JUST AS WE THOUGHT WE COULD RELAX INTO SPRING, WINTER GIVES US THE WAKE-UP CALL ` A BIT OF FLOODING IN NORTHLAND AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 100K. SCREW IN THE LONG SPRIGS FOR YOUR SATURDAY FOOTY AND BRACE YOURSELF FOR TODAY'S NEWS. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF ONE NEWS WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. PETER DUNNE AND HIS EMAILS TO A JOURNALIST. WE HAVE A LATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPY LEAK SCANDAL. THE DEFIANCE OF ARIEL CASTRO ` SEE THE SEXUAL PREDATOR'S REACTION AS ONE OF HIS VICTIMS CONFRONTS HIM IN COURT. A BOUNCER VOWING TO FIGHT ON AS HE'S SENTENCED FOR THE VIDEO HE POSTED OF A RUGBY WORLD CUP STAR. AND BENJI'S ALL FOCUSED ON COMING HOME, SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO TURN THE TIGER INTO ONE OF THE BLUES? KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. PETER DUNNE'S NOW THREATENING LEGAL ACTION IN A NEW TWIST TO THE SPY-LEAK SCANDAL. IT'S BEEN REVEALED EMAILS BETWEEN THE FORMER REVENUE MINISTER AND JOURNALIST ANDREA VANCE WERE ALSO RELEASED TO A GCSB PROBE. WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WE'RE JOINED BY POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN. IT'S A PARLIAMENTARY PRIVACY BREACH THAT, UNTIL THIS WEEK, WOULD HAVE HAVE BEEN TOO HARD TO BELIEVE. LATE THIS AFTERNOON, REVELATIONS THAT PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES, ALREADY IN THE GUN FOR HAVING RELEASED INFORMATION ABOUT ANDREA VANCE'S MOVEMENTS AROUND PARLIAMENT AND PHONE RECORDS TO THOSE INVESTIGATING THE LEAK OF A GCSB REPORT, HAVE ADDED ADDED ANOTHER SERIOUS ERROR TO THE LIST ` RELEASING THE CONTENTS OF HER EMAILS TO PETER DUNNE TO THE INQUIRY. DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINSTER AND CABINET HEAD ANDREW KIBBLEWHITE SAYS THE EMAIL TRAIL WAS SENT TO ONE OF HIS STAFF MEMBERS AS PART OF THE INQUIRY. HE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE FORMAT IT WAS IN, IT COULD NOT BE OPENED AND WAS FOLLOWED BY AN URGENT REQUEST FROM AN EMBARRASSED PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES TO RECALL AND DELETE THE EMAIL LOG. THIS SHOCKING TURN BETTER EXPLAINS WHY PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES GENERAL MANAGER GEOFF THORN YESTERDAY QUIT HIS $300,000 A YEAR JOB. BUT OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE NOW POINTING THE FINGER AT JOHN KEY'S RIGHT-HAND MAN FOR PUTTING PRESSURE ON PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES TO RELEASE MS VANCE'S INFORMATION. THIS HAS GOT THE RICHARD NIXON LOOK ABOUT IT ` PEOPLE GOING DOWN EVERYWHERE, BUT SOONER OR LATER IT GETS TO THE TOP. MR EAGLESON RELEASED HIS OWN EMAIL TRAIL TO REINFORCE THAT HE ONLY APPROVED THE RELEASE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE OF NATIONAL MPS, AND THE MAN HE SPEAKS FOR IS STANDING BY HIM. HE HAS ACTED TOTALLY PROFESSIONALLY. HE HAS MY 100% SUPPORT. I THINK I HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HE'S DONE, AND HE'S DONE WHAT EVERYONE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO DO. NO MORE RESIGNATIONS HAVE BEEN OFFERED UP TONIGHT, BUT THIS ONGOING SERIES OF BLUNDERS MEANS MORE HEADS ARE LIKELY TO ROLL. SO, MICHAEL, WHEN WILL WE GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ENTIRE BOTCH-UP? We'll have a hearing her on August 21. That evidence will be more crucial if Mr Dunne pursues legal options. THANKS, MICHAEL PARKIN. THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WHO REPEATEDLY RAPED THREE WOMEN SAYS HIS DAUGHTER WOULD SAY HE'S THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD. ARIEL CASTRO ALSO DECLARED HE'S NOT A MONSTER AS HE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN JAIL WITHOUT PAROLE PLUS A THOUSAND YEARS. BUT BEFORE HE WAS LOCKED UP, ONE OF THE WOMEN HE KEPT CAPTIVE TOLD A CLEVELAND COURT HOW HE PUT HER THROUGH 11 YEARS OF HELL. THIS FROM OUR US CORRESPONDENT, JACK TAME. SHE STOOD BEFORE THE COURT, COMPOSED AND ASSURED, HAVING BEEN DEPRIVED OF SUNLIGHT AND FRESH AIR FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, ABUSED, RAPED AND TORTURED IN THE MOST DEPRAVED ENVIRONMENT. MICHELLE KNIGHT PASSED HER SHACKLED CAPTOR AND TOLD THE WORLD SHE FEELS LIBERATED. I SPENT 11 YEARS IN HELL. NOW YOUR HELL IS JUST BEGINNING. I WILL OVERCOME ALL THIS THAT HAPPENED, BUT YOU WILL FACE HELL FOR ETERNITY. IN A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS TO AVOID THE DEATH SENTENCE, ARIEL CASTRO PLEADED GUILTY TO 937 CHARGES. HE ADMITS KIDNAPPING MICHELLE KNIGHT, GINA DE JESUS AND AMANDA BERRY AND IMPRISONING THEM IN HIS OHIO HOME. IT WAS MAY WHEN FINALLY THE WOMEN BROKE FREE. MICHELLE KNIGHT HAD SPENT 11 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY. I WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME AND THE OTHER GIRLS EVERY DAY. DAYS NEVER GOT SHORTER. DAYS INTO NIGHTS, NIGHTS TURNED INTO DAYS. YEARS TURNED INTO ETERNITY. FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE OTHER VICTIMS TODAY ALSO READ VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS... TO ARIEL CASTRO: ...BEFORE ARIEL CASTRO HIMSELF ADDRESSED THE OHIO COURT. CASTRO SAID HE DOESN'T CONSIDER HIMSELF A VIOLENT PERSON, THAT THE VICTIMS WERE AT FAULT FOR TRUSTING HIM WHEN HE OFFERED THEM A RIDE. IN MANY WAYS, THOUGH, THE SENTENCING PLAYED OUT LIKE A MINI-TRIAL. POLICE PRESENTED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHAINS THE WOMEN WERE LOCKED UP WITH, MOTORBIKE HELMETS CASTRO FORCED THEM TO WEAR TO MUFFLE THEIR VOICES, AND DESCRIBED THE MOMENT THE WOMEN WERE FREED. LEGS, ARMS, JUST CHOKING HIM, AND SHE JUST KEPT REPEATING, 'YOU'VE SAVED US. YOU'VE SAVED US.' SHORT OF AN APPEAL, ARIEL CASTRO FACES NO LEGAL