POPE FRANCIS HAS BEEN FAREWELLED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS, WORLD LEADERS AND ROYALS. NOW THE FOCUS TURNS TO WHO HIS SUCCESSOR WIL BE. AFTER A VATICAN MEETING WITH UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP CONCEDES PUTIN MIGHT BE STRINGING HIM ALONG. AND IN THEIR FIRST SEASON, AUCKLAND FC HAVE WRAPPED UP THE A-LEAGUE PREMIER'S PLATE. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND ALEX WALKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 KIA ORA. THIS IS THREE NEWS. POPE FRANCIS'S FAVOURITE POLITICAL THEMES WERE EMBRACED AT HIS FUNERAL IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS AT THE VATICAN OVERNIGHT. AS HUNDREDS OF WORLD LEADERS, INCLUDING CHRISTOPHER LUXON, LISTENED, ITALIAN CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA CALLED FOR ACTION ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, AN END TO WARS, AND CARE OF MIGRANTS ` AND HE REPEATED ONE OF THE POPE'S STRONGEST CRITICISMS OF DONALD TRUMP, CALLING ON HIM TO 'BUILD BRIDGES, NOT WALLS'. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS MORE. (CHORAL SIGNING) THE DOORS OF ST PETER'S BASILICA OPENED, AND UNDER THE PERFECT SPRING SUN, ONE FINAL TIME, POPE FRANCIS WAS CARRIED OUT TO MEET HIS PEOPLE. (SINGING CONTINUES) NOT JUST THE LEADER OF A CHURCH, BUT ALSO A HEAD OF STATE ` FAREWELLED BY AROUND 170 OF HIS FELLOW HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT. THE WORLD'S CATHOLICS SAID GOODBYE TO THEIR PONTIFF, AS DID THE WEALTHY, THE POOR, PILGRIMS AND REFUGEES. A SIMPLE SERVICE AT POPE FRANCIS'S REQUEST, THOUGH NOTHING EVER FEELS TRULY SIMPLE IN THE EMBRACE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST RENAISSANCE BASILICAS, BEFORE A CONGREGATION OF SOME 400,000. LED BY THEIR CARDINALS AND, LESS USUALLY, A SEA OF HUNDREDS OF BISHOPS AND CLERGYMEN. FROM ABOVE, IT LOOKED LIKE A SEA OF THE FAITHFUL, A TIDE OF PRAYER. (SINGING CONTINUES) (SOLOIST SINGS) 'OFFER YOUR PEACE' WAS THE REQUEST, AS CONGREGANTS AND WORLD LEADERS ALIKE OFFERED A HANDSHAKE AS A SIGN OF PEACE TO THEIR NEIGHBOUR. THE EULOGY QUOTED POPE FRANCIS'S OWN OFTEN-REPEATED WORDS ON WAR AND PEACE. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) 'WAR ALWAYS LEAVES THE WORLD WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE. 'IT IS ALWAYS A PAINFUL AND TRAGIC DEFEAT FOR EVERYONE.' AMONG THE KINGS AND QUEENS, PRINCE WILLIAM REPRESENTING HIS FATHER, AMONG WORLD LEADERS, UK'S SIR KEIR STARMER AND U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND UKRAINE'S VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, WHO WAS GREETED WITH APPLAUSE. A FINAL BLESSING FOR THE 266TH POPE BENEATH A SEA OF CRIMSON CARDINALS WATCHING ON. INDISTINGUISHABLE NOW, BUT ONE WILL SOON BE CHOSEN AS HIS SUCCESSOR. NEW ZEALAND'S CARDINAL JOHN DEW STOOD AMONG THEM AND SAID HE FELT EMOTIONAL REFLECTING ON A PONTIFICATE THAT STRETCHED ACROSS 12 EXTRAORDINARY YEARS. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS ALSO THERE AND SAID, 'IT WAS AN HONOUR TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND AT THE VATICAN.' NOT EVERYONE MADE IT INSIDE. IN THE SIDE STREETS, SOUND CARRIED ON THE SPRING BREEZE, AND IN A GESTURE POPE FRANCIS WOULD HAVE LOVED, PRIESTS BROUGHT COMMUNION OUT TO THE PEOPLE. I THINK HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST NORMAL POPES, LIKE, IN THE SENSE THAT HE WAS REALLY HUMAN. THE 90-MINUTE MASS WAS CELEBRATED NOT JUST IN ROME BUT ACROSS ITALY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. CARDINAL DEW WILL BECOME THE THIRD NEW ZEALANDER TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONCLAVE, ONCE THE NINE DAYS OF MOURNING END NEXT SUNDAY. (CHURCH BELLS TOLL) FRANCIS'S FINAL MOVE IN A POPEMOBILE THROUGH THE STREETS TO HIS BELOVED CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE. THIS WAS THE CHURCH HE CAME TO WHEN HE FIRST BECAME POPE. IT WAS HIS DYING WISH TO RETURN AT THE END. (CHORAL SINGING) THIS WAS A CELEBRATION OF A MAN WHO WAS HAPPIEST WHEN SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY HOW HE WAS FAREWELLED. AMONG DIVIDED LEADERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE, THERE WERE NO BORDERS, ONLY THE PEACE POPE FRANCIS DREAMED OF. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY MET WITH DONALD TRUMP AT THE VATICAN OVERNIGHT. HE WAS CAREFUL TO SAY 'THANK YOU' TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT, AND IT SEEMS THE UKRAINIAN LEADER MADE SOME HEADWAY. IN A LENGTHY SOCIAL MEDIA POST AFTERWARDS, TRUMP EXPRESSED RARE FRUSTRATION OVER RUSSIA'S RECENT MISSILE STRIKES ON UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS AND SAID HE THOUGHT VLADIMIR PUTIN 'MIGHT' BE STRINGING HIM ALONG. CHANNEL 4'S HARRY FAWCETT REPORTS. EIGHT WEEKS AFTER THEIR EXPLOSIVE SHOWDOWN IN THE OVAL OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY CAME TOGETHER AGAIN. THIS TIME, WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM EMMANUEL MACRON, INSTEAD OF THE INCENDIARY INTERVENTIONS OF VICE-PRESIDENT VANCE ` BOTH SIDES CALLING THESE TALKS CONSTRUCTIVE, HELD IN THE GRANDEUR OF ST PETER'S, JUST STEPS FROM A POPE WHO'D LONG ADVOCATED AN END TO THE WAR. ZELENSKYY WENT ON TO HAVE SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS ` PRESIDENT MACRON AND SIR KEIR STARMER AMONG THEM ` AN OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE ON HOW TO REACH A CEASEFIRE THAT MIGHT SAFEGUARD UKRAINIAN SECURITY. REPORTER: MR PRESIDENT, HOW DID THE MEETING WITH TRUMP GO? REALLY WELL, A REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A LOT OF DETAILS IF IT'S POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS WERE SENSITIVE QUESTIONS ON` OF COURSE, TOTALLY, IT'S ABOUT HOW TO BRING PEACE. ON X, ZELENSKYY SAID A GOOD MEETING WITH TRUMP HAD COVERED 'PROTECTING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE. FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE, 'RELIABLE AND LASTING PEACE THAT WILL PREVENT 'ANOTHER WAR FROM BREAKING OUT' AND CALLING IT 'A VERY SYMBOLIC MEETING THAT HAS POTENTIAL 'TO BECOME HISTORIC IF WE ACHIEVE JOINT RESULTS.' UNDER THE DEAL BEING PUSHED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, RUSSIA WOULD RETAIN CONTROL OF THE TERRITORY IT CURRENTLY OCCUPIES. IT WOULD, FOR NOW, GIVE UP ANY CLAIM ON PARTS OF THOSE REGIONS THAT UKRAINE STILL HOLDS. THE OBJECTIVE CLEARLY TO USE A FEW SNATCHED MINUTES IN ROME TO TRY TO SHIFT THE PERCEPTION OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S RESPONSE WAS A MASTERCLASS IN BURYING THE LEAD. HAVING ATTACKED A NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER, PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND BIDEN, HE EVENTUALLY ADDED ` HOURS EARLIER, TRUMP HAD CALLED HIS ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF'S LATEST MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT 'PRETTY GOOD'. TODAY, THE KREMLIN SAYING PUTIN HAD COMMUNICATED RUSSIA'S WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE WITH UKRAINE WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS. AFTER WEEKS OF INTENSIFYING U.S. AND RUSSIAN PRESSURE ON KYIV, THIS HAS, IT SEEMS, BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR UKRAINIAN DIPLOMACY. WILL IT LAST? AS WITH SO MUCH THESE DAYS, A QUESTION FOR DONALD TRUMP. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED AFTER A CAR DROVE INTO A CROWD AT A STREET FESTIVAL IN VANCOUVER, CANADA THIS AFTERNOON. MANY OF THE PICTURES FROM THE SCENE ARE TOO DISTRESSING TO BROADCAST. VANCOUVER POLICE CONFIRMED IN A POST TO X THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DEATHS AND MULTIPLE OTHERS ARE INJURED. THE DRIVER HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, AND POLICE WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AS THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED. THE STREET FESTIVAL WAS THE LAPU LAPU DAY BLOCK PARTY, CELEBRATING FILIPINO FOOD AND CULTURE. ISRAELI FORCES CONTINUE BOMBARDING GAZA, KILLING AT LEAST 40 PALESTINIANS TODAY. 13 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A STRIKE ON A THREE-STOREY FAMILY HOME IN GAZA CITY, WHILE OTHERS DIED IN AIRSTRIKES ON TENT ENCAMPMENTS FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF KHAN YUNIS. THE UN'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME HAS WARNED THAT FOOD STOCKS IN GAZA ARE FULLY DEPLETED, AS THESE IMAGES FROM ONE OF THEIR WAREHOUSES APPEARS TO SHOW. A YELLOW-BELLIED SEA SNAKE'S BEEN FOUND ON OMAHA BEACH NORTH OF AUCKLAND TODAY. THE SNAKE WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOUND IT BUT WAS DEAD BY THE TIME DOC STAFF ARRIVED. A DOC STATEMENT SAID IT HAD BEEN BITTEN BY A DOG AND HIT WITH SOMETHING. YELLOW-BELLIED SEA SNAKES ARE VENOMOUS AND CAN BE AGGRESSIVE, BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO KILL THEM. THEY ARE NATIVE TO NEW ZEALAND BUT ARE RARELY SEEN ON LAND. THE FAMILY OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE, WHO DIED BY SUICIDE YESTERDAY, HAVE PRAISED HER AS A 'FIERCE WARRIOR IN THE FIGHT 'AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEX TRAFFICKING'. GIUFFRE'S TESTIMONY HELPED CONVICT JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND GHISLAINE MAXWELL, BUT HER ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PRINCE ANDREW WERE SETTLED OUT OF COURT. CHANNEL 4'S SYMEON BROWN REPORTS. THIS WAS THE LATE VIRGINIA GIUFFRE, HOLDING A PICTURE OF HERSELF AT THE AGE SHE WAS GROOMED TO SERVICE THE RICH AND THE POWERFUL. BUT THIS GIRL BECAME THE WOMAN WHO RAISED HER VOICE TO EXPOSE THE WORLD'S MOST NOTORIOUS PAEDOPHILE AND SEX TRAFFICKER, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, A CRIMINAL AT THE HEART OF THE TRANSATLANTIC ELITE. (INDISTINCT PARTY MUSIC) JEFFREY EPSTEIN PARTIED WITH PRESIDENTS; HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH DONALD TRUMP IS WHAT HAD FIRST DRAWN VIRGINIA GIUFFRE INTO HIS ORBIT. AS A TEENAGER, GIUFFRE WORKED AT DONALD TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO RESORT. IT WAS THERE SHE WAS RECRUITED TO WORK FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN BY HIS ACCOMPLICE, THE SOCIALITE GHISLAINE MAXWELL. THE TEENAGER WAS HIRED AS EPSTEIN'S MASSEUSE, BUT GIUFFRE WOULD ALLEGE THAT THE PAIR TRAFFICKED HER TO HAVE SEX WITH EPSTEIN AND HIS ASSOCIATES, INCLUDING A MAN AT THE APEX OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. I CAN ABSOLUTELY, CATEGORICALLY TELL YOU... IT NEVER HAPPENED. THIS PICTURE SHOWS VIRGINIA GIUFFRE AT 17 WITH GHISLAINE MAXWELL AND PRINCE ANDREW. VIRGINIA GIUFFRE ALLEGED THAT SHE WAS SEX TRAFFICKED TO THE PRINCE ON THREE OCCASIONS IN 2001 ` AN ALLEGATION PRINCE ANDREW HAS ALWAYS DENIED AS QUESTIONS OVER HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH EPSTEIN WERE RAISED. DO I REGRET THE FACT THAT` THAT HE HAS QUITE OBVIOUSLY CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN A MANNER UNBECOMING? YES. UNBECOMING? HE WAS A SEX OFFENDER. YEAH` I'M SORRY, I'M BEING POLITE. A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE PRINCE WAS SETTLED WITH AN UNDISCLOSED PAYMENT TO VIRGINIA