Due to the live nature of Midday we apologise for the lack of captions for some items. Warnings about the permanent hit our capital city would suffer in a Christchurch-sized earthquake. A pint-sized entertainer gets a major royal honour. And the Breakers are back on top after beating the team that thumped them last week. The Wellington City Council has released a report highlighting the city's vulnerability to a significant earthquake. It's identified a high number of earthquake-prone buildings which could collapse over major transport routes. It says if an earthquake similar to the one that hit Christchurch occurred in the capital, it could cost the country around $37b. Lucas de Jong is in Wellington and joins us now live. Lucas. BEHIND ME IS THORNDON, AN AREA CD SAYS IS A PINCH POINT AND ONE OF THE MANY AREAS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH RISK IN THIS REPORT THE FEBRUARY 22ND EARTHQUAKE COST THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT $20B IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND BUILDINGS THERE ARE BUILDINGS AROUND ATERIAL ROUTES Wellington City Council is doing a lot of work around resiliency in terms of earthquakes and our building stock. Last September we agreed to do a broad approach to this particular issue. So we're in the process of developing a strategy, and we'll probably need to update our policy as well. AT THE MOMENT THE KEY GOAL FOR THE COUNCIL IS UPGRADING THOSE BUILDINGS OF THOSE, 166 ARE HERITAGE BUILDINGS. IN THEIR BUDGET THEY HAVE AROUND 44M TO DO SO The heroes of the Christchurch earthquake will be given a bravery award that hasn't been presented since the Wahine disaster. The Royal Humane Society of NZ's gold medal will be presented at the Christchurch Earthquake Awards on the first anniversary of the disaster next Wednesday. The Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae will preset Mayor Bob Parker with the award, who will accept on behalf of the city. The award recognises the acts of bravery and humanity made by many people who helped others immediately after the February 22nd quake. The Department of Labour has released the name of a Coromandel gold mine it's closed for health and safety breaches. The newly formed High Hazard Unit has shut Broken Hills, a small underground mine, after an inspection showed it had failed to fix breaches it had previously been warned about. The unit was established following the Pike River mine disaster showed gaps in the industry's safety monitoring. The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says it's reassuring to know the new unit is taking action when there are failures. The lawyer for former Pike River boss Peter Whittall says the style of management at the mine was set by his predecessor, who left only weeks before the blast which killed 29 men. Gordon Ward was CEO until October 2010, but has consistently refused to return from Australia to appear before the royal inquiry in Greymouth. To the extent that Mr Whittall has been criticised for his management style as a senior manager ` had Mr Ward appeared before this commission, I would have sought leave to cross-examine him as to the pressures he placed on Mr Whittall and the way in which he, Mr Ward, treated the people who reported to him. Stacey Shortall says they've written to the commission, indicating it would have the power to force Gordon Ward to return from Australia to give evidence to the inquiry. Hundreds of kiwifruit growers are meeting in the Bay of Plenty town of Te Puke to demand the government take responsibility for the PSA virus which has decimated the industry. Growers have voted on six motions, including a demand the government accepts the virus' spread was a biosecurity failure and a call for appropriate compensation. The Bay of Plenty region has already lost 1000ha of orchards, and the disease is now being found in South Auckland. The growers will also vote on whether to demand a commission of inquiry into the incursion. The results will be announced later this afternoon. Christchurch city councillors are divided over chief executive Tony Marryatt's decision to leave a council meeting early to play golf. The embattled CEO took half a day's annual leave to attend a pro-am golf tournament. A member of the Rebuild Christchurch lobby group says Tony Marryatt missed important discussions about earthquake rebuild plans. Thursday was game day. It was like Richie McCaw leaving at half time and going to do something else. He needed to be there. The deputy mayor supports Tony Marryatt's presence at the tournament, saying the event is economically important to the city, while some other councillors say it reflects