Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Sociologist Dr Jarrod Gilbert, in a study commissioned by Corrections, found that gang members wield significant power behind bars, creating a culture of fear and pushing inmates into joining for protection. · To counter this, the report suggests segregated wings for patched members to prevent them from dominating the general prison population. · One Corrections staffer admitted that gangs “run the jail,” while an inmate described them as the…

Winston Peters is making another move against what he calls “woke left-wing social engineering,” introducing the Public Service (Repeal of Diversity and Inclusiveness Requirements) Amendment Bill. · The bill removes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates from public service hiring, ensuring merit is the primary factor in government recruitment. · “The public service exists to serve New Zealanders—not to be a breeding ground for…

Desperate Americans are smuggling eggs into the US from Mexico and Canada amid a surge in prices. · Rates of egg smuggling have skyrocketed in recent months at the US’ borders as prices spike following multiple bird flu outbreaks. · US customs and border protection (CBP) said it has recorded a 158 per cent rise in egg smuggling interceptions at its San Diego field office in California since last year. · At the El Paso border station in Texas,…

Richard Prebble has resigned from the Waitangi Tribunal, calling it “a rogue entity,” and a “self-perpetuating industry of grievance,” rewriting history to suit a radical agenda. · “The Tribunal now says Māori were promised economic equality. No government anywhere has ever delivered economic equality. As we will never have it, the Tribunal has created an endless grievance that can never be met,” Prebble said. · He says the Tribunal has…

This light dinner or hearty lunch packs a real flavour punch from the crispy fish and zingy salad It is a complete meal; from the deeply spiced, omega-rich crispy salmon to the nutty grains and a zingy salad that pops with freshness. The recipe is infinitely adaptable so do adjust it to what you have at home. · Ingredients · - 4 salmon fillets - Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying - 2 tsp sumac - 1 tsp chilli flakes - 1 tsp dried…

Dr Jay Bhattacharya, the Stanford epidemiologist renowned for his criticism of Covid-19 lockdowns, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on 5 March. · His nomination to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) came under intense scrutiny, with senators grilling him on vaccines, lockdowns, and the agency’s funding priorities. · Bhattacharya’s opening statement set the tone. · “I will establish a…

Scientists have identified new gene modifications that can make tomatoes and eggplants grow bigger, which could help boost yields in developing countries. · Humans have been genetically engineering crops for thousands of years – but where the process used to involve simply selecting bigger or more fruitful plants to grow next year, in recent years scientists have been able to hack the genomes of crops and tweak specific genes to improve size,…

It is an ancient dream of humankind – the dream of eternal youth. No surprise, then, that the world is full of all kinds of “anti-ageing treatments.” A Google search for this phrase brings up myriad cosmetic products, medical procedures, diets and lifestyle hacks, all claiming they can help hold back the signs of advancing years. · But do these really help us live healthier for longer? · Often, the term 'anti-ageing' is used to promote…

Aspirin is one of the most well-known over-the-counter drugs, but there are a lot of misconceptions about it. For example: While it’s true that willow bark played a role in the history of aspirin, the tablets in your cabinet do not come from tree bark—modern aspirin is made with benzene derived from petroleum. · Aspirin was never really made directly from willow bark, either. The first known person to produce acetylsalicylic acid—aka…

The quest to resurrect the woolly mammoth on Earth has taken another, well, small step with the creation of the Colossal Woolly Mouse. The lab-engineered rodents have seven genes that have been tweaked by scientists, giving them "core traits" of the grand extinct beasts. · Readers may be familiar with US startup Colossal Biosciences, which has made headlines in recent years for various mammoth-related genetics feats. Back in 2021, it announced…