TONIGHT ` SENIOR LABOUR PARTY MPS STAND BY THEIR EMBATTLED LEADER. BUT WHAT COULD A MEETING TOMORROW BRING? HOME DETENTION FOR A PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER WHO WASHED OUT A CHILD'S MOUTH WITH SOAP, BUT IS THE PUNISHMENT ENOUGH? PLUS ` THE TEENAGER LEFT AT SEA BY HIS GRANDPARENTS. LABOUR MPs WILL GATHER AT PARLIAMENT TOMORROW FOR A CRUCIAL CAUCUS MEETING, BUT TODAY THEY WERE RALLYING BEHIND THEIR EMBATTLED LEADER. ANDREW LITTLE'S PLEDGED TO KEEP FIGHTING DESPITE THE STARTLING ADMISSION THAT HE'S QUESTIONED HIS LEADERSHIP AS LABOUR SLUMPS EVEN FURTHER IN THE POLLS. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS THE PARTY'S REACTION. OPPOSITION LEADER ANDREW LITTLE BACK AT PARLIAMENT, MEETING WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE PIKE RIVER MINE DISASTER. HIS FLEETING THOUGHTS OF QUITTING NOW SEEMINGLY BEHIND HIM. I'M NOT GOING TO CONCEAL MY DETERMINATION TO FIGHT THIS TO THE BITTER END. MR LITTLE RAISED THE ISSUE OF STEPPING ASIDE ON 1 NEWS LAST NIGHT AFTER OUR LATEST 1 NEWS-COLMAR BRUNTON POLL SHOWED LABOUR TANKING TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN OVER 20 YEARS. I'D BE LYING TO YOU IF I SAID I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, AND IN FACT THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO SENIOR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT. THOSE COLLEAGUES HAVE TOLD HIM TO STAY ON AND FIGHT. WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POLLS, AND I JUST REINFORCED WITH ANDREW THAT HE HAD MY FULL SUPPORT. THERE'S NO PLAN B. I'M FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING ANDREW LITTLE TO WIN THE ELECTION. FINANCE SPOKESMAN GRANT ROBERTSON ALSO STANDING BY HIS LEADER. ANDREW IS A VERY CAPABLE PERSON. HE'S SPENT HIS ENTIRE WORKING LIFE FOR WORKING PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET A FAIR DEAL. WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT HIM AND GET ALL OF LABOUR'S MESSAGES OUT. LABOUR MPS GATHER AT PARLIAMENT FOR A REGULAR MEETING TOMORROW. BUT GIVEN MR LITTLE'S SURPRISING LEADERSHIP ADMISSION, THERE'S NOW FAR MORE AT STAKE. THERE'S NO SUGGESTIONS THAT THIS CAUCUS MEETING TOMORROW COULD TURN INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD STAY ON AS LEADER, WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY VOTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO, I DON'T EXPECT THAT AT ALL. I THINK PEOPLE ARE NATURALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RESULT. BUT PERHAPS THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR THOSE HOPING FOR A NEW CENTRE-LEFT GOVERNMENT IS THAT ANDREW LITTLE HAS ALSO NOW QUESTIONED WHETHER LABOUR, AT JUST 24%, COULD CREDIBLY LEAD A THREE-WAY COALITION INVOLVING THE GREENS AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST. IT WOULDN'T BE WHAT I WOULD BE PLANNING. AND I THINK THERE WOULD BE A REAL CREDIBILITY ISSUE. SO IT'S BEEN BRUISING 24 HOURS FOR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE, AND WITH THE CAUCUS MEETING TO COME, IT'S NOT OVER YET. AND WITH THE ELECTION JUST EIGHT WEEKS AWAY, CORIN DANN SAYS TOMORROW'S MEETING WILL SEE SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT LABOUR'S FUTURE, OR EVEN A LAST-DITCH LEADERSHIP SHAKE-UP. JUST TO UNDERLINE THE PRESSURE THAT LABOUR AND ANDREW LITTLE ARE UNDER TONIGHT, THEIR INTERNAL POLL RESULTS HAVE COME OUT SHOWING THAT THE PARTY IS POLLING AT 23%, WHICH IS LOWER THAN THE 1 NEWS-COLMAR BRUNTON POLL. SO, HUGE PRESSURE ON ANDREW LITTLE GOING INTO TOMORROW'S REGULAR CAUCUS MEETING. HE HAS OPENED THE DOOR ON THE ISSUE OF LEADERSHIP. IT'S NOW UP TO LABOUR MP'S TO DECIDE WHETHER CHANGING THE LEADER AT SUCH A LATE STAGE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY, LABOUR MP'S TODAY HAVE BEEN BACKING ANDREW LITTLE. HE WILL BE BOLSTERED BY THAT SUPPORT. PARTICULARLY, THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM JACINDA ARDERN, HIS DEPUTY, AND GRANT ROBERTSON. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT LABOUR SHOULD DO, BECAUSE THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY DIRE. IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED THE SCHOOL DECILE SYSTEM WILL BE SCRAPPED. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE CONTROVERSIAL FUNDING MODEL WILL BE REPLACED WITH A TARGETED SYSTEM WHICH WILL GIVE MONEY TO THOSE STUDENTS MOST AT RISK. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD HAS REACTION. THESE WELLINGTON KIDS KNOW WHAT THEY WANT THIS ELECTION. WE WANT EDUCATION TO BE A PRIORITY. AND THE MINISTER SAYS THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DOING BY SCRAPPING THE CONTROVERSIAL DECILE SYSTEM. SOME PEOPLE MISTAKENLY SEE DECILE AS A PROXY FOR QUALITY OF SCHOOL. WE NEED TO SHIFT AWAY FROM THAT AS A COUNTRY. INSTEAD, SCHOOLS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A RISK INDEX. IT'LL SEE FUNDING TARGETED TOWARDS SCHOOLS WITH CHILDREN MOST AT RISK OF NOT ACHIEVING. THIS DATA WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN AN ANONYMOUS WAY. AND TO SCHOOLS, THEY WILL ONLY GET JUST THE FUNDING AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED. SCHOOLS WILL PROBABLY BE A BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT A RISK INDEX MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE. A NUMBER OF FACTORS WILL BE USED TO MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS. FATHERS OFFENDING, BENEFICIARY DEPENDENT, NEW ZEALAND BORN VS MIGRANT-BORN. THE MINISTER HOPES TO HAVE THE NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE IN TWO YEARS' TIME AND IS PROMISING TO WORK WITH THE EDUCATION SECTOR TO GET IT RIGHT. THIS IS ALL ABOUT REMOVING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH THE DECILE-RANKING SYSTEM AND ENSURING THE RIGHT FUNDING GOES TO THE RIGHT KID AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE UNIONS ARE LARGELY WELCOMING THE IDEA BUT WORRY ABOUT THE FUNDING. OUR BIG CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY THE UNDERFUNDING THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN THE SYSTEM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO SEE ADDRESSED. THE MINISTER IS PROMISING NO SCHOOL WILL LOSE OUT, AND IN FACT SOME SCHOOLS AND KIDS WILL GET MORE MONEY. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. FIVE MONTHS HOME DETENTION FOR THE DAYCARE MANAGER ACCUSED OF FORCE-FEEDING AND SMACKING PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN SHE LOOKED AFTER. LYNN ABRAHAM WAS SENTENCED TODAY FOR HER OFFENDING, BUT PARENTS OF HER VICTIMS ARE OUTRAGED AT THE PUNISHMENT, SAYING SHE'S SHOWN NO REMORSE. NICOLE BREMNER WAS IN COURT. LYNN ABRAHAM (59) CUT A SORRY FIGURE AT SENTENCING ` HER CHILDCARE CAREER IN TATTERS; HER ASSAULTS AGAINST EIGHT UNDER-5S LABELLED A BREACH OF TRUST AGAINST DEFENCELESS VICTIMS, SOME WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. YOU FAILED TO SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR ACTS, REGULARLY DISCLOSING WHAT YOU HAD DONE TO OTHER TEACHERS. THE COURT HEARD MS ABRAHAM'S OFFENDING ESCALATED OVER FIVE YEARS FROM 2011, AND IN MAY SHE WAS FOUND GUILTY ON SIX SMACKING CHARGES, ONE OF WASHING A CHILD'S MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP AND THREE OF FORCE-FEEDING A CHILD. (BLEEP) IS SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WHO REQUIRED PARTICULAR CARE. YOU SMACKED HIM AFTER HE OBJECTED TO HAVING HIS FELT-TIP PENS REMOVED FROM HIM. THE PENALTY OF FIVE MONTHS' HOME DETENTION IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE FATHER OF ONE OF HER VICTIMS. SHE HAD THE ATTITUDE THAT, 'I'M THE DAY CARE MANAGER. THIS IS MY CENTRE. 'I CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL I LIKE.' THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED SOME PRESCHOOLERS WERE DIFFICULT. IT WAS CLEAR IN THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS CHILD WAS A DIFFICULT EATER. THE FORCE FEEDING OF FOOD INTO THE CHILD OF HIS OWN VOMIT WAS HARDLY GOING TO ASSIST. BUT JUDGE JELAS SAID OTHER BEHAVIOUR FELL WELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED NORMAL. WE WERE SORT OF BEFRIENDED BY THIS WOMAN AND IT WAS ALL JUST A BIG LIE. A BREACH OF TRUST THAT'S SEEN LYNN ABRAHAM VOLUNTARILY SURRENDER HER TEACHING CERTIFICATE. HER DAYS OF CHILD CARE NOW OVER FOR GOOD. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES HAVE TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO REMEMBER THREE YOUNG MEN KILLED AFTER A CAR CRASHED INTO A PARKED TRUCK IN LEVIN. BROTHERS JESSE HAYNE AND SHAND COTGROVE AND THEIR FRIEND JACOB GRAY WERE ORIGINALLY FROM PORIRUA. THE CRASH EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING SPARKED AN EXPLOSION AND A FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE TRUCK, TRAILER UNIT, AND THE CAR. POLICE SAY DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE CRASH, FORMAL IDENTIFICATION MAY TAKE SOME TIME. AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS HAVE FACED MASSIVE QUEUES AT AIRPORTS TODAY AS THE SECURITY CLAMPDOWN TAKES HOLD, FOLLOWING THE WEEKEND'S TERROR THREATS. POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO LAY CHARGES AGAINST FOUR MEN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS OVER THE SYDNEY SCARE ` A PLAN TO TAKE DOWN A PLANE. CHANNEL NINE'S DAMIAN RYAN REPORTS. NEW IMAGES OF THE TERROR RAID, AND THE MAN IN THE TOWEL IS MAHMOUD KHAYAT. HE WAS ARRESTED AT LAKEMBA. A RELATIVE, KHALED, IS ALSO ONE OF FOUR MEN IN CUSTODY. SIR, CAN YOU TELL US YOUR NAME? THE MAN UNDER THE SHEET AT SURRY HILLS IS KHALED MERHI. HE WAS GRABBED ALONG WITH HIS SON, ABDUL, DURING SATURDAY'S OPERATION. POLICE ARE BEING GIVEN A COURT ORDER ALLOWING THEM TO HOLD AND QUESTION THE MEN WITHOUT CHARGE FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. WE HAVE SEARCH WARRANTS STILL BEING CONDUCTED IN NEW SOUTH WALES. THOSE SEARCH WARRANTS WILL PROBABLY LAST A FEW DAYS. WE WERE TOLD THE ALLEGED PLOT WAS TO BRING DOWN A PLANE ` 'HOW' REMAINS A MYSTERY. BUT, SOMEHOW, A MEAT MINCER COULD HAVE PLAYED A ROLE. ONE WAS AMONG THE ITEMS ALLEGEDLY SEIZED AT THE SURRY HILLS LOCATION. POSSIBLE THEORIES ARE THAT IT COULD'VE BEEN USED TO HOUSE A DEVICE ` WHETHER THAT BE A BOMB OR TOXIC GAS. THE FALLOUT FROM THE TERROR OPERATION HAS SPILLED OVER AT SYDNEY AIRPORT. QUEUES SNAKING OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL AS NEW SECURITY CHECKS