DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. ONGOING WORRIES FOR AUSTRALIAN FIREFIGHTERS AS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR ARSON. HER REAL PARENTS ARE STILL A MYSTERY ` NOW THE COUPLE WHO CLAIM HER FACE CHARGES. AND THE CHAMPS ARE FROM DOWN UNDER, BUT THEY'RE GEARING UP IN ENGLAND FOR LEAGUE'S WORLD CUP. IN NEW SOUTH WALES, FIREFIGHTERS ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE EXTENSIVE BACK-BURNING OPERATIONS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS BEFORE THREATENING WINDS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES ARRIVE TOMORROW. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE FIRES, INCLUDING AN 11-YEAR-OLD AND A 15-YEAR-OLD. THE BBC'S JON DONNISON HAS THE LATEST. AROUND THE CLOCK, FIREFIGHTERS HERE ARE BATTLING FOR CONTROL. BUT THE TASK IS MASSIVE. THE BIGGEST FIRE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS HAS A PERIMETER STRETCHING ALMOST 200 MILES. SOME OF THE FIGHT IS BEING CARRIED OUT FROM THE AIR. AND ON THE GROUND, THOUSANDS OF FIREFIGHTERS, MOST OF THEM VOLUNTEERS. WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE IS BACK BURNING ` FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE. BASICALLY, CONTROLLED FIRES TO BURN OFF VEGETATION BEFORE THE REALLY DANGEROUS FIRES CAN GET HERE. WHAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS IF SEVERAL OF THESE HUGE BLAZES MERGE INTO ONE MASSIVE FIRE LATER IN THE WEEK. BUT THE WEATHER ISN'T HELPING. TEMPERATURES TODAY ROSE INTO THE HIGH 30S, AND THE REAL FEAR IS THE ARRIVAL OF STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY. MANY LIVING HERE HAVE BEEN WATCHING NERVOUSLY TO SEE IF THE FIRES CAN BE HELD AT BAY. I'VE BEEN REALLY ANXIOUS FOR THEM TO BURN IT, COS THEN WE CAN STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE FIRE FROM OVER THERE FOR TWO DAYS, JUST CREEPING THIS WAY. SO IT'S KIND OF THE SOONER THEY GOT HERE AND LIT IT UP, THE SOONER WE COULD GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. AND IT'S NOT JUST HIS HOME UNDER THREAT. NEARBY, FIREFIGHTERS DISCOVER A PET POSSUM, INJURED BUT STILL ALIVE. IT'S NOT KNOWN WHAT DAMAGE THE FIRES HAVE WREAKED ON THIS COUNTRY'S UNIQUE WILDLIFE. HUNDREDS OF HOUSES HERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST; FAMILIES LEFT WITH NOTHING. SYDNEY IS CLOAKED IN SMOKE ` A REMINDER THAT THESE FIRES ARE UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE. AND ALL THIS BEFORE SUMMER'S EVEN STARTED. ONE NEWS AUSTRALIAN CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL HAS BEEN TRACKING DEVELOPMENTS AND JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM YELLOW ROCK IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. STEVE, THE NEXT DAY OR SO'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS CRUCIAL IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THESE FIRES. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? It's crucial now because there is a lull in the weather.Firefighters will continue the aggressive operation. You can get an idea of how tough this is. Yellow rock came under siege again last night. There's a lull right now, but winds will pick up this afternoon, so it will be a tough 24-hours ahead. THANKS, STEVE MARSHALL LIVE FROM THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. MEANWHILE, IN RAROTONGA, POLICE ARE HUNTING FOR ONE OR MORE ARSONISTS AFTER SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE SET ALIGHT. TWO SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN TARGETED, CAUSING OVER $1M OF DAMAGE. POLICE BELIEVE