GIUFFRE. THE PRINCE MADE NO ADMISSION OF GUILT, AND THE METROPOLITAN POLICE HAVE TURNED DOWN CALLS TO INVESTIGATE THE ROYAL. BUT THE ALLEGATIONS LED THE MAN ONCE SECOND-IN-LINE TO THE THRONE TO STEP DOWN FROM ROYAL DUTIES. I WAS RECRUITED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE FROM MAR-A-LAGO AND ENTRAPPED IN A WORLD THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THAT VERY WORLD TO THIS DAY, AND I WON'T STOP FIGHTING. I WILL NEVER BE SILENCED UNTIL THESE PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THIS WAS VIRGINIA GIUFFRE SPEAKING IN 2019, 10,000 MILES FROM WHERE SHE LIVED AND DIED IN A REPORTED SUICIDE ON THE WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA. IN THE LEAD-UP TO HER DEATH, SHE POSTED THAT SHE HAD DAYS LEFT TO LIVE. HER ABUSE HAD BEEN A TRAGEDY, BUT CHANGING THE CLIMATE FOR VICTIMS, HER TRIUMPH. VIRGINIA GIUFFRE DIED AGED 41 AND IS SURVIVED BY THREE DAUGHTERS. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT ` AND AUCKLAND FC HAVE CREATED HISTORY? BEFORE A BALL WAS EVEN KICKED TODAY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE FIRST TIME NEW ZEALAND HAS WON ANY SILVERWARE WILL HAVE THE LATEST FROM AUCKLAND FC. AND THEIR FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE GOES ON TO THE SHELF. PLUS ` THE HURRICANES NAB A CRUCIAL WIN IN CANBERRA, BUT THE CRUSADERS' VICTORY IN DUNEDIN MAY HAVE COME AT A COST. AND THE FAIRY TALE CONTINUES FOR WREXHAM, PROMOTED FOR THE THIRD SEASON IN A ROW. VOICEOVER: Waitoa free range chicken. Full of natural goodness and deliciousness. This looks great. That turns the whole family... Dad? ...cozy. What's happening? The meal that brings everyone together. I'm warm and cozy. But slightly worried. I think this is one of those collective experiences. It's not reading my fingers. Just try Face ID. I don't have any fingers. You know what? I actually feel closer to you all. VOICEOVER: Waitoa free range chicken. All the feels for all the meals. LEGENDARY JOURNEYS WITH SUZUKI JIMNY 5 AND THREE NEWS SPORT. AUCKLAND FC HAVE WON THE PREMIERS' PLATE AFTER MELBOURNE CITY WERE HELD TO A GOALLESS DRAW LAST NIGHT. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE TO CELEBRATE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THEIR PENULTIMATE LEAGUE GAME AGAINST PERTH GLORY. THE HOSTS DOMINATED THE OPENING HALF, TAKING A WHOPPING 15 SHOTS AT GOAL. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE ONE-SIDED STAT LINE, THEY FAILED TO SCORE. AS CLOSE AS AUCKLAND FC HAVE COME. HE PULLS IT BACK! DENYING MAX MATA. TERRIFIC PIECE OF GOALKEEPING, AND THE FIRST SHOT ON TARGET FOR AUCKLAND FC EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF, THE SCORE REMAINS 0-0. BUT THE HURRICANES FEEL THEIR 35-29 VICTORY OVER THE BRUMBIES IN CANBERRA IS JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED TO BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO THEIR SEASON. THE WIN MOVED THE CANES INTO THE TOP SIX, ENDING THEIR TWO-WEEK AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP WITH A DRAW AND A WIN. IN WHAT'S BEEN A MIXED YEAR TO SAY THE LEAST FOR THE HURRICANES, VICTORY OVER THE BRUMBIES AT THEIR CANBERRA FORTRESS FELT LIKE THE TURNING POINT THEY NEEDED. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH, SO YEAH, PROBABLY, PROBABLY THE BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR. THE HURRICANES LOOKED TO HAVE FAR MORE CONTROL IN THEIR GAME. THE RETURN OF RILEY HIGGINS AND BILLY PROCTOR TO THE MIDFIELD LIFTED THEIR ATTACK SIGNIFICANTLY. FINDS A CHARGING PROCTOR` (WHISTLE TRILLS) WELCOME BACK BILLY. THE CANES HAD TO DIG DEEP TO HOLD ON TO THEIR LEAD. KINI NAHOLO WAS ONCE AGAIN A STANDOUT... NAHOLO! PARKED IT. TWO TRIES HELPING KEEP THE BUFFER MANAGEABLE. AND WITH JUST FOUR GAMES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON, VICTORY COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME FOR THE HURRICANES, WHO'VE SPENT MOST OF THE SEASON SITTING JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX. THIS WILL GIVE US A LOT OF CONFIDENCE HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD. BUT THE PUSH TOWARD PLAYOFF RUGBY GETS NO EASIER AS THEY RETURN HOME TO FACE THE RED-HOT CHIEFS IN WELLINGTON. WE KNOW HOW TOUGH A CHALLENGE THAT'S GOING TO BE, THE CHIEFS ARE FLYING AND THEY'RE THE BEST TEAM IN THE COMPETITION, YOU KNOW, BY SOME DISTANCE SOME NIGHTS, WHEN THEY GET IT RIGHT. THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR THE CRUSADERS, WHO ONCE AGAIN STAMPED THEIR TITLE CREDENTIALS WITH A DOMINANT 43-10 WIN OVER THE HIGHLANDERS... PUTS THE FOOT DOWN, WILL JORDAN, ALL CLASS. ...TWO QUICK TRIES TO WILL JORDAN HAD THE HOSTS REELING... AND THE CRUSADERS ARE PUNISHING THE HIGHLANDERS EARLY. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE IN THE OPENING 40, THE FORMER CHAMPIONS' DEFENCE JUST AS IMPACTFUL AS THEIR ATTACK. TAYLOR'S IN ALL OVER THAT AND HE'S WON THE PENALTY! BUT FOR ALL THE POSITIVES FOR ROB PENNEY'S SIDE, IT'S A WIN THAT LOOKS TO HAVE COME AT A COST ` TAHA KEMARA HELPED OFF WITH A KNEE INJURY AFTER JUST FIVE MINUTES. PENNEY HARDLY INSTILLING OPTIMISM FOR A QUICK RETURN... SORRY, I CAN'T ELABORATE TOO MUCH, JUST THAT IT'S NOT GREAT. NEXT WEEK'S BYE COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME, AS THE CRUSADERS START THEIR PLAYOFF PUSH, POSSIBLY WITHOUT THEIR FIRST-CHOICE FIRST-FIVE. STEVEN ADAMS HAS PROVEN HIS DEFENSIVE ABILITY ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO INSIDE THE PAINT DURING THE THIRD MATCH OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS' FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS. WITH THE MATCH IN THE BALANCE LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, ADAMS FOUND HIMSELF IN WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE SEEN AS A MISMATCH DEFENDING ON THE PERIMETER. GREAT HANDS BY STEVEN ADAMS! HE PEELED, HEELED AND DRAWS THE FOUL ON THE LAYUP. THE BIG FELLA WITH SOME LARCENOUS ACTIVITY IN THE OPEN COURT HERE, JAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CLUTCH PLAY WASN'T ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE WARRIORS FROM CLINCHING VICTORY. STEPH CURRY SCORED A GAME-HIGH 36 POINTS IN THE 104-93 WIN. THE WARRIORS LEAD THE SERIES 2-1. THE PENRITH PANTHERS' HORROR START TO THE YEAR HAS REACHED A NEW LOW, A 26-10 LOSS TO MANLY DROPPING THE FOUR-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE. THE PANTHERS CAME INTO THE MATCH WITH JUST TWO WINS IN SEVEN GAMES. AFTER GOING DOWN 14-0 IN THE FIRST HALF, THEY FOUGHT BACK TO WITHIN FOUR POINTS OF MANLY BEFORE THE SEA EAGLES RAN RIOT. EDWARDS WAITING... OLAKAU'ATU! CHERRY-EVANS... AND LOOMING UP ` THAT'S A PLAY! OH, TOLU KOULA! HE'S SO QUICK! THINGS COULD GET EVEN WORSE FOR THE PANTHERS ` SCOTT SORENSEN IS FACING A MINIMUM TWO-WEEK SUSPENSION AFTER BEING SIN-BINNED FOR A SHOULDER CHARGE. WREXHAM'S FAIRY TALE STORY SINCE BEING ACQUIRED BY HOLLYWOOD STARS ROB MCELHENNEY AND RYAN REYNOLDS HAS CONTINUED. THE WELSH CLUB DEFEATED CHARLTON ATHLETIC 3-0 THIS MORNING, SECURING THEM PROMOTION FROM LEAGUE ONE INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY'RE NOW THE FIRST ENGLISH CLUB IN HISTORY TO HAVE BEEN PROMOTED IN THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS AND ARE ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE. WE WERE STANDING THERE DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE FOUR YEARS` FIVE` FOUR YEARS AGO? THAT'S RIGHT. AND THIS MAN SAID, 'OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE,' AND THERE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY A LOT OF TITTERS AND LAUGHTER AND GIGGLES. BUT IT STARTS TO FEEL LIKE A REAL, TANGIBLE... THING THAT COULD COME TO FRUITION IN THIS MOMENT. THERE'S SURE TO BE PLENTY OF CELEBRATING BEFORE THEY PLAN THEIR NEXT PROMOTION. WILD SCENES CONTINUING AT THE RACECOURSE GROUND WELL AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE. PERSPECTIVE STILL CONTINUING NOW. GO RYAN. I'LL HAVE YOUR MONDAY FORECAST AFTER THE BREAK. THIS WAS HARURU FALLS IN THE FAR NORTH EARLIER TODAY, WHERE SOME PEOPLE DECIDED THEY'D GET PRETTY CLOSE DESPITE WARNINGS OF SURFACE AND FLASH FLOODING AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. (SHOES TAPPING) (KEYBOARD TYPING) Wow. Hey J, this project might need a bit of... zhuhzhing. Holler back, Warren. Please let me know your thoughts. Best regards. Warren? (MUSIC PLAYS) WELCOME BACK. YOU'RE WATCHING THREE NEWS. HERE ARE THE TOP STORIES FOR YOUR SUNDAY EVENING. ROYALS AND WORLD LEADERS WERE AMONG AN ESTIMATED 400,000 MOURNERS WHO FAREWELLED POPE FRANCIS AT HIS FUNERAL IN VATICAN CITY. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED AFTER A CAR DROVE INTO A CROWD AT A STREET FESTIVAL IN VANCOUVER, CANADA THIS AFTERNOON. THE DRIVER HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. A YELLOW-BELLIED SEA SNAKE WAS FOUND NORTH OF AUCKLAND TODAY. THE SNAKE WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOUND IT BUT WAS DEAD BY THE TIME DOC STAFF ARRIVED. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. NORTHLAND'S RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM WATCHES LIFTED AT 6PM THIS EVENING, BUT A HEAVY RAIN WATCH REMAINS IN PLACE FOR AUCKLAND, INCLUDING GREAT BARRIER ISLAND UNTIL 9AM TOMORROW MORNING. PATCHES OF BOTH FINE AND WET MONDAY WEATHER ARE FORECAST FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE IN THE NORTH ISLAND IS SET FOR RAIN OR SHOWERS. KAITAIA AND WHANGAREI ` EVEN IF IT'S JUST SHOWERS, THEY COULD TURN HEAVY, WITH A RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS. AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA ` IT'S RAIN WITH THE RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS AND OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR HAMILTON. RAIN FOR ALL HERE, TOO, WHICH COULD GET HEAVY FOR SOME, BUT IT'LL START EASING IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE DAY FOR EVERYONE. OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR GISBORNE, AND EVERYONE'S IN FOR CLOUDY STARTS WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MUCH THE SAME HERE ` OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARUNUI. CLOUDY EVERYWHERE ELSE WITH THE CHANCE OF EVENING SHOWERS. NELSON'S IN FOR A FINE MONDAY, BUT IT'LL BE CLOUDY EVERYWHERE ELSE. A CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS FOR HOKITIKA, SOUTHERLIES FOR WESTPORT. A FINE START FOR ALL OUT EAST, BUT FOR CHRISTCHUCH DOWN, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AT NIGHT WITH SOUTHERLIES IN THE MIX AS WELL. SHOWERS OR RAIN WILL ROLL IN AROUND LUNCHTIME, CLEARING IN QUEENSTOWN AND ALEX, BUT A MOSTLY WET DAY FOR INVERCARGILL AND OBAN, WITH SOUTHERLIES. A MIXED MONDAY FOR AUSTRALIA, WITH SUN, SHOWERS, AND CLOUD, AND ANOTHER WET ONE FOR THE PACIFIC. HERE'S HOW THE REST OF YOUR WORKING WEEK WEATHER IS LOOKING. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. YOU CAN STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ. I'M IMOGEN WELLS, THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH YOUR LONG WEEKEND WEATHER PICS.