IT'S MIDDAY, WEDNESDAY THE 12TH OF OCTOBER. A WINTER WONDERLAND IN SPRING. POWER OUTAGES, CRASHES AND TREES DOWNED BY A SURPRISE SNOW DUMP IN THE SOUTH. BILLIONS WIPED OFF SAMSUNG'S STOCK AFTER IT CANCELS PRODUCTION OF ITS TROUBLED NOTE SEVEN SMARTPHONE. BUT ARE THINGS SET TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE TECH GIANT? AND DONALD TRUMP WARNS THE 'SHACKLES ARE OFF', LASHING OUT AT SOME BIG NAMES. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. AHIAHI MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. CLOSE TO 2000 HOMES ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER IN CENTRAL OTAGO DUE TO A SPRING SNOW DUMP. CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS MORNING TO REMOVE SNOW FROM OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND CLEAR DEBRIS. SCHOOLS HAVE REMAINED OPEN, BUT THESE ARROWTOWN STUDENTS FACED A CHILLY START TO THE DAY WITH NO HEATING. WE'VE GOT NO POWER AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS HEATING, BUT THE CLASSROOMS ARE QUITE WARM STILL WITH RESIDUAL HEAT, AND WE'VE GOT NO IT CONNECTIONS ` NO INTERNET OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ` WHICH IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR THE WHOLE MODERN LEARNING PROCESS, BUT WE'RE DOING FINE. AURORA ENERGY EXPECTS TO HAVE THE POWER BACK ON LATER TODAY. SERVICE STATIONS ARE RAMPING UP THE FIGHT AGAINST ROBBERS WHO STEAL CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO IN OFTEN VIOLENT ATTACKS. GULL HAS INSTALLED THE COUNTRY'S FIRST ANTI-THEFT TOBACCO DISPENSER IN ONE OF ITS AUCKLAND STATIONS. THE LOCK BOX DISPENSES CIGARETTES ONE PACKET AT A TIME AND ONLY ONCE THE SALE HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH THE TILL. IT'S A GERMAN DESIGN AND COSTS $30,000 TO INSTALL. GULL SAYS IT'S HAD EIGHT OF THE 58 AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES AT NZ SERVICE STATIONS IN THE YEAR TO SEPTEMBER. THE CAMPAIGN FOR KIWIS TO HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO MEDICINAL CANNABIS HAS MADE IT TO PARLIAMENT. SUPPORTERS HAVE PRESENTED A PETITION WITH MORE THAN 16,000 SIGNATURES, CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE LAW REFORM THAT WOULD ALLOW DOCTORS TO APPROVE MEDICINES, RATHER THAN A MINISTER. KAITLIN RUDDOCK IS AT PARLIAMENT. KAITLIN, WHAT HAS THE TURNOUT BEEN LIKE? A modest turnout about 40 to 50 people, but they made their voices heard this morning, especially when the organiser spoke to the crowd. They were very vocal when she spoke as she paid tribute to her son who died last year despite receiving cannabis treatment. HELEN IS ONE OF THOUSANDS THAT NEED MEDICINAL CANNIBIS FOR PAIN RELIEF, FOR NAUSEA, FOR MUSCLE SPASMS. WE SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE DYING TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE CANNABIS, MR KEY. A number of Mps were here today, including Damien O'Connor who will present this to Parliament. THE FAMILY OF A CANTERBURY TEENAGER WHO'S NOW BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK ARE PLEADING FOR ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD. YURI SANTANA (17) VANISHED FROM A SOUTH CANTERBURY FARM LAST TUESDAY WITHOUT ANY MONEY OR PHONE. POLICE HAVE ALSO VOICED CONCERNS FOR HIS SAFETY. THE LAST PHOTOS OF KIWI WARRIENA WRIGHT AND THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING HER HAVE BEEN SHOWN INSIDE THE BRISBANE SUPREME COURT. THE SELFIES SHOW THE COUPLE LOOKING HAPPY ON THEIR TINDER DATE JUST BEFORE THINGS TURNED VIOLENT AND THE 26-YEAR-OLD PLUNGED TO HER DEATH. A WARNING ` YOU MAY FIND PARTS OF THIS