FOR DEPARTING PASSENGERS CAUSED LONG DELAYS. I GOT HERE TWO HOURS EARLY, BUT, STILL, I'M VERY SURPRISED AT THE LINE. IT'S CRAZY, OBVIOUSLY, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED. BUT YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT, I GUESS. OTHER NEW SECURITY CHECKS ARE HERE TO STAY. IT SEEMS NOT EVEN THE PRIME MINISTER IS WILLING TO SAY. THE HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES AT THE AIRPORT, AS EVERYWHERE, ARE UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW. AND EARLIER TONIGHT, TWO MEN AND A TEENAGER PLEADED GUILTY TO PLOTTING A MAJOR TERROR ATTACK IN SYDNEY THREE YEARS AGO. THEY WERE ARRESTED IN 2014 BEFORE THEY COULD ACT ON THEIR PLANS WHICH INVOLVED FIREARMS AND TARGETING GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS SUCH AS POLICE HEADQUARTERS. THREE OTHER MEN PREVIOUSLY PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE. THERE ARE CALLS FOR TOUGHER GUN LAWS FOLLOWING THE FATAL DOUBLE SHOOTING IN NORTHLAND. THE ALLEGED GUNMAN HAD BEEN BUYING AND SELLING FIREARMS ONLINE, DESPITE NOT HAVING A LICENCE. JESSICA MUTCH HAS MORE. AMONG THIS BURNT-OUT CRIME SCENE, THE REMAINS OF SEVERAL FIREARMS. QUINN PATTERSON BOUGHT GUN PARTS ON 'TRADE ME' WITHOUT A LICENCE, AND THE POLICE ASSOCIATION WANTS TO CHANGE THAT. THE PROBLEM WITH ONLINE IS YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE PURCHASER AT THE END OF THE INTERNET IS ACTUALLY THE PERSON WHOSE FIREARMS LICENCE IS QUOTED. 'TRADE ME' ALREADY HAS RULES FOR BUYING AND SELLING FIREARMS. THE SELLER HAS TO PROVIDE THE BUYER'S CONTACT DETAILS, AND THE SELLER HAS TO SEE THEY BUYER'S FIREARM LICENCE OR GET POLICE TO CHECK IT. WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT THERE ARE ROBUST PROCESSES IN PLACE, AND WE ACCEPT THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, WITH THE CASE IN NORTHLAND, THOSE PROCESSES HAVE BROKEN DOWN. IT'S A BIT EARLY FOR US TO SAY WHERE THEY'VE BROKEN DOWN. QUINN PATTERSON'S 'TRADE ME' ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN WHILE POLICE INVESTIGATE. THE POLICE ASSOCIATION WANT 'TRADE ME' AND OTHER WEBSITES TO HAVE ACCESS TO A POLICE DATABASE TO MONITOR WHO BUYS AND SELLS GUNS. WE THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE SUBMITTED TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE THAT WAS HELD ON FIREARMS OWNERSHIP LAST YEAR ON THIS VERY POINT, SAYING OUR SYSTEMS WOULD BE MORE ROBUST. THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T ADOPT THAT RECOMMENDATION BUT HASN'T RULED OUT MORE CHANGES IN LIGHT OF THE NORTHLAND SHOOTING. LOOK, IF THERE'S LOOPHOLES THERE, IN THE SENSE OF HOLES IN THE LAW THAT ARE NOT INTENDED, THEN OF COURSE WE'D BE INTERESTED IN FIXING THOSE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE FACTS OF THIS SITUATION. SO WOULD THE GOVERNMENT LOOK AT BANNING ONLINE SALES OF GUNS COMPLETELY? WE'RE VERY UNLIKELY TO GO THAT FAR. HUNTING GROUPS ARE WARNING AGAINST A KNEE-JERK REACTION, BUT THIS TRAGEDY COULD LEAD TO FURTHER TIGHTENING OF OUR GUN LAWS. JESSICA MUTCH, 1 NEWS. THE WIDELY CRITICISED ISLAND BAY CYCLEWAY IN WELLINGTON IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE COUNCIL PROPOSING FOUR OPTIONS TO FIX IT. BUT THAT HASN'T APPEASED FED-UP RESIDENTS WHO PACKED OUT A PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT TO VENT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS. BRIAR WELLS WENT ALONG. IT'S JUST OVER 1.5KM LONG, BUT THIS CYCLEWAY