Holidaymakers are facing huge delays heading north out of Auckland today – and motorists are again being urged to stay safe on the roads, as the holiday road toll rose to 11 this morning. Transport authorities issued an alert about…
Category Archives: headline
Woman's body discovered in Pakuranga Heights. Police investigation launched
The body of a woman has been discovered in scrub near the Tāmaki River in Pakuranga Heights, east Auckland.The body was found yesterday just before 2pm near Waikaremoana Place and police have launched an investigation.A…
Christchurch fatal crash: Father of three killed on Russley Road named
The man who died in a crash on Russley Rd in Christchurch on December 30 has been named by police.He was Benjamin Simon Furze, aged 29, from Christchurch. Police were called to the serious single-vehicle crash in Harewood at 10.45pm…
Pope gives former Hawke's Bay man top church role
Christchurch Bishop and former Hawke’s Bay schoolboy Paul Martin has been appointed to a new Catholic Church role which is likely to see him become head of the church in New Zealand.The appointment of Bishop Paul Martin, 53, as…
Donald Trump urges Georgia official to 'find votes' in leaked call: report
US President Donald Trump pushed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" votes to overturn the election results after his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, according to an audio recording of a phone call obtained by The Washington Post.
In excerpts of the stunning one-hour phone call on Saturday, Mr Trump lambasted his fellow Republican for refusing to falsely say that he won the election in Georgia and repeatedly touted baseless claims of election fraud.
"The people of Georgia are angry, the people in the country are angry. And there's nothing wrong with saying that, you know, um, that you've recalculated," Mr Trump said in one excerpt of the call.
Mr Raffensperger responded, "Well, Mr President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong."
In another excerpt, Mr Trump said, "So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state."
The White House, the Trump campaign and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the Post.
The White House declined to comment to CNN.
CNN has reached out to Mr Raffensperger.
The Post's report was published several hours after Mr Trump said on Twitter that he had spoken to Mr Raffensperger on the phone in an attempt to convince him to look into unfounded conspiracy theories about the vote in November.
According to Mr Trump, Mr Raffensperger refused to do so.
In response, Mr Raffensperger cryptically delivered a strong message to the president.
"Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true. The truth will come out," the tweet read.
https://twitter.com/GaSecofState/status/1345753643593687040
Mr Raffensperger, a Republican and a Trump supporter, has consistently turned back Mr Trump's claims of voter fraud in Georgia.
He has overseen three different recounts of the vote and conducted several other reviews of the process.
He recently tasked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with conducting an audit of the signature match system in Cobb County that determined the system was 99.9 per cent accurate and revealed no evidence of fraud.
The Post also reported that Mr Meadows, lawyer Cleta Mitchell and other Republican allies of the president were also on the call.
The call represents the latest extraordinary effort by Mr Trump to change the results of the race he lost following weeks of legal and political efforts by the president, his legal team and Republican allies to overturn the free and fair election.
The ask comes just days before Congress will meet to certify Mr Biden's victory, a traditionally ceremonial exercise on Capitol Hill that will look dramatically different this year as Republicans in both chambers plan to object to the counting of Electoral College votes.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer seized on the call in a tweet, suggesting to Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas that he and his GOP allies should investigate the president for his actions.
Mr Cruz was among 11 Republican senators who announced on Saturday they would support an objection to the Electoral College votes, if one is brought, and propose an election commission to conduct an "emergency 10-day audit" of the election returns in the "disputed states" – despite no credible evidence suggesting widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
"You want to investigate election fraud? Start with this," Mr Schumer, a New York Democrat, wrote in a tweet aimed at Mr Cruz that included a link to the Washington Post's report.
– reported with CNN
Holiday road toll now 11 after person killed on SH29, Lower Kaimai Ranges
A person has been killed in an early morning crash in the Lower Kaimai Ranges. Emergency services are responding to a serious crash between a truck and a car on State Highway 29. The crash has closed off the road in both directions…
Businessman found dead at Herbert’s Beach
By Monique Washington
A Brick Kiln Village Business has been found dead at Herbert’s Beach on Sunday (January 3) morning.
The body of contractor Myron “White “Jeffers was found mid-morning on Sunday under a tree at Herbert’s beach.
Upon arrival, the Observer noted a large number of vehicles and onlookers at the scene. Around mid-day, the body was removed.
More to this story will be provided as it becomes available.
The post Businessman found dead at Herbert’s Beach appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
More than 100 workers make essential repairs to rail network
If you’ve spent the holidays kicking back and enjoying the weather, spare a thought for the more than 100 workers who have been fixing up the Auckland metro rail network over the Christmas and New Year period. “We’ve been welding…
Father's heartbreak after 6-year-old son dies in New Year's Day crash
On New Year’s Day, a Wellington father received a knock at the door and was met by two police officers with “news no parent should ever have to receive”.His son, who loved dinosaurs and was just a month short of his 7th birthday,…
'Complex investigation' under way into Waikeria Prison uprising, could take months
Police say a “complex investigation” that could take several months is under way into the six-day riot at Waikeria Prison, which ended yesterday.The 16 inmates who destroyed the top jail surrendered peacefully at 12.37pm and now…