TONIGHT... THE HONEYMOON'S OVER FOR THE COALITION GOVERNMENT, AS OUR LATEST POLITICAL POLL REVEALS AN ELECTION HELD TODAY WOULD SEE IT OUT OF POWER. THE SHOCKING NEW CRIME TREND, LABELLED 'THE SWARM'... WHY RETAILERS FEAR IT'S ON THE RISE. PLUS, THE CELLPHONE BAN'S COME INTO FORCE... HOW STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TAKING TO THE CHANGE. CAPTIONS BY CHELSEA BRADY AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. A SHOCK RESULT TONIGHT ` THE COALITION GOVERNMENT WOULD BE OUT OF POWER, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST 1NEWS-VERIAN POLL. SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL, NEW ZEALAND FIRST AND ACT HAS DROPPED. NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S SLIDE WOULD PUT IT OUT OF PARLIAMENT ALTOGETHER. THAT'D MEAN LABOUR, THE GREENS AND TE PATI MAORI WOULD HAVE THE MAJORITY TO GOVERN. HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN WITH THE EXCLUSIVE NUMBERS. HE AWHA TORANGAPU TE HAERE AKE NEI ` POLITICAL TURBULENCE AHEAD. BUCKLE UP, BRACE FOR IMPACT. NATIONAL IS DOWN TWO POINTS, ON 36. THOSE VOTES GOBBLED UP BY LABOUR, BACK IN THE RESPECTABLE 30s FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NINE MONTHS. ALSO UP TWO ` THE GREEN PARTY ON 14, THE CHLOE SWARBRICK CO-LEADERSHIP EFFECT IN FULL FLIGHT. BUT HERE COMES THE TURBULENCE. ACT IS CONTINUING ITS FREEFALL, NOW ON SEVEN, DOWN FOR OUR FOURTH POLL IN A ROW. AND BANG ` NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS DOWN AND OUT ON FOUR. WINSTON PETERS WOULD NOT BE IN PARLIAMENT IN WHAT COULD BE MAYDAY FOR THE COALITION. ROUNDING THINGS OFF ` TE PATI MAORI STEADY ON FOUR, MAINTAINING ONE OF ITS HIGHEST RESULTS IN THE 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL. LET'S RING AROUND THIS WAY NOW TO SEE HOW THOSE NUMBERS TRANSLATE TO SEATS IN THE HOUSE. NATIONAL WOULD HAVE 48 SEATS IN BLUE ` ON THAT SIDE. ACT GETS NINE. THAT'S 57. AND WITHOUT NEW ZEALAND FIRST, NOT ENOUGH TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. LOOKING AT THIS SIDE HERE, LABOUR IN RED WOULD HAVE 40 SEATS, THE GREENS 18 ` THAT'S ONE MORE THAN NATIONAL AND ACT ` AND TE PATI MAORI, WITH SIX SEATS, IS KINGMAKER. TIME TO BRING UP THE PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER NUMBERS NOW ` AND MORE BAD NEWS FOR CHRISTOPHER LUXON, DOWN TWO POINTS ON 23%. CHRIS HIPKINS UP ONE ON 16%, CHLOE SWARBRICK BOUNCING UP TWO POINTS TO 6%, NUDGING AHEAD OF DAVID SEYMOUR, WHO'S UP ONE ON 5%. AND WINSTON PETERS IS PLUMMETING, WITH HIS PARTY, DOWN TO 4%. SO THERE IT IS ` A NIGHTMARE POLL FOR THE COALITION GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR JUST FIVE MONTHS. IS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD OVER? THE PRIME MINISTER MAY WELL REACH FOR A BOWL OF HOT NOODLES TONIGHT. MMM! WINSTON PETERS ` A SUPER WINE BISCUIT WITH A CUP OF TEA. DAVID SEYMOUR ` SOME GOLDEN, GREASY FISH AND CHIPS. EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. COALITION COMFORT FOOD AFTER A PUMMELLING IN THE POLLS. POLLS WILL GO UP AND DOWN. WE'RE NOT THAT FIXATED ON THEM; WHAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS DELIVERING FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. HE SAYS, 'GIVE IT A SEC, NEW ZEALAND.' ULTIMATELY, THEY WILL JUDGE US IN THREE YEARS' TIME. IT'S NOT THE COALITION; IT'S YOU. OH, LOOK, I ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. BUT JUST FIVE MONTHS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, NATIONAL'S HITTING SPEED BUMPS. NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS BOOTED FROM PARLIAMENT, AND THE ACT PARTY... ...CONTINUES TO TAKE A LICKING. I REMEMBER YEAR AFTER YEAR, I USED TO BANG AWAY, AND 7 WAS A DREAM. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT'S NOW A NIGHTMARE, THEN I'M A PRETTY HAPPY GUY. GOOD TO MEET YOU, SIR. WINSTON PETERS HAS ARGUABLY OUTWORKED MOST OF CABINET, LEADING A GRUELLING OVERSEAS SCHEDULE AS FOREIGN MINISTER. THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS... AN UTTER CATASTROPHE. BUT ALONG WITH POSITIVE GLOBAL HEADLINES, HE'S ALSO MADE NEGATIVE ONES. THEIR DNA MADE THEM SOMEHOW BETTER THAN OTHERS. I'VE SEEN THAT SORT OF PHILOSOPHY BEFORE. I SAW IT IN NAZI GERMANY. WE ALL DID. FOR NATIONAL, IT'S BEEN A CASE OF UNDERPERFORMANCE, WITH TWO STRUGGLING MINISTERS. IF ONLY I WAS A MAGICIAN. IF I COULD ACTUALLY JUST SNAP UP A SOLUTION, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAD A SOLUTION. I MAKE INTERVENTIONS WHEN I NEED TO TO MAKE SURE I HAVE GOOD SENIOR CABINET MINISTERS DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES. SINCE COMING INTO POWER, THE GOVERNMENT'S SCRAPPED, CUT, TIGHTENED AND REDUCED ` AUSTERITY IN ABSOLUTE OVERDRIVE. WE CURRENTLY FACE A HANGOVER FROM THE LAST GUYS' BORROWING AND INFLATION. WE NOW HAVE TO COME AWAY AND TAKE AWAY THE PUNCH BOWL FROM THE PARTY, THAT'S GONE ON TOO LONG. SPEAKING OF PARTIES ` THE COALITION'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD TIME, WITH DAVID SEYMOUR ACCUSED OF UNDERMINING THE PRIME MINISTER. SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT HE'S UNDERMINING ME OR I'M UNDERMINING HIM, AND ACTUALLY I DON'T LISTEN TO EITHER OF THOSE PEOPLE. WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS CAN BE REASSURED ABOUT IS THERE IS MASSIVE UNITY AND SINGLE-MINDED PURPOSE. SO YOU AND HIM ARE ALL GOOD? WE ARE DANGEROUSLY UNITED FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OUR OPPONENTS. NOW THEY JUST NEED TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC AND REGAIN VOTER CONFIDENCE. RETAILERS SAY THEY'RE CONFRONTING A NEW TYPE OF CRIME THEY'RE CALLING 'THE SWARM'. IT'S WHEN A GROUP OF CRIMINALS RUSH INTO STORES USING WEAPONS TO CARRY OUT THEIR ROBBERIES. AND INTIMIDATE PEOPLE AS THEY'RE DOING SO. THEY SAY THE TREND HAS INCREASED IN RECENT MONTHS, ALARMING SHOPPERS AND SECURITY GUARDS. SIMON MERCEP REPORTS. THESE SOUTH AUCKLAND SHOPPERS SCRAMBLE FOR SAFETY AS OFFENDERS WIELDING WEAPONS CHARGE INTO THE JEWELLERY STORE. SEVERAL HAVE HAMMERS. ONE CARRIES A MACHETE. RETAILERS HAVE A NAME FOR IT ` 'SWARM CRIME'. SO, YOU'VE GOT HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE GROUPED TOGETHER WITH TOOLS AND WEAPONS, SWARMING INTO A STORE AND OVERWHELMING THE STAFF AND THE CUSTOMERS IN THOSE STORES. THE STORE SAYS IT LOST $1M IN THE ANZAC DAY ROBBERY. A WEEK EARLIER, ANOTHER AUCKLAND JEWELLER WAS TARGETED. AGAIN, A MACHETE WAS INVOLVED. RETAIL NZ SAYS THESE HIGH-PROFILE CRIMES ARE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE WIDESPREAD RIGHT AT