THROUGH ISLAND BAY HAS CAUSED STACKS OF CONTROVERSY. THE PROBLEM IS THE UNUSUAL LAYOUT, WITH CYCLISTS GOING BETWEEN THE KERB AND PARKED CARS. THE CYCLEWAY IS BARELY USED BY ANY CYCLISTS, AND YET IT'S CAUSED ENORMOUS DISRUPTION. THEY'VE TURNED IT INTO THIS THING I'M TOO SCARED TO DRIVE ON IN CASE I KILL SOMEONE. THE COUNCIL CONCEDING IT'S BEEN A FAILURE, GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO FIND A SOLUTION. THIS WILL BE ABOUT COMPROMISE. I DON'T THINK EVERYONE WILL SEE THEMSELVES AS A WINNER, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. FOUR PROPOSED OPTIONS INCLUDE ` RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL LAYOUT WITH SOME CHANGES, KEEPING THE EXISTING PATH BUT ADDING A RAISED TRAFFIC ISLAND; INSTALLING A NEW SEPARATED KERB SIDE PATH RAISED ABOVE ROAD LEVEL; AND A SIMILAR CONCEPT WITH ANGLED PARKING. THE COMMUNITY VOICED THEIR OPINIONS... THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION ` GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. ...AT A HEATED PUBLIC MEETING THIS EVENING. PUT IT BACK TO NORMAL, TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. I WANT IT THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE. THE ISLAND BAY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION ALSO UNHAPPY WITH THE CHOICES, INSTEAD COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN IDEAS. TO COME TO THE END AND BE SIDESWIPED BY THESE ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS DESIGNS THAT DON'T MEET THE BRIEF IS NOT ON. ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IS A LOSS OF CAR PARKS, WITH THE NEW DESIGNS SEEING A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SPACES. AND COST ` AT LEAST $1.7M HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR. THE PROPOSED OPTIONS TO FIX IT RANGING FROM $4M TO $6M. WHY SHOULD THE REST OF WELLINGTON BE PAYING THESE RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY? THEIR RATES WASTED ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NEEDED. A FINAL DECISION IS EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER. THE MESSAGE HERE ` THIS TIME, GET IT RIGHT. BRIAR WELLS, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` ANOTHER HIT TO US-RUSSIA RELATIONS. WHY VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SENDING MORE THAN 700 AMERICAN DIPLOMATS PACKING. HOW GOOD? REALLY GOOD. THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AIMEE FISHER AT THE UNDER-23 KAYAK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN VENEZUELA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS AS THE COUNTRY WENT TO THE POLLS TO VOTE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL SUPERBODY. JUST OVER 8M PEOPLE VOTED IN THE ELECTION, WHICH WAS BOYCOTTED BY THE OPPOSITION, WHILE PROTESTERS AND POLICE CLASHED IN THE STREETS. CHANNEL NINE'S LIZZIE PEARL HAS MORE. ON PATROL, THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL GUARD. (BOOM!) A BLAST RIPS THROUGH THE CONVOY IN THE CAPITAL, CARACAS, INJURING SEVERAL POLICE. AFTER MONTHS OF PROTESTS AND UNREST, IT'S VOTING DAY, AND VIOLENCE HAS ESCALATED. A TANGLE OF MOTORCYCLES ON FIRE, MANY OF THEM BELONGING TO JOURNALISTS COVERING THE CLASHES, SET ALIGHT BY POLICE. EXPLOSIONS RING OUT AS TANKS CRASH RESIDENTIAL GATES AND PROTESTERS HURL MOLOTOV COCKTAILS. ON MOTORBIKES, POLICE FIRE BACK, SHOOTING TEAR GAS INTO THE ANGRY CROWD. PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO KICKED OFF THE