IT'S MIDDAY. 'THEY WERE LIES, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.' SACKED FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY TELLS HIS STORY, BLASTING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER EVENTS LEADING TO HIS DISMISSAL. POLLS HAVE CLOSED IN BRITAIN. THE VOTES ARE BEING COUNTED, AND WE'RE LIVE TO LONDON FOR THE LATEST. AND FROM WHAT COULD'VE BEEN DISASTER... TO THIS. HOW TEAM NEW ZEALAND HAVE KEPT THE DREAM ALIVE. AHIAHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S PROVED ONE OF THE MOST EXPLOSIVE HEARINGS WASHINGTON'S EVER SEEN. FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY ACCUSING THE WHITE HOUSE OF LYING. MR COMEY, WHO WAS FIRED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST MONTH, HAS TESTIFIED AT A SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WHICH IS TRYING TO ESTABLISH IF THERE WAS RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE ELECTIONS. HIS ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS CATEGORICAL. THE BBC'S JON SOPEL REPORTS. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE CRACKLE OF EXPECTATION. IN WASHINGTON THIS MORNING, IN THIS ROOM, AS JAMES COMEY WALKED IN, IT WAS PALPABLY THERE. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO. PLEASE BE SEATED. IT'S BEING CALLED THE POLITICAL SUPER BOWL. AND THE FORMER FBI DIRECTOR'S OPENING STATEMENT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT, AS HE REFLECTED ON THE MANNER OF HIS BEING FIRED. HIS SHIFTING EXPLANATIONS CONFUSED ME AND INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ME. AND HE SPOKE OF THE PRESIDENT'S PORTRAYAL OF HIM AND THE ORGANISATION HE'D LED. THE ADMINISTRATION THEN CHOSE TO DEFAME ME, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ADMINISTRATION THEN CHOSE TO DEFAME ME, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FBI BY SAYING THAT THE ORGANISATION WAS IN DISARRAY, THAT IT WAS POORLY LED, THAT THE WORK FORCE HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN ITS LEADER. THOSE WERE LIES, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. GENERAL MIKE FLYNN. MICHAEL FLYNN, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, FIRED FOR LYING ABOUT HIS CONTACT WITH RUSSIA, THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO PROTECT AND, ACCORDING CONTACTS WITH RUSSIA, THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO PROTECT AND, ACCORDING TO COMEY, ASKED HIM TO DROP THE FBI INQUIRY INTO HIM. BUT WHY, ONE SENATOR WANTED TO KNOW, IF WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD ASKED ABOUT MICHAEL FLYNN WAS SO WRONG, HADN'T THE FBI DIRECTOR CRIED FOUL IMMEDIATELY? I WAS SO... STUNNED BY THE CONVERSATION. IT WAS PLAYING IN MY MIND, 'WHAT SHOULD MY RESPONSE BE?' AND THAT'S WHY I VERY CAREFULLY CHOSE THE WORDS. COMEY WAS AT HIS MOST DAMNING WHEN HE EXPLAINED TO THE COMMITTEE WHY HE NEEDED TO KEEP RECORDS OF HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT. I WAS HONESTLY CONCERNED THAT HE MIGHT LIE ABOUT THE NATURE OF OUR MEETING, AND SO I THOUGHT IT REALLY IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT IT. SO FAR DONALD TRUMP HAS REMAINED SILENT ON MR COMEY'S EVIDENCE. THERE'S BEEN NO TWEETING, INSTEAD, THE PRESIDENT'S CHOSEN TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH HIS PRIVATE LAWYER. HIS TEAM FEELING VINDICATED BY THE ADMISSION THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT REFUTING ALL OTHER CLAIMS BY THE FORMER FBI DIRECTOR. THE ABC'S JONATHAN KARL REPORTS. DONALD J TRUMP. TOWARD THE END OF COMEY'S TESTIMONY, THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE STAGE AT AN EVENT WITH CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES. NO MENTION OF COMEY, BUT HE DID LEVEL SOME