What's on in Tairāwhiti this weekend and beyond
The Whakakī Community Planting Day 2025. Hosted by Whakakī Lake Trust at Whakakī Marae and Lake Whakakī, 6 Hinepua Rd. All are welcome to help plant native trees. 10am to 2pm.
French for Rabbits and Michael Llewellyn are performing at the Dome Cinema and Bar. French for Rabbits have
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
12 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Teenager who stabbed 13-year-old to death handed eight-year minimum term
The teenager, who cannot be identified after a judge ruled that his welfare and prospects of rehabilitation outweigh the public interest in naming him, was convicted in April by a majority verdict of murdering Jahziah Coke, who suffered a six-inch deep chest wound. Passing sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Mrs Justice Tipples told the defendant that she was sure he had 'intended to kill' Jahziah after pushing or moving a knife around his neck. The youth was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court (PA Archive) She told the boy: 'When you killed Jahziah, he was only 13 and a child with everything in life ahead of him. This was a nasty and violent attack.' During her sentencing remarks, the judge accepted that the weapon used in the killing belonged to Jahziah and was taken from him by his killer at an address in Oldbury, West Midlands, in August last year. The defendant, who denied deliberately inflicting any injuries, fled over fences and then caught a bus to a friend's house to play video games in the hours after the killing, his trial heard. He also told the jury during his evidence in March that he was left traumatised after grabbing Jahziah's hands while being threatened with a knife, which he twisted towards the floor during an attempt to calm down an argument about a 'missing' quantity of cannabis. He also told jurors he did not have the knife in his own hands and had dialled 999 to summon paramedics, only leaving the property once he believed Jahziah was dead. During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Mrs Justice Tipples accepted that there was no premeditation, but ruled that the defendant was not acting in self-defence and that his actions were 'completely out of proportion' to the possible threat he faced. Prior to sentence, the defendant's lawyer, Paul Lewis KC, told the court during mitigation: 'The evidence at the trial was that (the defendant) has never had a knife, has never carried a knife and had never been seen with a knife. 'I am sorry to say it but that was not the position vis-a-vis the deceased. 'It was accepted from the very beginning by the Crown that the knife used in this case was not (the defendant's).' In a statement issued following the case, Emily Clewer, a senior crown prosecutor at the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This is a deeply tragic case where Jahziah Coke lost his life and entire future senselessly to knife violence. 'Jahziah Coke's family and loved ones have suffered unimaginable pain and loss, and our thoughts are with them as they deal with the aftermath of this tragedy. 'The teenager responsible for this murder will now face the consequences of his actions in ways that will irrevocably change the trajectory of his life. 'While today's sentencing cannot undo the awful events that transpired that day, we hope it sends a strong message about the devastating impact of knife crime and how it can destroy lives, families and futures. 'There are no excuses for carrying or using knives to harm and kill, and the CPS will continue to work tirelessly with the police and partners to tackle knife crime and bring offenders to justice.'
South Wales Argus
12 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Rome petrol station explosion leaves 40 injured
The explosion was heard across the Italian capital shortly after 8am on Friday and sent up a huge cloud of dark smoke and fire that was visible from several areas of the city. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said that local police and firefighters rushed to the area after receiving a report of a gas leak. Two explosions followed after they arrived, he added. 'Local police immediately evacuated a sports centre nearby, while other officers evacuated buildings on the other side of the gas station, avoiding a much more serious tragedy,' Mr Gualtieri said. Residents were evacuated (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP) Elisabetta Accardo, Rome's police spokeswoman, said that 24 residents were injured, including two who were in 'severe conditions' at Rome's Casilino hospital. Eleven of the injured are from law enforcement bodies — police and carabinieri — and one is a firefighter but they are not in life-threatening conditions. Rome prosecutors have begun an investigation into the cause of the explosion, which could be related to a previous gas leak during the unloading phase of liquified petroleum gas at the station. The sports centre was evacuated swiftly by police following the first explosion, with several children brought to safety. Police said they checked the surrounding area for people who were injured or trapped in nearby buildings. Barbara Belardinelli said that she and her daughter were slightly injured when they heard the first explosion and left their home to investigate before the next explosion struck them. 'As soon as we heard the second explosion, we were also hit by a ball of fire. I thought that a car near us exploded, metal fragments were flying in the air,' she said. 'We felt the fire on the skin, the arm of my daughter is still red, it was horrible.' Other residents said the explosion was so loud and violent it struck nearby buildings 'like an earthquake', breaking windows and ripping off shutters. Pope Leo XIV said that he was praying for those affected by the explosion, which happened 'in the heart of my Diocese'. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was closely following the developments.
Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' will soon become law. Republicans who tore into it now need to hawk it to voters
Trump praised the bill at an event in Iowa, while House Speaker Mike Johnson called it one of the most complex and significant pieces of legislation in US history. President Donald Trump's wide-ranging domestic policy bill, passed by Congress this week, is facing growing criticism over its planned cuts to Medicaid. The bill, which is is now just hours away from becoming law, includes nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid reductions over a decade, a move Democrats are using to launch early attacks ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. For months, some Republican lawmakers had raised concerns. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said the cuts were 'inescapable,' while Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said targeting Medicaid was 'a mistake.' Nebraska Representative Don Bacon had earlier said he would not back a bill with over $500 billion in cuts but explained he ended up supporting it due to other tax and defence provisions.