THE MOMENT. THEY SAY THE TARGETS HAVE SHIFTED FROM PETROL STATIONS TO JEWELLERY STORES. THERE WAS ANOTHER CASE JUST YESTERDAY. IN THE LATEST INCIDENT, OFFENDERS TARGETED A MICHAEL HILL JEWELLERY STORE AT THE WESTGATE SHOPPING MALL BEHIND ME. POLICE HAVE CHARGED A MAN (27) AND ALLEGE HE USED A MACHETE WHEN HE ROBBED THE STORE. WE ASKED ONE RESIDENT HOW SAFE IT FEELS TO SHOP. IF IT'S BEFORE 4 O'CLOCK, 5 O'CLOCK, UM... REASONABLY SAFE. DEFINITELY GOT TO HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU, BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE AROUND HERE TOWARDS THE LATE EVENING. POLICE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM WORKING ON JEWELLERY ROBBERIES. SECURITY GUARDS WELCOME THAT. THEY SAY DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES IS INCREASING, BUT CRIME IS PUTTING SOME JOB HUNTERS OFF. BUT WE DO FIND IT TOUGH TO RECRUIT WHERE THOSE POTENTIAL PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS, AND FAIR ENOUGH. THEY DO ASK ABOUT THE RISKS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THEM SAFE. RETAIL NZ IS KEEN TO SEE HOW THE GOVERNMENT DEALS WITH YOUNG CRIMINALS IN ITS BOOT CAMPS OR ACADEMIES. BUT IT SAYS OTHER SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED FOR ADULT OFFENDERS. HOW WILL THEY PUT IN SOME MECHANISMS THAT RETAILERS WILL FEEL MORE PROTECTED TO GO ABOUT DOING THEIR JOB ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? RETAIL CRIME WAS A HEADACHE FOR THE LAST GOVERNMENT; IT SEEMS NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED. SIMON MERCEP, 1 NEWS. POLICE ARE GUARDING A HOUSE IN WHANGAREI WHERE A MAN DIED OVERNIGHT IN A SUSPICIOUS FIRE. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE TIKIPUNGA ADDRESS, DOWN A RIGHT OF WAY, EARLY THIS MORNING. THEY ALSO FOUND A CAR ABLAZE AT THE PROPERTY. FORENSIC EXPERTS ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES. THE DECEASED PERSON WAS FOUND AND REMOVED FROM THE SCENE BY FENZ. HE WAS ALIVE AT THAT POINT, AND DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF FENZ AND POLICE STAFF, HE PASSED AWAY AT THE SCENE. POLICE SAY IT APPEARS HE DIED FROM INJURIES RELATED TO THE FIRE. A POST-MORTEM WILL BE CARRIED OUT TOMORROW. WITH THE START OF TERM TWO TODAY, THE MUCH DISCUSSED CLASSROOM CELLPHONE BAN IS NOW IN FORCE. STUDENTS TOLD 1 NEWS THE RULE HELPS THEM STAY FOCUSED DURING LESSONS, BUT THERE'S DOUBT IT'LL BE FOLLOWED ALL DAY. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS REPORTS. IT'S WELCOME BACK TO STUDENTS, BUT GOODBYE TO THEIR CELL PHONES UNDER A NEW GOVERNMENT BAN. WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR PHONE, IT KIND OF BRINGS YOU INTO, LIKE, A SPIRAL, AND IT'S HARDER TO GET OFF OF IT. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T AGREE WITH IT, WE CAN ALWAYS USE IT AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS. AT THIS AGE, YOU NORMALLY GET ADDICTED TO THE DEVICES NOWADAYS. OTAHUHU INTERMEDIATE PUPILS HAVE BEEN HANDING IN THEIR PHONES... WOMAN: AND YOUR NAME IS? RITA. RITA? ...AND PICKING THEM UP AT THE END OF THE DAY SINCE LAST YEAR. MOST SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY HAD SYSTEMS IN PLACE, BUT I SUPPOSE THE GOOD THING NOW IS THERE'S CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE BOARD. HUTT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH. THIS IS HOW EVERY CLASS STARTS. I THINK, IN CLASSES, HAVING NO PHONES IS REALLY GOOD. THERE'S, LIKE, A LOT LESS DISTRACTION. I DO SEE THE VALUE OF IT, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY DO A LOT MORE WORK IN CLASS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LUNCH TIME, THE PRINCIPAL SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO BE MONITORING ALL 1900 STUDENTS' PHONE USE AT ONE TIME. SHE SAYS STAFF WILL BE TAKING A FIRM BUT FAIR APPROACH. 1 NEWS SPOTTED SOME PHONES OUT DURING ONE BREAK. I IMAGINE THERE'LL BE LOTS OF GENTLE REMINDERS IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, IF THEY'RE NOT COOPERATING WITH THE STAFF MEMBER, THEY GET SENT BASICALLY STRAIGHT TO MY OFFICE, AND WE TAKE THE PHONE, POP IT IN A BOX FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. CELL PHONES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED IF THEY'RE PART OF A LEARNING TASK, A CHILD HAS AN EXEMPTION FOR HEALTH OR DISABILITY REASONS, OR STAFF CONSENT TO USE IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC POLICY. I APPRECIATE TODAY IS THE D-DAY FOR NEW SCHOOLS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE REGULATION, AND WE EXPECT ALL SCHOOLS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE REGULATION. THEY'LL OBVIOUSLY BE AUDITED BY ERO IN DUE COURSE IF THEY'RE NOT. SCHOOLS NOW PUTTING THE POLICY INTO ACTION... WHETHER STUDENTS LIKE IT OR NOT. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT IS BOOSTING PHARMAC'S FUNDING BY AROUND $1.7B OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, LIFTING THE BUDGET OVER THAT PERIOD TO ALMOST $6.3B. THE MONEY IS COMING FROM SAVINGS MADE ELSEWHERE AND WILL GO TOWARDS MAINTAINING MEDICINES THAT ARE ALREADY PROVIDED BY THE DRUG FUNDING AGENCY. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR SAYING ACCESS TO MEDICINES IS A CRUCIAL PART OF MANY KIWIS' LIVES. SOME ADVOCATES HAVE WELCOMED THE BOOST, BUT SAY THERE IS STILL A SERIOUS SHORTFALL, AS CUSHLA NORMAN REPORTS. INSTEAD OF UP TO 12 FINGER PRICKS A DAY, DIABETIC HARRIETT MAIRE USES THIS SENSOR... IT'S LINKED TO A DEVICE THAT MANAGES HER BLOOD SUGAR. IT HAS SAVED MY LIFE MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT KEEPS US OUT OF HOSPITAL. BUT CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORS ARE EXPENSIVE. I HAVE BEEN ON DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF CGM SINCE 2017, SO MY PARENTS AND I HAVE STOCKED UP ALMOST 30 GRAND. IT'S AMONG A SMALL NUMBER OF DEVICES AND DRUGS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM A BIG BUDGET BOOST FOR PHARMAC. IT'S GETTING $1.7B OVER FOUR YEARS, BUT MOST OF IT IS FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL. THIS MONEY IS VERY MUCH TO CONTINUE FUNDING OF THE MEDICINES WE HAVE ALREADY LISTED, BUT THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE FUNDING OF CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORS AND THE MYLOMA TREATMENTS WE'RE CONSULTING ON AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT FUNDING DOES ALLOW THOSE TO BE FINALISED. THIS WILL JUST KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON. THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT BUDGET INCREASE OVER AND ABOVE THAT FUNDING CLIFF, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. SPEAKING AT A MEDICINE SUMMIT, THE ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER SAYS LABOUR LEFT A $450M ANNUAL GAP. WE'VE INHERITED A FISCAL CLIFF WHERE WE HAVE TO SAVE THE FURNITURE. THIS IS REAL. PHARMAC WOULD HAVE BEEN BASICALLY CHOOSING ` NOT WHICH NEW THINGS TO FUND BUT WHICH THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING THEY SHOULD TAKE AWAY. LABOUR SAYS IT WOULD HAVE INCREASED PHARMAC'S FUNDING AND DISPUTES THE SIZE OF THE FISCAL CLIFF. IT WAS VERY CLEAR BEFORE THE ELECTION AND TRANSPARENT IN ALL THE TREASURY DOCUMENTS, THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A $181M INCREASE IN PHARMAC FUNDING. THAT FIGURE HAS NOW APPARENTLY INCREASED, AND DAVID SEYMOUR NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHY. SO WHO'S TO BLAME FOR THIS FISCAL CLIFF? SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE BEEN STARVING PHARMAC OF FUNDING FOR FAR TOO LONG. YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT OVER A TWO-DECADE PROGRESSION, AND FINALLY, IT'S GOT TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE ARE IN A CRISIS. ALL EYES NOW ON NEXT MONTH'S BUDGET TO SEE IF IT OFFERS MORE FOR PATIENTS. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ` FIVE PEOPLE ARE DEAD, INCLUDING A BABY, IN THE U.S. AS TORNADOES TEAR THROUGH SEVERAL STATES. AUTHORITIES WARNING THE THREAT ISN'T OVER. AND RIDING IN STYLE ` WHY THE OLYMPIC FLAME HAS TAKEN TO THE SEA. Alright, I'm off! Where are you off to? To get the flu jab. You coming? Nah. I won't get the flu. (QUIRKY MUSIC) Touch wood. (QUIRKY MUSIC CONTINUES) Touch wood! WOMAN: Kia ora! Are you here for the flu jab? Hey. VOICEOVER: TORNADOES HAVE RIPPED THROUGH SEVERAL AMERICAN STATES, KILLING AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A BABY. MORE THAN 130 TORNADOES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE HIT THE MID-WEST AND AMERICA'S HEARTLAND STATES. AN EMERGENCY'S BEEN DECLARED IN OKLAHOMA, WHERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. HOMES AND BUSINESSES NOW LYING IN RUINS. DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED AND THOUSANDS ARE WITHOUT POWER. DEVASTATION, TOO, IN NEBRASKA. ROADS LITTERED WITH DEBRIS AND TREES RIPPED FROM THE GROUND. AND AS U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH REPORTS, THE THREAT'S NOT OVER YET. MOTHER NATURE MAKING HERSELF KNOWN IN AMERICA'S MIDWEST. HOLY COW! IT'S HUGE. BIG TORNADO! BIG TORNADO! THIS IS WHAT REMAINS OF DOWNTOWN SULPHUR ` POPULATION ALMOST 5000. WHAT I SAW DOWNTOWN SULPHUR... UH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. THIS WAS THE SPORTS BAR, HOMES AND SHOPS ` NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS TOO. AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE HERE CONFIRMED DEAD, INCLUDING A BABY AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF NEWLY HOMELESS, ON TOP OF BUSINESSES AND LIVELIHOODS RUINED. JUST LIKE THAT, ALL THIS TAX REVENUE, ALL THESE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN SULPHUR JUST OVERNIGHT, UH, HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT. SO WE NEED TO HELP` HELP SULPHUR REBUILD. OKLAHOMA JUST ONE OF