OF THE SAME CHARGES AT HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS, AS THEY LEVEL AT HIM. THEY WILL LIE, THEY WILL OBSTRUCT, THEY WILL SPREAD THEIR HATRED AND THEIR PREJUDICE. BUT WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. LATER, AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WE TRIED TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE BIG HEARING. MR PRESIDENT, ANY REACTION TO COMEY'S TESTIMONY? DO YOU THINK HE TOLD THE TRUTH TO THE SENATE? BUT WHILE THE PRESIDENT WAS MUM, HIS PERSONAL LAWYER, MARC KASOWITZ, WAS NOT. MR COMEY HAS NOW FINALLY CONFIRMED PUBLICALLY WHAT HE REPEATEDLY TOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP PRIVATELY. THAT IS THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION AS PART OF ANY PROBE INTO RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE. SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN ASKING COMEY TO SAY PUBLICALLY FOR MONTHS. TODAY, HE FINALLY DID. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? THAT'S CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. SO, THAT'S A FACT THAT WE CAN RELY ON? YES, SIR. ALTHOUGH COMEY COULD NOT SAY WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION, OR WILL BE. KASOWITZ HOTLY REFUTED ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE COMEY HAD TO SAY, EFFECTIVELY ACCUSING HIM OF LYING ABOUT HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDENT NEVER SUGGESTED THAT MR COMEY 'LET FLYNN GO.' THE PRESIDENT ALSO NEVER TOLD MR COMEY 'I NEED LOYALTY, 'I EXPECT LOYALTY.' HE NEVER SAID IT IN FORM, AND HE NEVER SAID IT IN SUBSTANCE. IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL MORNING ON THE WATER FOR TEAM NEW ZEALAND MAKING A TRIUMPHANT COMEBACK TO CLAIM A FIFTH WIN AGAINST BRITAIN'S BEN AINSLIE RACING. IT WAS ALL THEY NEEDED TO SEND THEM THROUGH TO THE AMERICA'S CUP LOUIS VUITTON CHALLENGER FINAL. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE WITH MORE. KIWI FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRITISH JUGULAR. THAT KILLER INSTINCT DRIVING THE KIWIS ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE AMERICA'S CUP. AND TEAM NZ HAVE MADE IT THROUGH TO THE CHALLENGES FINALS. FANTASTIC. AND TO COME ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND AND SEE THOSE BOYS DO THAT, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. IT'S JUST BEYOND BRILLIANT. SO BRING IT ON! IT WASN'T LONG AGO TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S CUP HOPES LOOKED IN DOUBT ` A DRAMATIC PITCH-POLE DISASTER DESTROYED THE WING ON WEDNESDAY. THE GROUND CREW WHO GOT THE BOAT BACK ON THE WATER GOT THE KUDOS TODAY. IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR US TO REPAY THE SHORE CREW BY GETTING THE JOB DONE A DAY EARLY. TEAM NEW ZEALAND UNDERSCORED THEIR SPEED WITH A COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY IN THE FIRST RACE. THE BRITS DIDN'T GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT, THOUGH. THE BRITISH CHALLENGE IS STILL ALIVE. THEY'RE STILL HERE. THEY'RE STILL IN THE HUNT. BEN AINSLIE AND HIS CREW TOOK THE SECOND RACE BUT CAME UP SHORT IN THE END. WE BOW OUT TODAY. WE DIDN'T ULTIMATELY GET THAT AMERICA'S CUP HOME. TEAM NEW ZEALAND CELEBRATE BUT ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE MAIN PRIZE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE ROAD ON THE WAY TO OUR END GOAL. WE WANT TO WIN AND BRING THE CUP BACK TO NEW ZEALAND. THEIR OPPONENT IS STILL TO BE DECIDED. ARTEMIS RACING LEAD TEAM JAPAN 4-3 IN THE OTHER SEMI-FINAL. THE KIWIS WILL WATCH WITH INTEREST. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. BRITAIN IS ON THE BRINK OF A HUNG PARLIAMENT, IF THE GENERAL ELECTION EXIT POLL IS CLOSE TO THE FINAL RESULT. THAT WOULD SPELL CATASTROPHE FOR THE REIGNING CONSERVATIVE PARTY AFTER PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY CALLED A SNAP ELECTION. OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING'S WATCHING EVENTS UNFOLD IN LONDON, AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. EMMA. The Tory party must be feeling very anxious around now. They're talking about the possibility of Teresa May having to resign. This is how shocked everyone is by this exit poll. The polls closed three hours ago. The Tory party had the bigger party but they did not have the majority and that's the key. They needed 326, they only had 314. Labor have made gains. The Democratic Party could become the kingmaker here. It's a bit messy right now. Nobody really knows what's going to happen. So for all the seats have been held. There have been no swing votes as yet. It is looking very very shaky for the Tories. A hung parliament is the last thing they want. SO, EMMA, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CONSERVATIVES DON'T GET AN OUTRIGHT MAJORITY? That is when the going to have to go to negotiations with another party. They might get there with the smaller parties. But it could take weeks or months. Brexit negotiations are meant to start in 10 days time. Teresa May wanted a strong mandate. Now she just looks like a shaky leader. It doesn't bode well. Three elections in three years, three terror attacks in three months. She is certainly looking wobbly in the election. It's not a good situation and not a good place for the UK to be in right now. They need strong leadership and she promised it, but it's not looking good. THANKS, EMMA. EMMA KEELING IN LONDON. THE LATEST TERROR OUTRAGE IN LONDON WOULD'VE BEEN FRESH IN VOTERS' MINDS AS THEY HEADED TO THE POLLS. NOW NEW CCTV PICTURES HAVE BEEN RELEASED OF THE LONDON BRIDGE ATTACKERS MEETING FIVE DAYS BEFORE THEY KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE. THE BBC'S TOM SYMONDS REPORTS. FIVE DAYS BEFORE THEIR RAMPAGE, THE THREE ATTACKERS MEET ` KHURAM BUTT, RACHID REDOUANE, AND YOUSSEF ZAGHBA. REDOUANE PUTS HIS PHONE ON THE GROUND WHILE THEY WALK AWAY FOR A CONVERSATION, PERHAPS WORRIED IT WILL SOMEHOW BE USED TO RECORD WHAT HE SAID. THEY SEEM IN GOOD SPIRITS. THERE'S NO SIGN THEY'RE ABOUT TO KILL AND MAIM INNOCENT PEOPLE. THE CAMERAS OUTSIDE A GYM, WHERE ONE OF THE THREE, KHURAM BUTT, WORKED OUT. THE GYM IS CLOSED, RENOVATIONS IN TODAY, AND MASSIVE MEDIA ATTENTION. BUT OUTSIDE, WE MET FARHAD KHAN, KHURAM BUTT'S COUSIN-IN-LAW. HE ARGUED WITH BUTT ABOUT HIS RELIGIOUS VIEWS AND HIS DESIRE TO PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE ABROAD. HE WANTED TO GO TO SYRIA TO FIGHT. BUT SINCE, I THINK, BECAUSE OF THE FAMILY PRESSURE, MADE THE INTERVENTION BY THE AUTHORITIES WHO SEIZED HIS PASSPORT OR WHATEVER. HE COULDN'T GO THERE. MORE CCTV IMAGES TODAY SHOWED THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE ATTACK IN BOROUGH MARKETS. THE KILLERS HAD JUST SET UPON THEIR FINAL VICTIM, WHEN A POLICE ARMED RESPONSE TEAM ARRIVED. THEY HAD SECONDS TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. THEY OPENED FIRE, AND IT WAS OVER. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY RESPONSES TO AN INCIDENT WHICH HAS LASTED 8 MINUTES, THEY HAVE RESPONSES AND NEUTRALISED THE THREAT AS FIREARMS OFFICERS WITHIN SIX SECONDS. I THINK THAT IS EXCEPTIONAL TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE TRAINING THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED. THE VICTIMS HAVE ALL NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED. EIGHT PEOPLE FROM FIVE COUNTRIES, KILLED IN AN ATTACK ON THE PEOPLE OF AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. THREE