IT'S MIDDAY. AUSTRALIA'S STRAWBERRY SCARE SPREADS TO ALL SIX STATES. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES A FULL INVESTIGATION. A COALITION STILL IN DISAGREEMENT ` THE PRIME MINISTER ADMITS THERE'S STILL NO CONSENSUS ON REFUGEE QUOTAS. AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE TRAPPED MINERS AS THE RESCUE EFFORT CONTINUES AFTER TYPHOON MANGKHUT. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND CHELSEA BRADY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. ALL OF AUSTRALIA'S SIX STATES HAVE NOW REPORTED INCIDENTS OF NEEDLES CONCEALED IN STRAWBERRIES. THE SCARE HAS PROMPTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ORDER AN INVESTIGATION. AND WHILE NO CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED HERE, NZ AUTHORITIES ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE SITUATION. KIM SAVAGE HAS MORE. THE STRAWBERRY SCARE HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR ADELAIDE'S KERRY MUNDAY WHEN SHE FOUND A NEEDLE IN A STRAWBERRY SHE WAS CUTTING UP FOR HER 15-MONTH-OLD SON. I JUST GIVE HIM WHOLE STRAWBERRIES AS A SNACK, AND IF I'D DONE THAT WITH THAT PARTICULAR STRAWBERRY, AND HE'D EATEN` SWALLOWED A NEEDLE... YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED. SHE TOLD THE SHOP WHERE SHE BOUGHT THE PACKET LAST WEEK. THEY THEN CALLED POLICE. THEY TOOK A STATEMENT, ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF. AND THEN THE CRIME SCENE GUY CAME OUT AND HAD A LOOK AT THE STRAWBERRY. SIMILAR FINDS HAVE NOW BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER AUSTRALIA. SEVERAL BRANDS OF STRAWBERRIES WERE REMOVED FROM SALE IN RESPONSE. MARKET STALL OWNERS HAVE TAKEN MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS. THERE'LL BE AN X-RAY MACHINE THAT'LL IDENTIFY ANY SORT OF FOREIGN OBJECT THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED INTO ANY PRODUCT. IT'S PROMPTED AUSTRALIA'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN. I HAVE ORDERED THE FOOD SAFETY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE. AUTHORITIES HERE SAY NO CONTAMINATED FRUIT HAS MADE ITS WAY INTO NZ, AND NOW SUPERMARKETS HERE HAVE STOPPED SELLING AUSTRALIAN STRAWBERRIES ALTOGETHER. WE WILL RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES FROM AUSTRALIA, SO IF ANYTHING CHANGES, OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL ACT AS NEEDED. ACROSS THE TASMAN, THE WIDER IMPACT'S ALREADY BEING FELT. GROWERS ARE FEARING FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS. TO DATE, THE WA INDUSTRY HAS DUMPED OVER 20,000 KILOS OF OUR FRUIT, AND THAT'S BASICALLY FROM CANCELLATION OF ORDERS AND LACK OF DEMAND. FOR NOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STRAWBERRIES ARE GOING TO WASTE UNTIL THE SOURCE OF THE SABOTAGE IS FOUND AND STOPPED. KIM SAVAGE, 1 NEWS. THERE'S NO COALITION CONSENSUS YET ON THE REFUGEE QUOTA, BUT THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS IT IS COMING. THE GOVERNMENT'S SHARED PLAN FOR NZ HAS BEEN LABELLED HOLLOW BY SOME COMMENTATORS AND LACKING POLICY DETAIL BY THE OPPOSITION. JACINDA ARDERN SAYS TALKS ARE ONGOING TO FIND AGREEMENT ON SOME ISSUES, LIKE THE REFUGEE QUOTA. AS THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAID OVER THE WEEKEND, YOU'LL ACTUALLY FIND SOME SIMILARITY BETWEEN WHAT