El Niño intensifies as scientists say biggest impacts on NZ yet to come; Trump says deal reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to leave Gaza; David Liti pulls off massive lift to win Commonwealth Games gold
El Niño intensifies as scientists say biggest impacts on New Zealand yet to come
El Niño has strengthened significantly over the past month, with scientists saying New Zealand is likely to start seeing more effects from spring as the climate pattern builds towards what could become one of the strongest in recent history.
Earth Sciences New Zealand's latest Season Climate Outlook said the tropical Pacific Ocean and atmosphere remained firmly in an El Niño state, with atmospheric indicators recording their strongest July values on record.
"We remain in its early stages; impacts on New Zealand’s weather patterns are yet to be fully felt, but are anticipated during this outlook period," the agency said.
Donald Trump says deal reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to leave Gaza
US President Donald Trump said a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles, conditions and long timelines remained to wind down the war in the Palestinian territory.
Neither Hamas nor Israel gave immediate indication that they had agreed.
A US-brokered ceasefire was signed nine months ago. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas had largely deadlocked at its second phase, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Winston Peters 'inviting a sacking' with attack on Chinese-born MP – Helen Clark
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says Winston Peters' comments about a Chinese-born Green MP appears to be "inviting a sacking".
On Wednesday, Peters told Lawrence Xu-Nan to "go back to your own country" during a debate in Parliament.
"Obviously on the level of an MP who came to New Zealand as a child, who's been here for 32 years ... I mean, this is quite extraordinary and I think sends a chill right around our migrant communities as to whether people are ever actually going to feel part of, and be welcomed in, New Zealand," Clark said.
Watch: Moment David Liti pulls off massive lift to win gold medal
Liti ran over to hug his coach Tina in emotional scenes at the Commonwealth Games.
ONE GREEDY BEAGLE
A Brisbane dog clearly has a sweet tooth after eating around 1.1kg of jelly snakes.
Scooter, a three-year-old beagle, and her sister Jada were taken to Animal Emergency Service Jindalee at around 8pm on Monday after their owners came across a "suspiciously empty" bag of sweets.
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