THE ARSONISTS ARE LIGHTING THEIR FIRES AS INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE COMING IN TO LAND, AS LOCAL LAWS REQUIRES THE ISLAND'S FIRE CREWS TO BE AT THE AIRPORT ON STANDBY. PREPARATION WORK TO RE-ENTER PIKE RIVER MINE IS ON HOLD, AS THE DEFENCE FORCE WAITS FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR. A MILITARY CHOPPER HAS BEEN CLEARING EQUIPMENT FROM THE VENTILATION SHAFT, BUT ROUGH WEATHER STOPPED WORK EARLY. THE DEFENCE FORCE SAYS THREE MORE TRIPS WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE THE SHAFT CAN BE SEALED. THEY EXPECT WORK WILL RESUME AT THE END OF THE WEEK. THE LABOUR PARTY'S NOT SAYING IT WOULD BACK OUT OF THE CONTROVERSIAL CONVENTION-CENTRE DEAL IF IT COMES BACK INTO POWER. CROWN LAW'S SAID THIS MORNING A FUTURE GOVERNMENT COULD PASS NEW LEGISLATION ALLOWING IT TO BACKTRACK ON THE DEAL WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SKYCITY ANY COMPENSATION. HOWEVER, PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY IS CONFIDENT THAT WON'T HAPPEN. DO YOU THINK THAT LABOUR AND THE GREENS > WOULD GO AHEAD IF THEY WERE NEXT? > THE WON'T GO THERE. WHY? > COS LABOUR'S ALREADY TELLING SKYCITY THEY WON'T. < HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO SKYCITY MANAGEMENT < ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE OF RE-LEGISLATING? NO, AND WE'VE MADE NO COMMITMENTS WHATSOEVER TO SKYCITY, DESPITE WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER MIGHT SAY. THE DEAL WILL SEE SKYCITY BUILD A NEW CONVENTION CENTRE IN AUCKLAND IN EXCHANGE FOR 230 MORE POKIE MACHINES AND AN EXTENSION TO ITS GAMBLING LICENSE. IN THE US, TWO YOUNG BOYS ARE IN A CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER A SHOOTING AT A NEVADA SCHOOL WHICH HAS LEFT ONE OF THEIR TEACHERS DEAD. THE ABC'S BRANDI HITT REPORTS. SHOTS WERE FIRED AT SPARKS MIDDLE SCHOOL NEAR RENO, NEVADA, JUST AFTER 7AM. AS THE SWAT TEAM RUSHED TO THE SCENE, STUDENTS SAY THEY WATCHED A SEVENTH GRADER FIRE SEVERAL ROUNDS. HE PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS MY FRIEND. AND THEN HE WALKED UP TO A TEACHER AND SAYS, 'BACK UP.' TEACHER STARTED BACKING UP, HE PULLED THE TRIGGER. TERRIFIED STUDENTS SCRAMBLED FOR COVER AS MORE SHOTS WERE FIRED. I SAW A KID JUST HOLDING A GUN. PEOPLE STARTED RUNNING AND SCREAMING, SO I STARTED RUNNING AND THEN HEARD ANOTHER GUNSHOT. MATH TEACHER MICHAEL LANDSBERRY WAS KILLED, ALONG WITH THE SUSPECTED GUNMAN. BUT POLICE WON'T SAY IF THE STUDENT TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. TWO CHILDREN WERE ALSO HOSPITALISED. THE STUDENTS ARE SAFE, AND THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE. THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING SUSPECTS. AS WORD SPREAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE,... WE ARE HERE AWARE OF THIS SHOOTING. ...THE CHILDREN WERE EVACUATED AND REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS. I FIND OUT HE'S A WITNESS. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE'S A WITNESS. I'M ON A EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER RIGHT NOW. SEVERAL STUDENTS ALSO TRIED SAVING MR LANDSBERRY, WHO IS NOW BEING HAILED A HERO. WE PICKED HIM UP, CARRIED HIM A LITTLE BIT, AND WE LEFT HIM BECAUSE OUR VICE-PRINCIPAL SAID, 'GO! GO! GO! GET TO SAFETY! 