DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. FATHER AND SON KIWI CLIMBERS FEARED DEAD AFTER AN AVALANCHE ON THE WORLD'S SECOND-HIGHEST PEAK. POPE FRANCIS REACHES OUT TO GAY CATHOLICS. AND CLAMPING DOWN ON TWITTER ATTACKS. THE SOCIAL NETWORK PROMISES ACTION. A NZ FATHER AND SON ARE PRESUMED DEAD AFTER AN AVALANCHE ON THE WORLD'S SECOND-HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, K2, IN PAKISTAN. THE 53-YEAR-OLD AND HIS SON (25) HAVE NOW BEEN MISSING FOR OVER THREE DAYS. SAM KELWAY WITH THIS REPORT. HOPES HAVE FADED FOR MOUNTAINEERS MARTY SCHMIDT AND HIS SON DENALI. THE TWO HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE AN AVALANCHE WIPED OUT THEIR CAMPSITE AT CAMP THREE ON THE SOUTH-EAST RIDGE, HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN. FELLOW CLIMBERS SAY MARTY SCHMIDT'S LAST RADIO COMMUNICATION WAS MADE FROM THE CAMPSITE SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO. THE AVALANCHE ALMOST CERTAINLY OCCURRED LATER THAT NIGHT AS THEY SLEPT IN THEIR TENT. THE SHERPA REPORTED BACK THAT TENTS HAD BEEN FLATTENED BY AN AVALANCHE AND THAT CRAMPONS AND ICE AXES FROM MARTY AND DENALI WERE STILL IN PLACE, WHICH IS ANOTHER BAD SIGN. YOU DON'T REALLY GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT YOUR CRAMPONS AND ICE AXE. THE FATHER AND SON WERE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB K2, 8600M HIGH AND DUBBED 'THE SAVAGE MOUNTAIN'. K2 IS A MOUNTAIN THAT YOU CAN'T GO ON YOUR OWN TERMS. YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE MOUNTAIN'S TERMS. IT'S VERY STEEP. IT'S... IT HAS A REPUTATION OF A LOT OF PEOPLE DYING ON IT. JUST 280 PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT TO THE SUMMIT SINCE 1954, WITH ONE IN FOUR CLIMBERS DYING IN THE ATTEMPT. THE AVALANCHE COULD HAVE CLAIMED MORE LIVES ` OTHERS IN THE GROUP HAD TURNED BACK EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE DANGEROUS SNOW CONDITIONS. THEY SAY ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN ASLEEP IN TENTS AT CAMP THREE WHEN THE AVALANCHE STRUCK. TRIBUTES ARE FLOODING IN FOR THE ENTHUSIASTIC CLIMBER AND HIS SON DENALI, NAMED AFTER THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN NORTH AMERICA. I GUESS IT'S A DAY OF MOURNING. MARTY WAS A REALLY HIGHLY REGARDED CLIMBER AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDE; A REALLY WARM AND PERSONAL MAN. HIS IS A SAD LOSS. NZ'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS LOCAL SHERPAS HAVE SEARCHED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR THE MISSING CLIMBERS AND THE SEARCH CONTINUES. SAM KELWAY, ONE NEWS. LAWYERS FOR INTERNET MOGUL KIM DOTCOM ARE IN THE SUPREME COURT TODAY IN THE NEXT STEP OF THE DRAWN-OUT US CASE TO TRY TO GET THEIR CLIENT DEPORTED. THE MEGAUPLOAD FOUNDER IS FIGHTING TO SEE THE DOCUMENTS BEING USED BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE HIM EXTRADITED TO THE US TO FACE COPYRIGHT CHARGES. HIS LEGAL TEAM SAY THE INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR A FAIR TRIAL. THE ACT PROVIDES SPECIFIC PROVISIONS TO BE ADHERED TO THAT ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE TREATY AT ALL AND WHICH MUST BE ADHERED TO TO PROVIDE THE FAIR HEARING THAT MR DOTCOM IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE. THE COURT OF APPEAL RULED IN MARCH THAT THE MATERIAL DOESN'T NEED TO BE DISCLOSED TO DOTCOM AND HIS LAWYERS. SOME NZ WEBSITES ARE DOWN THIS MORNING, AND THE INTERNET HACKING GROUP ANONYMOUS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY. ROBOTICALLY: THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE NZ GOVERNMENT FROM ANONYMOUS. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU FOR A WHILE NOW, AND WE ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH MANY OF YOUR DECISIONS. THE GROUP SAYS IT'S IN PROTEST AGAINST THE LEGISLATION TO GIVE GREATER POWERS TO THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY BUREAU. HEAVY FOG HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT THIS MORNING, AND TRAVELLERS ARE NOT IN THE CLEAR YET. FRESH FOG ROLLED IN JUST BEFORE 10AM, SPARKING A NEW WAVE OF CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS TO AIR NZ'S REGIONAL SERVICES. AUCKLAND AIRPORT IS STILL WORKING TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF PASSENGERS FROM EARLIER FOG, WHICH SAW DOZENS OF FLIGHTS CANCELLED. NONE OF THE MAIN TRUNK ROUTES OR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, BUT PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO REGULARLY CHECK THE AIRPORT'S WEBSITE FOR UPDATED FLIGHT INFORMATION. LUKE'S LANE IN CENTRAL WELLINGTON HAS REOPENED TODAY FOLLOWING EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE-STRENGTHENING WORK ON A DAMAGED LIFT SHAFT. THE USUALLY BUSY THOROUGHFARE WAS CLOSED AFTER LAST WEEK'S 6.5 QUAKE DUE TO CONCERNS THE TOWER COULD TOPPLE IN AN AFTERSHOCK. TENANTS EVACUATED FROM SURROUNDING BUILDINGS WILL NOW BE ALLOWED TO RETURN. IN SWITZERLAND, TWO TRAINS HAVE COLLIDED HEAD ON WHILE LEAVING THE STATION AT GRANGES PRES MARNAND, AROUND 50KM SOUTH-WEST OF THE CAPITAL, BERN. AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED, SEVERAL OF THEM SERIOUSLY. THE DRIVER OF ONE OF THE TRAINS IS STILL TRAPPED IN HIS CABIN. IT'S NOT KNOWN IF HE IS STILL ALIVE. RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF AN ITALIAN BUS CRASH HAVE GATHERED TO IDENTIFY THEIR LOVED ONES AS THE BUS IS EXAMINED FOR MECHANICAL DEFECTS. THE DEATH TOLL FOR THE CRASH HAS RISEN TO 39. THE BUS DRIVER WAS AMONG THOSE KILLED WHEN THE TOUR BUS PLUNGED 30M INTO A RAVINE. THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF DIAMONDS STOLEN FROM A HOTEL IN THE FRENCH RIVIERA HAS RISEN TO $170M, MAKING IT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THEFTS EVER. AND THERE'S LITTLE HOPE THE JEWELS WILL BE RECOVERED. THIS FROM THE ABC'S LAMA HASSAN. THEY'RE CALLING IT FRANCE'S BIGGEST AND MOST BRAZEN ROBBERY ` $136M WORTH OF RINGS, EARRINGS AND PENDANTS, SWIPED IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED HERE, AT THE LUXURIOUS CARLTON INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL IN CANNES ` THE SAME PLACE WHERE HITCHCOCK SET HIS 1955 THRILLER 'TO CATCH A THIEF'. I HAVEN'T GOT A DECENT WATCH. STEAL ONE. THE BRAZEN JEWELLERY HEIST HAPPENED RIGHT HERE. BUT THIS WAS NO SMASH-AND-GRAB JOB. THE ARMED ROBBER JUST WALKED THROUGH THOSE GLASS DOORS. ONCE INSIDE, THE ROBBER QUICKLY CORRALLED THE THREE UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS AT GUN POINT, SNATCHED ALL THE JEWELLERY ` WHICH WAS STILL IN A BAG ` AND ESCAPED, SPILLING SOME ALONG THE WAY. INVESTIGATORS THINK THE ROBBER MAY HAVE HAD AN ACCOMPLICE, OR PERHAPS A MEMBER OF THE NOTORIOUS 'PINK PANTHER' GANG, KNOWN FOR BRAZEN THEFTS AROUND THE WORLD. THREE MEMBERS HAVE ESCAPED FROM PRISON IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. ONCE THESE SMALL ROCKS ARE BROKEN UP AND SOLD ON THE BLACK MARKET, THEY BECOME DIFFICULT TO TRACE, MAKING DIAMONDS A THIEF'S BEST FRIEND. ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATING TEAMS HAVE FLOWN TO WASHINGTON TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW ROUND OF MIDEAST PEACE TALKS ` THE FIRST IN THREE YEARS. A KEY TRIGGER FOR THE TALKS TO RESUME WAS THE ISRAELI CABINET'S DECISION TO RELEASE MORE THAN 100 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS. UH, THESE PEOPLE WERE, UH, AGREED TO BE RELEASED IN THE OSLO AGREEMENT, AND AGAIN, BY MR SHARON IN THE, UH, SHARM EL-SHEIKH AGREEMENT. SO THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED A LONG TIME AGO, WHICH IS NOT, UH, NOTHING NEW. THIS IS AN IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OLD COMMITMENT BY THE ISRAELIS. NEVERTHELESS, TO US, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE RELEASED. AND, UH, THEIR RELEASE FORMED ONE OF OUR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS FOR RESUMING THE NEGOTIATIONS. THERE'S WIDESPREAD SCEPTICISM THE TALKS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS. POPE FRANCIS SAYS GAY PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE JUDGED BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING HIS FLIGHT HOME FROM HIS VISIT TO BRAZIL, THE PONTIFF RESTATED THE CHURCH'S POSITION THAT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS ARE A SIN. THIS FROM THE ABC'S DAN HARRIS. AFTER BEING GREETED LIKE A ROCK STAR IN BRAZIL,... LOUD CHEERING ...AND PREACHING TO MILLIONS ON COPACABANA BEACH,... (SPEAKS LATIN) ...THIS NEW POPE, WHO HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROJECT SIMPLICITY AND OPENNESS, GAVE A REMARKABLE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE FLIGHT BACK TO ROME. APPLAUSE SUCH A STRIKING DIFFERENCE FROM HIS OFTEN-TIMID PREDECESSOR, WHO ONLY TOOK PRE-SELECTED QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS. POPE FRANCIS WAS LAUGHING AND JOKING WITH REPORTERS; SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF FOR 80 MINUTES. AND HERE WAS THE MOMENT THAT IS GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION ` THE POPE SAYING, 'IF SOMEONE IS GAY AND HE SEARCHES FOR THE LORD 'AND HAS GOOD WILL, WHO AM I TO JUDGE?' COMPARE THAT TO POPE BENEDICT, WHO CALLED GAYS... OR JOHN PAUL II, WHO CALLED HOMOSEXUAL ACTS... NOW, WHILE POPE FRANCIS' COMMENT IS MAKING GLOBAL WAVES TONIGHT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE POPE SAID NOTHING TO SUGGEST ACCEPTANCE OF GAY SEX OR ANY OTHER CHANGE IN CHURCH POLICY. THE POPE ALSO MADE UNUSUALLY WARM OVERTURES TODAY TO DIVORCED PEOPLE, WHO HE SAID SHOULD RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS, AND WOMEN, WHO HE SAID ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN BISHOPS AND PRIESTS. AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING ON A WAY TO MAKE DOGS OUR BEST FRIENDS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. THEY'RE WORKING ON A CANCER VACCINE THAT'S WORKING WELL IN DOGS AND MAY ONE DAY BE APPLIED TO HUMANS. HERE'S THE ABC'S SOPHIE SCOTT. 