Add source Login
Seriously injured person rescued after falling down abandoned Tyneside Mine on West Coast

Seriously injured person rescued after falling down abandoned Tyneside Mine on West Coast

A person has been taken to Greymouth Hospital in a serious condition after falling down the old Tyneside Mine on the West Coast. A rescue operation was launched just after 11am to pull the person out of a coal mine shaft. Hato Hone St John said the injured person was taken to Greymouth Hospital for treatment. Earlier, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager said two trucks and one support vehicle were at the now permanently closed coal mine. He said the person was stuck at the bottom of a mine shaft and crews were working to rescue them. The highway side of the site was closed while the recovery effort was under way. Department of Conservation Greymouth senior ranger Darrell Haworth said staff were on-site as emergency services worked to extract the person, who had fallen down the shaft on the highway side of the Brunner Mine site. “We first want to ensure the person is extracted safely from the mineshaft before we undertake work to ensure the site is safe for the public. “The mineshaft is securely fenced; at this time, we do not know how the person accessed the shaft.” The Tyneside mine operated from the 1870s until 1908. It was one of several mines situated on the banks of the Grey River, between the small townships of Stillwater and Taylorville, near Dobson.

Woman died in police cell after ‘tense and dangerous’ police callout in Rakaia, Canterbury

Woman died in police cell after ‘tense and dangerous’ police callout in Rakaia, Canterbury

Police are investigating a woman’s death after she harmed herself with a weapon and was tasered by police hours before being found dead in a cell. Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said at 1am on Monday police responded to a Rakaia address after reports of an intoxicated woman hurting herself, armed with a knife and threatening harm to others. “Faced with a tense and dangerous situation, and after unsuccessful appeals for the weapon to be put down, police tasered the woman,” Hill said. “She was arrested and transported to the Christchurch Custody Suite.” The woman was assessed by a doctor in the suite shortly after 4am before being placed in a cell. She was found unresponsive in her cell about 6.50am. Police immediately notified Hato Hone St John and officers also provided medical assistance. “Sadly, attempts to revive the woman were unsuccessful.” The woman’s death has been referred to the Coroner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).

Tel Aviv rallies urge Israeli Government to end Gaza conflict, free hostages

Tel Aviv rallies urge Israeli Government to end Gaza conflict, free hostages

Thousands of demonstrators massed in Tel Aviv today, seeking to push the Government to end the war in Gaza and strike a deal to return hostages, as Israel’s security Cabinet convened. The first protests began at daybreak local time as demonstrators blocked roads in the commercial hub, where they waved Israeli flags and held up pictures of the hostages, AFP journalists reported. Israeli media said others rallied near the United States embassy branch in the city, as well as outside the houses of various ministers. Hours later as the sun set over Tel Aviv, thousands more gathered in “Hostage Square”, which has served as a focal point for the protest movement for months. People in the crowd sounded air horns, blew whistles and banged on drums as they chanted: “The Government is failing us, we won’t give up until every hostage is home.” Demonstrators call for a deal to return hostages from Gaza. Photo / Getty Images “I’m here first and foremost to protest, and to call for the government to make a deal and bring all the hostages home and to end the war,” said demonstrator Yoav Vider, 29. Following the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later spoke at an event, remaining vague about the Government’s intentions as Israeli media reported the meeting had been inconclusive. “We have just come from a Cabinet meeting. I don’t think I can elaborate too much,” said Netanyahu. “But I will say one thing: It started in Gaza, and it will end in Gaza. We will not leave those monsters there.” Israel is under mounting international pressure to wrap up its Gaza campaign, with Donald Trump’s envoy saying the US President would host a meeting on post-war plans for the shattered enclave tomorrow. “We’ve got a large meeting in the White House tomorrow, chaired by the President, and it’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day,” Steve Witkoff said on Fox News, without offering more details. The security Cabinet approved a plan in early August for the military to take over Gaza City, triggering fresh fears for the safety of the hostages and a new wave of protests that has seen tens of thousands take to the streets. Netanyahu last week ordered immediate talks aimed at securing the release of all remaining captives in Gaza, while also doubling down on the plans for a new offensive to seize Gaza’s largest city. That came days after Hamas said it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators that would see the staggered release of hostages over an initial 60-day period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. In Doha today, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a regular news conference that mediators were still “waiting for an answer” from Israel to the latest proposal. “The responsibility now lies on the Israeli side to respond to an offer that is on the table. Anything else is political posturing by the Israeli side.” Earlier in the day, the families of hostages in Tel Aviv lambasted the Government for failing to prioritise a deal that could see those still held captive in Gaza released. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prioritises the destruction of Hamas over releasing the hostages,” said Ruby Chen, whose son was abducted by militants in October 2023. “He believes it is okay and it is a valid alternative to sacrifice 50 hostages for political needs,” he said in a speech to one of today’s demonstrations. Pressure is building on Israel both at home and abroad to end its campaign in Gaza, where famine has been declared and much of the territory has been devastated. Israeli strikes hit a Gaza hospital yesterday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists working for Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and Reuters, among other outlets. Governments around the world, including staunch Israeli allies, expressed shock at the attack. The Israeli military today said its forces were targeting a camera operated by Hamas in two strikes that killed the reporters....