badly on the council. The young Nigerian man who tried to blow up a plane with an underwear bomb on Christmas Day three years ago has been sentenced to a lifetime behind bars. The explosives Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had been wearing failed to ignite properly, saving hundreds of lives. From the United States, here's the BBC's Mark Mardell. This is the 25-year-old Nigerian who tried to blow up a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day three years ago. His aim, to kill all 289 people on board. In court today he was defiant, declaring he'd wanted to avenge the attacks of the United States on Muslims. He said, 'Today is a day of victory.' The judge told him it was clear he had enormous motivation to carry out further attacks. She could only stop him by sentencing him to spend the rest of his life in jail. He was radicalised in London and spent time training in an Al Qaeda camp in Yemen, declaring a war against Christians and Jews. His plot was directed by American-born Anwar Awlaki, who was killed by an American drone strike last year. This plane was the target of the most serious attempt to attack America since 9/11. He hid explosives in his underpants and set them off, injecting a liquid chemical. Prosecutors say this is what would have happened if the bomb had worked properly. The plot has prompted big changes in airport security. But the main problem wasn't with technology. The case highlighted serious failings among America's intelligence community. Abdulmutallab's father told the CIA in Nigeria that his son was linked to extremists. They knew that he'd travelled to Yemen; they knew that he'd paid for his flight in cash. But they failed to put all of this together. As President Obama put it, 'They didn't join the dots.' Despite a shake-up, experts say it's impossible to spot every potential terrorist. But by luck and accident, Abdulmutallab did not carry out the atrocity he planned. The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution condemning human-rights violations in Syria and calling for an end to the violence. The Arab-backed initiative also calls for president Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power. Russia and China voted against the resolution, but 137 countries voted in favour. The resolution is, however, non-binding. Thailand's police chief says three Iranians arrested after a series of accidental explosions in the Thai capital this week were planning to attack Israeli diplomats. One of the men lost his legs when a cache of explosives detonated unexpectedly, and Israel immediately claimed the trio were terrorists. Thai police now say the men were plotting attacks on Israeli officials in South Asian countries, but are still investigating whether the men are linked to a larger insurgency group. Britain and Jordan have been engaged in high-level negotiations over the fate of an extremist Muslim cleric released from a British jail this week. Britain wants to deport him, but the European Court of Human Rights has blocked the move, saying he may be tortured in Jordan. Now a Jordanian royal says the European court shouldn't lecture his country. Here's the BBC's June Kelly. Abu Qatada arriving back at his London home after being released from prison. Since he went inside late on Sunday night, he hasn't re-emerged. Thousands of miles away in the Jordanian capital Amman where the diplomatic moves have been continuing, one of the most senior members of Jordan's royal family was asked the key question ` would he give an assurance that evidence obtained by torture would not be used against Abu Qatada if he was returned there? This is a country which has never taken the life of a political opponent of the regime. So no absolute assurance there. But even if there are assurances, it will still be a protracted process to get Abu Qatada on a plane according to one legal expert. Even if they do reach agreement with Jordan, Jordan will then have to change its laws, and any decision to deport Abu Qatada under those changed laws itself, he will no doubt challenge in court here and probably at Strasberg as well. Outside a house in the suburbs of north-west London, the media are waiting for a shot of the cleric dubbed a danger to national security. His battle with the authorities has now gone on for more than a decade, and it appears that Abu Qatada's saga still has some way to run. Britain's prime minister has visited Scotland with a promise to reconsider the country's level of self-determination once Scotland's held its referendum on independence. But David Cameron says any decision to devolve more power to Scotland will depend on Scottish citizens