IT'S MIDDAY, WEDNESDAY THE 14TH OF DECEMBER. AN ARMED FUGITIVE'S ON THE LOOSE IN AUCKLAND AFTER POINTING A GUN AT A POLICE OFFICER'S FACE. WE'RE LIVE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM POLICE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STREAM OUT OF ALEPPO AS FIGHTING FINALLY ENDS IN THE BESIEGED CITY, WITH SYRIAN REBELS AGREEING TO LEAVE IN THE COMING HOURS. AND ICONIC MAORI SINGER BUNNY WALTERS, BEST KNOWN FOR HIS HIT 'BRANDY', HAS DIED AFTER FIGHTING AN ILLNESS. POLICE ARE HUNTING FOR A MAN WHO POINTED A FIREARM AT AN OFFICER'S FACE AFTER FLEEING A TRAFFIC STOP IN AUCKLAND EARLY THIS MORNING. THE MAN FAILED TO PULL OVER FOR POLICE IN ONEHUNGA JUST BEFORE 1AM. HE THEN SPED OFF TOWARDS NEARBY THREE KINGS, WHERE HE DUMPED THE CAR AND RAN OFF, AIMING HIS GUN AT THE POLICE OFFICER CHASING HIM ON FOOT. LAURA TWYMAN JOINS US LIVE FROM THE SCENE IN THREE KINGS NOW. LAURA, WHAT ARE POLICE SAYING? Police have identified the man as Hayden Rizvi. It was here in Three Kings at one a.M. Hen he dumped the stolen car he was in a man from police. He then aimed the gun at an officers face and escaped. He is on the loose. He is 180 cm tall, Caucasian and of a thin build. There are 15 warrants for his arrest. All of those offences are of a serious nature. HE'S COME TO POLICE'S ATTENTION BEFORE. IT'S NOT TRADITIONALLY BEEN WITH ANYTHING WITH A FIREARM, SO WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHY HE HAD A FIREARM THIS TIME. BUT TO POINT A FIREARM AT A POLICE MEMBER IS OBVIOUSLY QUITE CONCERNING. IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF OFFENDING. SO WE ASK THE PUBLIC NOT TO APPROACH HIM AND TO RING US STRAIGHT AWAY. pOlice are calling for the man to Turn himself in. Police are continuing to actively search for him. 'A COMPLETE MELTDOWN OF HUMANITY.' THAT'S HOW THE UNITED NATIONS IS DESCRIBING THE PLIGHT OF CIVILIANS IN EASTERN ALEPPO AS GOVERNMENT FORCES TAKE THE LAST OF THE CITY. IT DOESN'T MARK THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR WAR, BUT IT'S A MAJOR TURNING POINT IN PRESIDENT ASSAD'S FAVOUR. 10S OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN POURING OUT OF THE CITY WITH THE NEWS A CEASEFIRE WILL BE IN PLACE IN THE COMING HOURS. THIS WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A CRUSHING VICTORY. AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING, THESE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN CAN RESIST NO MORE. THE REBELLION AGAINST PRESIDENT ASSAD IN ALEPPO IS OVER. THE FINAL PUSH, SOME THREE WEEKS OF IT, BROKE THE EAST. EVEN THE CITY'S RESCUE SQUADS, THE BRITISH-BACKED WHITE HELMETS, HAVE GIVEN UP. THEY TOO WILL BE EVACUATED FROM ALEPPO. ONE RESCUER TELLS US, 'YESTERDAY WE HEARD SOUNDS OF CHILDREN 'UNDER RUBBLE, CRYING AND CALLING FOR HELP, 'BUT WE COULDN'T HELP THEM BECAUSE THE REGIME FORCES HAD ADVANCED 'AND THE BOMBARDMENT WAS INTENSE.' GUNFIRE THE SYRIAN ARMY HAD HELP HERE. RUSSIAN WAR PLANES AND FOREIGN SHIA FIGHTERS BROUGHT SIEGE AND COLLAPSE. THEY'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES, SHOOTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE STREETS. TRANSLATOR: THESE REPORTS ARE TOTALLY BASELESS AND UNTRUE. THE SYRIAN ARAB ARMY WOULD NEVER DO SUCH THINGS. IN REALITY, THE ARMY IS HELPING TO SECURE THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS. THE ARMY IS ALSO HELPING TO SECURE THE DEPARTURE OF ANY FIGHTERS WHO SURRENDER. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TARNISH THE IMAGE OF THE SYRIAN ARMY AFTER ITS VICTORY. MAN SHOUTS IN ARABIC IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS OF HELL. AND FOR MOST OF IT, BASIL, AN ACTIVIST, HAS GUIDED US THROUGH, DAY AND NIGHT. HERE HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE RUBBLE AFTER HIS HOME WAS HIT BY A PARACHUTE BOMB. GUNFIRE LATER, HE WATCHED THEM FALL IN OTHER NEIGHBOURHOODS. BUT AS NEWS OF THE TRUCE BROKE, WE WERE AGAIN ABLE TO REACH HIM DEEP INSIDE EASTERN ALEPPO JUST BEFORE HE LEFT THE CITY. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: IT'S QUIET HERE. PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREETS, AND NOTHING CAN DESCRIBE HOW HAPPY THE PEOPLE ARE. CEASEFIRE FOLLOWED BY EVACUATION FROM THE DESTROYED CITY. IT MADE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A LOT, IT MADE THEM HAPPY. THE VICTORY HERE IS PRESIDENT ASSAD'S. ALEPPO IS HIS NOW. BUT HE DIDN'T DO IT ALONE. HE NEEDED RUSSIAN AND IRANIAN HELP. FINALLY TONIGHT, THE CITY IS QUIET. BUT BEYOND HERE, MUCH OF SYRIA REMAINS DIVIDED AND STILL VERY FAR FROM PEACE. AND DRONE FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED SHOWING THE COMPLETE DEVASTATION OF EAST ALEPPO. THE STREETS ARE DESERTED AND MOST OF THE BUILDINGS AND HOMES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO RUBBLE. AIRSTRIKES AND FIGHTING BETWEEN REBELS AND SYRIAN TROOPS HAVE CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION HERE, MOST OF IT IN RECENT WEEKS. LABOUR MP JACINDA ARDERN'S CONFIRMED SHE WANTS TO BE HER PARTY'S CANDIDATE FOR THE SEAT OF MT ALBERT. MS ARDERN WANTS TO REPLACE DAVID SHEARER, WHO'S RESIGNED TO HEAD THE UNITED NATION'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN. MS ARDERN'S A LABOUR LIST MP AND SPOKESPERSON ON JUSTICE, CHILDREN, ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE. A BY-ELECTION'S EXPECTED IN MT ALBERT NEXT YEAR, GIVEN PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH IS RULING OUT AN EARLY ELECTION AT THIS STAGE. A TOURISM PACKAGE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY TO ENTICE VISITORS BACK TO THE HOTSPOT OF HANMER SPRINGS AFTER THE NOVEMBER 14 EARTHQUAKE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER STEVEN JOYCE SAYS TOURISM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED IN THE CANTERBURY TOWN DESPITE NO SERIOUS EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE. THE $350,000 PACKAGE INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR MARKETING THE HURUNUI DISTRICT AND HIRING EXTRA STAFF. AND THE RED CROSS IS OFFERING A $1000 GRANT TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AFFECTED BY THE QUAKE TO RECOVER. PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES WERE RED- OR YELLOW-STICKERED OR WHO HAD TO EVACUATE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK ARE ENTITLED TO THE MONEY. THE EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED NEARLY 17,000 INSURANCE CLAIMS SO