ALL THREE PARTIES ARE SAYING IN THIS AREA. BUT ONCE CABINET HAS CONFIRMED OUR POSITION, YOU'LL SEE THAT FINAL OUTCOME, AND IT WON'T BE TOO FAR AWAY. A NEW REPORT SUGGESTS OUR GOVERNMENT'S NOT PROVIDING US WITH VALUE FOR MONEY. THE NEW ZEALAND INITIATIVE RESEARCH SAYS UP TO $1 IN EVERY $3 SPENT BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS WASTEFUL. THAT REPRESENTS AROUND $20,000 PER HOUSEHOLD. A RESEARCHER FROM THE REPORT SAYS THE PUBLIC SECTOR ISN'T FOCUSED AS MUCH AS IT NEEDS TO BE. THE OUTCOMES NEW ZEALANDERS ARE GETTING FROM ALL OF THE RESOURCES GOVERNMENTS ARE SPENDING AND CHANNELLING THROUGH REGULATION FALL SHORT OF WHAT THE BEST COUNTRIES ARE ACHIEVING OVERSEAS. A FORMER AUCKLAND BOARD CHAIRMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO FOUR AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON AFTER EARLIER PLEADING GUILTY TO SEXUALLY EXPLOITING CHILDREN. MARTIN LAWES (75) APPEARED IN THE NORTH SHORE DISTRICT COURT THIS MORNING AFTER ADMITTING HE PAID POOR FAMILIES IN THE PHILIPPINES TO SEXUALLY ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN WHILE HE WATCHED LIVE THROUGH HIS COMPUTER. THE FORMER NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY BOARD CHAIRMAN SPENT AROUND $100,000 OVER A NINE-YEAR PERIOD. LAST MONTH HE PLEADED GUILTY TO THREE COUNTS OF ENTERING INTO A DEALING INVOLVING UNDER-18s FOR SEX. GLENORCHY IN CENTRAL OTAGO REMAINS WITHOUT POWER TODAY FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S SPRING SNOWFALL. AROUND 300 OTHER HOUSEHOLDS IN THE REGION ARE ALSO OFF THE GRID. AURORA ENERGY SAYS ITS WORKING TO RESTORE POWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT DAMAGE TO THE LINES IS CAUSING DELAYS. GOOD NEWS FOR SKI BUNNIES, THOUGH. THE SNOW DUMP MADE FOR A BUSY DAY ON THE CARDRONA SLOPES TODAY. I'M HAVING THE BEST DAY EVER. THERE'S SO MUCH SNOW, AND IT'S THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE MIDDLE OF JULY. CARDRONA SAYS THEY NOW HAVE ENOUGH SNOW TO LAST THEM TILL THE END OF THE SEASON. 29 PEOPLE, MOSTLY MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ARE STILL MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE BURIED THEIR SHELTER IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES DURING TYPHOON MANGKHUT. THE DEATH TOLL CURRENTLY STANDS AT 65. SOME BODIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN RETRIEVED FROM THE MUD, BUT EXPERTS ON THE GROUND SAY THERE IS NO HOPE OF FINDING ANY OTHERS ALIVE. THE BBC'S JONATHAN HEAD REPORTS. IN THE END, IT WASN'T THE WIND, BUT THE RAIN THAT WAS THE REAL KILLER. THAT HUGE BROWN GASH IN THE MOUNTAIN IS WHERE AN ENTIRE WATERLOGGED HILLSIDE SLID DOWN AND BURIED A BUILDING WHERE DOZENS OF MINERS HAD TAKEN SHELTER FROM THE TYPHOON. FOR TWO DAYS, RESCUERS HAVE BATTLED TO FIND SURVIVORS, CLAMBERING OVER THE TREACHEROUS MUD. THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO BRING UP HEAVIER EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGED ROADS. SO FAR, ONLY BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. DOZENS MORE ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED UNDER THE MUD. THEY AREN'T SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY. RELATIVES HAVE COME UP TO WAIT FOR NEWS, CLINGING TO THE HOPE THAT THERE MAY YET BE SURVIVORS. (SPEAKS