Changes to the Kiwisaver scheme, a teenage beauty queen jailed for a raft of offences and a woman injured in a melee at a Katy Perry concert are the most read stories online on Thursday. Top stories include speedsters snapped by police cameras face demerit points on their licences, two earthquakes in Spain kill 10 people and a call for repeat school bullies to go to jail.
The Google News New Zealand lead headline is from the BBC and says "VIDEO: Bell tower collapses in Spanish quake." The web site says a magnitude 5.3 earthquake has killed at least ten people and damaged several buildings near the town of Lorca in southern Spain, officials say. It carries a TVNZ story which says there has been mixed reaction to KiwiSaver changes as Prime Minister John Key prepares to reveal more Budget hints today. And it features a Reuters story which says Libyan rebels said they took control of Misrata airport in heavy fighting with Muammar Gaddafi's forces on Wednesday, seizing large quantities of weapons and munitions in a major victory in the besieged city. The most popular story from nzherald.co.nz says fund managers and business groups are not panicking about changes to KiwiSaver, despite news that both employers and employees will have to lift their contribution.
The nzherald.co.nz lead headline online says "Speed cameras' new demerit sting." The web site says speedsters snapped by police cameras face demerit points on their licences under road safety proposals being investigated by the Government. It says low and middle income earners will be hit in the pocket by the Government's changes to KiwiSaver as they and their bosses are forced to pay for reduced Government contributions, Phil Goff warned yesterday. And it says Broadcaster Maggie Barry was selected last night as National's candidate for the plum North Shore seat, and will almost certainly become an MP at the November election. The most read story says a former teenage beauty queen has been jailed for a year on a raft of offences, including a "sham" marriage to a Chinese man.
The Stuff.co.nz top headline says "Two quakes in Spain kill 10, injure dozens." The web site says two earthquakes struck southeast Spain in quick succession early today (NZ time), killing at least 10 people, injuring dozens and causing major damage to buildings, officials said. It says a suspicious fire has destroyed a recently-vacated Mongrel Mob house in Invercargill this morning. And it says workers wanting to quit KiwiSaver after changes flagged by the Government are being told to take a contributions holiday instead if it becomes unaffordable. The most read story says one of several people injured in a melee at the Katy Perry concert in Wellington says she is too afraid to attend a gig again.
The Radio New Zealand lead headline online says "Misrata reported to be under rebel control." The web site says rebels in Libya are reported to have taken control of the city of Misrata, after heavy fighting with forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. It says banks are to be required to hold more capital against rural loans. And it says national is confident New Zealanders will understand that cuts to KiwiSaver are necessary and it will test that in November's election.
The 3 News top story online has the headline "Spain earthquake: Buildings topple - photos." The web site says two earthquakes have struck southeast Spain in quick succession, killing at least 10 people, injuring dozens and causing major damage to buildings, officials said. It says New Zealand has kicked off a 10 year international road safety initiative, and speeding drivers are high on the agenda. It says the Right-Wing Resistance group circulating anti-Asian fliers throughout Christchurch is causing anger within the community, but Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley thinks it's a publicity stunt. The most read story says a Qantas 737-800 flying from Auckland to Melbourne has arrived back in Auckland, after turning around mid-flight following a lightning strike.
The One News lead headline says "Call for repeat school bullies to go to jail." The web site says repeat, violent bullies in secondary schools should be given prison terms, according to the president of the Secondary School Principals' Association. It says there has been mixed reaction to Kiwisaver changes as Prime Minister John Key prepares to reveal more Budget hints today. And it says further action against police involved in the case of two men wrongfully convicted of arson is being considered. The most read story says oil prices tumbled nearly 5% today, as easing supply concerns sent gasoline stocks into a tailspin that briefly forced trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange to stop.
The Newstalk ZB lead headline says "Changes to hit businesses." The web site says small to medium businesses may struggle to cope with the changes to KiwiSaver. It says a magnitude 5.3 quake killed at least seven people in southern Spain on Wednesday, toppling buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing into the streets. And it says Christchurch inner-city business owners want a timeframe of just how long it will take to demolish the Hotel Grand Chancellor. The most read story says Waikato Police are urging drivers to buckle up, no matter how long or short the journey, following the death of a driver near Waihi.
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