HGE NEWS

French 'Doctor Death' who poisoned patients jailed for life A former anaesthetist has been jailed for life for intentionally poisoning 30 patients, 12 of them fatally. Frédéric Péchier, 53, was convicted Friday at the end of a four-month trial in the eastern city of Besançon. In one of France's biggest ever medical malpractice cases, Péchier was found to have introduced chemicals like potassium chloride or adrenaline into the infusion bags of patients. His youngest victim, a

No more free food, no more last-minute voting, after controversial law change The Government has locked in controversial election law changes, which will ban last-minute voter enrolment and free food near polling stations. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith shepherded through his electoral law changes on Tuesday night, which passed Parliament’s final hurdle. The Government used urgency to speed up the process last week, and required MPs stay late into the night to consider the l

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lifted a special advisory for further earthquakes and tsunamis in the Hokkaido and Sanriku coastal areas at the end of Monday, one week after it was initially issued. On Dec. 8, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture, causing severe shaking with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese shindo scale in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. Tsunami warnings and advisories were issued fro

WARNING: Contains content about sexual offending against children and animals. A Tasman man has been jailed for more than five years for collecting thousands of child exploitation photos and videos, described by a judge as graphic and horrific. Storm Uriah Constable-Carter pleaded guilty in the Nelson District Court in August to 50 charges relating to the creation, possession and distribution of child exploitation and bestiality material. Investigators described the material

NSW Police say they are aware of a possible retribution event after the Bondi shooting, as a post continues to be shared about a “bashing day” in Cronulla. The social media post states: “WE RIOT. WOG/MIDDLE EASTERN BASHING DAY. SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2025. “SPREAD THE WORD AUSTRALIA! STAND THE F**K UP.” It is believed the post is being mostly shared on Snapchat. NSW Police said they are aware of the situation. “Police are aware of the social media posts. We do not have any fu

China's self-developed technology in high-speed railways is marking significant progress in both technological innovation and operational capability. The recent launch of the Shenyang-Baihe high-speed railway in northeastern China highlights these advances, featuring new trains and systems designed for extreme conditions and intelligent operation. The Fuxing CR400BF-GS Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), deployed on this new line, is specifically engineered for extremely cold regio

At least 41 people are confirmed dead following flash floods across Morocco. In the Atlantic coastal province of Safi, local authorities said in a statement that the death toll had risen to 37, with 14 injured people receiving treatment at local hospitals. Intense thunderstorms pelted the area with heavy rain, flooding dozens of homes and shops on Sunday. The floods also overturned or washed away vehicles, damaged roads and caused widespread traffic disruptions. In the southe

Exposure to freezing temperatures near Morocco’s border with Algeria killed nine African migrants, a tragedy that rights groups in the North African country called deeply concerning and a violation of the right to freedom of movement. The bodies of seven men and two women were found in Ras Asfour, a remote mountainous Moroccan area known for its plunging temperatures in winter, the Moroccan Association of Human Rights said Saturday in a statement. “They died from extreme cold

Uganda’s military has confirmed it is holding Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest who went missing nearly two weeks ago. The army says he is suspected of involvement in "violent subversive activities" and will face charges in court. The Catholic Diocese of Masaka had earlier reported that Father Ssekabira was "kidnapped by men in Uganda Army uniform." The church has not commented on the military’s accusations. Church Calls for Immediate Release The Masaka Diocese ra

It's a wild weather day, this is what you need to know Severe weather is battering parts of the North Island. Northland and Auckland are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 5pm, with MetService warning of large hail and possible tornados. Heavy rain is expected in Bay of Plenty and Gisborne until 11pm, with streams and rivers likely to rise rapidly. An apparent tornado hit the Manawatū town of Dudding Lake around midday, knocking over a caravan and injuring one. The weat