FILIPINO) TRANSLATOR: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A LANDSLIDE THIS MASSIVE. ALMOST EVERYONE HERE IS AFFECTED. EVEN THE MINERS ARE HELPING THE RESCUERS. THE POLICE, EVERYONE IS GIVING THEIR BEST. SMALL-SCALE ILLEGAL MINING IS A LONGSTANDING PROBLEM IN THE PHILIPPINES, WHERE POVERTY IS HIGH AND JOBS ARE SCARCE. PRESIDENT DUTERTE HAS NOW VOWED TO STAMP IT OUT. BUT SUCH PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE BY FILIPINO LEADERS TO LITTLE EFFECT. FURTHER NORTH, IN AREAS WHICH BORE THE BRUNT OF THE STORM, THEY'RE STARTING TO COUNT THE COST. IN PLACES, IT HAS BEEN VERY HIGH. NOT SO MUCH IN LIVES LOST, BUT IN DAMAGE TO HOMES, CROPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. TO THE US, 31 PEOPLE ARE REPORTED TO HAVE DIED IN STORM-RELATED INCIDENTS ACROSS NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE FLORENCE MADE LANDFALL LAST WEEK. HEAVY FLOODING IS STILL AFFECTING THE US STATE. EVACUATED RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WARNED TO STAY AWAY. MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN FLOODS IN NIGERIA AFTER TWO MAJOR RIVERS BURST THEIR BANKS. AUTHORITIES SAY HEAVY RAIN CAUSED THE NIGER AND BENUE RIVERS TO OVERFLOW, CAUSING FLOODS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND LARGE AREAS OF FARMLANDS DESTROYED. RUSSIA AND SYRIA ARE SET TO CREATE A DEMILITARISED ZONE IN THE SYRIAN REGION OF IDLIB TO SEPARATE GOVERNMENT FORCES FROM REBEL FIGHTERS. THE ZONE, PATROLLED BY RUSSIAN TROOPS, IS SET TO COME INTO ACTION ON OCTOBER 15TH. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE SHUT DOWN WARNINGS FROM THE UN THAT THE SYRIAN ARMY COULD LAUNCH AN ASSAULT TO RECLAIM IDLIB, SAYING IT WON'T HAPPEN UNDER THE DEAL. US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SLAPPED NEW TARIFFS ON $200B WORTH OF CHINESE GOODS. IT COMES AS THE UNITED STATES ESCALATES ITS TRADE WAR WITH CHINA, IMPOSING A 10% TARIFF LATER THIS MONTH, WITH PLANS TO INCREASE IT TO 25% BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ON TOP OF PREVIOUS SANCTIONS, APPROXIMATELY HALF THE PRODUCTS CHINA SELLS TO THE US WILL NOW BE AFFECTED BY TARIFFS. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY SAYS MPs WILL HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN HER BREXIT DEAL WITH THE EU OR NO DEAL AT ALL. THE UK IS SET TO LEAVE THE EU IN MARCH NEXT YEAR, AND NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ARE STILL TAKING PLACE. THE BBC'S LAURA KUENSSBERG REPORTS. MRS AND MR MAY MIGHT HAVE SYMPATHY FOR QUIZ CONTESTANTS, BUT HOW MUCH UNDERSTANDING CAN SHE EXPECT AS SHE APPROACHES A DEFINING FEW MONTHS? I BELIEVE WE'LL GET A GOOD DEAL; WE'LL BRING THAT BACK FROM THE EU NEGOTIATIONS AND PUT THAT TO PARLIAMENT. I THINK THAT THE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT WILL BE NOT HAVING A DEAL, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE... A) I DON'T THINK THE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE THAT DEAL; AND B) WE'RE LEAVING ON THE 29TH OF MARCH 2019. IT WAS IN THE GRANDEUR OF HER COUNTRY HOME CHEQUERS THAT SHE SIGNED THE CABINET UP TO HER PLAN FOR NEGOTIATION, A COMPROMISE THAT'S ANYTHING BUT COMFORTABLE FOR MANY TORIES, WHERE PART OF THE ECONOMY WOULD STAY CLOSELY TIED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION. THE CLAIM