A judge will decide if the owners of a New Zealand volcano where 22 died were unjustly convicted

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand judge will decide whether the owners of an island volcano suffered a miscarriage of justice when their company was convicted of failing to keep visitors safe following an eruption that killed 22 tourists and local guides in 2019. A...

A New Zealand city waves goodbye to its 'disturbing' giant hand sculpture that many came to love

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Perched on two fingers on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, the giant sculpture of a hand has loomed over the city for five years. Named Quasi, the 16-foot — almost 5 meters — creation of Australia-based sculptor Ronnie van...

Fourth mass coral bleaching prompts UN emergency session at Colombia biodiversity summit

CALI, Colombia (AP) — The United Nations, scientists and governments made an urgent call Wednesday for increased funding to protect coral reefs under threat of extinction. Research this year shows that 77% of the world’s reefs are affected by bleaching, mainly due to warming...

The owners of a New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, appeal their conviction

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The owners of an island volcano in New Zealand that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, launched an appeal on Tuesday against their criminal conviction for violating safety laws, arguing that tour operators — rather than their company — were responsible for the...

Italian skier Brignone wins World Cup season opener as Shiffrin drops to 5th

SOELDEN, Austria (AP) — Federica Brignone had just mastered the tricky Rettenbach course on a glacier in Austria. The Italian skier wasn't done, though. She did a chicken dance in the finish area. Brignone found the fastest line between the turning gates to win the...

An Air New Zealand flight to Auckland diverts to Melbourne because of disruptive passenger

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An Air New Zealand flight bound for Auckland, New Zealand, from Perth, Australia, was forced to divert on Wednesday morning after a passenger became disruptive, the airline said. The flight landed instead in the Australian city of Melbourne, where...

A New Zealand airport wants you to hug goodbye faster

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Emotional farewells are a common sight at airports, but travelers leaving the New Zealand city of Dunedin will have to be quick. A new three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport's drop-off area is intended to prevent lingering cuddles from causing...

Samoan coast where King Charles will visit worries about the future after ship damaged reef

SIUMU, Samoa (AP) — Under clear skies Tuesday, shortly after sunrise in the beachside fishing village of Siumu, Samoa, a dozen men and children prepared their small boats for a day at sea. But underwater, a mile off the coast, a sunken New Zealand naval vessel is forcing them to travel farther...

New Zealand wins cricket's Women’s T20 World Cup for 1st time with 32-run victory over South Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New Zealand won the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time, beating South Africa by 32 runs on Sunday after a standout performance from Amelia Kerr with bat and ball. South Africa's chase was held to 126-9 in 20 overs at the Dubai...

New Zealand wins cricket's Women’s T20 World Cup for 1st time with 32-run victory over South Africa