NZ Herald Morning News Update | Indoor pyrotechnics blamed for Swiss fire, quake in Mexico City, serious crash involving ambulance in Waipu Cove. Police to carry long-arm rifles at final Ashes test in Sydney following Bondi attackAustralian police will visibly carry long-arm rifles at the final Ashes test in Sydney following the Bondi terror attack. The officers will perform high visibility patrols to reassure the public and ensure safety, a NSW police spokesperson said. Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker APM reassured spectators the visibility of the rifles is not because of a specific threat. “I want to emphasise that there is not any active or imminent threat,” McCusker said.

In recent weeks, the FBI has arrested a number of other individuals alleged to have been plotting terrorist attacks in Texas, California and Louisiana. Many of those investigations, like the one that led to the charges against Sturdivant, involved undercover agents or officers offering encouragement and in some cases suggestions on carrying out those attacks. Christian Sturdivant was charged after discussing his intentions with undercover officers posing as extremists. “I will do jihad soon,” Sturdivant told him during a December 13 exchange, according to an arrest affidavit filed in his case. The officer encouraged Sturdivant to prove his commitment through an act of violence, the document states.

“We also contacted houndsmen to bring in dogs to help track scent from lions, which is a really effective way to find mountain lions,” said Van Hoose. Mountain lions are highly territorial, making it likely only one was involved in the attack. Van Hoose said mountain lion attacks are exceedingly rare, with 28 reported since 1990 in Colorado and the last fatality in 1999. Colorado is home to about 3800 to 4400 mountain lions – a figure that excludes kittens. Previously found across the United States, they are now extinct or endangered in the east, with the western states forming their stronghold.

United States geneticist James Dewey Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for his work to discover the molecular structure on DNA. Crick and Watson are intertwined in the public mind like the structure of DNA they discovered at Cambridge in 1953. DNA research promises the possibility of personalised cancer therapies. Watson was born in Chicago in 1928 and arrived in England aged 23 to join the Cavendish laboratory, which was leading the way in DNA research in the 1950s. She had wanted to patent the gene sequences emerging from the project, something that would have potentially stymied future research.

Police want to identify this man. PHOTO: NZ POLICEPolice want the public’s help to identify a man linked to an assault in Queenstown on New Year's Day. The incident took place in Ballarat St early on Thursday. In a statement today, police appealed for the man, or members of the public who recognised him, to get in contact. The incident took place early on Thursday.

The investigation showed unauthorised access to certain categories of data held by the platform, the spokesperson said. This included registered users’ names, email addresses, GPS coordinates, public forum posts and private member communications. Some publicly advertised events and business addresses were also included in the data that was accessed. Neighbourly said it had addressed the issue that led to the breach and was satisfied the platform is secure for members to use. Neighbourly thanked members who contacted the company during the outage and said it appreciated their patience while the “complex issues associated with cyber theft” were addressed.

US President Donald Trump blamed aspirin for large bruises on his hand and has denied falling asleep while attending public meetings. Photo / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFPUS President Donald Trump blamed aspirin for large bruises on his hand and has denied falling asleep while attending public meetings. Photo / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFPUS President Donald Trump has touted his “perfect health” and cognitive skills, one day after publication of an interview in which the 79-year-old defended his fitness for office amid scrutiny over his wellbeing. ), for the third straight time, my Cognitive Examination, something which no other President, or previous Vice President, was willing to take,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Trump also changed his previous statement about receiving an MRI scan in October, saying it was instead a quicker CT scan.

Photo: Getty ImagesA hiker in Colorado has died in the state's first suspected fatal mountain lion attack in more than 25 years, authorities say. “There were signs that this was consistent with a mountain lion attack,” Van Hoose told a news conference. Mountain lion attacks on humans in Colorado are rare, with 28 reported to CPW since 1990. CPW policy mandates the killing of any mountain lion involved in an attack on a human so as to prevent repeat incidents. Colorado has a healthy mountain lion population, estimated by CPW to be between 3800 and 4400 adults.

Police are investigating an unexplained death in the suburb of Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Police are appealing for information from the public after an unexplained death in Devonport. Emergency services were called to a Kerr St address about 11pm on January 1, where a person was found dead. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said a scene examination at the property is ongoing and residents can expect to see a continued police presence on Kerr St throughout the weekend.

NZ Herald Morning News Update | Indoor pyrotechnics blamed for Swiss fire, quake in Mexico City, serious crash involving ambulance in Waipu Cove. A serious crash involving two vehicles has closed State Highway 1 on the south side of the Brynderwyns in Northland. SH1 BRYNDERWYN, NORTHLAND - CRASH - 1:20PM, SAT 3 JANState Highway 1 is closed between State Highway 12 and Waipu Gorge Rd due to a crash. ^KF pic.twitter.com/rpRuOM8umJ — NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) January 3, 2026Motorists are advised to expect delays as emergency services work at the scene. Southbound traffic is being diverted through Waipū, while northbound traffic is being diverted down SH12 towards Dargaville.

Hail in Auckland's North Shore. Hail in Auckland's North Shore. A 22-hour heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti began at noon today with 110 to 170mm of rain forecast to fall, especially in the ranges. Hail in Auckland's North Shore. Pictures sent to the Herald show hailstones the size of small coins that dropped upon Albany in Auckland’s North Shore around 5.20pm.

So brace yourself, here is a compilation of the big economic issues that are likely to trouble the headlines in 2026. It’s a frustrating thing to be worrying about in 2026 because the upside of a recession ought to be lower inflation. Interest rates have risen in recent weeks. But hopefully interest rates stabilise and entice investors.”The extent of renewed inflation pressure may depend on how businesses are coping, says independent economist Cameron Bagrie. “The big question is whether New Zealand is becoming more productive and attractive to capital, or just larger?” Hartwich says.

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The 18-hour warning ends at 3am tomorrow but heavy rain was expected to ease south of the Wairoa District late tonight. Thunderstorms expected today … will increase the risk of downpours.”🟧Heavy Rain Warnings have been updated for Tairawhiti/Gisborne, and Hawke's Bay north of Napier. Details herehttps://t.co/qHyE5zzql5@hbemergency… pic.twitter.com/it0CbihBWB — MetService NZ (@MetService) January 2, 2026A 22-hour heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti begins at noon today with 110 to 170mm of rain forecast, especially in the ranges, MetService said. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible,” MetService said of all areas under heavy rainfall warnings. “Unstable conditions are expected during the afternoon as a low crosses the northern North Island and some thunderstorms are expected”, MetService said.

The Curragh Mine in Queensland, where a rescue operation is taking place after a roof collapse. The Curragh Mine in Queensland, where a rescue operation is taking place after a roof collapse. Photo / Coronado Global ResourcesA major rescue is underway after the roof of a coal mine collapsed in Central Queensland, with at least one man unaccounted for. Acting Mines Minister Tony Perrett said three workers had been involved in the incident at Curragh Mine in Blackwater. He said two workers had been “recovered safely”, while work was continuing to rescue a third worker.