Christchurch, New Zealand | AFP | A one-time gym trainer from rural Australia who became steeped in neo-fascist ideology during travels in Europe, Brenton Tarrant described himself as an “ordinary white man” — until he became anything but ordinary. The gunman behind the massacre of 49 people in two New …
Read More »NZealand mosque killings spark global horror
Paris, France | AFP | Attacks on two mosques in New Zealand which left at least 49 people dead on Friday have sparked horror, revulsion and dismay around the world. One of the gunmen – believed to be an Australian extremist — apparently livestreamed the deadly assault. “It is clear …
Read More »Quake rattles New Zealand as Harry and Meghan visit
Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of central New Zealand Tuesday, where British royals Meghan and Harry are on tour, but officials said it caused no major damage. The quake was felt in Wellington during a session of parliament, prompting lawmakers to stop deliberations …
Read More »Google guru Page tests flying taxis in New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | Pilot-less flying taxis are being tested in New Zealand as part of a project backed by Google co-founder Larry Page that supporters say will revolutionise personal transport. New Zealand regulators late Tuesday approved plans for Zephyr Airworks, a subsidiary of Page’s company Kitty Hawk, …
Read More »New Zealand’s Trump-esque ‘Kingmaker’ to decide election
Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | For decades New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been known as “The Kingmaker” — a role the populist anti-immigration campaigner is set to play again after the country’s general election ended in a stalemate. New Zealand’s complex proportional voting system means minor parties usually …
Read More »Sheepish Aussie deputy PM drops Kiwi citizenship
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia’s “accidental Kiwi” deputy prime minister renounced his New Zealand citizenship Tuesday amid sheep jokes, Hollywood taunts and conspiracy theories about a left-wing plot to topple Canberra’s conservative government. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce revealed his New Zealand connection on Monday, sparking calls for him to stand …
Read More »World’s longest flight lands in New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | The world’s longest commercial flight landed in New Zealand Monday with the arrival of Qatar Airways’s 14,535 kilometres (9,032 miles) Doha-Auckland service, the airline announced. “We’ve officially landed in Auckland,” the airline tweeted as flight QR920 landed at 7.25am (1825 GMT Sunday), five minutes …
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