REPORT FROM CHANNEL NINE DISTRESSING. GABLE TOSTEE AND WARRIENA WRIGHT IN A SERIES OF SELFIES FOUND ON HIS CAMERA. THEY WERE TAKEN IN THE HOURS BEFORE THE NZ TOURIST FELL TO HER DEATH IN 2014. NOW HER TINDER DATE IS ON TRIAL FOR MURDER. THE HAD BEEN DRINKING AND HAVING SEX IN HIS SURFERS PARADISE APARTMENT. WARRIENA HAD, ALLEGEDLY, BEEN THROWING ORNAMENTAL ROCKS AT HIM. IT'S ALLEGED TOSTEE FORCES HER ON TO THE BALCONY, LOCKS THE DOOR. MOMENTS LATER, SHE FALLS 14 FLOORS TO HER DEATH. NEXT, TOSTEE LEAVES HIS APARTMENT, CALLS HIS FATHER AND ARRANGES TO BE PICKED UP. HE TELLS HIM THAT THERE ARE POLICE EVERYWHERE AND THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE CROWN SAYS TOSTEE IS RESPONSIBLE, BECAUSE HIS ACTIONS MADE WARRIENA FEARFUL WITH NO OPTION BUT TO TRY AND ESCAPE BY CLIMBING DOWN. THE DEFENCE CLAIMS HE WAS ENTITLED TO RESTRAIN HER TO PROTECT HIMSELF. AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION MPS SAY THEY'LL BLOCK THE PRIME MINISTER'S PLAN TO HOLD A NATIONAL VOTE ON LEGALISING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. MALCOLM TURNBULL HAS PROMISED TO PUT THE ISSUE TO A NON-BINDING BALLOT VOTE NEXT YEAR. BUT CRITICS SAY PARLIAMENT SHOULD MAKE THE DECISION ITSELF, AS THE VOTING PROCESS IS EXPENSIVE AND COULD UNLEASH HOMOPHOBIC RHETORIC. PARLIAMENT WILL STILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO HOLD THE VOTE, BUT WITHOUT OPPOSITION AND CROSSBENCH SUPPORT, ITS UNLIKELY TO PASS. BILLIONS HAVE BEEN WIPED OFF SAMSUNG'S STOCK AFTER THE KOREAN TECH GIANT GAVE IN AND CANCELLED PRODUCTION OF ITS TROUBLED NOTE SEVEN SMARTPHONE. THE FINAL BLOW COMES JUST A DAY AFTER THE FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF A NOTE SEVEN CATCHING FIRE IN NZ. THE BBC'S RORY CELLAN-JONES REPORTS. IN A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT IN SOUTH KOREA, A PHONE IS ON FIRE ` ONE OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS, AND THESE ALL INVOLVE REPLACEMENT NOTE 7S SENT OUT AFTER THE FIRST OVERHEATING ISSUES EMERGED. NOW SAMSUNG HAS ADMITTED DEFEAT, HALTING PRODUCTION AND SALES OF THE PHONE. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TURN THEM OFF AND RETURN THEM TO STORES. SHARES IN THE COMPANY FELL SHARPLY, WIPING BILLIONS OFF ITS VALUE AS INVESTORS WORRIED THAT THE REPUTATION OF ITS OTHER PRODUCTS MIGHT SUFFER. IT REALLY IS RESPECTED AS BEING TECHNOLOGICALLY EXCELLENT AND ALSO GREAT FUNCTIONALLY. NOW, WHEN THAT VERY BASIS OF TRUST HAS BEEN DAMAGED, THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO RECOVER FROM. AND THAT WILL BE THE TEST WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME OF THE VALUE THAT THEY REALLY ARE LOSING BY THE DAY. WHILE THIS INCIDENT IS THE MOST SERIOUS SO FAR, SAMSUNG ISN'T ALONE IN SEEING SMART-PHONE BATTERIES OVERHEAT. MODERN SMART PHONES ARE IMMENSELY POWERFUL COMPUTERS. THEY USE AN AWFUL LOT OF ENERGY TO MAKE ALL THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS WORK. THAT ENERGY COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IT GETS RELEASED QUICKLY, AND IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAN HAPPEN. THAT IS JUST THE PROBLEM. WE WANT MORE AND MORE FROM OUR PHONES, BUT AS SAMSUNG HAS FOUND TO ITS COST, THE ONE THING WE DEMAND ABOVE ALL OTHERS IS THAT THEY ARE SAFE. AND IT COULD GET WORSE FOR SAMSUNG, WITH ITS LONG-AWAITED HALF BILLION DOLLAR SUPREME COURT BATTLE AGAINST APPLE STARTING TODAY. SAMSUNG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF COPYING THE IPHONE'S DESIGN IN SOME OF ITS PHONES IN 2012 AND ORDERED TO TURN OVER PROFITS. IT PAID APPLE MORE THAN $750M