FAR. CORRECTIONS IS INVESTIGATING WHAT LED TO THE DEATH OF AN INMATE AT CHRISTCHURCH MEN'S PRISON YESTERDAY MORNING. CORRECTIONS CONFIRMED TO 1 NEWS THE MAN WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN HIS CELL AND DIDN'T RESPOND TO MEDICAL TREATMENT. AS WITH ALL DEATHS IN CUSTODY, IT'S NOW SUBJECT TO A CORRECTIONS REVIEW AND CORONER'S INQUEST. AFTER WEEKS OF MEETINGS AND TWEETS ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS, DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE IT OFFICIAL ` HE'S PICKED OIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE REX TILLERSON TO BE US SECRETARY OF STATE. BUT THE DECISION IS RAISING RED FLAGS FOR BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. HERE THE ABC'S KAREN TRAVERS. REX TILLERSON DOESN'T HAVE GOVERNMENT OR MILITARY EXPERIENCE, BUT PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HIS PICK FOR SECRETARY OF STATE IS... WE JUST COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE OF REX TILLERSON'S PROVEN LEADERSHIP AND ACCOMPLISHMENT'S BEEN WILLING TO STEP FORWARD AND SERVE OUR NATION. TILLERSON'S SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER AT OIL GIANT EXXON MOBIL. HE'S BEEN THE COMPANY'S CEO SINCE 2006. AND NOW UNDER A MICROSCOPE, TILLERSON'S DEEP TIES TO VLADIMIR PUTIN. I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE 1999, AND I HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS ` MARCO RUBIO, LINDSEY GRAHAM AND JOHN MCCAIN ` PUBLICLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. IT COULD NEED THE DEMOCRATS JOINING WITH REPUBLICANS IN A NARROWLY DIVIDED SENATE TO BEAT THAT NOMINATION. AND TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, TRUMP'S EXPECTED TO PICK A ONE-TIME RIVAL ` FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY. A BIT OF IRONY HERE. IF CONFIRMED, PERRY WOULD LEAD THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT HE SAID DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL RUN HE WANTED TO ELIMINATE. TRUMP'S ALSO TAKING HEAT FOR POSTPONING A THURSDAY PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE'S EXPECTED TO LAY OUT HOW HE'LL SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM HIS BUSINESSES ONCE HE'S SWORN IN. SO HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A DISTRACTION? THIS MORNING AT TRUMP TOWER, A QUICK PHOTO OP WITH KANYE WEST. HE'S A GOOD MAN. SINGER BUNNY WALTERS, WHO ENTERTAINED KIWI TELEVISION AUDIENCES FOR TWO DECADES, HAS DIED IN WAIKATO AFTER A SHORT ILLNESS. THE MAORI ARTIST CAME TO FAME IN THE EARLY 1970S, TAKING INSPIRATION FOR HIS BRAND OF SOUL FROM THE LIKES OF TOM JONES AND THE DRIFTERS. # PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. # PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. # IF NOT FOR CHRISTMAS, # BY NEW YEAR'S NIGHT. # BUNNY WALTERS HAD A NUMBER OF NZ HITS BUT IS BEST KNOWN FOR THE SONG 'BRANDY'. HE WAS 63. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` 2016 IS SET TO BE NZ'S HOTTEST ON RECORD, BUT IT'S SYDNEY REALLY FEELING THE HEAT, WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES ON HIGH ALERT AS TEMPERATURES SOAR TO ALMOST 40 DEGREES. PLUS, 'VERY AUSTRALIAN'. FIND OUT WHAT MADE USMAN KHAWAJA LAUGH AS HE'S SET TO TAKE ON HIS COUNTRY OF BIRTH. 