MORE ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER SUNDAY'S ATTACK, WITH FIVE OTHERS STILL IN CUSTODY. THE MAN WHO KILLED 15-MONTH-OLD CHRISTCHURCH TODDLER IHAKA STOKES HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO A MINIMUM OF 17 YEARS IN PRISON. TROY KEVIN TAYLOR WAS IHAKA'S MOTHER'S PARTNER AT THE TIME OF THE KILLING, AND ATTENDED THE LITTLE BOY'S FUNERAL WITH FAMILY. AT TODAY'S SENTENCING HE WAS TOLD BY IHAKA'S MOTHER THAT SHE, 'HAD TRUSTED HIM AND HE HAD DESTROYED THEM.' IN SENTENCING THE JUDGE SAID DETERRENCE WAS IMPORTANT. THE VIOLENT HOMICIDE OF BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN BY THOSE THE VIOLENT HOMICIDE OF BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN BY THOSE WHO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR CARE, HAS BEEN, FOR MANY YEARS NOW, A GROWING AND GRAVE CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS TRITE TO OBSERVE THAT CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, AND DENUNCIATION AND DETERRENCE ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. THE JUDGE IMPOSED A LIFE SENTENCE, AND TAYLOR MUST SERVE AT LEAST 17 YEARS. FRIENDS OF A FIJIAN MAN WHO DIED AFTER PARTYING WITH A NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMATIC OFFICIAL IN SUVA ARE ANGRY WITH POLICE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CASE. LAST NIGHT 1 NEWS REPORTED ON THE YOUNG MAN'S DEATH TWO YEARS AGO AFTER HE FELL FROM A BALCONY AT THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL'S APARTMENT. THE NEW ZEALANDER WAS ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME A FEW DAYS AFTER THE DEATH. BUT AS POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE EXPLAINS FRIENDS ARE PUZZLED ABOUT HOW THE DEATH WAS HANDLED. A NIGHT OF BAR-HOPPING THAT ENDED WITH THE DEATH OF THIS YOUNG FIJIAN MAN AFTER HE FELL TWO FLOORS FROM A SUVA APARTMENT BLOCK. JOSATEKI NARUBE WAS THE GUEST OF THE NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMAT WHO LIVED THERE. BUT THE DIPLOMAT DIDN'T CALL AMBULANCE OR POLICE. COULDN'T HE JUST CALL THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE? HE COULD'VE BEEN ALIVE THEN. THE APARTMENT BLOCK, HERE, IS JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY FROM A POLICE COMMUNITY POST. BUT INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR HELP, THE DIPLOMAT PLACED A SERIES OF CALLS TO COLLEAGUES FROM 5.36AM. AN AMBULANCE WASN'T CALLED UNTIL HIGH COMMISSIONER MARK RAMSDEN ARRIVED AT THE APARTMENT SHORTLY AFTER 6AM. MR NARUBE'S FRIENDS ARE APPALLED. HE TRIED TO CALL HIS SUPERIORS FIRST TO, LIKE, WHAT, SAVE HIM HE TRIED TO CALL HIS SUPERIORS FIRST TO, LIKE, WHAT, SAVE HIM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SAVE JOSH? IN THIS STATEMENT, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAID MR RAMSDEN RESPONDED... BUT THEY HAVEN'T ADDRESSED WHY THE DIPLOMAT WHO LIVED THERE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY GET MEDICAL HELP. YES, OF COURSE, I'M ACTUALLY VERY DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY. WHY COULDN'T YOU REACH OUT TO THE POLICE? JOSH WOULD'VE STILL BEEN ALIVE. MR NARUBE WAS STILL ALIVE BUT DIED IN HOSPITAL TWO DAYS LATER. THE DIPLOMAT GAVE A STATEMENT TO FIJI POLICE, BUT HE LEFT THE COUNTRY A SHORT TIME LATER, DESPITE A LAST-MINUTE LETTER IN WHICH POLICE INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO TRAVEL IF HE DIDN'T HAVE IMMUNITY. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED SHOWING THE MOMENT ARMED ATTACKERS STORMED IRAN'S PARLIAMENT AND OPENED FIRE IN THE VISITORS HALL. THE FOUR ATTACKERS, DISGUISED IN WOMEN'S ROBES, BURST THROUGH THE ENTRANCE WITH ONE DETONATING HIS SUICIDE VEST. AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN TWIN ATTACKS ON THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND AT THE BURIAL SITE OF THE COUNTRY'S RELIGIOUS LEADER. SINCE THE WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO, MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE FALLEN BACK INTO TALIBAN HANDS. THE BBC'S AULIYA ATRAFI HAS BEEN GIVEN RARE ENTRY TO THE TALIBAN CAPITAL OF MUSA QALA AND SENT THIS REPORT. WE JUST ENTERED TALIBAN TERRITORY. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR; WE JUST ENTERED TALIBAN TERRITORY. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR; ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND WE WERE IN. WE PASSED THROUGH SANGUIN, WHERE SO MANY BRITISH SOLDIERS FOUGHT AND DIED. WE ARE HEADING FOR MUSA QALA, OUR TALIBAN MINDER ALWAYS WITH US. THE BUSTLING MARKET LOOKS LIKE ANY IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT THERE ARE SOME TELL-TALE SIGNS WE ARE IN TALIBAN TERRITORY. THE MEN ARE ALL WEARING TRADITIONAL CLOTHES; THEIR BEARDS GROWN LONG. THE WOMEN ARE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. WE LEAVE THE MARKET AND HEAD FOR THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S RELIGIOUS STUDIES, AND ONLY BOYS GET AN EDUCATION. OUR TALIBAN MINDER INSISTS THERE ARE OTHER LESSONS AND THAT GIRLS CAN GO TO SCHOOL ` JUST NOT HERE. THE TALIBAN USED TO BURN SCHOOLS DOWN. NOW THEY ARE RUNNING THEM, FUNDED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. TRANSLATOR: THE GOVERNMENT AND INSPECTORS DO THEIR SUPERVISION. TRANSLATOR: THE GOVERNMENT AND INSPECTORS DO THEIR SUPERVISION. THE TALIBAN DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THEM. (CHILDREN CHATTER) IT IS NOT JUST SCHOOLS THAT THE TALIBAN ARE RUNNING. THIS IS THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. IT IS ALSO FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT LACKS SUPPLIES. THE NEXT DAY WE MEET THE TALIBAN'S SPOKESMAN. THEY REMAIN A DEEPLY CONTROVERSIAL ORGANIZATION IN AFGHANISTAN, RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY DEATHS. BUT THEY CLAIM THEIR APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE HAS CHANGED. TRANSLATOR: THE TALIBAN HAS SEPARATE COMMITTEES FOR EDUCATION, HEALTH AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE DON'T ONLY HAVE MILITARY SET-UPS BUT ALSO ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS. THE TALIBAN HAVE CAPTURED HUGE TERRITORIES IN HELMAND, AND NOW THEY HAVE TO GOVERN THEM. THE NEXT CHALLENGE IS HOW MUCH THEY WILL JOIN THE MODERN WORLD... AND HOW MUCH THEY WILL REJECT IT. AROUND 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AFTER A DEADLY WILDFIRE SWEPT THROUGH A COASTAL TOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA. AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A CHILD, HAVE DIED IN THE BLAZE AND IN A STORM THAT'S BATTERED THE AREA AROUND CAPE TOWN SINCE WEDNESDAY. STRONG WINDS FROM THE STORM HAVE BEEN FUELLING THE FIRES. AT LEAST 150 HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` A SHARP DROP IN REGISTERED FOREIGN TRUSTS. WE HAVE THE NUMBERS AFTER THE LATEST FIGURES WERE RELEASED TO 1NEWS. SO WHAT'S CAUSING THE DECLINE? AND THE 'BABY BLACKS' HIT TOP GEAR, WITH TRY AFTER TRY AFTER TRY AGAINST IRELAND. IN BREAKING NEWS, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ASKED THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THE 2010 AFGHAN RAIDS, WHERE NEW ZEALAND FORCES RAIDED TWO AFGHAN VILLAGES LEAVING 21 CIVILIANS DEAD OR WOUNDED. DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT WERE REPORTED IN THE BOOK 'HIT AND RUN.' BY NICKY HAGER AND JON STEPHENSON EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE HAS ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO REPORT ON WHAT MEASURES