IN DECEMBER BUT IS NOW TRYING TO GET SOME OF THAT BACK, ARGUING DESIGN IS ONLY ONE SMALL PART OF A COMPLEX SMARTPHONE SO IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TURN OVER ALL ITS PROFIT. APPLE SAYS DESIGN DRIVES CONSUMERS AND THE REMEDY WAS FAIR. THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING WILL BE PRECEDENT-SETTING AND COULD TAKE UP TO EIGHT MONTHS. WE'RE ADDICTED TO BUYING PROPERTY AND COMFORTABLE BORROWING MASSIVE AMOUNTS AGAINST A HOUSE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO REAL ESTATE DATA ANALYSTS WHO SAY KIWIS COULD BE MISSING A TRICK WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEST-PERFORMING INVESTMENTS. CHRIS CHANG EXPLAINS. AND THE MARKET IN FREE FALL. IT'S SCENES LIKE THESE THAT HAVE SCARRED THE CONFIDENCE OF MANY IN FINANCIAL MARKETS. DOWN BY EVERY CONCEIVABLE MEASURE. THESE DAYS HOUSING'S THE HOT INVESTMENT FOR KIWIS. NEWLY-RELEASED FIGURES SHOW REAL ESTATE LOANS MAKE UP 87% OF TOTAL INDIVIDUAL DEBT. THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND WHAT A SHAREMARKET IS, BECAUSE A PROPORTIONAL OWNERSHIP IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT FEELS QUITE REMOVED FROM OWNING THE SECURITY OF A PHYSICAL OBJECT LIKE A HOUSE. YOU CAN TOUCH IT, YOU CAN FEEL IT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW AND YOU CAN LIVE IN. MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES IN OUR MAIN CITIES HAVE SHOT UP RECENTLY. BUT THE STOCK MARKET'S NOW ON A STELLAR RUN TOO. THE NZX50 ARE KEY TO THE NZ SHARE MARKETS. IT'S ACTUALLY OUTPERFORMED THE HOUSING MARKET IN AUCKLAND BY AROUND 50%. JUST LIKE FOR LIKE, PUTTING YOUR MONEY INTO THE SHAREMARKET HAS PAID OF BETTER. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEBT AGAINST OUR SHARE PURCHASES, BUT FOR HOUSES, WE CAN TAKE OUT BIG MORTGAGES AND THE EQUITY GAINS FOR THE HOME OWNER IS IN FACT MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT WE SEE IN SHAREMARKETS. BUT SOME SAY OUR HOUSING OBSESSION COULD BE BLINDING US FROM OTHER INVESTMENTS. INFATUATION, I GUESS. YOU JUST LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE OF OTHER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER IF EVERYONE IS MAKING A LEVEL-HEADED DECISION. AND THERE'S A WARNING FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE PAST PROPERTY ` THERE IS NO ONE-WAY BET WHEN IT COMES TO ASSET PRICES GOING UP OR DOWN. A BET THAT COULD DISPROVE THE THEORY THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. DONALD TRUMP'S DECLARED THE SHACKLES ARE OFF, UNLEASING A FIRESTORM ON HIS OWN PARTY. IN A SERIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, HE BLASTED THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN, CALLING HIM A 'WEAK' LEADER, AND SLAMMING THE PARTY AS DISLOYAL. THE ABC'S TOM LLAMAS HAS MORE. WITH DONALD TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN IN CRISIS, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE PROCLAIMING ON TWITTER HE IS A FREE MAN. AT HIS RALLIES, ONCE HOLDING BACK, BUT NOW JOINING THE CROWD IN THEIR CHANT. LOCK HER UP IS RIGHT. NO. CROWD CHEERS HE KEPT GOING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ASHAMED OF THIS COUNTRY AS WHAT'S GONE ON WITH HILLARY CLINTON. AND ISSUING THIS WARNING. THIS IS A MOVEMENT LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN. IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ON NOVEMBER 8TH, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN FOR OUR COUNTRY. BELIEVE ME, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. TODAY, A TRUMP TWEET STORM ATTACKING FELLOW REPUBLICANS, COMPLAINING ` ADDING ` LAST NIGHT, JOHN MCCAIN AT HIS OWN DEBATE ASKED IF HE'LL VOTE FOR TRUMP. SERIOUSLY, I CANNOT VOTE FOR EITHER ONE. MCCAIN PULLING SUPPORT AFTER THIS VIDEO. TRUMP ON A BUS, BRAGGING HIS CELEBRITY STATUS ALLOWS HIM TO GROPE WOMEN. TRUMP TWEETING ` AND TONIGHT, TRUMP ATTACKING CLINTON IN THIS BRUTAL NEW AD. MAN: HILLARY CLINTON DOESN'T HAVE THE FORTITUDE, STRENGTH OR STAMINA TO LEAD IN OUR WORLD. IT COMES JUST 48 HOURS AFTER TRUMP DESCRIBE CLINTON THIS WAY. SHE DOESN'T QUIT. SHE DOESN'T GIVE UP. I RESPECT THAT. A MILLION DOSES OF THE CHOLERA VACCINE IS BEING SENT TO HAITI IN THE WAKE OF DEVASTATION CAUSED BY HURRICANE MATTHEW. AT LEAST 1,000 PEOPLE DIED IN THE STORM AND MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. THE HURRICANE ACCELERATED THE ALREADY-EXISTING CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN THE COUNTRY. AID HAS ALSO BEEN SENT IN TO THE DISASTER ZONES, WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS ARE WITHOUT FOOD OR SHELTER. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY CALLS FOR PROTESTS OUTSIDE RUSSIAN EMBASSIES AS DEADLY AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE TO POUND THE BESIEGED CITY OF ALEPPO. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE GOES IT ALONE IN EUROPE, FOR SOME SOFT AND SUBTLE POST-BREXIT DIPLOMACY. RISE, SIR ROD. THE 'DA YA THINK I'M SEXY?' SINGER IS KNIGHTED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. AND ANOTHER MASSIVE LOSS. THE BLACKCAPS ARE TROUNCED BY INDIA. Ah, just a wee bit up. And to the right a little bit. Perfect! Oh, beauty, guys! Mmm. Maybe a touch left and down a bit. A CHILLING VIDEO HAS BEEN DISCOVERED ON YOUTUBE OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A YOUNG GIRL TIED UP IN HIS AMERICAN HOME. THE FBI IS NOW INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE VIDEO IS REAL OR A CRUEL PRANK, AS THERE COULD BE A CONNECTION TO A 7-YEAR-OLD MISSING PERSON CASE. THE ABC'S ALEX PEREZ REPORTS. THIS CHILLING YOUTUBE VIDEO REIGNITING A MYSTERY THAT HAS STUMPED WISCONSIN INVESTIGATORS FOR SEVEN YEARS. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF KAYLA BERG. I WAS AT THE MALL TODAY, AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED! I MET THE MOST WONDERFUL GIRL! THE RECORDING LESS THAN A MINUTE LONG. WE GOT KINDA TIRED OF THE MALL, AND I BROUGHT HER BACK TO MY PLACE. SAYING HIS GIRLFRIEND HATES CAMERAS. BUT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HER ANYWAY! ARE YOU READY? THE CAMERA THEN CUTS TO A MAN OPENING A DOOR, REVEALING A ` THE VIDEO, POSTED IN 2009, A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE TEENAGER VANISHED IS ONLY NOW GOING VIRAL, MANY ASKING 'IS IT A HOAX?' IF IT'S A HOAX, YOU KNOW, WE STILL TAKE IT SERIOUS, UNTIL WE DETERMINE THAT IT IS A HOAX. THE FBI HELPING OUT WITH THE INVESTIGATION IN BERG'S HOMETOWN OF ANTIGO, WISCONSIN. KAYLA'S MUM WORRIED THE GIRL IN THE VIDEO COULD BE HER DAUGHTER. IT SOUNDED LIKE HER, LOOKED LIKE HER. IT GAVE ME CHILLS. TODAY, YOUTUBE TAKING DOWN THAT VIDEO FOR VIOLATING ITS POLICY ON VIOLENCE OR GRAPHIC CONTENT. RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS CANCELLED A PLANNED VISIT TO FRANCE AMID A ROW OVER SYRIA. HE'D BEEN DUE TO MEET FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE AND OPEN A NEW ORTHODOX CHURCH LATER THIS MONTH. BUT AFTER FRANCE'S GOVERNMENT SAID TALKS WOULD BE CONFINED TO SYRIA, THE VISIT WAS CANNED. IT COMES AFTER MR HOLLANDE SUGGESTED RUSSIA COULD FACE WAR CRIMES CHARGES OVER ITS BOMBARDMENT OF ALEPPO. MR PUTIN HAS SAID HE'LL VISIT WHEN HE BECOMES 