People could be seen rushing down a street with shattered windows and other damage visible. Video / AFPA huge blast and fire has broken out in the central Dutch city of Utrecht, with several buildings collapsing and at least four people lightly injured, according to the mayor. “Fortunately, according to initial reports, there is no one seriously injured directly by the explosion,” she added. Damage to buildings in Visscherssteeg following an explosion in Utrecht. Photo / Jonas Roosens, AFPAfter several hours, firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze that broke out at around 3.30pm on Thursday (local time) following what emergency services described as a “gigantic” explosion.

Photo: Getty ImagesFood prices rose 4% over 2025, Stats NZ, says, and the price of a loaf of bread lifted almost 60%. It has released the latest food price data, which shows that the annual rate of inflation slowed slightly in December, down from 4.4% in the 12 months to November. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the bread price increase had been happening for some time. "Bread prices have been increasing for the last year, quite sharply. Because the cost of inputs, particularly wheat, has increased so much we're now seeing the dam breaking and the price of bread increasing at the supermarket aisles."

The Duke of Sussex’s lawyers have been accused of dishonesty, fraud and conspiracy in his High Court claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The Duke will fly to Britain for the opening of the trial against Associated Newspapers on Monday. David Sherborne, for the claimants, told the court on Thursday that the publisher planned to make “exceptionally serious” allegations that were “wholly objectionable”. Claims ‘exceptionally serious’“The allegations… are exceptionally serious: of fraud, dishonesty and professional misconduct,” he said in written submissions. He insists that his pivotal witness statement was “completely false” and the signature on the statement a “forgery”.

Photo: ScreenshotResidents are without power as stormy weather continues to lash the North Island. Thunderstorms, heavy rain and localised downpours are forecast to drench parts of the North Island today. A heavy rain warning has been issued for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, with up to 110mm of rain expected on top of what has already fallen. Further north, residents in Auckland's Northcote Point were without power on Friday morning, after a stormy night. The city was hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight.

‘Local knowledge’ to drive new platformCarExpert appoints pair as it prepares for New Zealand launch after success in Australia. It says the move is the first step in building a dedicated New Zealand team to deliver trusted, independent, new-car coverage for Kiwi consumers. pictured left, as motoring journalist for the operation and they will bring extensive local motoring and editorial experience to the brand. He also worked in new car sales after leaving school and co-founded a New Zealand motorsport annual with his father. CarExpert’s expansion into New Zealand follows its success in Australia and its motoring coverage will be distributed via its own online platform as well as through Trade Me Motors and Stuff.

‘Huffing and puffing’Robert Kitson, The Guardian“As much as England’s 33-19 win was a striking result, New Zealand were transparently not their usual forbidding selves. “On the flip side, for all their huffing and puffing, New Zealand are still ranked second in the world, ahead of England and Ireland. It is way too early, accordingly, to write them off as 2027 World Cup contenders in Australia. ‘Great expectations’Gavin Mairs, The Telegraph“The first task for whoever succeeds Robinson [sic] will be to address the concerns of senior players, including Savea, with the knowledge that time is running out before the World Cup in Australia next year. And it’s clear that those most important to that cause, his players, had already made up their mind, too."

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The man was in Woolworths Dunedin Central in Cumberland St when he began to drunkenly act inappropriately to female checkout staff. Photo: ODT FilesAn allegedly drunk Dunedin man who acted ‘‘inappropriately’’ to female supermarket checkout workers followed them outside and then assaulted a stranger, police. The 47-year-old man was in Woolworths Dunedin Central in Cumberland St at 6.30pm yesterday when he began to act inappropriately to female checkout staff, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said. When a member of the public attempted to intervene the man then began to assault him. Police arrested the man and while in the Central Dunedin cell blocks spat at two officers.

Contractors get to work on the site of the new Dunedin hospital inpatient building on Wednesday. Dunedin construction company Amalgamated Builders Ltd has recently been subcontracted by CPB to build the main foundation slab. The inpatient building would be of much help to residential builders and would increase demand elsewhere. The inpatient building would be great for the city and hopefully help with that workload, Mr Grant said. It sort of filters right down through to tier-one builders, tier two, right down into residential builders as well."

AIANZ said 436 domestic learners had enrolled in and completed affiliated aviation training programmes in the past five years. But New Zealand’s weather brought many rainy or windy days inappropriate for flight training, Wallace said. AIANZ said New Zealand’s pilot training system had capacity to meet demand, but financial and funding arrangements were locking aspiring New Zealand pilots out. The Aviation Action Plan, announced last September, aimed to develop options to address challenges in workforce training and retention. On training durations, he said Ringa Hora (Workforce Development Council), the Aviation Council and providers worked together on getting pilot training programmes to 14 months.

The site of Chicking’s Dunedin restaurant in Andersons Bay Rd. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA chicken restaurant chain with a menu inspired by taste cultures from around the world is set to open two stores in Dunedin this year. Chicking New Zealand aims to open a restaurant in Andersons Bay Rd in March, and another in George St later this year. The restaurant chain was established in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in 2000, by AK Mansoor, and is the first fully halal international quick-service restaurant chain from the UAE. The company believed Dunedin was the best choice for expansion because the Andersons Bay area was experiencing a new business boom, particularly with Kmart opening in the area.

The collision happened on a stretch of State Highway 6 in Winton just after 3pm yesterday. Winton crash: One person dead, three injured in two-vehicle crash on SH6The collision happened on a stretch of State Highway 6 in Winton just after 3pm yesterday. Photo / Google mapsA person is dead and three others injured following a two-vehicle crash on a major Southland highway. The crash occurred on State Highway 6, along the stretch of road known as Great North Rd in Winton, yesterday afternoon. Police said one person died at the scene, while three others involved in the crash were injured.

Pop in to see us at 3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa or get in touch on 07 542 0505 or bopmp@parliament.govt.nz. This is long-term infrastructure that will support growth, productivity, and better travel for our community for decades to come. Over 50 members of the Nepalese community along with friends and supporters came together to give blood through NZ Blood. If you live locally and would like to meet, please get in touch, my team and I are here to help. Share the NewsPlease feel free to forward this email to friends and family who might like to stay in touch.

Germany’s defence ministry said the aim was to “explore the framework conditions for possible military contributions to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region”. Part of the territory “has been included in Washington’s arbitrarily defined sphere of US interests”, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said yesterday that “a working group” was being set up to discuss how Arctic security could be improved. “However, this does not change the fact that there is a fundamental disagreement, because the American ambition to take over Greenland remains intact. The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland will meet a visiting US congressional delegation later today and tomorrow in Copenhagen, their offices said.

The crash has closed SH8 near Lawrence. Image: NZTAState Highway 8 near Lawrence has reopened this morning after a truck and trailer rollover last night blocked the key southern route. Special fire appliances from Dunedin were dispatched to the scene where a truck and trailer carrying an excavator rolled and was leaking diesel. Crews from Lawrence, Waitahuna and Milton responded initially, and "a support vehicle" was sent from Dunedin with "some extra absorbent material" to help clean up the spills. A police spokeswoman said the excavator was down a bank, and the truck and trailer were partially blocking SH8, and the road is now closed between Clarks Flat Rd and Waitahuna West Rd.