News Briefs.

New Zealand's proposed first datacentre, valued at NZ$3.5bn, has sparked concern among locals in Makarewa. The facility, planned for the country's south, would significantly increase electricity and water consumption. Residents are demanding greater transparency about the project's potential environmental impact.…

Veteran DJ and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The 77-year-old presenter shared the news publicly, stating that he received the diagnosis in 2025. Despite this, Gambaccini says his life will continue as normal…

Wally Funk, a pioneering American aviator, has died at the age of 87. Funk was a trailblazer for women in aviation, earning her pilot's license at 17 and becoming a flight instructor at 19. She was one of 13 women…

Instagram has introduced a new AI image generator, developed by parent company Meta, allowing users to create original images based on text prompts. Privacy experts are sounding the alarm, warning that this feature may collect and store sensitive user data.…

Researchers predict a high likelihood of a historic El Niño event this year, with models indicating an overwhelming chance it will rank among the largest since 1950. El Niño is a complex weather pattern that occurs when the surface temperature…

Israel's military is facing accusations of wrongdoing after a Palestinian aid driver was fatally shot. Eyewitnesses claim the man was bringing food aid into Gaza when an Israeli soldier killed him. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for an…

Lance Twiggs, the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, expressed remorse for his actions during an interview with a prosecutor. Twiggs' roommate testified in court, revealing that Twiggs had said "he wishes he hadn't done it". The testimony was…

Australian senator Pauline Hanson is facing scrutiny over a recent trip to the UK, which she claims was for fact-finding purposes. Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, has defended the trip, stating it was necessary for her to gain…

Labour's Andy Burnham has apologized for the party's handling of Gaza, a move seen as an attempt to win back progressive voters. The apology comes after criticism from some Labour members and supporters over the party's stance on Israel-Palestine issues.…

Adrian Hoare, a dedicated school teacher, has passed away. He spent his career sharing his passion for history with students, making the subject accessible and engaging. Hoare's enthusiasm for the past extended beyond the classroom, as he actively participated in…

US lawmakers are calling for stricter monitoring of medically assisted suicide in hospices, citing concerns that vulnerable patients may be coerced into ending their lives. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has written to the Department of Health and Human Services…

OpenAI has released its latest ChatGPT model, version 5.6, after a delay prompted by White House cybersecurity concerns. The model's rollout is staggered, with access initially limited to certain users. This move follows similar restrictions on rival firm Anthropic's latest…

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has faced scrutiny over the past week due to controversies surrounding its members. George Cottrell, a former aide to Farage, was recently released from prison after serving time for fraud. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Bob Jenrick…