'COMFORTABLE' WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENT. AND RUSSIA'S FACING CRITICISM FROM THE UK PARLIAMENT, WITH BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY TAKING THE UNUSUAL STEP OF CALLING FOR ANTI-WAR CAMPAIGNERS TO PROTEST OUTSIDE OF RUSSIAN EMBASSIES. BORIS JOHNSON MADE THE COMMENTS DURING A DEBATE ON THE CRISIS IN SYRIA. THE BBC'S JAMES LANDALE REPORTS. PEOPLE CHEER ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL PULLED FROM THE RUBBLE OF EASTERN ALEPPO, ANOTHER CHILD LEFT ORPHANED BY THE WAR THAT'S DEVASTATED SO MANY LIVES. AS RUSSIAN WARPLANES RESUMED THEIR BOMBING OF REBEL-HELD DISTRICTS, THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY IN WESTMINSTER, MPS DEBATED THE CRISIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS. WE HAVE A CHOICE. WE CAN TURN AWAY FROM THE MISERY AND SUFFERING OF CHILDREN AND HUMANITY IN ALEPPO. WE CAN ONCE AGAIN, ON OUR WATCH, APPEASE TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL LAW BREAKER, RUSSIA, OR WE CAN BE SEEN TO TAKE A LEAD. WE CANNOT UNSEE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, AND WE MUST NOT TURN OUR BACKS ON THE GREATEST CRIME OF OUR CENTURY. LISTENING TO THAT ON THE FRONT BENCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS NEW JOB WAS THE FOREIGN SECRETARY. HE SAID RUSSIA SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES, HE CALLED FOR FRESH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND... I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY. THAT PROMPTED A FLURRY OF SARCASM FROM RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WAS NOT HOLDING BACK. IF RUSSIA CONTINUES IN ITS CURRENT PATH, THEN I BELIEVE THAT GREAT COUNTRY IS IN DANGER OF BECOMING A PARIAH NATION. BUT MPS WANTED MORE THAN JUST PROTEST. SOME DEMANDED NO-FLY ZONES OVER ALEPPO AND ELSEWHERE. BUT THAT WOULD INVOLVE THE WEST BEING PREPARED TO DESTROY RUSSIAN AND SYRIAN WARPLANES AND AIR DEFENCES. SOME SAID MORE AID SHOULD BE DROPPED BY PLAIN, BUT THESE CRATES CAN LAND IN THE WRONG PLACE AND OFTEN DON'T CONTAIN ENOUGH. AND OTHERS CALLED FOR YET MORE DIPLOMACY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A ROLE FOR SANCTIONS TO GET RUSSIAN BACK TO THE TABLE. WHAT PEOPLE IN SYRIA NEED IS BREAD NOT BOMBS. NONE OF THIS, THOUGH, WILL CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOSE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE HERE IN THE RUINS OF EAST ALEPPO, FOR THEIR FATE IS BEING DECIDED BY DEBATES IN MOSCOW AND DAMASCUS, NOT LONDON OR WASHINGTON. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE HAS MADE HER FIRST SOLO OVERSEAS TRIP. SHE'S BEEN IN THE NETHERLANDS FOR A DAY OF ENGAGEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDED DISCUSSIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND A VISIT TO SEE SOME OLD MASTERS. HERE'S THE BBC'S NICHOLAS WITCHELL. GOING SOLO ABROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE ON A MISSION OF MORE THAN USUAL SIGNIFICANCE. THIS A MOMENT WHEN BRITAIN NEEDS TO CULTIVATE FRIENDSHIPS IN EUROPE. BRITAIN'S LINKS WITH THE NETHERLANDS GO BACK CENTURIES. SO WHEN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR, REPRESENTED BY KATHERINE, MET THE HOUSE OF ORANGE, REPRESENTED BY KING WILLEM-ALEXANDER, THE IMAGE THAT WAS BEING PROJECTED WAS OF TWO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH SHARED HISTORY AND MANY SHARED INTERESTS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT EACH IS A HUGE EXPORT MARKET FOR THE OTHER. NO ONE, OF COURSE, WAS CRUDE ENOUGH TO MENTION THE WORD 'BREXIT'. THAT'S FOR THE POLITICIANS. THERESA MAY WAS HERE JUST