THAT IT'S HER WAY OR NO WAY ROUNDLY REJECTED BY SOME BREXITEERS. I DIRECT YOU TO... THEIR CHEERLEADER-IN-CHIEF WHO QUIT OVER THE PLAN WILL NOT GO QUIETLY. MUCH OF THE POINT OF BREXIT IS NULLIFIED. YOU'RE NOT REALLY ACHIEVING` YOU'RE NOT REALLY FULFILLING THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE, AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY COMING OUT OF THE EU. AND THAT WOULD BE A REAL, REAL SHAME AND A BIT OF A POLITICAL DISASTER. NEITHER THE LABOUR PARTY NOR THE SNP NOR THE LIB DEMS ARE LIKELY TO APPROVE, SO THE NUMBERS WILL BE TIGHT. IF THE VOTE FAILS, THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER SAY. NUMBER 10 USED TO SAY NO DEAL IS BETTER THAN A BAD ONE. BUT NOW THE PRIME MINISTER ALMOST SEEMS TO BE SAYING ANY DEAL IS BETTER THAN NONE. BUT THAT'S EVEN BEFORE ALMOST INEVITABLE FURTHER COMPROMISE WITH THE EU. THERE'S JUST NO WAY THERESA MAY CAN ACTUALLY BE SURE OF GETTING MPs IN LINE. THE FIRST TASK, THOUGH, A LOT MORE OF THIS GRIP-AND-GRIN. BEFORE PARLIAMENT, SHE MUST GET THE MALTESE LEADER AND 26 OTHERS ON HER SIDE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` HIGH SCHOOL MATHS BEFORE THE REST OF US HAD EVEN STARTED SCHOOL. NOW THIS KIWI MATHS GENIUS IS TAKING ON THE WORLD. COULD AN ASPIRIN A DAY BE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD? THE NEW STUDY WITH A WARNING FOR OVER 70s. AND THE TALL BLACKS LEAVE IT LATE AGAINST LEBANON TO KEEP THEIR PERFECT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING RECORD INTACT. AN AUCKLAND TEENAGER COULD BE THIS COUNTRY'S BRIGHTEST YOUNG MIND. TRISTAN PANG CLOCKED HIGH SCHOOL MATHS AS A TODDLER AND FINISHED UNIVERSITY AT 12. AT JUST 16, HE'S HOPING TO SECURE A SPOT AT THE BREAKTHROUGH JUNIOR CHALLENGE, BRINGING TOGETHER THE BRIGHTEST MATHEMATICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. HE SUBMITTED A VIDEO ENTRY WHICH HAS EARNED HIM A SPOT IN THE TOP 30, BUT THE WHIZZ SAYS IT'S MORE THAN JUST SIMPLE MATH. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING, SO MY VIDEO FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH JUNIOR CHALLENGE TALKS ABOUT EMERGENCE, WHICH IS MORE A THEORETICAL PHYSICS TOPIC. IT RELATES BOTH THEORETICAL PHYSICS AND ALSO APPLIED PHYSICS. SO EMERGENCE SAYS HOW SMALL THINGS DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER ` SO HOW INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE FORM SOCIETIES OR HOW ANTS FORM ANT COLONIES. TRISTAN NOW NEEDS TO WIN THE PUBLIC VOTE IN ORDER TO SKIP THE NEXT ROUND OF JUDGING THE AGE-OLD ADAGE OF 'AN ASPIRIN A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY' MIGHT BE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. A NEW STUDY'S FOUND THE PREVENTATIVE USE OF ASPIRIN BY THOSE AGED OVER 70 HAS NO PROVEN BENEFIT AND COULD EVEN INCREASE THE RISK OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. NINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT ALICE MONFRIES EXPLAINS. IT'S MESSAGING LIKE THIS... RECOMMENDED REPEATEDLY IN PUBLIC HEALTH ARTICLES, MEDICAL JOURNALS, PERSONAL CONSULTATIONS. ...THAT'S LED MANY GENERATIONS TO POP AN ASPIRIN A DAY TO KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY. AMONG THEM, BRUCE HOLLOWAY. I DID TAKE ASPIRIN UNTIL I WAS 75, WHEN MY GP SUGGESTED THAT I STOP TAKING IT. MORE THAN 300,000 ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS TAKE 100MG EACH DAY IN THE HOPE IT WILL REDUCE THEIR RISK OF HEART PROBLEMS OR STROKE AND PROLONG THEIR LIVES. PEOPLE HAVE EXPECTED THAT TAKING A LOW DOSE OF ASPIRIN A DAY IS A GOOD THING AND EVERYONE SHOULD DO IT, AND THAT'S NOT CORRECT. THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST STUDY OF MORE THAN 17,000 AUSTRALIANS AGED OVER 70 HAS FOUND IT'S NOT WORTH THE TIME OR MONEY. THE USE OF LOW-DOSE ASPIRIN IN HEALTHY, OLDER PEOPLE IS OF NO GREATER BENEFIT THAN IT IS A RISK. IN FACT, IT COULD ACTUALLY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT PREVENTS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAFE. THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF ASPIRIN. AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF INCREASED BLEEDING RISK, POTENTIALLY, IS MORE SIGNIFICANT IN OLDER PEOPLE. BECAUSE THE BLOOD VESSELS OF THOSE AGED 70 AND OLDER ARE MORE FRAGILE. UNLESS THERE'S A GOOD REASON, WE DON'T WANT OUR OLDER PATIENTS TO BE ON ASPIRIN. THE RESEARCHERS HOPE ASPIRIN GUIDELINES WILL BE UPDATED BASED ON THEIR STUDY, AND THEY WARN NOT TO CHANGE ANY MEDICATION WITHOUT MEDICAL ADVICE. A BRITISH CAVE DIVER WHO HELPED IN THE RESCUE OF THE 12 BOYS TRAPPED IN A THAI CAVE IS SUING TECH BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK FOR DEFAMATION. MR MUSK MADE SEVERAL ACCUSATIONS AGAINST VERNON UNSWORTH ON TWITTER, CLAIMING THE DIVER WAS A CHILD RAPIST. MR UNSWORTH IS NOW SEEKING MORE THAN $113,000 IN COMPENSATION. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS AGAIN DECLARED HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH FOR A SEAT ON THE US SUPREME COURT. MR KAVANAUGH FACES HISTORIC ALLEGATIONS OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHICH HE DENIES. BUT THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE NOW JOINED THE DEMOCRATS IN CALLING FOR A KEY VOTE IN THE NOMINATION TO BE DELAYED. THE BBC'S JOHN SOPEL REPORTS. BRETT KAVANAUGH, UNTIL LAST WEEK, WAS GLIDING EFFORTLESSLY TO HIS SEAT ON THE ALL-POWERFUL SUPREME COURT. CONSERVATIVE, CHARMING, POPULAR AND WELL CONNECTED, HE SEEMED THE PERFECT PICK TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT. DO YOU SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE... BUT NOW A WOMAN'S COME FORWARD, A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR FROM CALIFORNIA, TO SAY THAT SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY MR KAVANAUGH WHEN THEY WERE TEENAGERS, SOME 35 YEARS AGO. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST THAT SHE'D BEEN PINNED DOWN ON A BED BY HIM, AND THAT HE'D COVERED HER MOUTH WHEN SHE TRIED TO SCREAM. HER LAWYER SAYS SHE'LL DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY. SHE IS WILLING TO HOPEFULLY TELL HER STORY IN A MANNER THAT IS A FAIR PROCEEDING. JUDGE KAVANAUGH HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT EMPHATICALLY DENYING THE CHARGE. THE WHITE HOUSE IS STILL PUSHING HIS NOMINATION, BUT THEY'LL BE WATCHING ANXIOUSLY IN CASE ANYTHING ELSE EMERGES. JUDGE KAVANAUGH IS ONE OF THE FINEST PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER KNOWN. HE'S AN OUTSTANDING INTELLECT, AN OUTSTANDING JUDGE, RESPECTED BY EVERYBODY, NEVER HAD EVEN A LITTLE BLEMISH ON HIS RECORD. WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WHEN