December sales provide little cheer for retailers

SummaryPolice are investigating an alleged assault during a schoolboy rugby game between Napier Boys’ High School and Gisborne Boys’ High School, where a hooded man punched a Napier player following a high tackle that initiated an on-field altercation. Gisborne Boys’ headmaster Tom Cairns stated that the assailant was not affiliated with the school community. The incident occurred in the first half of the Super 8 Rugby First XV game, causing significant disruption as players reacted...

SummaryFlights at Liberia's main airport were disrupted after President Joseph Boakai's private jet experienced a landing gear malfunction, resulting in a rough landing and a burst tyre. The incident caused panic and led to the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night, although the president and his entourage were safely evacuated. An investigation is underway to determine the cause, with airport authorities confirming that runway conditions were not to blame and that normal operations...

Haribo has recalled packets of Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets after a family in the Netherlands reported feeling ill due to cannabis contamination. At least three 1kg packs, with an expiration date of January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906, were found to contain the drug, prompting an investigation by Dutch authorities. Haribo advised consumers not to return the product to stores but to send it directly to the company for a full refund, clarifying that UK...

During Sean "Diddy" Combs' ongoing sex-trafficking trial, the defense motioned for a mistrial after testimony regarding destroyed fingerprint evidence linked to an arson case involving rapper Kid Cudi, which the judge rejected. The trial, now in its third week, features allegations that Combs operated a criminal enterprise coercing women into sex, alongside testimonies highlighting violent and abusive behavior towards former partner Cassie Ventura. Combs maintains his innocence, with attorneys arguing the federal charges do not...

Summary Michael Deluce, CEO of Porter Airlines, is contesting a six-figure tax bill from the CRA related to a failed high-risk trading strategy during the early COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in over $5.7 million in losses. Deluce claimed these losses as business losses on his tax filings, but the CRA determined he was not trading in a commercial manner, reclassifying the losses as capital losses, which limits his ability to offset them against income. This dispute...

SummaryLast month, Saudi Arabia's defense minister conveyed a warning to Iranian officials in Tehran, urging them to take President Trump’s nuclear negotiation offer seriously to prevent potential war with Israel. During the April 17 meeting, Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized that the U.S. administration desires a swift agreement, as the diplomatic window is closing. Iranian officials expressed a willingness to negotiate for economic relief but voiced concerns about the unpredictable nature of U.S. demands regarding...