2016 IS SET TO BE NZ'S HOTTEST ON RECORD, BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET IN 1998. NIWA SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPERATURES NEARLY A DEGREE HIGHER THAN AVERAGE. AUGUST WAS THE ONLY MONTH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. THIS YEAR WE HAD THE WARMING OF THE EARTH, BUT THEN WE HAD A LOT OF NORTHERLY WINDS. FOR THE FIRST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS, THE WIND BASICALLY` THE WORD 'NORTH' CAME FROM THE WIND DIRECTION. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS IN THE DESCRIPTION. AND OUR OCEAN TEMPERATURES, BEING AN ISLAND NATION, IF THE OCEAN TEMPERATURES ARE WARM, IT HAS A PLAY-ON EFFECT, A RIPPLE EFFECT FOR US. GLOBALLY, THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION PREDICTS 2016 WILL BE THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD. THAT'LL BE EASY TO BELIEVE FOR THOSE LIVING IN SYDNEY, WHO'VE BEEN SWEATING THROUGH THE HOTTEST DECEMBER DAY IN 11 YEARS, WITH TEMPERTAURES SOARING TO ALMOST 40 DEGREES. WITH THE SCORCHING HEAT CAME INCREASED RISK OF FIRES, WITH ONE COMMUNITY SEEING THE THREAT FIRST-HAND WHEN FLAMES CAME WITHIN METRES OF THEIR HOMES. CHANNEL NINE'S KATE CREEDON REPORTS. FAST AND FURIOUS. AN OUT-OF-CONTROL GRASS FIRE BURNS THROUGH A MAN'S BACK YARD AT LLANDILO. WITH THE WIND WHIPPING UP FLAMES, FIREFIGHTERS HAD THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM. I WAS AT WORK. GOT A CALL FROM MY SON SAYING THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE BACK YARD. SO OBVIOUSLY WITH THE EXTREME CONDITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I HUNG UP STRAIGHT AWAY AND RANG TRIPLE O. VOLUNTEERS MANAGED TO BRING IT UNDER CONTROL JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. THE FIRE CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE FENCE WHERE HIS NEIGHBOUR'S PRIZED GREYHOUNDS WERE KENNELLED. TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD IT ACROSS THE ROAD. IT WAS AROUND US. AND THEN NOW IT CAME AGAIN. IT'S LITTLE WONDER RESIDENTS HERE ARE GETTING FED UP WITH THE CONSTANT THREAT OF FIRE. AT NEARBY LONDONDERRY, POLICE CHARGED A 34-YEAR-OLD WITH ARSON. BY THE TIME THEY GOT A HOSE, A WHOLE TREE WAS ON FIRE. ON THE COAST, EARLY RISERS TOOK IN THE SPECTACULAR SUNRISE FROM THE SANDS OF BONDI BEACH. AS THE TEMPERATURE REACHED ITS PEAK, OTHERS SPENT THE HOTTEST DECEMBER DAY IN 11 YEARS COOLING OFF IN PARRAMATTA LAKE. I'LL BE HERE ALL AFTERNOON. I'M STAYING IN THE WATER THE WHOLE DAY. WATER, DEFINITELY. BACK IN THE CITY, THE MERCURY REACHED 37.8. WITH NO RELIEF IN SIGHT, PARAMEDICS HAVE THIS ADVICE. IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OUR FLUIDS UP, AVOIDING TEA AND COFFEE, AND IF THERE HAD TO BE A CLEANSING ALE AT THE END OF THE DAY, MAKE SURE YOU'RE DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER. A TUNISIAN MAN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF CAUSING THE SINKING OF A BOAT IN WHICH 700 MIGRANTS DIED. THE MAN, WHO DENIED BEING THE BOAT'S CAPTAIN, HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN JAIL IN A SICILIAN COURT. HE WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE HEAVILY