabinet is probably the strongest Shadow Cabinet in recent political history. Kieran McAnulty – Shadow Leader of the House, Housing, Local Government, Regional DevelopmentHas real star power and intellectual heft. Jo Luxton – Agriculture, Biosecurity, Rural CommunitiesDuncan Webb – Deputy Shadow Leader of the House, Justice, Regulation, Earthquake Commission, Christchurch IssuesSmart, I like him. Deborah Russell – Revenue, Science, Innovation and Technology, Associate Education (Tertiary)Rachel Brooking – Environment, Food Safety, SpaceDamien O’Connor – Trade, Associate Foreign Affairs, Associate TransportI’ve always liked Damien. David Parker – Foreign Affairs, Shadow Attorney General, Electoral ReformShould have his Wealth Tax!

Which famous battle marked Napoleon Bonaparte's final defeat? Are you smarter than a robot? These questions were prepared with the help of the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. Test your brains with the Herald’s morning quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the afternoon quiz.

Photo: SuppliedA young man in the throes of dying from a drug overdose thrashed about in a shower in distress while the person who gave him the drug filmed his demise and sent it to friends. Inexplicable inaction that led to deathThis week, the court heard the young man arrived at Croft’s home early on September 4 last year. When Croft’s friend arrived, the man was still in the shower and the trio carried him to a bed and left him alone. “My wee man trusted you both ... To learn that you are a father and did this to a young man is beyond horrifying,” he said to Croft. I am totally unhappy.”She said the family was now robbed of making new memories with the young man.

For many in Owensboro, the first weekend in December each year means one thing: Owensboro Dance Theatre’s performance of “The German American Bank Nutcracker.” This year’s performance marks the 30th anniversary of the well-known story being put on for the greater Owensboro community. ODT’s “Nutcracker” has always been custom-made to accommodate a larger number of dancers than most productions, to maximize participation. Early shows included more tumbling and gymnastics, as Johnson Dance Studio offered those activities at the time. Since the beginning, school performances have been at the heart of ODT’s “Nutcracker.” Johnson loves to hear from teachers who take their classes to the performance. Madison Silvert, the father of two ODT alumni, has been in “The Nutcracker” several times.

Substack has lured and attracted hundreds of thousands of top-end and everyday writers, espousing their views on specialist topics. In a blog post announcing the new technology, McKenzie wrote that Substack, now six years old, always planned to extend beyod the written word. That’s 10 big award ceremonies straight off the bat, not to mention the various smaller, specialist media awards. One independent media agency, D3, says it purposely does not enter awards and hasn’t done so for five years. “Our commitment is to substance over show, to tangible results over industry recognition.”SEE FRIDAY’S MEDIA INSIDER COLUMN HERE

An airline has banned filming on their plane without consent(Picture: Getty Images)There’s no shortage of viral videos captured on planes showing people behaving badly, but it seems this phenomenon could be coming to an end soon. A major airline is thought to have quietly added a new rule for passengers flying with them and it’s all to do with filming on board. But Qantas isn’t the only major airline to have introduced a policy like this. It reads: ‘Recording or photographing our personnel, whether at the airport or onboard the plane, without their consent is strictly prohibited. MORE : Three-year cruise people sold homes to go on is cancelled weeks before departureMORE : Woman threatens to pee in plane aisle after being ‘refused access to bathroom’

By Sheryl Sutherland*When it comes to saving and investing be a pessimist but be an optimist too. His law said that miracles, or events, happen at the rate of about one a month. Mostly, these events are insignificant but the chance of a major event is about one per million events. The chance of one in a million things happening is as true for terrible events as well as miracles. Optimistic investing when it comes down to it is realising there’ll be an inevitable chain of short-term setbacks and disappointments.

According to the Companies Register, Anderson is a current director and/or shareholder of 32 different companies, including Cotto Karangahape Road Ltd, which covers the bar side of Cotto, and Sawmill Holdings Ltd, trading as Leigh Sawmill. On August 23, 2023, Leigh Sawmill Cafe Ltd, which has the Guinness brothers listed as directors, was removed from the Companies Register. A call to the company listed as the registered office of the Leigh Sawmill Cafe was not answered. The sudden closures of Cotto and the Leigh Sawmill are not without precedent. While Pasture’s demise was permanent, it’s possible Cotto and Leigh Sawmill will return, The Spinoff understands.

As part of its 100 day plan the Government intends to allow the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine. Then in 2011 the National Government made Pseudoephedrine available through prescription only. The substance was banned from general availability to stop gangs from establishing meth labs and cooking methamphetamine. But returning pseudoephedrine to chemist shelves will only see the return of meth labs, a greater availability of the drug, more ram raids of chemist shops and greater misery and addiction. And we will again see the sight of addicts going from chemist to chemist buying as much pseudoephedrine as they can manage.