PROSPECT OF PAROLE. IN OHIO, IT'S STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR MALE SEX OFFENDERS TO BE INITIALLY SEPARATED FROM OTHER PRISONERS, BUT CASTRO FACES YEARS, IF NOT THE REST OF HIS LIFE, IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. IT'S WHAT HIS VICTIMS WANTED. AS SHE LEFT THE COURT FOR HER NEW LIFE, THE DEATH PENALTY, MICHELLE KNIGHT SAID, WOULD'VE BEEN THE EASY WAY OUT. JACK TAME, ONE NEWS, NEW YORK. THE COURT APPEARANCE IS THE LAST TIME ANY OF THE THREE WOMEN WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE PUBLICLY. THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE MEDIA ATTENTION. MICHELLE KNIGHT, GINA DEJESUS AND AMANDA BERRY ALSO AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION, BUT A SUPPORT FUND'S BEEN SET UP. ALREADY, MORE THAN $1.5M HAS BEEN DONATED. IN CONTRAST, JAYCEE DUGARD, THE CALIFORNIAN KEPT CAPTIVE FOR 18 YEARS, SIGNED MAGAZINE AND BOOK DEALS WITH HER STORY. A NIGHTCLUB BOUNCER WHO LEAKED SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF A RUGBY PLAYER MARRIED TO ROYALTY SAYS HE'LL FIGHT HIS CONVICTION. JONATHAN DIXON STILL INSISTS HE DID NOTHING WRONG IN POSTING THE PICTURES OF ENGLAND CAPTAIN MIKE TINDALL AT A QUEENSTOWN BAR. MAX BANIA WITH THE SENTENCING. A CONVICTED MAN, BUT JONATHAN DIXON'S LOST NONE OF HIS SWAGGER, VOWING TO FIGHT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TODAY. NOW I LODGE THE APPEAL BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTA APPEAL ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THAT COURTROOM ON THAT DAY ON THAT TINDALL CASE. THE FORMER QUEENSTOWN BOUNCER WOULDN'T SAY WHAT THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WAS, BUT HE'S REFERRING TO HIS CONVICTION LAST AUGUST OF ACCESSING A COMPUTER SYSTEM TO DISHONESTLY OBTAIN PROPERTY. NAMELY, THESE CCTV PICTURES OF ENGLAND RUGBY PLAYER MIKE TINDALL, WHO'S MARRIED TO THE QUEEN'S GRANDDAUGHTER ZARA PHILLIPS, WITH A BLONDE WOMAN IN A QUEENSTOWN BAR DURING THE WORLD CUP. YOU ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SOURCING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE, WHICH YOU INTENDED TO SELL TO AN ENGLISH-BASED SOCIETY NEWSPAPER. PROSECUTORS CLAIMED WHEN DIXON COULDN'T FIND A BUYER IN THE ENGLISH PRESS, HE POSTED THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE, WITH HIS OWN COMMENTARY CLAIMING HE WAS TELLING TINDALL OFF. MR TINDALL, YOUR BEHAVIOUR WAS THAT OF SOMEONE UNBECOMING. THE CROWN ARGUED FOR A JAIL SENTENCE OF 12 TO 18 MONTHS, BUT THE JUDGE SAID MR DIXON'S PREVIOUS GOOD RECORD SAVED HIM FROM DOING TIME. WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? YEAH, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I WOULD RELEASE IT, AND I'D GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE DRAMA AGAIN. WOULD I PUT MYSELF IN THE VIDEO? YES, BECAUSE I DON'T HIDE BEHIND ANYTHING. IN ADDITION TO HIS 300 HOURS SERVICE, DIXON WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO FOUR MONTHS' COMMUNITY DETENTION WITH AN OVERNIGHT CURFEW. HE TOLD ONE NEWS HE'D BE DISCUSSING AN APPEAL WITH HIS SOLICITOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS BEEN CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED, DESPITE A JUDGE RULING IT WAS HIGHLY CULPABLE IN A SOLDIER'S DEATH. PRIVATE MICHAEL ROSS DROWNED DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE AT THE WAIOURU ARMY BASE AFTER HIS LIFEJACKET FAILED TO INFLATE. IN COURT, THE ARMY ADMITTED A STRING OF SYSTEMIC FAILURES LED TO THE 25-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH LAST SEPTEMBER. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS ALREADY PAID THE ROSS FAMILY $241,000 DOLLARS IN REPARATIONS. POLICE AND THE SPCA ARE AT ODDS OVER WHETHER THREE ACTS OF SEVERE ANIMAL CRUELTY IN SOUTH AUCKLAND ARE LINKED. THREE PETS HAVE DIED IN TWO GRUESOME ATTACKS, AND THERE ARE FEARS PEOPLE COULD ALSO BE AT RISK. REPORTER NICOLE BREMNER HAS THE LATEST. AND A WARNING ` SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND HER REPORT DISTURBING. LIVELY PORTIA DIED A VIOLENT DEATH. HER FAMILY FOUND THE FOX TERRIER'S MUTILATED BODY ON THE BACK LAWN, EARS AND ONE PAW MISSING, FIVE DAYS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED. IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MY CHILDREN MISS THEIR DOG. WE MISS OUR FAMILY DOG. THEY'RE NOT ALONE. RESIDENTS AWOKE IN NEARBY PAPAKURA TWO MONTHS AGO TO FIND RABBITS HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HUTCHES AT SEPARATE PROPERTIES AND FATALLY MUTILATED. WE'VE HAD THIS RABBIT FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND ALL OF SUDDEN, HERE HE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, ALL MANGLED, AND IT'S HORRIBLE. THE SENSELESS DEATHS OF THE TWO RABBITS LEFT SHOCKED RESIDENTS IN THIS QUIET STREET ASKING WHY, AND SEVERAL WE'VE SPOKEN ARE TOO FRIGHTENED TO APPEAR ON CAMERA, FEARFUL THE ATTACKER WILL RETURN AND TARGET THEIR OWN PETS. POLICE HAVE CALLED THE ATTACKS GROTESQUE, BUT SAY THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE RELATED. THE SPCA DISAGREES. WE SUSPECT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY THE OTHER AND THE MUTILATION, WHICH, AS I SAY, WE DON'T GET THAT VERY OFTEN, I THINK THEY ARE LINKED. BOB KERRIDGE SAYS RESEARCH SHOWS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OFTEN LEADS TO EVEN MORE SINISTER BEHAVIOUR. IF SOMEBODY CAN COMMIT THIS SORT OF CRIME ON AN ANIMAL, THAT IS OFTEN WHERE THEY START. THEIR NEXT TARGET WOULD BE A HUMAN. WE DON'T REALLY FEEL VERY SAFE. I'VE GIVEN AWAY MY CATS, BECAUSE I'M SCARED THEY'RE NEXT. AND ALL PET OWNERS ARE BEING REMINDED TO BE VIGILANT UNTIL THE ATTACKER IS CAUGHT. NICOLE BREMNER, ONE NEWS. TWO ORGANISATIONS WHICH DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT FROM LATE-NIGHT REVELLERS HAVE JUST HAD THEIR SAY ON ALCOHOL PLANS FOR CHRISTCHURCH. POLICE AND THE DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD BOTH SUPPORT TOUGHER RULES, INCLUDING EARLIER CLOSING TIMES FOR BARS. MIKE THORPE HAS THE LATEST. THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND POLICE BOTH AGREE, ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THAT CHRISTCHURCH'S PROPOSED LOCAL ALCOHOL POLICY WILL LEAD TO A DOWNTURN IN BUSINESS. THE LONGER A LICENSED PREMISES IS OPEN, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO CONSUME AND DRINK ALCOHOL, AND THAT THEN LEADS TO MORE ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM. WHAT THE POLICE SUPPORT IS A PLAN THAT WOULD SEE SUBURBAN BARS CLOSE AT 1AM AND SELECTED INNER-CITY BARS CLOSING AT 3AM. HAVING A 3 O'CLOCK BLANKET CLOSURE ACROSS THE CITY WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENT CRIME. POLICE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE LATER A LICENSED PREMISE STAYS OPEN, THE MORE OFFENDING IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE. THE POLICE SAY IF A BAR STAYS OPEN TILL 2AM, THE OFFENDING DOUBLES. LET A BAR REMAIN OPEN TILL 5 ` EXPECT NEARLY NINE TIMES THE RATE OF OFFENDING. THE CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD ALSO SEES A SPIKE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSIONS. THERE IS NO DOUBT FROM ANY PERSPECTIVE THAT LESS AVAILABILITY EQUALS LESS CONSUMPTION, AND LESS CONSUMPTION EQUALS LESS HARM. BUT BAR OWNERS BELIEVE THE INJURY TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY COULD BE EVEN WORSE. TODAY I'M AN UNDERTAKER ` THIS COULD BE THE DEATH OF THE CITY. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNCILS ARE CONSIDERING CHASING ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF CHRISTCHURCH. IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE TIME FOR THEM, THEY WON'T STAY HERE. THE PROGNOSIS FOR CHRISTCHURCH'S NIGHTLIFE IS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT YEAR WHEN A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ITS RECOMMENDATIONS. THAT CAN ONLY BE APPEALED BY THOSE WHO LODGED SUBMISSIONS, AND WITH THAT FIGURE TOTALLING MORE THAN 4000, THIS PROCESS COULD BE FAR FROM OVER. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. AND THERE'S BEEN A LATE RUSH OF SUBMISSIONS ON PLANS TO CURB LATE-NIGHT DRINKING IN WELLINGTON. NEARLY 2000 HAVE BEEN LODGED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON CUTBACKS TO SUPERMARKET LIQUOR LICENCING HOURS AND EARLIER CLOSING TIMES FOR SOME BARS. I COULD LOSE MY LICENCE YEAR ON YEAR. EVERY TIME IT COMES UP FOR RENEWAL, COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CANCEL THE RENEWAL, FEES WILL GO UP, STAFF WILL BE UNEMPLOYED. BUSINESSES WILL GO UNDER. MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE ARE ASKING TO PRESENT THEIR SUBMISSION TO THE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK BEFORE A FINAL VOTE IN SEPTEMBER. RUGBY LEAGUE PINUP PLAYER BENJI MARSHALL HAS TOLD ONE NEWS HE WANTS TO COME HOME AND MAKE THE ALL BLACKS. THE 28-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE HASN'T SHAKEN HANDS ON ANY DEAL YET AFTER A QUICK TRIP TO AUCKLAND TO CHECK OUT SIR JOHN KIRWAN'S BLUES RUGBY FRANCHISE. BUT THE WESTS TIGERS PLAYMAKER LOOKS DESTINED TO MOVE HERE AS ONE OF HIS NEXT STEPS AFTER THE NRL. I HAVEN'T LIVED HERE FOR 13 YEARS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW ALL MY FAMILY IS PRETTY EXCITED. IT'S THE MOST TEXT MESSAGES I'VE HAD IN ABOUT THREE YEARS FROM ALL MY COUSINS. MARSHALL SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO WIN ANOTHER LEAGUE WORLD CUP WITH THE KIWIS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. ANOTHER GOAL FOR MARSHALL IS MAKING THE ALL BLACKS' 2015 WORLD CUP SQUAD. WE'VE MORE ON THAT LATER IN SPORT. STILL TO COME ` A PRISON SENTENCE CONFIRMED FOR ITALY'S BILLIONAIRE FORMER LEADER. AMERICAN WHISTLE-BLOWER EDWARD SNOWDEN GETS ASYLUM IN RUSSIA, SPARKING MORE TENSION BETWEEN TWO OF THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL LEADERS. BUSSING IN ILLEGAL VOTERS ` CLAIMS OF BALLOT RIGGING AS ZIMBABWE'S ELECTION IS LABELLED A HUGE FARCE. AND GAY BASHING IN RUSSIA ` A GOVERNMENT THREAT TO CRACKDOWN ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE WINTER OLYMPICS THERE. 1 AMERICAN WHISTLE-BLOWER EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS LEFT HIS REFUGE AT A MOSCOW AIRPORT HOTEL AFTER RUSSIA GRANTED HIM ASYLUM. THE MOVE'S ANGERED THE UNITED STATES AND AGAIN PUT THE FORMER COLD-WAR ENEMIES AT LOGGERHEADS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY HAS MORE. EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS SLIPPED QUIETLY OUT OF THIS MOSCOW AIRPORT, CREATING PLENTY OF NOISE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. BARACK OBAMA MAY NOW CANCEL A MEETING WITH HIS COUNTERPART VLADIMIR PUTIN NEXT MONTH. WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE THIS STEP DESPITE OUR VERY CLEAR AND LAWFUL REQUESTS. MR SNOWDEN IS NOT A WHISTLE-BLOWER. HE IS ACCUSED OF LEAKING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. THE FUGITIVE ANALYST HAS BEEN ON THE RUN NEARLY TWO MONTHS AFTER US AUTHORITIES REVOKED HIS PASSPORT AND CHARGED HIM WITH ESPIONAGE. HIS FATHER SPOKE ON RUSSIAN STATE TELEVISION BEFORE THE ASYLUM DECISION BECAME PUBLIC. I FEEL THAT RUSSIA HAS THE STRENGTH AND RESOLVE AND CONVICTION TO PROTECT MY SON; TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE REACH OF THOSE WHO WOULD WISH HIM HARM. EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS LEAKED DETAILS OF THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE NETWORK THE US RUNS IN CONJUNCTION WITH NZ, AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE UK. HERE IN LONDON, ONE OF EDWARD SNOWDEN'S SUPPORTERS IS VOCAL, DESPITE REMAINING UNDER EFFECTIVE HOUSE ARREST HERE AT ECUADOR'S EMBASSY. JULIAN ASSANGE'S WIKILEAKS ORGANISATION IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE TRAVELLING WITH EDWARD SNOWDEN, NOW AT LARGE IN RUSSIA, WHILE HE'S JUSTIFYING THE WHISTLE-BLOWER'S ACTIONS. EDWARD SNOWDEN'S ACTIONS ARE ALSO CLEARLY A REACTION AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY EXTREMISM. WITH THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK SUPPOSEDLY FREE TO MOVE AROUND RUSSIA, THERE'S SURE TO BE MORE SCRUTINY OF NZ'S SPYING ALLIANCES. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. THE DEATH TOLL'S EXPECTED TO RISE FROM A ROCKET ATTACK ON A WEAPONS DEPOT IN THE SYRIAN CITY OF HOMS WHICH HAS KILLED AT LEAST 40 PEOPLE. IT SPARKED A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS THAT SENT A MASSIVE FIREBALL HIGH INTO THE SKY. WITNESSES SAY THE BLASTS LASTED OVER AN HOUR. MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, AND MORE THAN A HUNDRED WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE SHOCKWAVES CRACKED WALLS AND WINDOWS OF BUILDINGS RIGHT ACROSS THE CITY. REBEL GROUP THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK ON THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DEPOT. ZIMBABWE'S PRIME MINISTER IS CALLING THE ELECTION 'A HUGE FARCE' AMID ACCUSATIONS OF VOTE-RIGGING, AND WARNED A TAINTED RESULT COULD PLUNGE THE COUNTRY INTO CRISIS. FINAL RESULTS ARE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED, BUT ROBERT MUGABE'S ZANU-PF PARTY IS CLAIMING VICTORY. THE BBC'S NOMSA MASEKO REPORTS. DAYS BEFORE AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS DUE, PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S PARTY IS CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. ZANU-PF OFFICIALS SAY THEIR PARTY HAS SAILED HOME IN BOTH PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL POLLS. BUT ROBERT MUGABE'S MAIN OPPOSITION, THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE, IS CALLING THIS A SHAM ELECTION AND SAY THERE'S CLEAR EVIDENCE OF VOTE-RIGGING. THE MDC CLAIM THESE PICTURES SHOW ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS BEING BUSSED IN TO VOTE ILLEGALLY IN ONE PART OF THE CAPITAL. THE MDC LEADER, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, WHO'S BEEN PRIME MINISTER IN AN UNEASY COALITION WITH ROBERT MUGABE, DECLARED THE ELECTION A FIX. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE FARCE. THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS ELECTION HAS BEEN MARRED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL VIOLATIONS. IT IS A SHAM ELECTION THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. ZIMBABWE'S MAIN DOMESTIC MONITORS HAVE ALSO CHALLENGED THE FAIRNESS OF THE ELECTION. THEY SAY THAT UP TO A MILLION VOTERS HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM POLLING STATIONS IN MDC STRONGHOLDS AND CAST OUT ON THE VOTERS' ROLL, POINTING TO MUCH HIGHER REGISTRATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE HEARTLAND OF ZANU-PF SUPPORT. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE 2013 HARMONISED ELECTIONS IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT WILL THE REGIONAL OBSERVERS FROM THE AFRICAN UNION AND SADC SAY? THEY NOW HOLD THE KEY TO THIS ELECTION. THERE'S AN ANXIOUS MOOD ON THE STREETS OF HARARE TONIGHT. PEOPLE WILL BE HOPING TO AVOID A REPEAT OF THE VIOLENCE WHICH MARRED THE LAST ELECTION IN 2008. AND EXTRA POLICE UNITS, SOME IN RIOT GEAR, ARE TONIGHT DEPLOYED IN THE CAPITAL, HARARE. SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S CHANCES OF RETURNING TO POLITICAL OFFICE HAVE SUFFERED A BLOW WITH ITALY'S HIGHEST COURT UPHOLDING THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER'S PRISON SENTENCE FOR TAX EVASION. IT'S THE 76-YEAR-OLD'S FIRST DEFINITIVE CONVICTION AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF LEGAL BATTLES. OPPONENTS CELEBRATED THE RULING OUTSIDE COURT. CHAMPAGNE CORK POPS CROWD CHEERS HE'S UNLIKELY TO GO TO JAIL BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AND IS EXPECTED TO SERVE HOUSE ARREST. APPEALS ARE PENDING IN THE CASE WHERE THE BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN WAS CONVICTED OF SEX WITH AN UNDERAGE PROSTITUTE. CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING OVER THE TREATMENT OF GAY ATHLETES COMPETING AT NEXT YEAR'S WINTER OLYMPICS IN RUSSIA. THE COUNTRY'S SPORTS MINISTER'S WARNED THAT COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS WHO OPENLY FLAUNT THEIR SEXUALITY WILL FACE FINES, ARREST AND DEPORTATION. THE ABC'S KIRIT RADIA REPORTS. IN JUST OVER SIX MONTHS, RUSSIA HOPES TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN SOCHI. BUT TODAY THE RUSSIAN SPORTS MINISTER WARMED THAT ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS COULD BE TARGETED IF THEY VIOLATE THE COUNTRY'S NEW ANTI-GAY LAW, THREATENING FINES, DEPORTATION AND EVEN JAIL. JUST SPEAKING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AROUND MINORS OR DISPLAYING SYMBOLS LIKE A RAINBOW FLAG IN PUBLIC ARE ILLEGAL SINCE THE LAW WAS SIGNED IN JUNE. BUT JOHNNY WEIR, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND OPENLY GAY AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER, SAYS THE LAW ISN'T GOING TO STOP HIM. I'LL TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, I WON'T STOP BEING MYSELF. I WON'T STOP BEING JOHNNY WEIR, THE GAY, FABULOUS ICE-SKATER PERSON WALKING DOWN THE STREET. HOMOPHOBIA IS RAMPANT IN RUSSIA. GAY-RIGHTS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE USUALLY MET WITH VIOLENCE. POLICE OFTEN