OVERCROWDED BOAT SANK OFF LIBYA IN APRIL LAST YEAR AFTER COLLIDING WITH A VESSEL THAT HAD COME TO ITS RESCUE. ONLY 28 PEOPLE SURVIVED THE DISASTER. MEANWHILE THE MORE THAN 800 MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN RESCUED AT SEA ATTEMPTING TO REACH EUROPE. MORE THAN 170,000 PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED IN ITALY THIS YEAR SO FAR ` MORE THAN EITHER OF THE LAST TWO YEARS. EGYPT'S GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED VIDEO OF THE MOMENT A SUICIDE BOMBER KILLED 25 PEOPLE AT A CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING SUNDAY MASS. THE BOMBER'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A 22-YEAR-OLD. THE VIDEO SHOWS A MAN HOLDING HIS JACKET AROUND HIM AND WALKING INTO THE CHURCH SHORTLY BEFORE AN EXPLOSION. NO GROUP HAS SO FAR CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BOMBING. IT'S AMONG THE DEADLIEST ATTACKS TO TARGET EGYPT'S COPTIC CHRISTIAN MINORITY. TWO MEN INVOLVED IN THE NOVEMBER 2015 PARIS ATTACKS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SYRIA IN A US AIR STRIKE. THE MEN WERE MEMBERS OF ISIS. A THIRD MEMBER OF THE GROUP, LINKED TO A FAILED TERROR PLOT IN BELGIUM THAT SAME YEAR, WAS ALSO KILLED IN THE STRIKE. ISIS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACKS ON THE FRENCH CAPITAL THAT KILLED 130 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 350. THE EIFFEL TOWER, WHICH IS NORMALLY OPEN EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR, IS CLOSED DUE TO A STRIKE. THE COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE TOWER HAS APOLOGISED TO VISITORS AND SAYS IT'S IN NEGOTIATION WITH STAFF OVER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS. IT COMES AS PARIS IS STRUGGLING TO REVIVE TOURISM AFTER A STRING OF DEADLY ATTACKS. THE 19TH-CENTURY MONUMENT ATTRACTS MILLIONS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR. THE ONE REMAINING SHIP STILL LOOKING FOR MISSING MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 370 HAS BEGUN WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE ITS FINAL SEARCH. SEVERAL SHIPS HAVE COMBED THE SEABED OF A VAST SEARCH AREA IN THE INDIAN OCEAN SINCE THE PLANE DISAPPEARED IN 2014. THIS SHIP IS EXPECTED TO FINISH SCOURING THE FINAL PORTION OF THE AREA BY EARLY NEXT YEAR. OFFICIALS SAY THEY'LL SUSPEND THE SEARCH IF THE PLANE ISN'T FOUND BY THEN. NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF WRECKAGE HAS BEEN FOUND BY THE OPERATION SO FAR. WHEN A HOMELESS SHELTER CLOSED DOWN IN A SMALL ENGLISH TOWN, A VOLUNTEER DECIDED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS. USING SOME OF HIS OWN SAVINGS AND CROWDFUNDING ON THE INTERNET, AN OLD DOUBLE-DECKER BUS WAS BOUGHT AND REFURBISHED. IT'S NOW HITTING THE ROAD AS A MOBILE HOMELESS FACILITY, AS THE BBC'S DUNCAN KENNEDY REPORTS. I THINK WE CAN PUT YOU UP, MATE, NO PROBLEMS. ALL ABOARD FOR WHAT COULD BE A REVOLUTION IN HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS. THIS IS THE DOUBLE-DECKER BUS THAT'S DOUBLING UP AS ACCOMMODATION. THIS IS WHERE THE HEART OF THE ACTION IS, AND THIS IS WHERE THE BEDS ARE. PAUL HAS LIVED ROUGH HERE ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT FOR MONTHS. THIS