rejecting a split from the UK. We have to settle that question before them going on and asking ` I think quite legitimately ` is there more that we can do to improve the devolve settlement? Are there other power that can be devolved? who received resounding national support in the most recent election under his pro-independence banner. Alec Salmond says David Cameron's promises are too vague and won't sway the Scottish public. A popular baby seat is prompting safety warnings in Australia after a number of children suffered injuries while using it. The Bumbo seat, which is also available in NZ, has sold millions around the world. Here's Channel Nine's Amelia Ballinger. Manly mum Liz Nable used to love her Bumbo baby seat. That was until an accident ended in her daughter Ruby being rushed to hospital. It was a very very scary moment. Nine News producer Liz had been using the seat to feed their daughter. They had their Bumbo perched on the kitchen bench. She leaned over and smacked head first on to the tiles. Ruby underwent brain scans to check for permanent damage. Thankfully she was OK. But other parents haven't been so lucky. Almost four million of the seats have been sold in the US alone. And despite being an unquestioned sales success, their safety record is something altogether different. In 2007 at least 28 injuries, including three skull fractures, led to a voluntary recall of the chairs in the US. But weeks later they were back on the shelves after the company agreed to print an improved warning label on the box and product. This label was designed to stop parents from using the product on high surfaces like this. But since the recall, there's been another 95 injuries. 50 of those accidents were when the seat was being used on the ground. And despite serious concerns over its safety overseas, the Bumbo is not covered by Australian standards and hasn't been tested by consumer groups. Finally, British comedian Ronnie Corbett has been honoured by the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. It's a recognition that cements the diminutive comic as one of Britain's, and the world's, best-loved performers. Here's the BBC's Lizo Mzimba. For decades he's been one of the best-known faces on television. Good evening. It's nice to be with you again, isn't it, Ronnie? Yes, it is. Today, receiving a CBE from the Queen he said also brought back memories of his famous on-screen partner. I was last here probably about... nearly 40 years ago with dear Ronnie B when the two of us were honoured with our OBEs. His TV career began close to half a century ago after being spotted for David Frost's The Frost Report. The feeling ` it was only a theory at this point; we were already talking to Ronnie Barker ` that the two of them would work together well. I mean, we could never have realised how well. His double act with Ronnie Barker led to one of TV's most successful ever pairings. # Where else could you meet so many fellows? # We are just a pair of scrubbers who are grateful. # On his own, he was also famous for his monologues, a style which has inspired many modern entertainers. Now he can reflect on being honoured as one of entertainment's most enduring stars. Still to come on Midday, business news, with a good result from Sky City. And then in sport, does Scottish football club Rangers have a future after going into administration? Plus, in basketball, the Breakers take on bogey side Wollongong Hawks in a bid to stay top of the table. 1 With me now is Ross Cuthbert from Craigs Investment Partners. Good afternoon, Ross, and a positive opening on the NZ market this morning. This item will be captioned live. For more, go to tvnz.co.nz and click on 'business'. THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WE'RE UP ABOUT HALF A PERCENT WHAT'S DRIVING IT IN THE US IS A VERY GOOD UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE, AT A FOUR-YEAR LOW AND ALSO SOME POSITIVE BUILDING PERMIT NUMBERS. ONE RESULT OF NOTE ` SKY CITY. THAT'S RIGHT. SKY REPORTED BEING UP 4% ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND SKY TV ALSO SAID THEY'LL INCREASE THEIR DIVIDEND BY ABOUT 37% AND THEY'RE MOVING TO A 70% DIVIDEND PAYOUT RATIO AND A BIG RESULT FROM WESTPAC IN AUSTRALIA WORTH A MENTION. THE BIG RESULT IN AUSTRALIA WAS FROM WESTPAC - A PROFIT OF $1.4B THE STOCK GOT HAMMERED YESTERDAY, THOUGH, AND THEY'RE FINDING THINGS TOUGH WITH LOW MARKET INCOME AND SUBDUED CREDIT GROWTH I THINK BANKS ARE JUST FINDING IT TOUGH OUT THERE Thousands of jobs are on the line at Qantas. The airline, which has seen profits plummet, has announced a massive restructure, with 500 positions axed. Some international routes will also be