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New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is the subject of an active investigation following complaints that are now being examined by both the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and New Zealand Police. Report by elocal · RNZ understands the complaints relate to alleged historical conduct towards women. At this stage the allegations have not been substantiated, and no findings have been made. Chambers has strongly denied the…

An Auckland osteopath has been found guilty of negligence and malpractice after a disciplinary tribunal concluded he repeatedly crossed professional boundaries with a patient before engaging in serious sexual misconduct during the course of treatment. Report by elocal · The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) has proposed cancelling the practitioner's registration and preventing him from re-registering for three years following…

The Canterbury man responsible for what authorities describe as the largest illegal lottery ever uncovered in New Zealand has avoided a prison sentence, receiving community-based penalties despite generating more than $11 million through a sophisticated online operation. Report by elocal · Waiariki McIlroy-Jones and his company, Jonez LRC Ltd, were sentenced in the Christchurch District Court after earlier pleading guilty to charges relating to…

Back-to-back earthquakes rock Venezuela, and bring buildings crashing to the ground nationwide. More than 160 people are dead and almost 1,000 injured. Kiev targets yet more civilians in Russia, but the attacks come in the face of continued Russian advances along the front lines. · Shortly we'll be joined by the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, to discuss the developments. As the US and Japan combine military forces…

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has vowed to do “everything” possible to ensure his country does not take part in the latest NATO-backed initiative to finance arms for Ukraine. Speaking to students on Wednesday, Fico – who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist – said Slovakia would oppose a proposed €70 billion ($80 billion) loan package at the bloc’s upcoming summit in Türkiye. · “I am following the preparations for the…

Northern Ireland veteran politician Jeffrey Donaldson has said he will give up his knighthood and seat on the UK Privy Council after being convicted of rape and child abuse. On Monday, a jury found the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) guilty of 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one count of rape, against two girls. · The offenses were reportedly committed between 1985 and 2008, when both victims were children of primary…

On June 19, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky issued an ultimatum to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, demanding the removal of drone relay stations allegedly located on Belarusian territory and being used to guide Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. By Sergey Poletaev, information analyst and publicist, co-founder and editor of the Vatfor project. · On June 24, Zelensky stated that Lukashenko had complied with his ultimatum and the relay…

Denmark is considering a nationwide ban on the Islamic call to prayer. Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov has said it has “no place” in the country. The move comes amid a Danish government crackdown on “Islamization.” Speaking to local news outlet Ritzau on Wednesday, Bodskov, a senior figure in the governing Social Democrats party, stated that the Danish authorities are set to reopen an investigation into whether the ‘Adhan’, or call to…

The headlines over the past week have been dominated by the Middle East, ceasefires, the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices. While those events certainly deserve attention, here in New Zealand the ships continue to tell a reassuring story. Looking at our latest shipping data and comparing it with previous weeks, the fuel supply chain remains active, and importantly, fuel prices are now beginning to reflect that stability. · Christchurch appears to…

There is an old saying in journalism: · "Never tell people what to think. Tell them enough so they can think for themselves." · For most of modern history that was exactly how the public consumed information. Editors decided what to publish, journalists gathered the facts, opinion writers argued their case, and readers reached their own conclusions. · The internet changed that. · Suddenly anyone could publish. Corporate media no longer…