IS THE PART THAT WE SLEEP. BUT HE'S NOW ONE OF 14 HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH A PERMANENT BERTH ON BOARD. IT'S JUST BEING ABLE, FOR ME, TO BE GROUNDED IN ONE PLACE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TO HAVE A BASE TO START FROM. TOP DECK, THE SEATS ARE OUT AND THE BEDS ARE IN ` MEN AT ONE END; WOMEN AT THE OTHER. DOWNSTAIRS, THERE ARE MORE BEDS, A FULLY FITTED KITCHEN, EVEN A WOOD BURNER. ALL APPROVED BY THE FIRE SERVICE. THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THE BUS ON EBAY AND PAID �7000 FOR IT. BUT LOOK AT THIS. ONE OF THE MOST INGENIOUS THINGS OF ALL IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO THE BELL THAT USED TO STOP THE BUS. NOW... WATER WHOOSHES ...IT'S A WATER PUMP. THE �20,000 TO CONVERT IT MOSTLY CAME THROUGH CROWDFUNDING, BUT ALSO THE PERSONAL SAVINGS OF KEVIN NEWTON, THE MAN WHO THOUGHT UP THE IDEA WHEN THE ISLAND'S ONLY PERMANENT HOMELESS SHELTER CLOSED. HE EVEN GAVE UP HIS JOB TO FINISH THE BUS BY CHRISTMAS. IT'S A LOT OF EXHAUSTION, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. IT REALLY WAS. IT'S SATISFYING TO KNOW THAT NO LONGER WILL ANYONE ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT HAVE TO SLEEP ROUGH. KEVIN HAS ALREADY HAD DOZENS OF CALLS FROM OTHER COUNCILS AND CHARITIES. TWO DECKS TO HELP SOLVE ONE PROBLEM ` THE SHELTER BUS. A RARE BOOK HANDWRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY POTTER AUTHOR JK ROWLING HAS SOLD FOR MORE THAN $600,000. 'THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD' IS ONE OF SIX COPIES ROWLING MADE AS PRESENTS TO THOSE WHO HELPED BRING HER MAGICAL WORLD OF WIZARDS AND WITCHES TO LIFE. THE COPY, BOUND IN LEATHER AND ADORNED WITH ORNAMENTS, WAS PRESENTED TO AN EDITOR WHO PUBLISHED ROWLING'S SPELL-BINDING DEBUT, 'HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE'. IT HAS A PERSONAL DEDICATION FROM THE AUTHOR. TO SPORT. WHEN AUSTRALIA TAKE ON PAKISTAN TOMORROW, IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME USMAN KHAWAJA HAS PLAYED AGAINST HIS COUNTRY OF BIRTH. AT 29, THE OPENER IS A TRUE BLUE AUSSIE AND HAS NO DIVIDED LOYALTIES, SO HE COULD LAUGH OFF AN EMBARRASSING MIX-UP IN BRISBANE. CHANNEL NINE'S COREY NORRIS EXPLAINS WHY. USMAN KHAWAJA MOVED FROM PAKISTAN TO AUSTRALIA WHEN HE WAS 4. BUT EVEN HE SAW THE HUMOUR IN AN EMBARRASSING DRESSING-ROOM MIX-UP FROM A GABBA STAFF MEMBER. SHE CAME DOWN AND SAYS, 'YOU NEED THE LOCKER ROOMS OPEN?' I WAS LIKE, 'YES, PLEASE,' AND SHE STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE PAKISTAN CHANGE ROOMS. LAUGHTER I WAS LIKE, 'OH MAN.' I WAS LIKE, 'NO, THAT WAY, THANK YOU.' ALTHOUGH HIS HERITAGE REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HIS LIFE, THE 29-YEAR-OLD ALSO LAUGHS AT SUGGESTIONS HIS PARENTS MIGHT BE SITTING ON THE FENCE COME THURSDAY. MY PARENTS ARE TRULY AUSTRALIAN NOW. THEY DON'T SUPPORT PAKISTAN AT ALL. NOW THEY JUST WANT ME TO DO WELL AND WANT AUSTRALIA TO WIN EVERY TIME. AND HE BEARS NO ILL WILL TOWARDS FORMER AUSTRALIAN COACH MICKEY ARTHUR, WHO PUNISHED KHAWAJA AND THREE OTHER PLAYERS FOR FAILING TO SUBMIT THEIR HOMEWORK DURING THE CALAMITOUS TOUR OF INDIA THREE YEARS AGO. I'M NOT SPITEFUL OR REVENGEFUL IN