Polar cold engulfs New Zealand - Snowfall also covers coastal areas
A polar eruption in Antarctica swept across parts of New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday, bringing sea-level snow and freezing temperatures that forced road closures and school closures.
Snow blanketed Dunedin, the South Island's second-largest city, prompting police to urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary due to icy roads.
"Police have received a number of reports of accidents in Dunedin this morning, with several vehicles skidding off the road. Fortunately, there have been no injuries," New Zealand Police said in a post on social media.
Further north, snow was visible on the sand at Christchurch's New Brighton Beach. Snowfall is rare in Dunedin, especially at sea level, although the city's hilly suburbs can get snow during severe cold snaps.
Authorities said all bus services in the city were cancelled, while ferry services between New Zealand's North and South islands were suspended due to strong winds and rough seas.
MetService, New Zealand's weather office, said the cold snap was expected to continue for the next two days, bringing snow or hail near sea level across the East South Island.
Thursday morning could bring the coldest temperatures of the year for many parts of the country, the weather forecaster said.
What tools does the EU have to fight fires? - Over 430 thousand hectares of forests have burned
Europe is facing another summer of devastating wildfires. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) on July 30 shows that more than......
Trump against oil giants - "You make a lot of money and you need to lower prices"
US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on US oil companies, accusing them of "making too much money" and calling on them to lower prices.......
Minimum wages in Europe - Luxembourg tops with 2,771 euros. At the bottom, Ukraine with 169 euros
Only eight of the 29 European countries increased their gross minimum wage between January and July 2026, while consumer inflation in the euro area was 3.2%......
6 million euros distributed to children under 18 - Around 40 thousand taxpayers receive DIVA money, taxes continue to be reimbursed
Around 40,000 employees across the country who applied for reimbursement through the Individual Annual Income Declaration, DIVA 2025, have been fully......
Reconstruction of the electrical network in Shkodra - OSSH opens the competition, aiming for a safer and more stable network
The Regional Directorate of the Public Distribution System (OSSH) in Shkodra has announced the tender for the reconstruction of a part of the electricity......
US ratifies loan agreement with Albania - Nufi: Strategic vote of confidence and historic step in defense modernization
The US Department of State has announced the ratification of a $302 million loan agreement for Albania under the Foreign Military Financing......
114 million euros of investments in the energy sector - 3 agreements with Germany signed, 90 million euros of loans and 24 million euros of grants
114 million euros will be invested in the energy sector over the coming years. The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, and the German......
Does the financial criterion "burn" municipalities? - The new administrative-territorial reform, the assessment of economic performance
One of the main criteria on which the new administrative-territorial reform has been drafted, where 15 municipalities are planned to be merged, is......