IGNORE THE ATTACKS AND ARREST THE PROTESTERS. ACTIVISTS SAY IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY PERMITTED TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE. COULD YOU AND I BE ARRESTED > FOR TALKING IN PUBLIC RIGHT NOW ABOUT YOU BEING GAY? > YES, I CAN BE ARRESTED. IN THE US, ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT ON PRODUCTS LIKE RUSSIAN VODKA AND SOME EVEN ON PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPICS. SO FAR, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS REMAINED SILENT ON THIS LATEST WARNING. NZ SPEED SKATER BLAKE SKJELLERUP, WHO IS OPENLY GAY, HAS ALREADY PLEDGED TO WEAR A RAINBOW PIN DURING THE GAMES. WEATHER TIME NOW. SAM, THE NORTH ISLAND LOW IS DELIVERING THE GOODS? IT CERTAINLY IS. PLENTY OF MOISTURE PACKED INTO THIS ONE. AND NOTHING TELLS THE STORY LIKE THE RAIN RADAR. THIS IS GOING BACK 24 HOURS. THE FRONT UNLOADS OVER NORTHLAND, AND NOW THINGS ARE PICKING UP IN THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA BEFORE MOVING ON TO GISBORNE LATER TONIGHT. TO THE HIGHLIGHTS ` TODAY'S HIGH WENT WEST. 18 DEGREES FOR WESTPORT AND HOKIANGA. 104MM OF RAIN IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS. CAPE TURNAGAIN GUSTING TO 124KM. AND JUST NOW NEW WARNINGS ` VERY STRONG WINDS FOR AUCKLAND, COROMANDEL AND KAIMAI RANGES TONIGHT. AND YOU ALMOST NEED TO PUT YOUR SUNNIES ON FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND YOU ALMOST NEED TO PUT YOUR SUNNIES ON FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY. THE NELSON FAMILY CAPTURED THE SUNRISE AT MT MAUNGANUI. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU IT WON'T LOOK LIKE THAT IN THE BAY OF PLENTY TOMORROW. SEE YOU AFTER SPORT. COMING UP ` THE PLAN TO PROVIDE EVERY NZ SCHOOL WITH HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. IS BENJI MARSHALL IN THE PICTURE TO JOIN THE BLUES? THE LEAGUE STAR'S IN AUCKLAND FOR TALKS. AND NOW A BIG STAR ON THE INTERNET ` THE AIR DRUMMER GETTING SOME BIG HITS. THE COMPANY IN CHARGE OF BUILDING OUR ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND NETWORK IS APOLOGISING TO RESIDENTS IN A NEW WELLINGTON APARTMENT BLOCK. MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE ARE STILL WITHOUT INTERNET AND PHONE CONNECTIONS A MONTH AFTER MOVING IN. REBECCA EDWARDS REPORTS. THESE MT COOK RESIDENTS MAY HAVE PLENTY OF DEVICES THAT CAN USE THE NET, BUT GETTING THEM CONNECTED IN THEIR NEW APARTMENT BLOCK IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE. IT'S ACTUALLY INTERFERING WITH MY STUDIES, AND AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE HERE, INTERFERING WITH THEIR WORK AND OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE. MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER MOVING IN TO THIS BRAND-NEW FIBRE-CAPABLE COMPLEX, RESIDENTS ARE STILL WITHOUT TELEPHONE AND INTERNET CONNECTIONS. I COULD HAVE GOT A TELEPHONE IN 1932. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S UNUSUAL. OR EVEN INTERNET. IT'S A SITUATION THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS ASSOCIATION SAYS IS RIDICULOUS. HAVING PEOPLE IN CENTRAL WELLINGTON, THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL, UNABLE TO GET A PHONE LINE PUT ON IS ASTONISHING. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS 10 YEARS AGO; TODAY IT'S UNTHINKABLE, SO IT'S HIGH TIME THIS WAS ALL SORTED OUT. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE BANGING HEADS TOGETHER FOR THIS ONE. THE COMPANY CHARGED WITH BUILDING THE ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND NETWORK IS NOW APOLOGISING TO THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS, SAYING THE ISSUE'S THE RESULT OF A PROBLEM WITH THEIR SYSTEMS. BIT OF A COCK-UP ON OUR BEHALF, THAT'S FOR SURE. NOT OUR FINEST HOUR AROUND THAT, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY DO BETTER AROUND PROVIDING SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FIBRE SERVICES, TO OUR NEW CUSTOMERS. UPTAKE IS INCREDIBLY LOW OF THE FIBRE DEPLOYMENT, AND THE REASON IS PARTLY DOWN TO THIS KIND OF NONSENSE GOING ON. THESE RESIDENTS HAVE NOW HAD WORD THEY SHOULD BE CONNECTED BY MONDAY ` WEEKS OF WAITING THEY SAY IS OUTRAGEOUS IN THIS DIGITAL AGE. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. AND KEEPING UP WITH THE DIGITAL AGE IS GOING TO BE MUCH EASIER FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MORE THAN $200M IS BEING SPENT ON A NETWORK TO CONNECT ALL NZ SCHOOLS WITH FAST INTERNET AND UNCAPPED DATA. SHARON FERGUSSON HAS THE DETAILS. A TRADITIONAL WELCOME FOR THE BIG CHIEFS, WHO COME TO MANGERE CENTRAL SCHOOL IN AUCKLAND, BRINGING GIFTS OF TECHNOLOGY. WE NEVER WANT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE LIMITED BY DATA. THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT UNCAPPED DATA. WE ALSO WANT THEM TO HAVE FAST CONNECTIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW AT THE MOMENT THAT SOME OF THEM ARE DROPPING OUT, TEACHERS ARE HAVE LESSONS THAT ARE INTERRUPTED. IT'S HOPED A $211M FUNDED INTERNET NETWORK WILL DITCH THE GLITCHES. ARE THE CONNECTIONS GOOD HERE? OR COULD THEY BE BETTER? THE WIRELESS WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY, IT WAS TOO SLOW. WE STRUGGLE WITH THINGS DROPPING OUT. THE CAPACITY OF THE LEARNERS KEEPS GROWING. THEY USE VERY DATA-RICH PROGRAMMES. CALLED NETWORK FOR LEARNING, IT COMES WITH A PORTAL THAT'S BASICALLY A SECURE WEBSITE WITH EDUCATION RESOURCES LIKE APPS AND VIDEO CONFERENCING. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO BEAM DIFFERENT LESSONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BETWEEN SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THAT SOME SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ACCESS, FOR INSTANCE, TO A MANDARIN TEACHER ` WE CAN SEE THAT RAMPING UP, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT IN THE FUTURE. IT'S HOPED SEVERAL HUNDRED SCHOOLS WILL BE ON THE MANAGED NETWORK BY MIDWAY THROUGH NEXT YEAR, AND ALL 2500 BY 2016. WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO? JUST REALLY FAST CONNECTIONS AND KIDS GOING, 'OH, IT'S ON, IT'S WORKING,' NOT, YOU KNOW, 'OH, IT'S TAKING A LONG TIME TO START.' WOMAN: HI. > GIRLS: HI. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. > SCHOOLS CAN NOW REGISTER THEIR INTEREST IN GETTING THEIR VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS UPGRADED. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. THE GREEN PARTY HAS APOLOGISED TO FISHING GIANT TALLEY'S FOR COMMENTS IT MADE EARLIER THIS WEEK OVER LAW CHANGES THAT WILL ALLOW EXEMPTIONS TO REFLAGGING FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS IN NZ. IN A STATEMENT TODAY, IT SAID IT DIDN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT THE TALLEY'S GROUP OR FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN LOBBYING FOR ANY EXEMPTIONS. THE GREEN PARTY SAYS IF ANYONE GAINED THAT IMPRESSION, IT WAS WRONG. IT SEEMS ANY SUGGESTION THAT TALLEY'S WAS INAPPROPRIATELY INVOLVED IN LOBBYING FOR AN EXEMPTION IS MISPLACED. CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW CARDBOARD CATHEDRAL IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. BISHOP VICTORIA MATTHEWS BLESSED THE BUILDING IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. CONTRACTORS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR HANDED OVER A SYMBOLIC CARDBOARD KEY TO MARK THE OCCASION. JUST OVER THE MOON WITH JOY. IT IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE CITY BECAUSE TODAY AN IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT TO THE GLORY OF GOD OPENS. THE $7M CHURCH IS ALREADY BOOKED FOR SEVERAL EVENTS FROM NEXT WEEK. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES ` PETER DUNNE'S LOOKING AT TAKING LEGAL ACTION AFTER REVELATIONS EMAILS BETWEEN THE FORMER REVENUE MINISTER AND JOURNALIST ANDREA VANCE WERE HANDED OVER TO AN INQUIRY INTO A LEAKED GCSB REPORT. MR DUNNE SAYS HE'S SHOCKED AND ANGRY ABOUT WHAT HE'S CALLING 'AN UNAUTHORISED BREACH OF PERSONAL PRIVACY'. ONE OF THE THREE WOMEN HELD CAPTIVE IN AN OHIO HOME FOR A DECADE HAS TOLD THE MAN RESPONSIBLE HE'LL FACE HELL FOR ETERNITY. HAS TOLD THE MAN RESPONSIBLE HE'LL 'FACE HELL FOR ETERNITY.' ARIEL CASTRO'S BEEN JAILED FOR LIFE PLUS A THOUSAND YEARS. THE 53 YEAR-OLD SAYS HE'S SICK, BUT NOT A MONSTER. JENNY-MAY IS HERE WITH SPORT. BENJI MARSHALL MAKES A FLYING VISIT TO THE BLUES. I CAUGHT UP WITH THE PLAYMAKER AT THE AIRPORT. FIND OUT AFTER THE BREAK WHY THE BLUES HOLD THE KEY TO HIS ALL BLACK ASPIRATIONS. IT'S A RUDDY DISGRACE ` THE KIWI UMPIRE WHO'S GOT THE AUSSIE PM GOING POSTAL. PLUS ` THE EMAIL THAT'S BROKEN BREAKERS' HEARTS. CEDRIC JACKSON TELLS US WHY HE CAN'T COME BACK. AND THE MAN WHO'S BEEN BROUGHT IN TO MAKE DAVID TUA BULLETPROOF ` THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE AUSSIE YOU COULD NEVER CALL GUN-SHY. THERE WAS ONE WITH A SHOTGUN. SORRY, GUYS, YOU CAN SEE THE SCAR ON MY STOMACH. IT WAS A DRIVE-BY. ALL EXPLAINED NEXT. That could be a simple mistake. Or a deliberate move for a long-term advantage. Or a deliberate move for a long-term advantage. Perhaps. But, no, you're someone who plans ahead. I'm thinking you don't make a move unless you've thought things through. And if you don't have an answer, you'll find someone who does. Make the right move. Ask how the ANZ KiwiSaver scheme can help you achieve your long-term goals. Nice move. KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. BLUES OR BUST ` THAT'S THE SITUATION FACING KIWI RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER BENJI MARSHALL IF HE HAS ANY CHANCE OF BECOMING AN ALL BLACK. THE 28-YEAR-OLD MET WITH THE SUPER RUGBY FRANCHISE TODAY BEFORE RETURNING TO SYDNEY LATE THIS AFTERNOON, THOUGH HIS MANAGER WILL REMAIN TO WORK OUT CONTRACT DETAILS, WITH HOPES OF AN OUTCOME BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. HE'S ONE OF KIWI SPORTS FANS' FAVOURITE SONS. NOW THESE BENJI MARSHALL SUPPORTERS MAY GET TO SEE MORE OF THE PLAYMAKER NEXT YEAR. THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOPEFULLY MAYBE ONE DAY PLAY FOR THE ALL BLACKS IS A PRETTY BIG MOTIVATOR. MARSHALL ARRIVED IN AUCKLAND LAST NIGHT AND TODAY MET FOR THE SECOND TIME WITH BLUES COACH SIR JOHN KIRWAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ON THE AGENDA: WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET MARSHALL'S SIGNATURE? HE'S NOT ACTUALLY MOTIVATED BY THE SEVENS. IT'S MORE THE 15 GAME. SO WHAT JOHN SAID TO US, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT AND HOPEFUL HE'LL MAKE THE ALL BLACK SQUAD IN '15. THAT'S A BIG CALL GIVEN MARSHALL'S STRUGGLING FORM IN THE NRL AND THE FACT HE'LL BE 30 IN 2015. BUT THE REALITY IS MARSHALL WILL HAVE TO SIGN WITH THE BLUES TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF MAKING THE ALL BLACKS. CURRENT NZRU RULES SPECIFY THAT ONLY THOSE PLAYING IN NZ WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO WEAR THE ALL BLACK JERSEY. YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY FOR THE ALL BLACKS, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT DREAM CHANGED ONCE I PLAYED RUGBY LEAGUE, AND, YOU KNOW, COMING BACK TO UNION WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MIGHT BECOME REALITY IF I CAN MAKE THE TRANSITION WELL ENOUGH AND PLAY WELL ENOUGH, THEN, YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY. HE'LL HAVE TO LEARN HIS TRADE, BUT HE'LL BE EXCEPTIONAL. I'D LOVE TO BE HERE FOR THE FIRST GAME WHEN THE