'GET TO SAFETY!' AUTHORITIES IN GREECE ARE STILL WORKING TO TRACK DOWN THE TRUE IDENTITY OF THE LITTLE GIRL KNOWN AS MARIA AFTER LEADS POURED IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE ROMA GYPSY COUPLE CLAIMING TO BE HER PARENTS HAVE APPEARED IN COURT AFTER TESTS SHOWED THEY WEREN'T RELATED. THE BBC'S MARK LOWEN REPORTS. LOVING ADOPTED PARENTS OR THE ABDUCTORS OF MARIA? THE FIRST IMAGES TODAY OF THE COUPLE SUSPECTED BY POLICE OF KIDNAPPING A LITTLE GIRL FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. CHRISTOS SALIS, WHO'S 39, AND HIS PARTNER, ELEFTHERIA DIMOPOULOU (40), DENY CHARGES OF ABDUCTION. THEY SAY MARIA WAS GIVEN TO THEM BY HER BULGARIAN MOTHER, WHO COULDN'T CARE FOR HER. IN COURT TODAY, THEY WERE REMANDED IN CUSTODY UNTIL THE TRIAL. MEMBERS OF THE ROMA COMMUNITY RALLIED IN THEIR DEFENCE. NEW FOOTAGE APPEARS TO SHOW MARIA DANCING IN THE VILLAGE IN CENTRAL GREECE WHERE SHE LIVED. SHE WAS ORIGINALLY SAID TO BE 4 YEARS OLD, BUT HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE WAS FALSIFIED, AND MEDICAL TESTS NOW SUGGEST SHE'S 5 OR 6. THE SPOT WHERE SHE LIVED IS NEAR THE TOWN OF FARSALA, A QUIET, UNASSUMING PLACE. TODAY THE HOUSE WAS LOCKED UP, NO ANSWER AT THE DOOR, JUST SIGNS OF A CHILD'S LIFE STREWN ACROSS THE PORCH. WHAT NOW FOR THIS MYSTERIOUS CASE? THE CHARITY THAT'S LOOKING AFTER MARIA HAS HAD OVER 8000 CALLS FROM 23 COUNTRIES. GREECE'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE HUNT IS LEADING FAR AND WIDE. WE HAVE SENT HER DNA TO ALL THE POLICE OF ALL THE WORLD SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE PROCEDURE EASIER. POLICE ARE WIDENING THEIR SEARCH INTO OTHER ROMA COMMUNITIES AFTER SUSPECTING SIMILAR CASES ELSEWHERE. SEVERAL NEW ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. WHAT SECRETS LIE IN THESE DEPRIVED AREAS? AND DO THEY HOLD THE KEY TO MARIA? IN RUSSIA, A FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER HAS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE ON A BUS IN THE CITY OF VOLGOGRAD. THE EXPLOSION'S THE FIRST BUS ATTACK IN FIVE YEARS, BUT HAS RAISED FEARS ABOUT SECURITY FOR FEBRUARY'S WINTER OLYMPICS. AND IN PAKISTAN, A BOMB ON A PASSENGER TRAIN HAS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURED 10 OTHERS. THE EXPLOSION WAS SET OFF BY REMOTE CONTROL, PARTIALLY DERAILING THE TRAIN AROUND 300KM FROM THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF QUETTA IN BALUCHISTAN. NO GROUP HAS YET TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLAST. IN MEXICO, HURRICANE RAYMOND IS POSING A NEW THREAT TO PARTS OF THE PACIFIC COAST ALREADY DEVASTATED BY LAST MONTH'S TROPICAL STORM MANUEL. THE NEWLY-FORMED STORM ALREADY HAS WINDS OF ALMOST 200KM/HR, AND MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ARE PLANNING EVACUATIONS. THE US SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION'S TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN PRIVACY AND SECURITY. JOHN KERRY'S IN PARIS, WHERE HIS ARRIVAL COINCIDED WITH NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF A US NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE AGENCY PROGRAMME THAT COLLECTED MORE THAN 70 MILLION FRENCH TELEPHONE RECORDS IN 30 DAYS. FRANCE IS ONE OF OUR OLDEST ALLIES IN THE WORLD, AND I HAVE HAD A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LAURENT FABIUS SINCE THE DAY I STARTED THIS JOB, ON MANY ISSUES, RANGING FROM SYRIA TO PROTECTING THE SECURITY OF OUR CITIZENS. AND PROTECTING THE SECURITY OF OUR CITIZENS IN TODAY'S WORLD IS A VERY COMPLICATED, VERY CHALLENGING TASK. THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY SUMMONED THE US AMBASSADOR FOR AN EXPLANATION, AND JOHN KERRY SAYS THERE WILL BE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS TO SOOTH FRENCH CONCERNS. THE UN ESTIMATES MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE RISKED THEIR LIVES SO FAR THIS YEAR LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE IN EUROPE. MANY OF THE MIGRANTS COME FROM ERITREA AND SOMALI, BUT NOW INCREASING NUMBERS OF REFUGEES FROM SYRIA ARE FLEEING THAT COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR. THE BBC'S ORLA GUERIN REPORTS FROM THE EGYPTIAN PORT OF ALEXANDRIA. ROUGH SEAS LASH THE SHORE IN ALEXANDRIA. FOR MANY FLEEING WARFARE IN SYRIA, THIS IS THE GATEWAY TO EUROPE. SMUGGLERS TAKE THEM ON A PERILOUS VOYAGE. SOME PAY WITH THEIR LIVES. FOR OTHERS, THE DREAM OF ESCAPE HAS ENDED HERE IN DETENTION. HUNDREDS ARE BEING HELD IN EGYPTIAN POLICE STATIONS. WE MANAGED TO FILM COVERTLY IN THIS ONE. EVEN INFANTS HAVE BEEN DETAINED, LIKE THIS BABY. HE'S ALREADY BEEN TRAPPED HERE FOR A MONTH. SUHA IS STRANDED TOO ` A PRISONER OF HER GRIEF. WRAPPED IN WHITE, THE BODIES OF THREE OF HER DAUGHTERS. SHE WANTED TO TAKE THEM TO SAFETY IN SWEDEN, BUT THEY DROWNED 10 DAYS AGO WHEN A SMUGGLER'S VESSEL SANK. TRANSLATOR: SUDDENLY, WATER CAME ON TOP OF US. I SAW THREE WHITE LIGHTS. I DIDN'T KNOW THEN MY THIRD DAUGHTER WAS ALSO GONE. EGYPT SAYS SYRIAN REFUGEES ARE BEING TREATED DECENTLY HERE. BUT THAT'S HOW IT LOOKS. BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT LOOKS. THEY SAY THEY'RE BEING TREATED LIKE CONVICTS AND ARE FACING GROWING HOSTILITY. IN CHINA, THERE ARE SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT SMOG LEVELS. IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THE SMOG LEVELS FORCE PEOPLE INDOORS, AND IT'S SET TO GET WORSE. THE ABC'S GLORIA RIVIERA REPORTS. IT IS AIR SO TOXIC, SO THICK WITH POLLUTION IT'S HARD TO MAKE OUT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU. HARBIN, CHINA ` A METROPOLIS HOME TO MORE PEOPLE THAN LIVE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS FROZEN IN A SOUP. ON THE ROADS, IT'S HARD TO EVEN MAKE OUT RED FROM GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS. WARNINGS TO STAY INDOORS. FOR THOSE VENTURING OUT, A MASK IS THE ONLY DEFENCE. WINTER IS THE START OF SMOG SEASON IN CHINA ` BILLOWING COAL USED FOR HEAT. IN THE CAPITAL CITY, BEIJING ` HEADLINES LAST JANUARY. SMOG SO BAD IT WAS HARD TO SEE THE SUN; YOUR EYES ITCHED AND THROAT BURNED. WATCH ME WIPE A THIN LAYER THAT'S ACCUMULATED ON MOST CARS. THAT'S SOOT AND GRIME. AND THIS IS MY OWN AIR PURIFIER. WATCH THIS. LOOK ` THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BREATHING IN BEIJING. ONE EXPERT TOLD ME IT'S LIKE BECOMING AN INSTANT SMOKER. IN CHINA TODAY, A MIND-BLOWING 1.2 MILLION PREMATURE DEATHS ARE BLAMED ON THE AIR POLLUTION. IT'S BEING CALLED AN AIR-POCALYPSE, AND WITH WINTER SETTING IN, THE FORECAST IS ONLY FOR MORE SMOG. IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST STORIES IN NZ HISTORY, AND TONIGHT IT WILL MAKE ITS OFFICIAL BIG-SCREEN DEBUT. 'BEYOND THE EDGE' DOCUMENTS THE JOURNEY OF SIR EDMUND HILLARY AND TENZING NORGAY ON THEIR HISTORIC CLIMB UP MT EVEREST. MAJESTIC MUSIC THAT LITTLE INTERNAL VOICE GOING, 'THIS IS EVEREST ` YOU'VE GOTTA GO THE EXTRA DISTANCE.' MAJESTIC MUSIC CONTINUES AND THE FAMILY OF SIR EDMUND WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE PREMIERE IN WELLINGTON TONIGHT. LATE-NIGHT SHOPPERS IN FLORIDA GOT MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR WHEN A LARGE ALLIGATOR DECIDED TO POP DOWN TO WAL-MART FOR SUPPLIES. SHOP STAFF HAD TO LOCK THE DOOR WHEN THE GATOR STOPPED RIGHT BY THE ENTRANCE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC DOORS TO OPEN AND CLOSE REPEATEDLY. WE CAME OUT, AND IT WAS RIGHT AGAINST