DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. THE MAORI PARTY WARNS THE GOVERNMENT ITS COALITION DEAL IS AT RISK OVER THE ASSET SALES ROW. LONDON RESIDENTS LOSE A COURT CASE TO KEEP ANTI-TERRORIST MISSILES OFF THEIR ROOFS. A COURT HEARS RECORDINGS OF FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALL CAPTAIN JOHN TERRY AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF RACIALLY ABUSING A RIVAL PLAYER. THE MAORI PARTY'S AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL IS UNDER THREAT. THE PARTY WANTS AN URGENT MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OVER HIS ATTITUDE TO THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL HEARING ON WATER RIGHTS AND THE ASSET SALES PLAN. CO-LEADER TARIANA TURIA SAYS SHE'S REALLY DISGUSTED WITH JOHN KEY'S DISMISSIVE COMMENTS ABOUT ANY RECOMMENDATION THE TRIBUNAL MIGHT MAKE. THE MAORI COUNCIL IS ALSO UPSET. THE COUNCIL SAYS SEVERAL EARLIER TRIBUNAL REPORTS ON PREVIOUS CLAIMS SHOW THE CROWN HAS BREACHED TREATY PRINCIPLES BY IGNORING ITS FINDINGS IN RELATION TO SOME RIVERS, SPRINGS AND WATERWAYS. IT'S WARNING JOHN KEY HE'LL BE SERIOUSLY UNDERMINING HIS GOVERNMENT'S CREDIBILITY IF HE IGNORES ANY RECOMMENDATION IT MAKES ON THIS ISSUE. BUT JOHN KEY IS STANDING FIRM. WE REJECT THE NOTION THAT THEY OWN WATER, UM, IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THAT NOBODY OWNS WATER. UH, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHTS AND INTEREST. IWI LEADERS GATHER FOR A THIRD DAY AT THE TRIBUNAL HEARING IN LOWER HUTT, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN IT WILL FINISH THE HEARING BACK HOME, AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERT GIVING EVIDENCE AT THE CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKES ROYAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN QUESTIONED ON WHETHER THE NEEDS GRAB BUILDING MATERIAL WAS APPROPRIATELY PRESERVED AFTER THE SITE WAS CLEARED. RUBBLE FROM THE COLLAPSED AND BURNT BUILDING IS STORED AT THE BURWOOD LANDFILL IN OUTER CHRISTCHURCH. AMERICAN ENGINEER WILLIAM HOLMES SAYS USUALLY BUILDING EVIDENCE IS LEFT ON-SITE, BUT HE'S NEVER SEEN A COLLAPSE LIKE THE CTV BUILDING WHERE SO MANY LIVES WERE LOST. WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MANY COLLAPSES IN CALIFORNIA, FORTUNATELY. UH, CERTAINLY NOT THAT WOULD DESTROY THE EVIDENCE IN THIS COMPLETE REGARD. I MEAN, THAT REALLY MAKES THIS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. THE FINAL EXPERT TO COMMENT ON A CRITICAL DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND HOUSING REPORT WILL GIVE EVIDENCE THIS AFTERNOON. TESTIMONY FROM THE ENGINEERING FIRM BEHIND THE CTV BUILDING'S DESIGN WILL BE HEARD TOMORROW. A BUILDING RESTORATION EXPERT IS HAILING A REPORT WHICH SAYS THE ICONIC CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL CAN BE SAVED, CALLING IT A GREAT STEP FORWARD. A PANEL OF ENGINEERS COMMISSIONED TO WRITE THE REPORT BELIEVE SAVING THE CATHEDRAL IS A SAFER PROCESS THAN THE DEMOLITION CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. AMERICAN EXPERT MARCUS BRANDT SAYS THE CATHEDRAL IS IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN MOST BUILDINGS HE'S HELPED RESTORE. IT'S DAMAGED. I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT IT'S NOT DAMAGED. IT'S JUST NOT SHATTERED. IT'S NOT DESTROYED. IT'S WOUNDED, IT'S DAMAGED, BUT THREE-QUARTERS OF IT IS THERE, AND THREE-QUARTERS OF IT COULD BE RETAINED PRETTY MUCH IN THE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN. JUST BECAUSE IT'S DAMAGED DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER, SO IT REALLY IS QUITE RESTORABLE. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON RESTORING TIMBER AND STONE BUILDINGS FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS, AND I HAVE RARELY SEEN A MORE FIXABLE BUILDING THAN THIS ONE. BUILDING RESTORATION EXPERT MARCUS BRANDT. DECONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE CATHEDRAL HAS PAUSED FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE MAKE-SAFE PROJECT. MEANWHILE, THE SOUTH ISLAND WAS RATTLED BY TWO LARGE EARTHQUAKES IN QUICK SUCCESSION LAST NIGHT. A MAGNITUDE 4.5 SHAKE HIT CHRISTCHURCH AT 11.30 AT A DEPTH OF 11KM. THE QUAKE WAS FELT ACROSS CHRISTCHURCH. JUST A MINUTE LATER A 4.6 QUAKE AT A DEPTH OF 70KM STRUCK NEAR BLENHEIM. THAT WAS FELT AS FAR NORTH AS NEW PLYMOUTH. OUTCRY OVER THE STANDARD OF CARE IN REST HOMES HAS FORCED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES. THE CHANGES COME AFTER AN INVESTIGATION FOUND IMPORTANT DETAILS SURROUNDING THE QUALITY OF CARE WEREN'T BEING ADEQUATELY REPORTED TO THE PUBLIC. ALL REST-HOME INSPECTION REPORTS WILL NOW BE PUBLISHED ON THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WEBSITE. BUT CONSUMER NZ SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. CERTAINLY, WE THINK THAT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND NEEDS TO REGULATE THESE REST HOMES MORE. VERY RARELY DO ANY ACTUALLY HAVE ANY PROSECUTIONS TAKEN AGAINST THEM. AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THIS AREA. CONSUMER NZ WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MANDATORY REPORTING OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES SUCH AS STAFFING RATIOS, AND PATIENT INFECTION RATES AND WEIGHT LOSS. BUSINESS CONFIDENCE HAS SLUMPED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS ACCORDING TO THE LATEST SURVEY BY THE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH. AN ECONOMIST SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A VERY MODEST RECOVERY FROM THE RECESSION. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, THIS RECOVERY'S VERY DIFFERENT TO OTHER RECOVERIES WE'VE HAD, AND OUR EXPERIENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT YOU HAVE A RECESSION AND THEN YOU COME OUT OF THE BLOCKS FIRING, ALL GUNS BLAZING. BUT THIS TIME AROUND IT'S BEEN THIS VERY GRADUAL, VERY SHALLOW RECOVERY, AND THAT'S REALLY BEEN UNDERPINNED BY THE FACT THAT HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES ARE ALL BEING REALLY CAREFUL, WE'RE PAYING DOWN DEBT, WE'RE SAVING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. BUT BOY, IT HURTS WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING A BUSINESS. SHAMUBEEL EAQUB FROM THE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH. ANTI-TERRORIST PRECAUTIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT BY A BRITISH COURT. THE HIGH COURT HAS OVERRULED RESIDENTS TRYING TO HAVE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES BANNED FROM THEIR ROOFTOPS. WITH JUST OVER TWO WEEKS TO GO UNTIL THE BIG EVENT, LONDON IS RAMPING UP SECURITY, AS THE ABC'S NICK SCHRIFFEN REPORTS. LONDON IS IN LOCKDOWN, AND THAT MEANS SOME RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO SLEEP UNDER THESE. THOSE ARE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES DESIGNED TO STOP A 9/11-STYLE ATTACK, AND THEY'RE ON BRIAN WHELAN'S ROOF. THIS IS THE TOWER THAT STICKS OUT RIGHT ABOVE MY APARTMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NOW A HIGH-VELOCITY MISSILE BATTERY STATIONED ON THE ROOF. WHELAN SAYS THEY MAKE HIM FELL LESS SAFE. IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A TARGET, MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT WHAT COULD GO WRONG. BUT TODAY A JUDGE REJECTED THOSE WORRIES AND SAID THE MILITARY NEEDS THOSE MISSILES THERE AND ON FIVE OTHER RESIDENTIAL SITES TO PROTECT THE GAMES. THE CLEAR IMPLICATION OF TODAY'S JUDGEMENT IS THAT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NOW HAS THE POWER TO MILITARISE THE PRIVATE HOMES OF ANY PERSON IN BRITAIN SO LONG AS THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE IS, IN THEIR VIEW, A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN PLAY. IN ALL, $2B WORTH OF SECURITY IS BEING ROLLED OUT ` AIR FORCE JETS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL POLICE TO HELP PROTECT ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRANSIT SYSTEMS. EVEN BRITAIN'S LARGEST WARSHIP IS BEING DEPLOYED INSIDE THE CITY. THE BRITISH MILITARY WILL DEPLOY MORE TROOPS TO PROTECT THE OLYMPICS' 13,000 THAN IT DEPLOYS TO AFGHANISTAN. IT'S THE LARGEST MILITARY PRESENCE IN LONDON SINCE WORLD WAR II. IN THE LAST WEEK, WITH SECURITY SO TIGHT, LONDON POLICE MADE SIX TERROR-RELATED ARRESTS. BUT IT TURNS OUT NONE HAD A DIRECT LINK TO THE GAMES. POLICE AND THE PEOPLE OF LONDON ARE ON HIGH ALERT. AND WITH ONLY 17 DAYS TO GO, THE SECURITY AND THE TENSION HERE WILL ONLY INCREASE. SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL ASSAD HAS AGREED TO A NEW UN PEACE PLAN WHICH WILL FOCUS ON THE MOST VIOLENT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE EXPANDING OUT TO THE ENTIRE NATION. THE REVELATIONS COME AS MORE AMATEUR FOOTAGE EMERGES SHOWING HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE CITY OF HOMS. UN PEACE ENVOY KOFI ANNAN SAYS THE PLAN WILL NOW BE PRESENTED TO OPPOSITION FORCES. TENSIONS IN EGYPT ARE ESCALATING AS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AND THE RULING MILITARY LOCK HORNS OVER AN ORDER TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT. MPS MET IN CAIRO TODAY IN DIRECT DEFIANCE OF THE MILITARY ORDER. THE BBC'S JON LEYNE IS IN CAIRO. STANDING SLIGHTLY AWKWARDLY TOGETHER, THEY ATTEND A MILITARY PARADE. THESE ARE THE TWO RIVALS SQUARING UP IN EGYPT'S NEW BATTLE FOR POWER ` PRESIDENT MORSI OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND THE MILITARY LEADER FIELD MARSHAL TANTAWI. TODAY MPS ARRIVED FOR A SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. THE ASSEMBLY WAS RECALLED BY THE PRESIDENT, DIRECTLY AGAINST THE ORDER OF THE MILITARY, WHICH DISSOLVED IT JUST TWO WEEKS EARLIER. THE SESSION LASTED ONLY FIVE MINUTES, BUT IT'S BROUGHT EGYPTIAN POLITICS BACK INTO CRISIS JUST WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENT SEEMED TO BE AIMING FOR CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE. THE NEXT MOVE IN THE GAME CAME FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, WHICH BARELY A WEEK AGO WAS SWEARING IN PRESIDENT MORSI. IN A NEW RULING, THE COURT OVERTURNED THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO RECALL PARLIAMENT. THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO WINNING FRIENDS. WE FOUND EGYPTIANS PUSHING IN PETITIONS THROUGH THE GATES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AFTER MR MORSI PROMISED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF ORDINARY EGYPTIANS ONE BY ONE. ALL VERY DIFFERENT FROM HIS ALOOF PREDECESSOR HOSNI MUBARAK. MOHAMED MORSI, I THINK, IS BETTER THAN MUBARAK TOO MUCH. BECAUSE` BECAUSE MOHAMED MORSI COME FROM PEOPLE. SUPPORTERS OF THE PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN FLOODING BACK TO TAHRIR SQUARE AS THIS NEW POPULIST PRESIDENT CHALLENGES THE OLD, ESTABLISHED POWER OF THE MILITARY. THE FORMER BOSS OF BRITISH BANKING GIANT