SEVEN STATES SAVAGED BY STORMS FOR THE FOURTH DAY. THE AFFECTED AREA'S HOME TO MORE THAN 13 MILLION PEOPLE. ANOTHER PERSON DIED IN IOWA AFTER TORNADOES THERE. HALF THE HOMES IN THIS TOWN DESTROYED. IN NEBRASKA, MORE THAN 150 HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED IN THE CITY OF OMAHA. TODAY, RESIDENTS ARE STARTING TO GO THROUGH WHAT REMAINS, MANY FEELING LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE BASEMENT AND THEN HEARD THE DESTRUCTION GOING ON UPSTAIRS, AND WOW! YEAH. ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. THIS WAS OUR FOREVER HOME, AND WE'VE MOVED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. AND WE CAME HOME, AND THERE WAS NO HOME TO REALLY COME TO. FOR STORM-WEARY AMERICANS, THERE'S BAD NEWS; MORE BAD WEATHER IS EXPECTED. LET'S NOT PANIC. LET'S FOLLOW THE RULES, FOLLOW THE PROCESS. WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED ITS SUPPORT IN THE RECOVERY... WE WILL RISE. WE'LL CLEAN UP. WE WILL REBUILD. ...IT WILL BE A LONG ROAD TO NORMALITY. LOGAN CHURCH, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. SOUTHERN CHINA HAS ALSO BEEN STRUCK BY A TORNADO. THIS AMATEUR FOOTAGE FROM GUANGZHOU SHOWING POWER LINES SPARKING IN THE STORM. AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED, AND MORE THAN 140 FACTORY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. CHINA'S METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY WARNS HEAVY RAIN AND STORMS ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN HAS RETURNED TO THE TOP STEP OF INDYCAR, DEFENDING HIS ALABAMA GRAND PRIX TITLE THIS MORNING AFTER A TUMULTUOUS WEEK FOR HIS TEAM PENSKE. THE KIWI DRIVER PUTTING THE CHEATING SCANDAL WELL AND TRULY IN HIS REAR VIEW AND MAKING HIS MOVE UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE. SCOTTY MAC WINS AT BARBER! IF EVER THERE'S A TIME TO SIGNAL A RESPONSE, THIS WAS IT FOR SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN. YEAH, IT'S A GOOD ONE, YOU KNOW? DEFINITELY ONE OF MY BEST DRIVES IN TERMS OF EXECUTION AND JUST KNOCKING OUT THE LAPS. MCLAUGHLIN STARTING IN POLE AND GETTING THE JUMP. HE'S GOING TO LEAD COMFORTABLY INTO TURN ONE. 90 LAPS AHEAD ON A TRACK KNOWN TO BE PUNISHING ` THE HEAT, PHYSICALITY. WHILE HE WAS IN CONTROL IN THE CAR, SOME THINGS WERE OUTSIDE OF THAT. YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME! NOT A REAL PERSON, WE SHOULD POINT OUT RIGHT AWAY. OH! QUITE A SHOCK. A PIECE OF ART ON THE BARBER CIRCUIT, GEORGINA THE MANNEQUIN, ACCIDENTALLY FALLING ON TO THE TRACK. THEN SOON AFTER, A CRASH CAUSING A YELLOW FLAG. OHH! BUT THIS NOW HAPPENS... EVERY RESTART ERASING THE KIWI'S LEAD. I WAS A LITTLE MAD, BUT THEN I REALISED THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD HIT THE FENCE, SO THAT WASN'T WHAT THE YELLOW WAS FOR. I LOST THAT TO A POOR LADY THAT FELL OFF` YEAH, I WON'T SAY ANY MORE, BUT YEAH. A MANNEQUIN. YEAH. IT WAS A MANNEQUIN, YEAH. THE STRUGGLES DIDN'T END THERE. MCLAUGHLIN EN ROUTE TO VICTORY WITH FIVE LAPS TO GO. WHOA! RASMUSSEN! ANOTHER YELLOW. TEAM PENSKE SAID, 'ARE YOU KIDDING?' HIS THREE-SECOND LEAD GONE. WITH TWO LAPS LEFT, THE TRACK TURNED GREEN. HERE WE GO. MCLAUGHLIN IN POWER AT THE FRONT! BUT THE KIWI TOO QUICK, FENDING OFF TEAMMATE WILL POWER FOR HIS FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON. THAT WAS AN INTENSE MENTAL BATTLE. YOU KNOW, I KNEW I HAD TO STAY IN FRONT OF WILL. HE WAS THE GUY I WAS RACING. YEAH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BLISTERS, WHATEVER. BUT, YEAH... YOU COULD SAY I DESERVE A BEER. HE CERTAINLY DOES, AND ONE HE MIGHT NOT WANT TO SHARE WITH HIS NEW MATE. OVERCOMING CONTROVERSY, MOVING FROM LAST IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TO 9TH, THERE'S A FEELING SCOTTY MAC IS BACK. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. DAME SOPHIE PASCOE'S FORMALLY WITHDRAWN FROM CONTENTION FOR THE UPCOMING PARIS GAMES BUT ISN'T RETIRING YET. THE 11-TIME PARALYMPIC CHAMPION IS INSTEAD FOCUSING ON HER FAMILY AFTER WELCOMING HER FIRST BABY THIS YEAR. DAME SOPHIE IS EXPECTING TO RETURN TO COMPETITIVE SWIMMING IN 2025. AND THE OLYMPIC FLAME IS NOW SAILING TO FRANCE, 88 DAYS OUT FROM THE PARIS GAMES. CARRYING IT FROM GREECE, THE BELEM, BUILT IN 1896, THE YEAR OF THE FIRST MODERN OLYMPICS. ITS JOURNEY INCLUDING THE MAJESTIC CORINTH CANAL, BEFORE ARRIVING IN SOUTHERN FRANCE NEXT WEEK. FROM THERE, AN ALL-CORNERS TORCH RELAY, FINAL DESTINATION PARIS, IN TIME FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY ON JULY 26. YOU'VE HEARD OF ZEBRA CROSSINGS, BUT HOW ABOUT A BUNCH OF CROSSING ZEBRAS? FOUR OF THEM ESCAPED A TRAILER IN THE U.S WHEN THE DRIVER STOPPED TO SECURE IT ON A HIGHWAY SOUTH OF SEATTLE. STATE TROOPERS AND POLICE WERE CALLED IN TO TRACK THEM DOWN, SO FAR THREE OF FOUR HAVE BEEN FOUND. JUST AHEAD, IT'S THE BATTLE OF TWO WEATHER SYSTEMS TOMORROW, WHO'S IN FOR SOME SUNSHINE, AND WHO'S GOT THE RAIN? PLUS... WHY THESE NEW ARRIVALS AT A CHINESE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ARE CAUSING SUCH A STIR. HOKI MAI ANO, TO SOME CUTE BABY ANIMAL NEWS NOW. 30 GOLDEN SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS HAVE JUST BEEN BORN AT ZHOUZHI NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE IN CHINA. THE SPECIES IS ENDANGERED, BUT THIS RESERVE'S AIMING TO GET NUMBERS BACK UP WITH A STEADY POPULATION GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS. SITUATED ABOUT 1500M ABOVE SEA LEVEL IN A DENSE FOREST THESE LITTLE MONKEYS ARE LEARNING THEIR FIRST SURVIVIAL LESSONS WHICH INCLUDE FORAGING AND CLIMBING PRACTICE. THE VERY LITTLE ONES, STILL SNUGGLING UP WITH THEIR MUMS. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER WITH THE ARCTIC MONKEYS, AND 'ARABELLA'. (SWAGGERING INDIE ROCK) # ARABELLA'S GOT SOME INTERSTELLAR-GATOR SKIN BOOTS # AND A HELTER SKELTER 'ROUND HER LITTLE FINGER # AND I RIDE IT ENDLESSLY. # SHE'S GOT A BARBARELLA SILVER SWIMSUIT # AND WHEN SHE NEEDS TO SHELTER FROM REALITY, # SHE TAKES A DIP IN MY DAYDREAMS. (HEAVY GUITAR) # MY DAYS END BEST WHEN THIS SUNSET GETS ITSELF # BEHIND THAT LITTLE LADY SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE # IT'S MUCH LESS PICTURESQUE WITHOUT HER CATCHING THE LIGHT # THE HORIZON TRIES BUT IT'S JUST NOT AS KIND ON THE EYES # AS ARABELLA # ARABELLA JUST MIGHT HAVE TAPPED INTO YOUR MIND AND SOUL # YOU CAN'T BE SURE. (RETURN TO SWAGGERING VERSE) THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. PO MANAHAU, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY CHELSEA BRADY AND ALEX BACKHOUSE.