IT HAS PUT IN PLACE TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS. FOREIGN TRUSTS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO REGISTER WITH INLAND REVENUE AFTER NEW RULES KICKED IN FORCING THEM TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. IN 2016 THERE WERE NEARLY 12,000 FOREIGN TRUSTS. FIGURES RELEASED TO 1 NEWS SHOW SO FAR ONLY 66 HAVE REREGISTERED. THEY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO DO SO. AND THE FIGURES SHOW 1800 FOREIGN TRUSTS HAVE ALREADY DEREGISTERED. NEW RULES CAME INTO EFFECT IN FEBRUARY AFTER QUESTIONS WERE RAISED IN THE LEAKED PANAMA PAPERS REPORTED BY 1 NEWS, RADIO NEW ZEALAND AND NICKY HAGER. THE NEW LAW MEANS FOREIGN TRUSTS HAVE TO REPORT ANNUALLY TO INLAND REVENUE AND GO ON A REGISTER THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY POLICE AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND WITH INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES TO STOP TAX EVASION. TO SPORT, AND THE NEW ZEALAND UNDER-20 RUGBY TEAM HAS HAMMERED IRELAND AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GEORGIA. HAT-TRICKS FOR FULLBACK WILL JORDAN AND WING CALEB CLARKE. THE BABY BLACKS WERE EVEN DOWN TO 13 MEN AT ONE STAGE, WITH TWO IN THE BIN, AND STILL MANAGED 11 TRIES. GETS THE PASS AWAY, AND WHAT A TRY, NEW ZEALAND! YEAH, REALLY HAPPY COMING OUT HERE AND BEING ABLE TO BOOT ONE TO IRELAND TODAY. STILL A BIT OF HARD FEELINGS FROM LAST YEAR, BECAUSE IT WAS A TOUGH ONE LAST YEAR. IT'S GOOD TO COME OUT TODAY WITH THE PERFORMANCE WE DID. FINAL SCORE, 69-3. THE TEAM NOW THROUGH TO THE TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINALS. TO THE NRL, MELBOURNE HAS STORMED HOME AGAINST REIGNING PREMIERE'S CRONULLA, AT SHARK PARK IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A RE-MATCH OF LAST YEAR'S NRL GRAND FINAL. THE STORM, WITHOUT STAR HALFBACK COOPER CRONK, STEALING THE WIN 18-13. THE WIN KEEPS MELBOURNE'S PERFECT AWAY RECORD INTACT FOR THE 2017 SEASON. A MEMORABLE 20TH BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR LATVIAN JELENA OSTAPENKO AT THE FRENCH TENNIS OPEN, HAVING SECURED HER PLACE IN THE FINAL AT ROLAND GARROS, WITH VICTORY OVER TIMEA BACSINSZKY. (GRUNTING) (CHEERING) THAT'LL DO IT. AND SO ON HER 20TH BIRTHDAY. OSTAPENKO WILL MEET TOURNAMENT THIRD SEED SIMONA HALEP IN THE FINAL. HALEP INTO HER SECOND GRAND SLAM FINAL AFTER WINNING PAST KAROLINA PLISKOVA IN THREE SETS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. (LORDE'S 'GREEN LIGHT') YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS REFUSED CLAIMS MADE BY FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY WHO'S TESTIFIED AT A SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TRYING TO ESTABLISH IF THERE WAS RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE ELECTIONS. BRITAIN'S ON THE BRINK OF A HUNG PARLIAMENT, IF THE GENERAL ELECTION EXIT POLL IS CLOSE TO THE FINAL RESULT. PLUS, TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S CLAIMED A FIFTH WIN AGAINST BRITAIN'S BEN AINSLIE RACING AND IS THROUGH TO THE AMERICA'S CUP LOUIS VUITTON CHALLENGER FINAL. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW YOUR FRIDAY WEATHER IS SHAPING UP. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ AND FINALLY SOME NEWS FROM THE CAMP OF KIWI SUPERSTAR, LORDE. SHE'S ANNOUNCED SHE'LL BE PLAYING SIX SMALL GIGS IN NEW ZEALAND IN NOVEMBER. THE 20-YEAR-OLD'S ALSO JUST RELEASED A NEW SONG CALLED 'SOBER' AS SHE GEARS UP FOR A WORLD TOUR THAT KICKS OFF IN MANCHESTER IN SEPTEMBER. THANKS FOR WATCHING. FROM THE TEAM BEHIND MIDDAY NEWS, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY GLENNA CASALME AND STARSHA SAMARASINGHE CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.