BARCLAY'S HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL GIVE UP BONUSES WORTH ALMOST $40M. BOB DIAMOND RESIGNED AFTER A RATE-FIXING SCANDAL WHICH CAUSED THE BANK'S SHARE PRICE TO PLUMMET. THE 60-YEAR-OLD WILL STILL RECEIVE A YEAR'S PAY AND A CASH PAYMENT WORTH AROUND $3M. DIAMOND WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST BANKERS AND TOOK HOME $33M LAST YEAR. A FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN CLEARED OF TWO MAJOR CORRUPTION CHARGES, BUT CONVICTED OF A THIRD, LESSER CHARGE. EHUD OLMERT WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ILLEGALLY GRANTING FAVOURS TO A BUSINESS FRIEND DURING HIS TIME AS A MINISTER, BUT CLEARED OF BRIBERY AND FALSELY BILLING FOR FOREIGN FUNDRAISING TRIPS. ALREADY FACING A POSSIBLE JAIL TERM, HE'S YET TO STAND ON OTHER CORRUPTION CHARGES RELATING TO A PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. SCHAPELLE CORBY HAS CELEBRATED HER 35TH BIRTHDAY BEHIND PRISON BARS. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARRIVED AT BALI'S KEROBOKAN PRISON WITH CARDS AND PRESENTS FOR THE CONVICTED DRUG SMUGGLER. CORBY IS SAID TO BE THE HAPPIEST SHE'S BEEN IN A LONG TIME, BUT REMAINS DESPERATE FOR NEWS ABOUT AN EARLY RELEASE DATE. SHE'S CURRENTLY NOT DUE FOR RELEASE UNTIL 2017. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. THEN IN SPORT, THE FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALL CAPTAIN GOES ON THE WITNESS STAND AT HIS RACIAL ABUSE TRIAL. 1 WITH ME NOW IS ANNE HARE FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. SOME CONCERNS IN THE US ABOUT THE TECH AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, WHAT'S BROUGHT THIS ON? THERE'S BEEN AN EARLY-EARNINGS RESULT FROM AN ALUMINIUM COMPANY. MICROCHIP PRODUCERS ARE CITING WEAK DEMAND ALSO. DIRECTION COULD BE PROVIDED TONIGHT TO THE US MARKET. ANY IMPACT ON THIS ON THE NZ MARKETS? STEEL AND TUBE ARE DOWN 1% BUT RETAIL SALES IN NZ, HOSPITALITY SALES ARE UP 3% IN EUROPE, SPAIN'S BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER BREATHER. IT'S GOT AN EXTENSION TO ITS DEADLINE TO CUT ITS FISCAL DEFICIT. AN EXTRA $30B WILL BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. SPORT. THIS YEAR'S TOUR DE FRANCE HAS BEEN HIT BY ITS FIRST DOPING SCANDAL. FRENCH CYCLIST REMY DI GREGORIO HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS HE MAY HAVE TRIED TO USE BANNED SUBSTANCES. THE 26-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED FOLLOWING A POLICE RAID AT HIS TEAM'S HOTEL ON THE RACE'S FIRST REST DAY. THE FRENCH TEAM, CONFIDIS, ARE INVESTIGATING. AND THE US ANTI-DOPING AGENCY HAS GIVEN LIFETIME BANS FROM CYCLING TO THREE MEN WHO WORKED WITH LANCE ARMSTRONG. TWO DOCTORS AND A TRAINER HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION AND ADMINISTERING PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES. ARMSTRONG, A SEVEN-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER, HAS ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF VIOLATING ANTI-DOPING RULES. THE FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALL CAPTAIN JOHN TERRY HAS SAID HE WAS 'VERY ANGRY AND UPSET' WHEN HE WAS ACCUSED OF RACIALLY ABUSING FELLOW FOOTBALLER ANTON FERDINAND. THE COURT HAS HEARD RECORDINGS OF AN INTERVIEW WHICH POLICE CONDUCTED WITH TERRY SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE BBC'S DAN ROAN REPORTS. JOHN TERRY'S JOURNEY TO WESTMINSTER MAGISTRATES' COURT STARTED WITH WHAT HE'S ALLEGED TO HAVE SAID 10 MONTHS AGO. TODAY FINALLY HE'D HAVE HIS SAY ON ACCUSATIONS THAT HE'D RACIALLY ABUSED HIS OPPONENT. IT WAS AT THIS MATCH AT LOFTUS ROAD IN OCTOBER THAT