Timaru electrician’s leg, arm and chest tattoos are all pure Kiwi

Tattoos on Jonty Penney’s right leg read like a Kiwiana exhibition: the goodnight kiwi and cat, jandals, gumboots, Horse from Footrot Flats , a Morris Minor, a tomato-shaped squeezable sauce dispenser, Buzzy Bee, the Four Square guy and a tiki. The electrician’s first tattoo, of a tiger, at the age of 16 on his right upper arm shocked his mum and he has since covered it up with other tattoos.

NZ to benefit from Trump/Brexit?

New Zealand could be the accidental beneficiary from the election of Donald Trump as US President and the Brexit vote if it speeds up the pace of free trade talks with the European Union in a bid to stamp out protectionism. Prime Minister Bill English met with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels earlier this morning.

Iraq Confirms Oil-Output Cut Even as Scheduled Exports Rise

Iraq has reduced its oil production by 160,000 barrels a day and will comply with cuts it agreed to make under an OPEC output deal, Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said, even as ship loading data suggested that exports are set to increase next month. The Persian Gulf producer is poised to ship 3.64 million barrels a day of crude oil in February from its ports in southern Basra province, according to a loading program obtained by Bloomberg, more than its December average of 3.51 million barrels a day, which itself was a record high.

Feds: Ex-U.N. official’s relatives indicted in bribe scheme

Two relatives of former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon were charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with plotting to bribe a Middle East official to influence the $800 million sale of a building complex in Vietnam. Ban’s nephew, Joo Hyun Bahn, was released on $250,000 bail over the objections of prosecutors, who sought to deny bail on the grounds that he is a flight risk and a financial threat to his community.

‘We know this won’t be a rescue’

It’s been a week today since Colin McCormick went missing on Lake Rotoiti – and his family are preparing themselves for the possibility his body may never be found. He dropped below the surface of the lake just a short distance from his partner and his 9-year-old son, who were unable to manoeuvre the boat to his aid.

Mexico’s lower house becomes ‘Chamber of Rats’ on Google Maps

Pranksters changed the name of Mexico’s lower house of Congress to the “Chamber of Rats” on Google Maps on Tuesday in the latest dig at the political class during a testing start to the year for the country’s government. The lower house, also known as the Chamber of Deputies, became the “Chamber of Rats”, using the Spanish word “rata,” which is also slang for thief in Mexico.

Uruguay Highlights Importance Of China For Latin America

The President of the House of Representatives of Uruguay, Gerardo Amarilla, visiting here today, has highlighted the importance China has for his country, which is the main trade partner, and for Latin America in general. In a meeting with Ibero-American diplomatic representatives, journalists and intellectuals, he stated that Uruguay and China have much to grow together, ‘they complement each other and have unlimited potentiality, which can and will be exploited in favour of the development of both peoples.’

WOLTERING, Olga M.

Olga M. Woltering, 84, of Marietta passed away on Friday, January 6, 2017. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Ralph Woltering; her son Mike Woltering and wife, Margie, of Waleska; son, Gary Woltering and wife, Jodie, of Virginia; daughter, Debbie Holcombe and husband, Bruce, of Ballground; son Tim Woltering and wife, Sandy, of … (more)

Natalia Wilkanowska’s body lay undiscovered under rubble for 12 years in Luton

Missing mother’s body ‘lay under garden rubble for 12 years and was only discovered after ex-husband’s brother revealed: ‘He killed her and chopped her up and she’ll never be found” The body of Natalia Wilkanowska lay undiscovered for more than 12 years after she was killed by her ex husband, a jury heard A woman’s body lay under builder’s rubble in a back garden for more than 12 years before it was discovered, a jury heard today. Natalia Wilkanowska, 50, disappeared in 2003 after visiting her ex-husband Gerald Doherty in Luton from her home Eastbourne.

Talk on Axminster Carpets’ founder

Fire crews were called to Beer after an electricity pole caught fire – causing 10 people to be without power for almost six hours. Firefighters from Sidmouth and Seaton were called to Fore Street shortly before 4.30pm to protect the surrounding area,

Manchester United 2-0 Hull City: Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini…

LIVE: Manchester United v Hull… Mourinho on the way to Wembley again as Mata and Fellaini strike to break Hull’s resistance Bet you can’t wait for the replay! Can reveals he was given a ‘wet willy’ during FA Cup draw with Plymouth World Cup madness: 48 countries, 16 groups and shoot-outs to decide ALL draws… FIFA chiefs vote for bloated new format If the 48-team World Cup was today, here’s who would line up… from Brazil to Curacao but Scotland would MISS OUT The ultimate football fairytale? Last month, this kid was made redundant at the Bentley factory in Crewe.

Aussie football coach in ransom video

AN Australian man abducted in Yemen has appeared in a new ransom video asking his government to meet the demands of his unidentified kidnappers. The video of the man, identified as Craig McAllister, shows him giving a statement with the barrel of a gun held against his head, a US-based monitor said yesterday.

Senators join forces on legislation to punish Russia WASHINGTON (AP)…

Senate Republicans and Democrats joined forces Tuesday to directly challenge President-elect Donald Trump over Russia’s interference in U.S. elections and for ongoing aggression in other parts of the world. The 10 lawmakers, five from each party, introduced sweeping legislation designed to go beyond the punishments against Russia already levied by the Obama administration and to demonstrate to Trump that forcefully responding to Moscow’s meddling isn’t a partisan issue.

Rusty patched bumblebee declared endangered

This 2012 photo provided by The Xerces Society shows a rusty patched bumblebee in Minnesota. Federal officials said Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, that the rusty patched bumblebee has become the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered after suffering a dramatic population decline over the past 20 years.