dropped, including six flights a week between Auckland and Los Angeles. Channel Nine's Ross Greenwood reports. Crippled by fuel costs, strikes and competition, the flying kangaroo today became a whole lot leaner. Tough decisions today will ensure we don't need to make harsher ones later. But it's tough. Gone from today ` 50 pilots, 122 cabin crew, 65 catering staff, 225 engineers and 45 ground crew. If you don't respond, if you don't react, you'll suffer. But 37-year Qantas veteran engineer Bryce Etwell has a different idea. Everything's done for the dollar, isn't it? Dollar rules the world. And dollars are tight. Half-year profits slumped to $42m. The savage industrial campaign alone cost $194m. And jet fuel costs blew out by $444m. Without Jetstar and its frequent flyer scheme, Qantas would have suffered an embarrassing loss. We understand why Qantas is reviewing its operations. And more modern aircraft like the A380 put a cloud over another 1500 engineers. We have to do less maintenance, less often in the same way that you have to do less maintenance less often on your home car. We want to ensure that not one job, not one job is going to be exported overseas as part of this review. The message from the Qantas chief is blunt. We will not be propping up the past at the expense of the future. It seems that Alan Joyce's legacy will be to turn the flying kangaroo into kangaroo stew. In Midday sport, basketball's Breakers have put to bed one of their worst performances of the season in the best possible fashion. A week ago the lowly Wollongong Hawks thumped the league leaders, but last night it was a different story. Glen Larmer reports. This performance was all about redemption for the Breakers. A 16-point loss to the Hawks last weekend meant players had to step up. And Tom Abercrombie and Mika Vukona did just that. We were able to rediscover our energy tonight, and we brought that right from the start and was able to jump on them early, and that set the pace for the rest of the game. Once again, Vukona's ability to make a defensive nuisance of himself proved invaluable. His hard-as-nails approach helped the Breakers stay in touch with the Hawks, before they wore them down in the final quarter. Showtime! Just their defensive game caught us off guard last time we played them. So we watched film, and we wanted to attack. You know, they were gonna sag off on us, so we gonna make them pay. Jackson also contributed solidly, finishing with a double double ` 20 points and 10 rebounds. But it was Abercrombie who provided the real offensive spark. He was simply outstanding, especially in the second half, top-scoring with 25 points ` jump shots, lay ups, even three-pointers proved no problem, as the Breakers showed their class. Just letting Thomas Abercrombie shoot it. Offence explosion from Thomas Abercrombie. The Breakers ended up winning 82-74, and are sitting pretty on the top of the table. Just six games are left in the regular season. We just have to play with that intensity every game now. And we know what we're capable of, and itss about maintaining those standards and not letting them slip. Let's hope those high standards extend to their post match celebrations if they succeed in winning back-to-back titles. Glen Larmer, ONE News. The administrators of the Rangers football club say it's unlikely it will have to close. The Scottish champions went into administration earlier this week because of an unpaid tax bill. The administrators say they've already had several expressions of interest in buying the club. However, they may have to cut the number of players in the club. Still to come on Midday ` I'll be back with the afternoon weather. Now to the weather. Out to our east and up to our north-east is bright, high cloud. To the north-east, that mass was a tropical cyclone, but has now been downgraded. There's some low cloud trapped under a big fat high-pressure system. The high has two main centres and is quite spread out, which means light winds. The front in the south Tasman Sea will touch down tomorrow as the high drifts north-east. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz And for more on the weather in your area, go to tvnz.co.nz and click on 'weather'. Finally, there's encouraging news that endangered snow leopards are thriving in a national park in Bhutan. Scientists trying to find out how many of the endangered animals are still alive set up cameras and managed to capture more than 10,000 images. Thanks for joining us. Our next news is at 4.30, and the ONE News hour will be here at 6. Good afternoon. Captions by Chris Leggett and Tracey Dawson. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air.