A massive fire in a hypermarket in al-Kut city in eastern Iraq has left at least 60 people dead and 11 others missing, the city's health authorities and two police sources have said.
Slash and sediment polluted an important stream in Waihī for over a year and despite six inspections, and two abatement notices, a logging company refused to change its behaviour and continued to cause environmental damage.
The defence has chosen not to call any witnesses, nor will Julia DeLuney give evidence, in the trial in which she is accused of murdering her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory.
A cockpit recording of dialogue between pilots of an Air India flight that crashed indicates the captain turned off switches controlling fuel to the plane's engines, the WSJ is reporting.
Israel has launched airstrikes in Damascus, blowing up part of the defence ministry and vowing to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria.
The eldest daughter of the Erebus' captain says she's grateful to Christchurch for offering to host a memorial, but still believes the national memorial should be in Auckland.
Forecasters say more bad weather could bring significant rain to the waterlogged top of the South Island towards the end of this month and into August.