BLUES PLAY IN A SUPER 15, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, THERE'LL BE 50,000-PLUS PEOPLE IN THIS STADIUM SUPPORTING HIM. THE FIVE EIGHTH WILL LEAVE THE WESTS TIGERS AT THE END OF THE SEASON AFTER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TURNED SOUR. VOWING NEVER TO PLAY FOR ANOTHER NRL CLUB, MARSHALL IS CONVINCED HE HAS THE SKILLS TO CROSS THE DIVIDE. YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO PLAY ANYWHERE, TO BE HONEST. I LIKE BEING IN CONTROL, SO MAYBE 10, 12, EVEN 15. THE FANS ARE ALREADY CERTAIN IT'S A BRIDGE HE CAN CROSS TOO. COME AND PLAY FOR THE BLUES, EH? LAUGHTER IRONICALLY, A PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE BUMBLING BLUES THREE MONTHS AGO HAS GIVEN THE BRUMBIES A BOOST AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S SUPER 15 FINAL. THE AUSTRALIAN SIDE WOKE UP TO RAIN IN HAMILTON TODAY AND HOPES IT STAYS AROUND. STEPHEN STUART EXPLAINS. THIS HALF-TIME MELTDOWN PROBABLY OVERSHADOWED THE BRUMBIES' CLINICAL WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE BLUES IN A SOGGY AUCKLAND IN MAY, BUT IT IGNITED THE CANBERRA SIDE'S DRIVE TO ITS FIRST SUPER RUGBY FINAL IN NINE YEARS. I HOPE IT'S PELTING DOWN WITH RAIN. AND, YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE RAIN WILL BE A LEVELLER. THE BRUMBIES HAVE ARRIVED WITH THE BEST AWAY RECORD IN THE COMPETITION, INCLUDING WINNING THREE OF THEIR LAST FOUR MATCHES IN NZ, AND THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS THE AUSTRALIAN VERSION OF THE CHIEFS. WHEN I LOOK AT THE CHIEFS JOURNEY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, PROBABLY MIRRORS OURS IN A LOT OF WAYS. HE CAN LAUGH NOW, BUT FORMER SPRINGBOK COACH JAKE WHITE HAD A REAL CHALLENGE WHEN HE ARRIVED TWO YEARS AGO. TRYING TO KEEP A LEGACY GOING OF WHAT THE BRUMBIES HAVE MEANT IN AUSTRALIAN RUGBY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ALLOWING YOURSELF TO WRITE YOUR OWN CHAPTER. AN UNLIKELY SUCCESS STORY, ADMITS HIS LIEUTENANT. MAN: AND OVER THE TOP COMES BEN MOWEN. WE WERE A BIT OF A MOTLEY CREW. FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THERE, WE WERE TRAINING EVEN WITHOUT TRAINING KITS. NOW TWO CLOSE SHAVES IN THE PLAY-OFFS HAVE GIVEN THE BRUMBIES BELIEF. THERE'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POSITIVES TO TAKE OUT OF IT, AND THAT'S MOMENTUM. MOMENTUM THE BULLS WERE PENALISED FOR TRYING TO STOP WHEN PHYSIO INTERVENED LAST WEEK. SO THE CHIEFS ASSISTANT COACH, ANDREW STRAWBRIDGE, WON'T BE SO INVOLVED TOMORROW. STRAWS WAS GOSSIPING ABOUT SOMETHING, AND HE TURNED AROUND, AND THE BALL BOUNCED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, SO I THINK THE BULLS GUY LEAPT OUT OF HIS CHAIR. AND A DECISION ON WHETHER LIVEWIRE CHIEFS WING LELIA MASAGA WILL BE THROWING HIMSELF ABOUT WILL NOW BE LEFT UNTIL GAME DAY. STEPHEN STUART, ONE NEWS. BREAKERS MVP AND STAR POINT GUARD CEDRIC JACKSON HAS ANNOUNCED HE WON'T BE RETURNING TO THE BASKETBALL CLUB NEXT SEASON. AN EMOTIONAL JACKSON, WHO'S BEEN AT THE CLUB TWO YEARS, OPTED INSTEAD TO TRY HIS LUCK IN EUROPE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. TAKE THAT BEACH BODY, BOY! LAUGHTER THERE'S NO DENYING CEDRIC JACKSON SHARES A SPECIAL BOND WITH THE BREAKERS, BUT EVEN THAT EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THE TEAM HE LED TO A THREE-PEAT COULDN'T LURE HIM BACK. IT FEELS LIKE I'M LEAVING AND I WON'T BE SEEING MY FAMILY ANY MORE WHEN I GET THERE OR IF I GET THERE, SO JUST THE THOUGHT OF NOT COMING BACK AND SEEING FAMILIAR FACES IS GONNA BE TOUGH. THE 27-YEAR-OLD EMAILED THE CLUB HIS DECISION TODAY, SAYING HE WAS 'HEARTBROKEN'. IT'S A SHORT TIMEFRAME AS A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALLER. HE'S GOTTA MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE RIGHT FOR HIM. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S DONE. JACKSON'S BEEN OFFERED DOUBLE WHAT THE BREAKERS COULD AFFORD BY VARIOUS EUROPEAN TEAMS. WITH HIS STINT IN THE NBA SUMMER LEAGUE TURNING UP NOTHING, THE ANBL LEAGUE FINALS AND CLUB MVP NOW LOOKS LIKE HEADING FOR SLOVENIA. WE WISH HIM WELL. WE'RE A CLUB THAT LIKES TO SEE PEOPLE ACHIEVE AND GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD TWO YEARS OF CEDRIC JACKSON. NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING A POINT GUARD IN BEFORE THE MONTH IS OUT. THOSE QUALITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT CEDRIC GAVE US, WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE'LL GET ALL OF THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT GET A GUY THAT SHOOTS A LITTLE BETTER OR DOES SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO CEDRIC DID AS WELL. THOUGH NEITHER THE CLUB NOR JACKSON ARE RULING OUT A RETURN OF SORTS EITHER. IF I CAN COME BACK AND SURPRISE EVERYBODY FOR A GAME OR, YOU KNOW, SEE HOW EVERYBODY'S DOING DOWN THERE, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO DO. NO DOUBT SOMETHING HIS NOW FORMER TEAM WOULD WANT TOO. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. THEY SAY NEVER MIX SPORT WITH POLITICS, BUT A CONTROVERSIAL CALL IN THE THIRD ASHES CRICKET TEST BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA IS ESCALATING INTO A DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT. THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER HAS EVEN WADED IN AFTER A NZ UMPIRE LEFT AUSTRALIA DOWNTRODDEN ON A DAY THEY TOOK A HUGE STEP UP IN THE SERIES. MARK HATHAWAY REPORTS. THE BIG QUESTION ON DAY ONE ` DID THE BALL HIT THE BAT ON THE WAY THROUGH TO ENGLAND KEEPER MATT PRIOR? THE ONLY NOISE WAS WHEN HIS BAT HIT HIS PAD. THAT'S A SHOCKER. THAT'S AN ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING DECISION. IN REAL TIME, THE ENGLISH WERE IN NO DOUBT. (YELLS) AND NEITHER WAS KIWI UMPIRE TONY HILL. BATSMAN USMAN KHAWAJA DISAGREED, CALLING FOR A REVIEW, AND AFTER MINUTES OF INCONCLUSIVE REPLAYS, THE VIDEO UMPIRE WAS NONE THE WISER, SO HILL'S CALL STOOD. CROWD CHEERS KHAWAJA, GONE FOR ONE, WAS FAR FROM HAPPY. NEITHER WAS HIS PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD, TWEETING THAT THE CALL WAS A RIDICULOUS DECISION. IT'S A WEIRD THING, BECAUSE, I GUESS, IT'S PEOPLE'S CAREERS ON THE LINE AS WELL, SO YOU WANT THESE DECISIONS TO BE RIGHT. AUSTRALIA'S MISERY WITH REVIEWS CONTINUE, BUT THEIR TOP ORDER WOES DO NOT, WINNING THE TOSS ON A HARD AND FAST OLD TRAFFORD PITCH. SHANE WATSON AND CHRIS ROGERS TOOK THE SHINE OFF THE BALL BEFORE WATSON WAS SNARED WITH HIS SIDE ON 76. EDGED, STRAIGHT TO COOK. GONE. WHILE KHAWAJA'S DISMISSAL MAY HAVE BEEN RIDICULOUS, IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR A SUBLIME CAPTAIN'S KNOCK FROM MICHAEL CLARKE. UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE, HE STEERED HIS SIDE WITH PATIENCE AIDED BY ROGERS, WHO HIT A POTENTIALLY CAREER-SAVING 84 BEFORE BEING TRAPPED BY GRAEME SWANN. (YELLS) OH, THAT'S A BIG APPEAL. HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS. WHAT'S HE THINK? YES! WHILE THE DAY'S CONTENTIOUS PERFORMANCE CAME FROM THE DRS, THE COMMANDING ONE CAME FROM CLARKE. AND THERE IT IS. A CENTURY FOR MICHAEL CLARKE. CAPTAIN'S INNINGS. EARLY DAYS MAYBE, BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SERIES, AUSTRALIA ARE IN CONTROL OF A MATCH. MARK HATHAWAY, ONE NEWS. TO THE SCOREBOARD. WHAT A TIME FOR CLARKE TO STAND TALL. HIS SUCCESS USUALLY TRANSLATES TO AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS, AND WITH STEPHEN SMITH SHOWING NO ILL-EFFECTS FROM A BACK INJURY, DAY TWO IS LOOKING GOOD FOR THE AUSSIES. KIWI GOLF SENSATION LYDIA KO WILL GO INTO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE LPGA BRITISH OPEN AT THREE UNDER PAR AFTER CARDING AN OPENING ROUND 69 OVERNIGHT TO GIVE HER A TIE FOR 18TH. LEADERS AMERICAN MORGAN PRESSEL AND CAMILLA LENNARTH OF SWEDEN ARE JUST THREE SHOTS CLEAR OF KO. PRESSEL WAS LUCKY TO STILL BE ON THE COURSE AFTER AMERICAN NATALIE GULBIS WENT WIDE ON THE PAR-FIVE 14TH. NO, NO, NO. GET LUCKY. COMMENTATOR: 'GET LUCKY', SAYS THE CADDIE. OH, MIGHT BE LUCKY FOR HER; WASN'T NECESSARILY LUCK FOR THE SPECTATORS THERE. GULBIS WAS NOT TOO FUSSED EITHER WAY THERE. THE SECOND ROUND ON THE RENOWNED ST ANDREWS COURSE RESUMES LATER TONIGHT. DAVID TUA'S ENLISTED THE HELP OF AUSTRALIAN CORNERMAN DAVID HEDGCOCK AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS BOXING BOUT WITH RUSSIAN ALEXANDER USTINOV AT THE END OF THE MONTH. HEDGCOCK, WHO'S MADE HIS NAME IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY IN MELBOURNE, CERTAINLY NOT ONE TO SHY AWAY FROM A SCRAP. WELL, I WAS AMBUSHED IN A CAR PARK IN 1983 AND SHOT IN THE CHEST WITH A 38 AND CAME OUT THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER, AND THEN ANOTHER TIME IN 1997, I WAS SHOT ENTERING MY BACK DOOR. I'VE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND CONSEQUENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY RAN AFOUL OF SOME BAD PEOPLE. THAT ASIDE, HEDGCOCK HAS EXPERIENCE IN BOXING, KICKBOXING AND VARIOUS MARTIAL ARTS. HE SAYS HE'LL BE WORKING ON ANGLES AND POSITIONING WITH TUA IN THE RING. What a character. THANKS, JENNY-MAY. AFTER THE BREAK, SAM'S HERE WITH A BIT OF RAIN. HE'LL TELL YOU WHERE IT'S HEADING. AND HIS RHYTHM'S BANG ON ` HELLO AGAIN. A SETTLED DAY IN THE SOUTH. THIS IS LAKE TEKAPO AT ITS MOST TRANQUIL. BUT IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT STORY UP TOP. THE SLOW-MOVING FRONT CONTINUES TO SOUND THE WARNING SIREN. AND AFTER SOME FLOODING RAIN, IT WILL EASE IN NORTHLAND THIS EVENING. IT CONTINUES IN THE COROMANDEL. AND GISBORNE CAN EXPECT 150MM FROM NOW TO TOMORROW EVENING. AND THE LATEST ADDITION ` STRONG WINDS FOR AUCKLAND, THE COROMANDEL AND THE KAIMAI RANGES TONIGHT. NZ PLAYS PEAKABOO UNDER THICK LAYER OF CLOUD. THE LOW SINKING OVER THE COUNTRY, PUSHING IN A MOIST EASTERLY FLOW. A NARROW CHANNEL OF CLEAR SKIES ` DON'T BE FOOLED. THE NEXT LOW IS BREWING AWAY NEAR TASMANIA. THE EASTERLY WINDS ARE FUELLED LIKE AN OLD CLOTHES RINGER. BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW. THE LOW SINKS SOUTH. THE DEMINISHED FRONT SITTING JUST OF THE COAST OF AUCKLAND. THE DEMINISHED FRONT SITTING JUST OFF THE COAST OF AUCKLAND. AND ANOTHER CHARGES TOWARDS THE SOUTH ISLAND, ARRIVING WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ IT'S A WET-LOOKING SUNDAY. HEAVIEST IN THE NORTH-EAST AND TOP OF SOUTH ISLAND. THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER ESCAPES THE DELUGE. THINGS EASE UP A LITTLE ON MONDAY. RAIN EASES, SHOWERS CLEAR. FINE SPELLS DEVELOPING. THEN ON TUESDAY, SHOWERS ON THE WEST COAST. MAINLY FINE IN THE EAST, JUST A LAYER OF HIGH PRESSURE. THAT'S IT FROM ME. CUDDLE UP AND ENJOY A LITTLE RAIN ON THE ROOF, AND I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. FINALLY, JUST BEFORE WE BEAT IT, A BIT OF AIR ACTION WITH THE DRUMMER CHALKING UP PLENTY OF HITS ON THE INTERNET. CHECK THIS OUT. NO DRUM KIT? NO WORRIES ` JUST DRAW ONE. BRING THE MUSIC IN, GET THE RHYTHM RIGHT, CAMERAS, ACTION AND LET THE DRUM ROLL. MAN: # ALL YE PEOPLE, SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. # THIS 29 YEAR-OLD MUSIC TEACHER FROM THAILAND APTLY NICKNAMED 'NOTE' UPPED THE TEMPO WITH DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLES. MAN: # OH, I'M ALIVE, I'M ALIVE IN YOU. # AND HE'S DEFINITELY STRUCK THE RIGHT NOTE WITH FANS, RACKING UP MORE THAN 200,000 HITS ON YOUTUBE. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR FRIDAY. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.