THE CHELSEA CAPTAIN WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA MOUTHING THE WORD 'BLACK' AND A SERIES OF OBSCENITIES TOWARDS QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS DEFENDER ANTON FERDINAND WHEN THE PAIR TRADED INSULTS. FIVE DAYS LATER TERRY TOLD F.A INVESTIGATORS HE WAS MERELY REPEATING WHAT HE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN AN ALLEGATION FROM FERDINAND, AND AN AUDIO RECORDING OF THE INTERVIEW WAS TODAY PLAYED IN COURT. I THINK HE'S ACCUSING ME OF CALLING HIM A BLACK <BLEEP> IN` IN THE ALTERCATION WE'VE HAD. AND THEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN IN MY STATEMENT IT'S CLEAR TO SAY THAT I REPEAT WHAT HE'S SAID, AND THEN <BLEEP> AT THE END OF THAT. YESTERDAY IN COURT FERDINAND DENIED MAKING THAT ACCUSATION, BUT TERRY TOLD THE F.A HE WAS SHOCKED AND ANGERED BY THE SUGGESTION HE'D MAKE A RACIST SLUR. I'VE BEEN CALLED A LOT OF THINGS IN` IN MY FOOTBALL CAREER AND OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL AS WELL, BUT BEING A RACIST IS NOT ONE I'M PREPARED TO TAKE AT ALL. I'M NOT HAVING ANYONE, AND LET ALONE ANTON, THINK THAT AT ALL ABOUT ME BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY CHARACTER AT ALL. CROSS-EXAMINING TERRY, DUNCAN PERRY FOR THE PROSECUTION SAID, TERRY DENIED HE'D BEEN PROVOKED BY GOADING FROM FERDINAND OVER AN ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH A FORMER TEAMMATE'S PARTNER, SAYING HE FREQUENTLY RECEIVED SUCH TAUNTS. TERRY ADMITTED THAT, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, HE MIGHT HAVE HANDLED THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY, BUT WHEN ASKED, REFUSED TO APOLOGISE TO FERDINAND, SAYING HE'D DONE NOTHING WRONG, AND HE'LL CONTINUE TO GIVE EVIDENCE TOMORROW ON DAY THREE OF HIS TRIAL. BOUCHER PLAYED 147 TESTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA SINCE 1997. HIS 555 DISMISSALS IS THE CURRENT WORLD RECORD FOR WICKETKEEPERS. AMONG THE MORE RECENT OF THEM WERE IN NZ FOUR MONTHS AGO. MEANWHILE, ANOTHER CHAMPION CRICKETER, FORMER AUSTRALIAN STAR SHANE WARNE, IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN LAS VEGAS. HE'S TAKING ON A NEW CHALLENGE, WITH WIFE-TO-BE ELIZABETH HURLEY RIGHT BY HIS SIDE. CHANNEL NINE'S ROBERT PENFOLD HAS DETAILS. LIZ HURLEY MISSED ALL THOSE OTHER WORLD SERIES OF THE BAT-AND-BALL KIND, BUT AT THE POKER WORLD TITLES SHE'S NOW SHANE WARNE'S NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER. IT'S A $10,000 ENTRY FEE TO PLAY AGAINST 7000 OTHERS FOR THE TITLE. NEED A BIT OF LUCK. ACTUALLY, A LOT OF LUCK IF YOU WANT TO WIN $18M, LIKE THIS PLAYER DID TODAY. WARNEY'S AUDIENCE OF ONE IS A BIG HELP, HE SAYS. YEAH, IT'S GREAT. OBVIOUSLY, WITH ELIZABETH, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO WATCH THE POKER THERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THE CARDS EITHER. BUT I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT. SURE, IT IS A BIT MUCH TO EXPECT WARNEY TO WIN THIS ONE, BUT WITH ALL THAT TALK ABOUT HIM BUYING THE BIG ENGLISH COUNTRY MANSION, WELL, THE $8M IN PRIZE MONEY HERE WILL CERTAINLY COME IN HANDY. ARE YOU GONNA BUY THAT PLACE? I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE LOOKED AT IT, BUT WE'LL SEE HOW WE GO. ALONG WITH MS HURLEY, SHANE'S ALSO WORKED OUT HOW TO GO FOR A WORLD TITLE WHILE GETTING A NECK MASSAGE. THE OTHER BLOKES AT THE TABLE ARE GREEN WITH ENVY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER DETAILS. FOR THE TORRENTIAL RAIN PLAGUING THE UK. WEST YORKSHIRE IS THE LATEST AREA TO BE HIT BY THE DELUGE. RESIDENTS HAVE BEGUN A MAJOR CLEAN-UP AFTER FLASH FLOODING DEVASTATED