Suit and tie stripped from dress code

SRI Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday overturned a 26-year-old decree that required top bureaucrats to wear a suit and tie, saying they could now opt for “more comfortable” clothing instead. “We must adopt clothing that suits our weather and climate,” Sirisena said.

Lebanese President on landmark visit today

President of the Lebanese Republic General Michel Aoun will arrive in Qatar today on two-day official visit. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will hold official talks with the Lebanese President on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of joint interest.

airberlin Offers Special Deals to Europe From the U.S.

Destinations offered include cities throughout Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Switzerland and Eastern Europe. Fares are available from $499 including taxes and most fees based on roundtrip travel to European routes for travel periods from February 1st through June 15, 2017 in economy class and from $2499 from April 1st through June 30th in business class.

Twin Blasts Kill Dozens In Kabul, Afghanistan

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of two bombs on Tuesday near the Afghan parliament in Kabul. Wakil Kohsar /AFP/Getty Images hide caption Two bomb blasts near the parliament building in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, have killed at least 30 people and injured at least 70. “The first bomb exploded near a parked minibus,” NPR’s Nishant Dahiya reported.

Rio authorities call for urgent action after Maracana looting

Football officials in Rio de Janeiro have called on police to take urgent action to stop what they called “the destruction of the Maracana” after valuables were looted from the famous old stadium. Fire extinguishers, hoses, televisions and even a bronze bust of Mario Filho, the journalist after whom the stadium was named, were among the items stolen, the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday.

French presidential candidate Fillon to propose immigration quotas

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon, who is favourite to win this year’s election, will lay out on Wednesday his proposals to cut immigration to a “strict minimum” through the use of quotas, an aide said on Tuesday. Fillon, who is seen beating far-right leader Marine Le Pen if they meet in a runoff in May in the presidential election, will also urge the European Union to tighten its asylum and immigration policy to counter threats from Islamist militants.

Four Local Ladies to Walk 100km to Help Fight Poverty

Janet Broome-Nicholson is a participant of the Teach First NZ program teaching Te Reo Maori, Serene Rountree is a mother of one and Kapiti Photo School student and lives with Gemma Macann who is a leader at Ngatiawa River Monastery, and Liz McGimpsey a breastfeeding mum to two kids under two, hails from Shannon. They call themselves ‘Operation Friends’.

Rescue beacon alerts top 450

A woman climber sustaining severe head injuries on Christmas Day, and a motor boat stuck on a sandbar off Foxton Beach, were among the more than 450 rescue beacon incidents for 2016. The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand received 146 beacon alerts north of Taupo last year, and 107 in the lower half of the North Island.

Expanded World Cup could be worth $14m to NZ

Football New Zealand would likely enjoy a financial windfall of “considerably greater” than $US10 million , if the All Whites can qualify for the proposed 48-team FIFA World Cup format. The game’s international body has approved the expanded tournament for 2026.

Optimized treatment relieves pain in chronic pancreatitis

For most patients with chronic pancreatitis , optimized medical and interventional treatment is associated with significant pain relief, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology . For the study, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi enrolled 313 consecutive patients with CP who were treated with a well-balanced diet, pancreatic enzymes, and antioxidants.

Inflammatory markers prognostic in primary sinonasal cancer

Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio can predict survival for patients with primary sinonasal cancers , according to a study published online Dec. 29 in Head & Neck . Mario Turri-Zanoni, M.D., from the University of Insubria in Varese, Italy, and colleagues conducted a retrospective review of patients with SNC who had been treated using endoscopic approaches from 2002 to 2014.

PC gets the country to #EatTogether

As Canadians prepare to come together for the country’s 150th anniversary, President’s Choice is taking a new approach and showing how a shared meal is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with each other. In a video launching the “#EatTogether” concept, a woman comes home to her apartment building, silently lamenting how everyone else seems to be buried in their devices.

Nana Akufo-Addo, another Doyen: A message from JB Danquah

The final countdown to the inauguration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo heralded a new era of hope; a positive change far from the “changing lives, transforming Ghana” mantra touted by losers and schemers of a past government known majorly for chronic deficiency in wisdom, lack of vision, lost mission, and an urgent need to be taught the art of writing speeches given the rules of engagement that allow for quoting others without acknowledgement. After all, English is not a mere language of convenience, but a medium of artistic expressions with flexible borders whose elasticity can be employed depending on the extent of stretch needed to make a point.

Fake pastor jailed six months

A fake pastor Akwesi Amoah, who hired musical instruments from one Dr Brenya to be used for church programmes but later sold them in the Central Region, has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Delivering the judgment, Fred Obikyere of the Sunyani Magistrate Court B, said Akwesi Amoah must serve six months in prison with hard labour and come back to pay GHA 5,000 to cover the cost of the items.

Phone part has no link to Corrie McKeague inquiry, police say

April Oliver, girlfriend of missing 23-year-old Corrie McKeague , has revealed she is expecting his child The back of a phone found close to where a missing RAF gunner’s mobile was last detected has no link to the inquiry, police have said. Corrie McKeague, 23, from Fife, vanished while on a night-out with friends on September 24 in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

.com | Morocco faces political impasse after talks collapse

Morocco is facing an unprecedented political deadlock after the Islamist prime minister broke off talks on forming a coalition government following three months of fruitless effort. The impasse – apparently rooted in a power struggle between the Islamist Justice and Development Party and figures close to the royal palace – threatens to provoke a political crisis and possibly even new elections.