CLARENCE THOMAS WAS NOMINATED BY GEORGE HW BUSH TO THE SUPREME COURT IN 1991, HE SEEMED A SHOO-IN ` UNTIL ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES, ANITA HILL, CAME FORWARD TO TESTIFY THAT SHE'D BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY HIM. THOMAS TOLD ME GRAPHICALLY OF HIS OWN SEXUAL PROWESS. IN THE END, MR THOMAS WAS CONFIRMED AND STILL SITS ON THE SUPREME COURT. BUT THIS IS 2018 AND #METOO. THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAVE SOME DELICATE JUDGEMENTS TO MAKE. AN 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS ACHIEVED HER QUEST TO BECOME THE FIRST PERSON TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH FOR ALL 30 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS IN THE US. IN AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY THAT STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, ABC'S ADRIENNE BANKERT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS FOR HAILEY DAWSON. HAILEY DAWSON'S TENACIOUS, WITH A SPECIAL PROSTHETIC HAND THAT PUTS THE 8-YEAR-OLD IN THE HISTORY BOOKS. OUR CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH FEATURING HAILEY DAWSON. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT. HAILEY'S NOW THE FIRST EVER TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AT ALL 30 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUMS ` THE MET, YANKEES, EVEN A WORLD SERIES GAME. HER FINAL TOSS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE ANGELS. HAILEY DAWSON, 8 YEARS OLD. HER 30TH FIRST PITCH! THERE IS A CAUSE. HAILEY WAS BORN WITH THE RARE DISEASE POLAND SYNDROME. SHE'S MISSING A PECTORAL MUSCLE AND THREE FINGERS ON HER RIGHT HAND. HER FAMILY PARTNERED WITH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS, TO CREATE A NEW HAND USING A 3D PRINTER. WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY SHE IMPROVED HER PITCHES. OK, HAILEY, LET'S SEE A STRIKE. SHE'S NOW RAISING MONEY FOR UNLV TO CREATE AND DONATE HANDS LIKE HERS. BUT FOR NOW, HAILEY HAS JUST ONE GOAL IN MIND. TO SPORT, AND THE TALL BLACKS HAVE ESCAPED WITH A LATE 63-60 VICTORY OVER LEBANON TO EDGE CLOSER TOWARDS A BASKETBALL WORLD CUP BERTH. THE WIN PUTS NEW ZEALAND CLEAR ON TOP OF THEIR ASIAN QUALIFYING GROUP WITH A HANDFUL OF GAMES LEFT. VICTOR WATERS HAS THE ACTION FROM ROTORUA. A VICTORY OVER LEBANON WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THE TALL BLACKS WOULD HAVE LIKED. LEBANON FOR THREE! OH, AIR BALL. IT'S ALL OVER. TE RANGI GETS IT. IT'S AN AIR BALL. LEBANON WAS ONE SHOT AWAY FROM SNAPPING NZ'S IMPRESSIVE WORLD CUP QUALIFYING WINNING STREAK. THE TALL BLACKS ARE NOW SEVEN FROM SEVEN, DESPITE ONE OF THEIR WORST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES IN RECENT MEMORY. TALL BLACKS WITH IT. NEEDED IT TO DROP. SCRAMBLES, GIVES THE BALL BACK TO TE RANGI. THE KIWI OUTFIT MISFIRED, STRUGGLING WITH A 28% SHOOTING AVERAGE FROM THE FIELD. THE 38-HOUR RETURN FLIGHT PERHAPS TOOK A TOLL ON THE TEAM. IN THOSE TYPES OF GAMES, IT CAN GO EITHER WAY. I'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LEDGER MORE TIMES THAN I'D LIKE. SO, YEAH, BIT OF RELIEF AND PRIDE FOR THE BOYS. INDEED, VICTORY COULD HAVE BEEN LEBANON'S, AS THE VISITORS IMPOSED THEMSELVES IN ROTORUA. ELIAS RUSTOM PUNISHED THE KIWIS WITH A GAME-HIGH 19 POINTS. TAKES IT IN, FINISHES IT OFF TOO. FULL OF CONFIDENCE AT THE MOMENT, LEBANON. BUT NZ REMAINED UNDETERRED. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT STICKING WITH IT. WE KNEW WHAT OUR JOB WAS. THAT JOB CAME IN THE FORM OF A FLURRY OF DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS. HENARE SUMMED UP THEIR PERFORMANCE PERFECTLY. WELL, THEY NEEDED TO BE, BECAUSE WE SHOT THE BALL LIKE (BLEEP). THE COACH ADMITS IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN PRETTY, BUT IT WAS EFFECTIVE. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PUTTING THE BALL IN THE HOOP. IT WAS ALL ABOUT GRINDING IT OUT WITH OUR DEFENCE AND OUR REBOUNDING. FOUR GAMES NOW REMAIN FOR NZ, AS THEY INCH CLOSER TO NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN CHINA. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS HAS CONFIRMED HE'S HEADING BACK INTO THE BOXING RING. THE FORMER NZ HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP WILL FIGHT A FORMER WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN SHOW 'THE BACHELOR' IN SYDNEY IN DECEMBER IN A CHARITY FIGHT DUBBED 'THE BANGER UNDER THE HANGER'. THE TITLE OF 'WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY' WILL BE ON THE LINE, AND WILLIAMS SAYS HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO GIVING BACK BY PUTTING THE GLOVES ON AGAIN. A FAN WHO ABUSED A NUMBER OF WALLABIES PLAYERS AFTER THEIR LOSS TO ARGENTINA SAYS HE'S 'DISTRAUGHT' WITH HIS ACTIONS. THE UNNAMED MAN WON'T FACE ANY SANCTIONS FOR THE INCIDENT THAT INVOLVED FLANKER LUKHAN TUI. THE INDIVIDUAL SAYS HE'S BEEN LEFT SHELL-SHOCKED AND HAD NO IDEA TUI WAS GRIEVING THE LOSS OF HIS STEPFATHER. CHELSEA MIDFIELDER N'GOLO KANTE HAS SENT SOCIAL MEDIA INTO A FRENZY AFTER STAYING FOR DINNER AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AT A STRANGER'S HOUSE. THE FRENCH WORLD CUP WINNER MISSED A TRAIN FROM LONDON TO PARIS AND INSTEAD BEFRIENDED A GROUP OF MATES WHILE VISITING A MOSQUE. THE HUMBLE STAR HAD CHICKEN CURRY FOR DINNER AND SAID HE WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN HOME ALONE ANYWAY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, A SHOWERY DAY FOR MOST PLACES, WITH THE ODD POCKETS OF SUNSHINE SPRINKLED. WEATHER DETAILS NEXT. * Vodafone TV allows you to switch easily from your TV to your tablet or your mobile phone, giving you freedom like never before. * NIGELLA LAWSON: Whittaker's have always believed that best is better, and now Andrew and Brian have made a luscious new caramel filling. It's creamier, more buttery and velvety. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. ALL OF AUSTRALIA'S SIX STATES HAVE NOW REPORTED NEEDLES CONCEALED IN STRAWBERRIES, PROMPTING THE GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION. EXPERTS ON THE GROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES SAY THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE OF FINDING ANY MORE SURVIVORS CAVED IN FROM THE LANDSLIDE DURING TYPHOON MANGKHUT. 'KAWEA' BY MAORI SONG GROUP MAIMOA PLAYS OUT YOUR WEATHER. (MAIMOA'S 'KAWEA') THANKS FOR WATCHING. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, E NOHO RA, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND CHELSEA BRADY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018