THEIR VILLAGES. THE BBC'S DAVID SHUKMAN REPORTS. CLEARING UP AND IT'S STILL RAINING. HEBDEN BRIDGE IN WEST YORKSHIRE TODAY WAS COPING WITH TWO FLOODS IN TWO WEEKS, WITH LIVES DISRUPTED AND BUSINESSES OUT OF ACTION. AND IT'S DIFFICULT. TIMES ARE HARD ANYWAY, AND WE'VE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP GOING UNTIL WE HOPEFULLY GET PAID OUT BY THE INSURANCE PEOPLE. AND THAT COULD BE WEEKS, COULD BE MONTHS. I DON'T KNOW. STREETS BECAME RIVERS YESTERDAY AFTER A DOWNPOUR ON A TROPICAL SCALE CAUSED BY A VAST WEATHER PATTERN AT WORK FAR ABOVE THE CLOUDS IN THE HIGH ATMOSPHERE. AND IT'S NOT OVER. THE WILD WEATHER OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS RAISED A QUESTION IN EVERYONE'S MINDS: WHAT'S CREATING THESE TURBULENT CONDITIONS? MAN: YES! RESEARCHERS SAY THE ATMOSPHERE IS HOLDING MORE MOISTURE THAN IT DID 40 YEARS AGO, WHICH NORMALLY MEANS MORE RAIN. BUT THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS. THERE'S STILL A LOT WE DON'T KNOW, AND THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE RESEARCH TOPIC. THE JURY'S STILL OUT AS TO WHAT EXTENT THE RECENT RUN OF WET SUMMERS WE'VE SEEN ARE CONNECTED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ARCTIC WITH THE SEA ICE, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, AND HOW THE LONG-TERM CLIMATE CHANGE IS PLAYING OUT. WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. TIVERTON IN DEVON WAS FLOODED IN JULY 1960, A MONTH THAT SAW RAIN EVERY SINGLE DAY. STILL, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS UNUSUAL. NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT SOME EXTREME WEATHER IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT THERE ARE NO NEAT EXPLANATIONS FOR ANY OF THIS, AND THE FORECAST IS STILL FOR MORE RAIN. NOW TO OUR WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON. A MASSIVE HIGH COVERS THE COUNTRY TODAY, BUT TOMORROW IT WILL SLIDE OFF TO THE EAST. THAT PROCESSION OF FRONTS NEAR TASMANIA WILL MAKE A MOVE ACROSS THE OCEAN, REACHING THE SOUTH BY EARLY AFTERNOON TOMORROW. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ TO THE TOP STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE POSTED REPORTS OF FEELING TWO QUAKES THAT STRUCK THE SOUTH ISLAND LATE LAST NIGHT. MEGAUPLOAD FOUNDER KIM DOTCOM IS OFFERING TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT EXTRADITION IF FEDERAL AUTHORITIES MEET CONDITIONS WHICH INCLUDE GIVING HIM BAIL AND UNFREEZING HIS FUNDS. AND NZ SONGSTRESS KIMBRA HAS RECEIVED GLOWING PRAISE FOR HER PERFORMANCE ON THE TONIGHT SHOW HOSTED BY JAY LENO LAST NIGHT. AN ELDERLY CHIMPANZEE IN EASTERN CHINA HAS SUCCESSFULLY GIVEN BIRTH TO A BABY IN A RARE FEAT. THE CHIMP (40) IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A 60-YEAR-OLD HUMAN. EXPERTS SAY IT'S VERY RARE FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE PREGNANT AT THIS AGE AND IT'S LUCKY THE BIRTH DIDN'T HAVE COMPLICATIONS. THE CHIMP'S AGE MEANS SHE CAN'T FEED HER BABY SO ITS BEING GIVEN HUMAN BREAST MILK BEFORE MOVING TO MILK POWDER IN ABOUT A MONTH. ANIMALS AT A ZOO IN ITALY ARE BEING GIVEN ICY TREATS TO HELP THEM BEAT A HEATWAVE. SWELTERING TEMPERATURES ACROSS ROME HAVE LEFT THE RESIDENTS AT BIOPARCO ZOO STRUGGLING TO COPE. SO ZOOKEEPERS ARE FEEDING THE ANIMALS ICED FRUIT BLOCKS TO HELP THEM KEEP COOL, AND THEY SEEM TO BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR JOINING US. OUR NEXT NEWS IS AT 4.30PM, AND THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT SIX. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND LAUREN STRAIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2012