YESTERDAY CANVASSING SUPPORT FROM THE DUTCH PRIME MINISTER. ART IS MORE KATHERINE'S STYLE. SHE VISITED THE HAGUE'S ROYAL GALLERY TO VIEW PAINTINGS, INCLUDING VERMEER'S 'GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING'. BUT WHAT THE SPECTATOR WITH THE PEARL EARRINGS WAS DEMONSTRATING WAS THE ART OF SOFT DIPLOMACY. VISITING A GALLERY OR JOINING AN ART WORKSHOP MAY NOT BE VERY DEMANDING, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A VISIT SUCH AS THIS SHOULDN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED. MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY DON'T DO POLITICS, BUT THEY DO DO DIPLOMACY OF THE SOFT AND SUBTLE VARIETY, PROMOTING BRITAIN'S IMAGE AND REPUTATION ABROAD. SO VISITS SUCH AS THIS TO IMPORTANT EUROPEAN ALLIES HAVE A NEW SIGNIFICANCE. MEMO, THEN, TO THE ROYAL TOUR ORGANISERS ` KATHERINE LED THE WAY IN THE NETHERLANDS. THE REST OF EUROPE BECKONS. VETERAN ROCKER ROD STEWART HAS BEEN KNIGHTED IN LONDON. IN A NOD TO HIS SCOTTISH HERITAGE, THE 71-YEAR-OLD DONNED TARTAN TROUSERS TO BE KNIGHTED BY PRINCE WILLIAM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE RASPY-VOICED SINGER OF 'MAGGIE MAY' AND 'DA YA THINK I'M SEXY?' WAS HONOURED 'FOR SERVICES TO MUSIC AND CHARITY'. WHEN THE AWARD WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE PROMISED THE QUEEN HE'D 'WEAR IT WELL'. INDIA HAVE COMPLETED A 3-NIL TEST WHITEWASH OF THE BLACK CAPS, AFTER YET ANOTHER BATTING COLLAPSE. RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN CLAIMED 6/81 IN THE FIRST INNINGS AND 7/59 IN THE SECOND, LEADING THE HOSTS TO A 321-RUN DEMOLITION OF THE BLACK CAPS IN THE THIRD AND FINAL TEST IN INDORE. BOWLED HIM! ANOTHER VERY GOOD DELIVERY. HE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO ATTACK. HE STRUCK TWICE. BOTH SIDES HAVE THREE DAYS' REST, BEFORE STARTING A THREE-MATCH ONE-DAY SERIES ON SUNDAY. THE BREAKERS ARE RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THEIR GRAND FINAL LOSS LAST SEASON, READY FOR ANOTHER SHOWDOWN AGAINST THEIR BIGGEST RIVALS. THE TEAM LEFT FOR PERTH TODAY AND ARE ANTICIPATING A TYPICALLY HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE FOR FRIDAY'S CLASH, THEIR FIRST AGAINST THE WILDCATS SINCE BEING THUMPED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER. HOPEFULLY WE CARRY A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW, BITTERNESS, I GUESS, AND BRING THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF TOUGHNESS AND JUST WANTING TO GET A WIN IN THAT PLACE TO TRY AND MAKE OURSELVES FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THE BREAKERS AND PERTH HAVE COMBINED TO WIN THE LAST SEVEN NBL CHAMPIONSHIPS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE STAGGERING AMOUNT THIS SKY BLUE DIAMOND RING'S EXPECTED TO FETCH AT AUCTION. NOW TO THE WEATHER. HIGH CLOUD COVERS MOST OF THE COUNTRY, THE THICKEST OVER THE WEST AND SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ BEFORE WE GO, CHECK OUT THIS ULTIMATE BLING RING WHICH IS SET TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER. TIPPED TO FETCH UP TO $35M, THE SKY BLUE CARTIER DIAMOND RING HAS BEEN DISPLAYED AT SOTHEBY'S IN LONDON AHEAD OF ITS NOVEMBER AUCTION. IT HOLDS A RARE 8.1 CARAT STONE AND IS PART OF THE AUCTION HOUSE'S 'MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AND NOBLE JEWELS' COLLECTION. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE 1 NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT SIX. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY ANTONY VLUG AND PHILIP MCKIBBIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016