Faking it

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best before' date. Once lauded by wooden bicycle enthusiasts as some sort of environmental panacea, fake meat has since crashed headlong into the reality that most coonsumers don't want it. Your old mate hears listed US vegan food producer Beyond Meat continues to deny media reports that it's headed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - but where there's smoke, there's fire. Masters of understatement, they attribute their struggles to "ongoing softness in the plant-based meat category". It has struggled over recent years as customers reject ultra processed alternative proteins, resulting in a revenue slump and a net loss of US$30m this year. So, once again, sandalwearer maths comes a gutser: fake meat is heavily processed, doesn't save the planet, and consumers don't want it! #BEYOND_MEAT #MEAT_ALTERNATIVES

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engaged: Ring cost, net worth and relationship timeline

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engaged: Ring cost, net worth and relationship timeline

It’s a love story and she just said yes – Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. The pair announced their engagement news on Instagram, captioning the post “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”. It comes amid a huge year for the pop star. After winding up her record-breaking Eras Tour in December 2024, she laid low for a few months before announcing in May that she had bought the rights to the master recordings of her first six albums. It marked a huge milestone for the star, who told fans at the time: “All the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.” She later credited her fans who came to the Eras Tour as “the reason I was able to purchase my music back”. And earlier this month, she appeared on her now-fiancé Kelce’s podcast New Heights to announce her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, due for release on October 3. Now, she’s set to marry the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. Here’s everything you need to know about the engagement, the relationship, the ring and more. The engagement and its impact The couple’s Instagram post announcing their engagement blew up. At the time of writing, it had more than 16 million likes. AUT senior lecturer Rebecca Trelease, who teaches a course on Swift’s impact on pop culture, said: “That’s really impressive in terms of impact ... really impactful in terms of media coverage.” She told Herald NOW host Ryan Bridge this morning: “So much of Taylor Swift and the reason why people enjoy her music so much is because she really invests herself in her songwriting. “She is sharing every element of her life ... she was a young teen when she started, so a lot of that has been what makes an impact on her life, which has been love and relationships. “And so we’re all just super happy that in this day and age where there’s a lot going on in the world, there is a lot of bad news in the world, but yet someone has found love, someone has found happiness.” What style is Swift’s ring, how much is it worth? According to New Zealand jeweller Naveya & Sloane’s head of design Sophie Bioletti, Swift’s solitaire ring appears to feature an eight-carat mine-cut cushion diamond set in yellow gold. “I understand it was designed and created by Artifex in New York, which suggests the band may feature their signature hand engraved detailing, perhaps even with small diamonds set within the engraving,” she told the Herald. “Choosing an old mine-cut cushion as the centrepiece feels wonderfully fitting for her. Antique diamonds from this era were cut by candlelight, designed to give a soft glow that feels romantic.” Bioletti has seen estimates it could be worth nearly $1 million. “But with diamonds of this rarity and with quality varying so much, it’s difficult to put an exact figure on.” Travis Kelce proposed to Taylor Swift with a ring designed by Artifex Fine Jewellery. Photo / @taylorswift, @killatrav Celebrity engagement rings tend to spark trends and Swift’s will be no different, she said. “With Taylor’s incredible reach, I’d expect this to inspire a shift towards vintage-inspired styles that endures for some time. “I hope it also sparks curiosity about old mine-cut diamonds. They are truly special, each with its own unique character. I have a few myself and treasure the sense of history they carry.” The hand engraving on Swift’s ring is “a wonderful way to weave subtle symbolism into a piece that will be cherished for a lifetime”, she added. How does it compare to other celebrities’ engagement rings? According to The Knot, the most expensive engagement ring belonged to Grace Kelly and would now be worth US$38.8m ($66m). Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry have all sported sparklers costing around US$5m ($8.5m), while Blake Lively and Serena Williams’ rings are said to be worth US$2m. Kate Middleton’s sapphire engagement ring is reportedly worth US$400,000 and Meghan Markle’s US$350,000. Swift herself is the world’s richest female musician, according to Forbes, with a net worth o...