15-YEAR-OLD SALLY IS NOW A HAPPY AND HEALTHY OLD DOG. WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LIVER CANCER, HER OWNER, JENNY MILLAR, WHO'S STUDYING TO BECOME A VET, FOUND OUT ABOUT AN EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE TRIAL. AFTER SHE'D SORT OF RECOVERED FROM THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THE SURGERY, WE GAVE HER THE VACCINE AND, UM, YEAH, SURE ENOUGH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY DEFYING EVERYBODY'S EXPECTATIONS. (CHUCKLES) SCIENTISTS CREATED THE VACCINE BY USING A SAMPLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TUMOUR AND MIXING IT WITH A BACTERIA. WHEN A VET TELLS YOU, 'OH, THIS DOG'S GOT 12 MONTHS TO LIVE,' AND THEY'RE KICKING ON OVER TWO YEARS LATER, YOU GOT A WHOLE HOPE THAT, UM, WE CAN ROLL THIS OUT. TESTS SHOW THEY COULD PROLONG THE LIFE OF DOGS WITH ADVANCED CANCERS BY STIMULATING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO DESTROY THE CANCER CELLS. WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL HOPE ABOUT THIS. THESE GUYS, IN THE LAB, HAVE SPENT QUITE A LOT OF TIME DEVELOPING THE VACCINE IN A WAY THAT IT WILL STIMULATE THE GREATEST IMMUNE REACTION. VETS TREATED 8-YEAR-OLD MAX FOR A MELANOMA ON HIS PAW. IT IS EARLY DAYS IN REGARDS TO THE VACCINE, BUT IT'S BEEN PROMISING. IT'S A NICE ADJUNCT THERAPY. MEANWHILE, DOG OWNERS ARE THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS. NOBODY WAS EXPECTING IT, SO YEAH, WE JUST ENJOY EVERY DAY WE HAVE WITH HER. RESEARCHERS HOPE TO START SAFETY TRIALS OF THE VACCINE IN HUMANS IN 12 MONTHS. THE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE TWITTER SAYS IT MAY INTRODUCE A BUTTON ON TWEETS TO REPORT THREATS. THE MOVE'S IN RESPONSE TO ABUSE DIRECTED AT A BRITISH CAMPAIGNER WHO WANTS MORE WOMEN TO BE SHOWN ON BRITISH BANKNOTES. THE BBC'S RITA CHAKRABATI REPORTS. HOW FAR SHOULD A SOCIAL NETWORK POLICE ITS USERS WHEN THOSE USERS POST OFFENSIVE AND PERHAPS CRIMINAL CONTENT. THAT'S THE QUESTION NOW FACING TWITTER AFTER A WAVE OF RAPE THREATS AND MISOGYNY HIT TWO HIGH-PROFILE WOMEN. CAROLINE CRIADO-PEREZ, SEEN HERE IN THE RED DRESS, CAMPAIGNED TO GET THE AUTHOR JANE AUSTEN ON THE NEWLY DESIGNED 10-POUND NOTE. SHE WAS THEN SUBJECT TO 50 ABUSIVE TWEETS AN HOUR FOR 12 HOURS. A MAN WAS YESTERDAY ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE THREATS. NOW THE ABUSE HAS FOUND A NEW FOCUS ` MP STELLA CREASY, WHO SUPPORTED MISS CRIADO-PEREZ AND HAS BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF TWEETS THREATENING TO RAPE OUTSIDE HER HOME THIS EVENING. SHE WANTS TWITTER TO REVIEW ITS SYSTEMS FOR REPORTING ABUSE, AND TODAY, THE COMPANY RESPONDED. TWITTER SAYS INDIVIDUAL TWEETS CAN BE REPORTED FOR ABUSE ON ITS LATEST IPHONE APP, USING A BUTTON HERE. THE FEATURE DOESN'T YET EXIST ON OTHER PLATFORMS. IT ALSO SAYS IT'LL SUSPEND ACCOUNTS THAT, ONCE REPORTED, ARE FOUND TO BE IN BREACH OF ITS RULES. BUT CLAMPING DOWN ON OFFENSIVE MATERIAL IS NOTORIOUSLY HARD. TWITTER FACES A DAY'S BOYCOTT NEXT MONTH IF IT FAILS TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTERS ARE CURRENTLY GATHERED IN AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON TO MARCH AGAINST TESTING LEGAL HIGHS ON ANIMALS. BOTH MARCHES ` ONE UP QUEEN ST AND THE OTHER ON PARLIAMENT ` WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SILENT MEMORIAL SERVICE. THE GROUP WANTS THE NEW LAW CORRECTED SO LEGAL HIGH MANUFACTURERS MUST USE ALTERNATIVE TESTING METHODS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. AND IN SPORT ` WHY CANTERBURY CRICKET FANS ARE HOLDING THEIR BREATH AHEAD OF THE 2015 WORLD CUP. If you think all home-loan rates are the same, check out ANZ's best-ever home-loan offer, with all the bells and whistles. 