THE DOOR. I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE IT. I MEAN, IT WAS PROBABLY 5FT, ALMOST 6FT LONG. IT WAS A NICE-SIZED GATOR, JUST CHILLIN'. APPARENTLY UNHAPPY WITH THE STORE'S SPECIAL OFFERS, THE ALLIGATOR WANDERED OFF INTO NEARBY WOODS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. WITH SONNY BILL ON BOARD, THE KIWIS FRONT UP TO DEFEND THEIR WORLD RUGBY LEAGUE CROWN. Are your savings gathering dust? DING! Then give them a chance to really grow, because there's a new millionaire created every month. Visit bonusbonds.co.nz to invest now. 1 WITH ME NOW IS JAMES PORTEOUS FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. A NEW CONTRACT FOR PACIFIC EDGE BIOTECHNOLOGY. THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. It was developed by Otago University. It is involved with the diagnosis of bladder cancer. They have made an announcement today, which is good news. The shares shot up to $.83 today. AUCKLAND AIRPORT TOURISM NUMBERS ARE OUT. HOW DO THEY LOOK? They are up 6 �%. Domestic flights are up 4.5 percent. THANK YOU, JAMES PORTEOUS FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. IN SPORT ` SUPER 15 OUTCAST MA'A NONU IS RETURNING TO THE BLUES FRANCHISE ` HIS FOURTH TEAM IN AS MANY SEASONS. IN ONE OF RUGBY'S WORST KEPT SECRETS, IT'S FINALLY BEEN CONFIRMED THE VETERAN MIDFIELDER HAS FOUND A SUPER 15 HOME AGAIN WITH THE BLUES, WHO HE TURNED HIS BACK ON AFTER THE 2012 SEASON. THE HURRICANES DIDN'T WANT THE 85-TEST STAR BACK, AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO STAY WITH THE HIGHLANDERS. GIVEN NONU'S PASSION AND FORM IN THE BLACK JERSEY, THE NATIONAL SELECTORS ARE MIGHTILY RELIEVED THE CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE HAS REJECTED OVERSEAS INTEREST TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. NZ'S RIVALS AT THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP ARE TALKING UP THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AS THE TEAM TO AVOID IN PLAY-OFFS. BUT THE KIWIS ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT READING TOO MUCH INTO THE RESULTS OF WARM-UP GAMES AS THEY TRAIN FOR THEIR FIRST ENCOUNTER AGAINST SAMOA. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY MIXED IT UP WITH THE SKIPPERS IN MANCHESTER. FIVE YEARS IS A LONG TIME BETWEEN RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUPS, SO WHAT'S ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR WAITING FOR THE START OF THIS PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR TONGA TO GET THE RIGHT KIT TO BRENT KITE? MORE TEETHING PROBLEMS WITH THE OFFICIAL IMAGERY ` THIS ARGUABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SONNY ON THE BILL, RATHER THAN YESTERDAY'S LEAGUE HERO. YESTERDAY'S FRIENDLY AGAINST THE COOK ISLANDS IS A SOURCE OF LESSONS RATHER THAN PRIDE FOR NZ. PROBABLY STILL A PRETTY SCRAPPY GAME, BUT IT WAS NICE TO TRY AND GET SOME COMBINATIONS GOING. SAMOA HOPED TO HAVE ROY ASOTASI HERE. HIS LATE CANCELLATION HASN'T HURT THE NEW SKIPPER'S PRIDE, AND IT HELPS WHEN THE LOCAL SCHOOLKIDS ARE KEEN TO HAVE A CRACK AT THE SIVA TAU. MATE, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH TALENT IN THIS SQUAD TO REALLY DO SOME DAMAGE IN THIS WORLD CUP, AND WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT NOW, MATE. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN PLAYING THE KIWIS FIRST GAME. WELL, EXCEPT PERHAPS PLAYING THEM IN THE LAST GAME. THE TOURNAMENT SIGNAGE IS OUT OF DATE, BUT EVEN WITHOUT BENJI MARSHALL, THE KIWIS LOOK LIKE THE SIDE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO MEET BEFORE THE FINAL. THEY'RE A LOT STRONGER THIS TIME AROUND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY ALARMING GIVEN THAT THEY BEAT US IN 2008. AUSTRALIA MEET ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND FOR THE TOURNAMENT CURTAIN-RAISER. THE WINNER WOULD AVOID MEETING NZ IN THE SEMIS. CAN THE HOSTS BOUNCE BACK FROM LOSING TO ITALY? WE'LL SEE, WON'T WE? WE'LL SEE SATURDAY. WE'LL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT. NO FALSE BRAVADO THERE, THOUGH THE AZZURI AND FORMER SYDNEY ROOSTER CAN CROW ALL HE LIKES FOR NOW. THE MINNOW NATIONS HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD PLAYERS IN THEM. THEY PLAY SUPER LEAGUE AND PLAY IN THE NRL. THERE'LL BE A FEW SURPRISE PACKETS, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ONE OF THOSE. SURPRISES ARE WHAT RUGBY LEAGUE NEEDS TO MAKE ITS WORLD CUP MORE THAN JUST A CLASH OF FAMILIAR BUT FORMIDABLE FOES. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, MANCHESTER. GOLFER MICHELLE WIE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE IOC'S YOUTH OLYMPICS AMBASSADOR AHEAD OF GOLF'S OLYMPIC DEBUT AT NANJING NEXT YEAR AND RIO IN 2016. THE AMERICAN GOLFER HAS HAD TWO LPGA VICTORIES AND WAS THE YOUNGEST PLAYER EVER TO QUALIFY FOR A USGA TOURNAMENT AT JUST 10 YEARS OLD. YOU'VE NOW GOT THE CHANCE TO PASS GO, COLLECT $200, AND TRAVEL AROUND AUCKLAND CITY WITH A NEW VERSION OF MONOPOLY. THE POPULAR BOARD GAME HAS BEEN GIVEN A VERY LOCAL MAKEOVER, REPLACING THE STREETS OF LONDON WITH AUCKLAND LANDMARKS. THE HOTLY CONTESTED MAYFAIR PROPERTY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE SKY TOWER. WE'VE BEEN PLAYING ON MAYFAIR FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL TO PLAY ON SOMETHING THAT` THE CITIES THAT WE KNOW AND WE DRIVE ON, AND WE PASS BY. SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. IT BRINGS IT CLOSER TO OUR HEARTS. THE BOARD GAME GOES ON SALE NEXT MONTH, AND THE MAKERS HAVE PLANS FOR OTHER KIWI CITIES TO GET THEIR OWN VERSIONS AS WELL. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE HIT SONG 'ROYALS' GETS A COUNTRY TWIST. YOU'LL RECALL YESTERDAY WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE UTAH BOY SCOUT LEADERS WHO INTENTIONALLY KNOCKED OVER AN ANCIENT DESERT ROCK FORMATION. WELL, THEY'VE BEEN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS SINCE IMAGES OF THE PAIR TOPPLING THE ROCK WENT VIRAL. MAN: # WIGGLE IT # JUST A LITTLE BIT. # MAN YELLS BOOM! (LAUGHS, WHOOPS) THE ROCK FORMATION KNOWN AS A 'GOBLIN' DATED BACK TO THE JURASSIC ERA, AND THE MEN NOW FACE PROSECUTION. THEY SAY THEY TOPPLED THE ROCK BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS UNSAFE, BUT HAVE SINCE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS NZ. NOW TO THE WEATHER. NO MISTAKING WHERE THE FRONT IS ` CLEARER SKIES TO THE NORTH UNDER THE RIDGE. THE FRONT EDGES ONTO THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND THIS EVENING. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ KIWI SINGER-SONGWRITER LORDE'S HIT SONG 'ROYALS' IS GAINING PLENTY OF ATTENTION, AND NOW IT'S BEEN COVERED IN A PRETTY CATCHY COUNTRY VERSION. COUNTRY-STYLE: # BUT EVERY SONG IS LIKE GOLD TEETH, GREY GOOSE, # TRIPPIN' IN THE BATHROOM. # BLOODSTAINS, BALL GOWNS, TRASHIN' THE HOTEL ROOM. # WE DON'T CARE. # WE'RE DRIVING CADILLACS IN OUR DREAMS. # THE BAND 'THE BEEF SEEDS' ARE BEHIND THE TWANGY COVER AND AGREE WITH THE SONG'S SENTIMENT, SAYING THEY'LL NEVER BE ROYAL EITHER. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JUNE YEOW. WWW.TVNZ.CO.NZ/ACCESS-SERVICES