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket test flight mostly goes as planned

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket test flight mostly goes as planned

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket roared into the skies today on its 10th test flight, turning in a strong performance after a series of fiery failures had begun to cast doubt on its future. Towering 123m, Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle ever built and key to founder Elon Musk’s vision of carrying humanity to Mars, as well as Nasa’s plans to return astronauts to the moon. The stainless-steel colossus blasted off from the company’s Starbase in southern Texas at 6.30pm local time to loud cheers from engineering teams, as seen in a live webcast. A few minutes into the launch, the first-stage booster known as Super Heavy splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a sonic boom on its way. Unlike other recent tests, SpaceX opted not to attempt a catch with the giant “chop stick” arms of the launch tower, instead testing how it would perform if an engine cut out. Attention then shifted to the upper stage - also known individually as Starship and intended to one day carry crew and cargo - to demonstrate its capabilities as it soared into space. For the first time, SpaceX was able to successfully deploy eight dummy Starlink internet satellites, with onboard cameras beaming back live views of a robotic mechanism pushing each out one by one. It was not all smooth sailing. Some heat tiles fell away, and a small section of a flap burned off during the vessel’s fiery descent, as it was enveloped in pink and purple plasma. SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot said much of this was expected as the vehicle was intentionally flown on a punishing trajectory with some tiles removed. “We’re kind of being mean to this starship a little bit,” he said on the webcast. “We’re really trying to put it through the paces and kind of poke on what some of its weak points are.” “Great work by the SpaceX team!!” Musk wrote on X. Critical mission Much had been riding on the mission, after the last three flights ended with the upper stage exploding: twice over the Caribbean and once after reaching space. In June, an upper stage blew up during a ground test. This time, the upper stage successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean. “Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting 10th flight test of Starship!” the US company wrote on X after the roughly hour-long mission. Despite recent setbacks, Starship was not seen as being at a crisis point. SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” philosophy has already given it a commanding lead in launches with its Falcon rockets, while Dragon capsules ferry astronauts to the ISS and Starlink has become a geopolitical asset. Still, even with a successful 10th flight, major challenges loom. Musk has identified developing a fully reusable orbital heat shield as the toughest task, noting it took nine months to refurnish the Space Shuttle’s heat shield between flights. “What we’re trying to achieve here with Starship is to have a heat shield that can be flown immediately,” he said on a webcast on Tuesday. Another hurdle is proving Starship can be refuelled in orbit with super-cooled propellant - an essential but untested step for the vehicle to carry out deep-space missions. Time is running short to ready a modified version as Nasa’s lunar lander for 2027, and for Musk to make good on his vow to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars next year. -Agence France-Presse