4.95% per annum one year fixed, plus $1000 cash on us. Conditions apply. 1 WITH ME NOW IS MARTIN ALLISON FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MARTIN. METHVEN HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S BOUGHT A CHINESE FACTORY FOR $10M. IS IT A GOOD DEAL? THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. METHVEN HAS TAKEN MOST OF PRODUCTION TO CHINA THAT COMES OUT OF CHINESE FACTORY THEY HAD FIRST OPTION TO PURCHASE THIS FACTORY THE OWNER RETIRING THEY ARE PAYING NZ$10M THERE IS AGREEMENT TO THE CHINESE CEO TO STAY ON FOR A FEW YEARS GUARANTEES CONTINUITY PERCEIVED WELL BY MARKET GLOBAL MARKETS HAVE BEEN FLAT AS THEY AWAIT THE LATEST FED RESERVE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON ECONOMIC STIMULUS. STIMULUS WILL COME OFF AT SOME STAGE MONEY PRINTING WILL STOP AT SOME STAGE TWO-DAY MEETING COMING UP TO DISSECT MONEY PRINTING WILL SLOW OR STOP ALTOGETHER THE MARKET DELIBERATING FOR A LITTLE WHILE HOME SALES HAVE SLOWED DOWN A BIT THE BOND BUYING COULD STOP IN THE NEAR FUTURE? COULD WE SEE A REAL CRUNCH? THE MARKET WILL DIGEST THE NEWS IT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT LOOKS THE MARKET IS IN A HEALTHY STATE, SO IT WILL ADJUST MIDDAY SPORT ` CANTERBURY CRICKET FANS WILL LEARN IN A FEW MINUTES WHETHER CHRISTCHURCH WILL GET SOME OF THE OPENING MATCHES IN THE 2015 CRICKET WORLD CUP, THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES THERE SINCE THE 2011 EARTHQUAKE. THERE'S ALSO SPECULATION THAT EDEN PARK IN AUCKLAND WILL GET A NUMBER OF GAMES, POSSIBLY INCLUDING A SEMI-FINAL. THE SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND HAS BEEN TIPPED TO HOLD THE OTHER SEMI, WITH THE FINAL TIPPED TO GO TO MELBOURNE. THE LAST TIME AUSTRALIA AND NZ CO-HOSTED A WORLD CUP IN 1992, THE BLACKCAPS REACHED THE SEMI-FINAL. AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON VENUES AND THE DRAW IS DUE OUT ANY MINUTE NOW, AND WE HOPE TO CROSS LIVE TO THAT VERY SHORTLY. RUGBY LEAGUE, THE MANLY SEA EAGLES HAVE JUMPED TO THIRD ON THE NRL LADDER AFTER A CONVINCING WIN AGAINST THE WESTS TIGERS AT CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM LAST NIGHT. DESPITE THE DRUBBING, TIGERS WINGER DAVID NOFOALUMA NOTCHED UP ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT TRIES OF THE SEASON WITH A SPECTACULAR AERIAL DISPLAY. ...KICKS VERY EARLY IN THE TACKLE COUNT. DAVID NOFOALUMA! HE FELL FROM THE SKY AND CAME DOWN TO PLANT IT DOWN IN ONE OF THE MOST ACROBATIC TRIES WE HAVE EVER SEEN. HOWEVER, THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT FOR THE TIGERS, WITH MANLY GOING ON TO DOMINATE THE REST OF THE FIRST HALF. A 95M SPRINT FROM JAMIE LYON SAW THE SEA EAGLES LEADING 16-6 AT HALF-TIME BEFORE PILING ON MORE POINTS IN THE SECOND. FINAL SCORE: 36-18 TO MANLY. THE FITTEST MAN AND WOMAN ON THE PLANET HAVE BEEN CROWNED AT THE WORLD CROSSFIT GAMES IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA. AFTER 12 EVENTS OVER FIVE DAYS, WHICH INCLUDED A 21KM ROW, SWIMMING, PULL-UPS AND OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING, JUST TO NAME A FEW, AMERICAN RICH FRONING PROVED FITTER THAN ANY OTHER MALE ATHLETE. THE 26-YEAR-OLD CLAIMED HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE TITLE. AND RICH FRONING IS THE FITTEST MAN ON THE PLANET FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR! BRIT SAM BRIGGS CLAIMED HER FIRST TITLE IN THE WOMEN'S DIVISION. BOTH CHAMPIONS POCKET NZ$340,000 EACH. THE ONLY KIWI WOMAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE GAMES, SOUTHLAND'S RUTH ANDERSON-HORRELL, PLACED 15TH. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER OUTLOOK, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE CONFIRMED DETAILS ON THE WORLD CUP CRICKET DRAW AND VENUES. NOW TO THE WEATHER. A LARGE HIGH SITS OVER CENTRAL NZ, WITH A WEAK FRONTAL BAND APPROACHING THE SOUTH-WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND FOR MORE ON THE WEATHER IN YOUR AREA, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON WEATHER. THE FAMOUS RUSSIAN DANCE COMPANY THE BOLSHOI BALLET ADMITS IT'S FACING 'DIFFICULT CHALLENGES' AS IT MARKS ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A THREE-WEEK RUN AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE IN LONDON. THE COMPANY'S GAINED AS MUCH ATTENTION FOR A SERIES OF SCANDALS AS IT HAS FOR ITS PERFORMANCES. THE BBC'S WILL GOMPERTZ REPORTS. THE LEGENDARY BOLSHOI BALLET ARE BACK AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, WHERE THEY WILL BE PERFORMING, AMONG OTHER BALLETS, SWAN LAKE. THESE DANCERS ARE SOME OF THE VERY BEST IN THE WORLD; THEIR COMPANY ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS, EMBODYING, THEY BELIEVE, THE HEART AND SOUL OF RUSSIA. THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF SKILL OR TRAINING THAT WOULD ENABLE ANYBODY TO CONCEAL THE STRANGE GOINGS ON BACKSTAGE AT THE BOLSHOI OF LATE. THERE'S BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND SMEAR CAMPAIGNS, AND THEN, IN JANUARY, A HORRIFIC ACID ATTACK ON SERGEI FILIN, THE COMPANY'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ` INSTIGATED, IT'S ALLEGED, BY ONE OF HIS OWN DANCERS, THAT CHAP WITH THE DAGGER. A NEW BOSS HAS NOW BEEN APPOINTED TO SORT OUT THIS TROUBLED INSTITUTION. 'SWAN LAKE ACT III' PLAYS THE BOLSHOI WAS FOUNDED IN 1776, DURING THE REIGN OF CATHERINE THE GREAT. SINCE THEN, THE COMPANY HAS SURVIVED NAPOLEON, REVOLUTION, FAMINE, TWO WORLD WARS AND COMMUNISM. IT SHOULD SURVIVE THIS CURRENT CRISIS TOO, BUT THE SCARS WILL LINGER. TO THE CRICKET WORLD CUP NOW, WHERE DETAILS FOR THE 2015 TOURNAMENT ARE BEING ANNOUNCED IN WELLINGTON. ORGANISERS HAVE CONFIRMED CHRISTCHURCH IS IN LINE TO BE A HOST IF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HAGLEY PARK GOES AHEAD. NEWS REPORTER MARK HATHAWAY HAS BEEN AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM WELLINGTON'S WATERFRONT. A COUPLE OF KEY DETAILS ANNOUNCED CHRISTCHURCH WILL BE BACK ON THE CRICKET CALENDAR HAGLEY SET TO HOST MATCHES CHRISTCHURCH WILL HOST THE TOURNAMENT OPENER HAGLEY WILL HOST THREE POOL MATCHES OVAL IS STILL TO BE DEVELOPED RESOURCE CONSENT PENDING POLLS HAVE JUST BEEN RELEASED BIG GUNS THERE THE TOP FOUR TEAMS FROM EACH POOL GO THROUGH TO FINALS DETAILS ARE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED WE WILL UPDATE THROUGHOUT VIA OUR WEBSITE� THANKS, MARK HATHAWAY, LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JOHN LING AND RICHARD EDMUNDS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. 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