Otago Daily Times News Feed

gettyimages-79497121.jpg The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office has released a statement saying that musician Tom Petty died of an accidental overdose in October last year. Photo: Getty Images Rocker Tom Petty died in October due to "multisystem organ failure" brought on by an accidental overdose of seven medications, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said on Friday.

2018-01-19t200152z_518966946_rc1fce2ae340_rtrmadp_3_usa-congress-shutdown.jpg House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference with Democratic leaders, next to a tweet by now President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters The U.S. Senate was short of the votes needed to approve a bill to keep the federal government running as a midnight deadline loomed on Friday night (Washington time), but high-level negotiations continued.

Colin Hay treated the crowd to some Aussie classics. Photos supplied Queenstown turned on the weather and the stars turned on the entertainment at the Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert today.

woodhaugh_200118_02.jpg Fire and Emergency New Zealand attend a fire at the Woodhaugh Hospital and Rest Home in George St. Photo ODT The Woodhaugh Hospital and Rest Home in North Dunedin was evacuated today after a fire in one of its bedrooms.

Kent St has been cordoned off due to the blaze. Photo: NZ Herald Diners and shoppers have been evacuated from the Newmarket Plaza Food Hall after a fire broke in the building this afternoon.

2018-01-19t204916z_1931859941_rc15f79e9090_rtrmadp_3_canada-train.jpg A firefighter walks past a burning wagon at the scene of the accident in July 2013. Photo: Reuters A Canadian jury on Friday found three former rail workers not guilty of criminal negligence causing death in connection with a 2013 crude-by-rail derailment that killed 47 in the town of Lac Megantic in Quebec.

Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs against the Bulls in Hamilton during last year's Super Rugby season. Photo: Getty Images Aaron Cruden's departure from the Chiefs has opened the door for someone to make the No 10 jersey their own.

Police found four AR15 firearms and more than 400 rounds of ammunition. Photo / NZ Police A stash of guns, $2.5m in cash and 2kg of meth have been found at a Te Atatu property by police who were called to break up a couple of men fighting with golf clubs.

Two people were hit by a car and injured - one critically - during a street fight in Panmure early today, police say.

gettyimages-831812340.jpg Warmer-than-normal night-time temperatures might be making it harder for people to sleep. Photo: Getty Sleep may be harder to come by for some people over the next few days as much of the country is in the grip of warmer-than-normal night-time temperatures. 

gettyimages-893690094_1.jpg People cool off at the ocean pool at Bronte Beach in Sydney earlier this summer. Photo Getty Australia's east coast is bracing for a scorching weekend, and authorities are warning residents in Sydney's west to be wary of poor air quality due to hot, still conditions.

The Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning is seen during a training mission in July last year. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images The US military has put countering China and Russia at the centre of a new national defence strategy unveiled on Friday, the latest sign of shifting American priorities after more than a decade and a half of focusing on the fight against Islamist militants.

Jonny Bairstow made 60 as England chased down Australia in the second one-day international. Photo Getty England's top order fired in unison to give them a four-wicket win in the second one-day international against Australia on Friday as Aaron Finch's second straight hundred for the hosts could not prevent them falling 2-0 behind in the series.

Kim Dotcom As Kim Dotcom gets ready for his Queenstown wedding today, the entrepreneur's lawyers are apparently serving "a multibillion-dollar damages claim" against the New Zealand Government.

"Magical" is a word often bandied about when describing films that trade in the fantastical, and although I’d normally avoid using it, with its underlying connotations of saccharine audience manipulation and forced sentimentality, I’ve no hesitation in ascribing it to Guillermo del Toro’s rather marvellous and not-schmaltzy-at-all The Shape of Water.

The Music of Silence (Rialto) has one of those annoying titles that seems to make no sense: it is easy to reverse the order and come up with ‘‘the silence of music’’ instead.

Former Labour Party MP Pete Hodgson. Photo: Gerard O'Brien As an former MP and cabinet minister Pete Hodgson had some big jobs, but his new role steering the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital is his biggest yet, he tells health reporter Mike Houlahan.

Guy Scholefield sat with the Grand Fleet commander-in-chief, Admiral John Jellicoe, in the wardroom of his flagship, HMS Iron Duke, just days before the Battle of Jutland. Photo: National Library of NZ Dunedin-born, Milton-educated Guy  Scholefield played an influential role in World War 1 as a war correspondent. Ron Palenski explains.

Oceana Gold’s new Haile mine in South Carolina upped its gold production; pictured, the first rough gold ‘‘dore’’ bar from Haile last year. Photo: Supplied Oceana Gold has completed calendar 2017 on a high, booking record gold production, a boost to its cash  reserves and a reduction in debt.

Lamb and mutton were at record prices in December. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery Red meat export receipts hit a record high for the December quarter, analysis from Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s economic service has shown.