VOTE, BUT IT WAS LARGELY BOYCOTTED BY THE OPPOSITION AND ITS SUPPORTERS, FEARING IT WILL JEOPARDISE THE COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY, GIVING THE PRESIDENT MORE POWER THROUGH THE CREATION OF A SO-CALLED 'CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY'. TRANSLATOR: TODAY WE SEE THE DICTATORSHIP'S FALL. THIS OPPOSITION POLITICIAN SAYS. THE GOVERNMENT DEFENCE MINISTER CLAIMING DESPITE THE STREET VIOLENCE, PEOPLE ARE TURNING OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS. AMONG THE DEAD TODAY ` A CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW ASSEMBLY, SHOT IN HIS HOME; AND A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH OPPOSITION PARTY KILLED AT A PROTEST. A DEADLY DAY IN AN ANGRY AND PROTRACTED CONFLICT. IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, MORE THAN 100 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS EXPELLING 755 US DIPLOMATS FROM RUSSIA. THE EXPULSIONS IN REACTION TO US SANCTIONS AGAINST MOSCOW FOR MEDDLING IN LAST YEARS ELECTION AND AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY. PUTIN HAS ORDERED THE DIPLOMATS MUST BE OUT BY SEPTEMBER 1. THE US MILITARY SAYS ITS CONDUCTED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TEST OF A WEAPONS DEFENCE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SHOOT BALLISTIC MISSILES OUT OF THE SKY. US FORCES FIRED A MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE WHICH WAS DETECTED, TRACKED THEN SHOT DOWN. THE SYSTEM'S ALREADY BEEN DEPLOYED IN SOUTH KOREA AS PART OF THE RESPONSE TO NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE TESTS. AN AUSTRALIAN FAMILY ARE THANKING THEIR LUCKY STARS AFTER RETURNING FROM A FISHING TRIP MISSING A PRECIOUS PIECE OF CARGO. NO, NOT THE FISH, BUT THEIR GRANDSON, FLUNG OFF THE BACK OF THE BOAT AND SURVIVING TO TELL THE REMARKABLE TALE. FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD, LOCHIE BRODIE IS ABOUT AS COOL AS THEY COME. FOR TWO HOURS, HE WAS ALONE. NO LIFE JACKET, BOBBING IN THE OCEAN. I STARTED SHIVERING AND SHAKING. OH, I COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING. IT FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA JUST SLEEP OR DIE. WITH HIS GRANDFATHER AT THE WHEEL, LOCHIE SLIPPED OFF THE DECK. HIS GRANDFATHER MOTORED ON, THINKING LOCHIE WAS BELOW DECK. I WAS JUST SCREAMING OUT FOR MY GRAMPS. AS HE ALTERNATED BETWEEN TREADING WATER AND FLOATING ON HIS BACK, LOCHIE SAYS HE HAS A VISITOR. THIS BIG THING ` BIG SHARK ` JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I JUST SAW IT COME AROUND MY ARM, AROUND ME. AS HIS GRANDPARENTS NEARED THE GLADSTONE MARINA, THEY REALISED LOCHIE HAD GONE OVERBOARD. A RADIO CALL WENT OUT TO SHIPS IN THE AREA AND LOCHIE WAS FOUND. WE JUST STARTED TO HEAD TOWARDS HOME TYPE OF THING. YEAH, JUST BEFORE DARK, MICHELLE SPOTTED HIM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S A HERO MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE. AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS SAID THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN TREAD WATER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I'M JUST SO GLAD HE HAD LOTS OF SWIMMING LESSONS, I GUESS. YEAH, THANKFUL THAT EVERYONE WAS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR HIM. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR BEING HERE. I THINK I WOULD'VE BEEN OUT, BUT SOMETHING JUST PUSHED ME TO KEEP DOING IT. WATCH OUT, LISA CARRINGTON. THERE'S A NEW PADDLER MAKING WAVES IN INTERNATIONAL KAYAKING. AIMEE FISHER HAS MADE HISTORY, CLAIMING TWO GOLD MEDALS AT THE UNDER-23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ` OUR FIRST EVER GOLD AT THE AGE GROUP EVENT. ABBY WILSON HAS THE GOLDEN DAY IN ROMANIA. WINNING YOUR FIRST WORLD TITLE IS A BIG DEAL; WINNING IT AT YOUR LAST REGATTA WITH YOUR COACH, EVEN MORE SPECIAL. I WANTED TO SEND HIM OUT IN STYLE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT HE'S DONE. (SOBS) AIMEE FISHER OVERCOME WITH EMOTION AFTER CLAIMING THE K1 200M CROWN IN ROMANIA. THE 22-YEAR-OLD DOMINATED THE SPRINT EVENT. BEFORE NOW, NZ HAD ONLY WON ONE MEDAL AT THE AGE GROUP WORLD CHAMPS ` A BRONZE IN AN UNDER-18 K2 FEATURING FISHER FOUR YEARS AGO. SHE CREDITS DANISH COACH RENE OLSEN WITH HER REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION. HE'S GIVEN ME THE TOOLS TO GO ON AND BECOME A GREAT PADDLER. FOR THE OLYMPIAN, ONE GOLD WASN'T ENOUGH TO SHOW HER GRATITUDE. SHE WAS BACK ON THE WATER FOUR HOURS LATER, GRITTING HER TEETH THROUGH THE 500M EVENT. HER SECOND WIN EVEN MORE DOMINANT, DESPITE ADMITTING TO A HISTORY OF TANKING IN THE BIG MOMENTS. I ALWAYS DOUBT MYSELF, AND I THOUGHT, 'HANG ON, 'I'VE BEEN FEELING REALLY STRONG AND REALLY FIT. 'THERE'S NO REASON I CAN'T COME OUT HERE TODAY 'AND PUT IN A REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE.' AS PART OF THE ELITE TEAM THIS YEAR, FISHER HAS RACKED UP FOUR WORLD CUP GOLDS AND AN INDIVIDUAL SILVER. IT'S JUST BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE, REALLY. WHILE HER COACH IS NOW OFF TO HELP DEVELOP THE DREAMS OF THE BRITISH TEAM, IT SEEMS HIS HARD WORK HAS STARTED SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THIS KIWI. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` YOUR WEATHER FOR TOMORROW. AND HOW DO YOU SPICE THINGS UP WHEN YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS? BY TAKING TO THE SKIES, OF COURSE. YOU'LL NEVER GUESS THE AGE OF THE MAN WHO'S JUST TAKEN OUT THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE OLDEST PERSON TO EVER SKYDIVE. AMERICAN KENNETH MYERS IS 102 YEARS OLD, AND, AFTER JUMPING FROM AROUND 10,000 FT, HAS SURPASSED THE PREVIOUS RECORD HOLDER, AGED 101. THE GREAT-GRANDFATHER GOT THE BOLD IDEA TO JUMP FROM HIS SON, LANDING TO AN AUDIENCE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. CAN'T BELIEVE IT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. IT WAS AWESOME! HE WANTS TO GO AGAIN. THE CENTENARIAN SAYS HE'LL CONSIDER TAKING THE PLUNGE AGAIN WHEN HE REACHES 105. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER. # OOH, BABY, I LIKE IT RAW. # YEAH, BABY, I LIKE IT RAW. # OOH, BABY, I LIKE IT RAW. # YEAH, BABY, I LIKE IT RAW. RAPS: # SHIMMY SHIMMY YA, SHIMMY YAM, SHIMMY YA. # GIMME THE MIC SO I CAN TAKE IT AWAY. # OFF ON A NATURAL CHARGE, BON-VOYAGE. # YEAH, FROM THE HOME OF THE DODGER BROOKLYN SQUAD. # WUTANG KILLER BEES ON A SWARM. # RAIN ON YOUR COLLEGE-ASS DISCO DORM. # FOR YOU TO EVEN TOUCH MY SKILL YOU GOTTA PUT THE ONE KILLER BEE, # AND HE AIN'T GONNA KILL NOW. # CHOP THAT DOWN, PASS IT ALL AROUND. # LYRICS GET HARD QUICK, CEMENT TO THE GROUND. # FOR ANY EMCEE IN ANY 52 STATES, I GET PSYCHO KILLER, NORMAN BATES. # MY PRODUCER SLAM, MY FLOW IS LIKE BAM. # JUMP ON STAGE, AH, THEN I DIP DOWN. # THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY CHELSEA THORESEN AND JEAN TENG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.