THAT SORT OF RESPECT. I'M... YOU KNOW, MICKEY IS A VERY GOOD GUY. THE SELECTORS AREN'T LIKELY TO TINKER TOO MUCH WITH THE WINNING 11 FROM ADELAIDE. BUT THERE'S GROWING SPECULATION QUICK CHADD SAYERS COULD DEBUT, POSSIBLY AT THE EXPENSE OF JACKSON BIRD. THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE HE CAN DO AT THAT LEVEL. HE'S DOMINATED FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR SEASONS, AND HIS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. SO I HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND WEIGH UP WHAT THE BEST TEAM IS. NZ WOMEN'S TENNIS NUMBER ONE MARINA ERAKOVIC HAS BEEN GIVEN A WILDCARD FOR THE ASB CLASSIC IN AUCKLAND IN JANUARY. ERAKOVIC IS CONFIDENT ABOUT HER FORM AND IS ALSO ENJOYING WORKING WITH A NEW COACH. I'M WORKING WITH A GUY FROM NZ. HIS NAME IS WESLEY WHITEHOUSE, AND THAT'S A BIG CHANGE FOR ME, COS I'VE NEVER REALLY WORKED WITH ANYONE INSIDE NZ, SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO COME HOME MORE OFTEN AND TRAIN OUT OF NZ. SO IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD. THE 28-YEAR-OLD HAS PLAYED AT THE CLASSIC 11 TIMES, REACHING THE SEMI-FINALS IN 2007. WELL, IF THIS DOESN'T WARM THE COCKLES OF YOUR HEART, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL. AN AFGHAN BOY WHO BECAME AN ONLINE HIT AFTER WEARING A HOME-MADE STRIPED BLUE PLASTIC BAG SHIRT BEARING LIONEL MESSI'S FAMOUS NUMBER 10 HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET HIS HERO. A PHOTOGRAPH OF MURTAZA AHMADI (6) WENT VIRAL EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND HE ENDED UP RECEIVING A SIGNED SHIRT FROM THE BARCELONA STRIKER. NOW THE PAIR HAVE COME FACE TO FACE IN DOHA, WHERE BARCELONA WILL PLAY A FRIENDLY AGAINST AL AHLI, AND, GET THIS ` AHMADI WILL GET TO WALK OUT ON THE PITCH WITH MESSI. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. PLUS, WHY WONDER WOMAN'S BEEN DROPPED AS A UN AMBASSADOR. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. POLICE ARE HUNTING FOR A MAN WHO POINTED A FIREARM AT AN OFFICER'S FACE AFTER FLEEING A TRAFFIC STOP IN AUCKLAND. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE FLED EAST ALEPPO AS A CEASEFIRE IS DECLARED, WITH REBELS AGREEING TO RELINQUISH CONTROL TO GOVERNMENT FORCES. AND LABOUR MP JACINDA ARDERN'S CONFIRMED SHE'LL RUN FOR THE SEAT OF MT ALBERT FOLLOWING DAVID SHEARER'S RESIGNATION. NOW TO THE WEATHER, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ FINALLY, THE U.N. HAS ENDED ITS CAMPAIGN WITH COMIC BOOK HEROINE WONDER WOMAN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER HER APPOINTMENT SPARKED OUTRAGE. THE SUPERHERO HAD BEEN DECLARED AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO PROMOTE MESSAGES ABOUT WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. BUT THE CHARACTER'S 'SEXUALISED' APPEARANCE CAUSED MANY TO SAY SHE WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE CHOICE, GARNERING A PETITION WITH MORE 45,000 SIGNATURES. THE UN HASN'T EXPLAINED WHY THE WONDER WOMAN PROJECT WILL END THIS WEEK. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE 1 NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND GLENNA CASALME CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.