Midday Report

Former Sevens coach Alan Bunting has been appointed coach of the World Cup winning Black Ferns.

News from the business sector

Six UN trucks carrying urgently needed aid have finally crossed the border from Turkey into Syria.

The combined toll from the massive earthquakes has topped 20,000 people and is still rising. 

The war-stricken country is in a dire state: many Syrians lack clean water, shelter and food - the country is on a precipice.

UNICEF's representative in Syria is New Zealand's Angela Kearney.

She spoke to Max Towle.

Cyclone Gabrielle has been upgraded to a category three storm; with near-constant gale force, or stronger, winds stretching up to 370-kilometres from its centre and clouds laden with moisture.

MetService says even the best-case scenario is still bad. 

The edge of the cyclone is expected to reach Northland tomorrow evening - and the bad weather is also likely to affect Auckland, Coromandel, Tairawhiti, Hawkes Bay, and even parts of the South Island. 

MetService meteorologist Angus Hines spoke to Max Towle.

Netflix is cracking down on people sharing accounts to access its content for free.

It's rolling out the changes from today, following a year-long trial overseas.

RNZ reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Māni Dunlop about how it would work, and how viewers were responding.

More than 12,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria after massive earthquakes.

Millions are in need of shelter and food in the freezing winter weather; while many are waiting in anguish by piles of rubble where family and friends might still lie buried.

New Zealand Red Cross' director of international operations Vivienne Euini spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural farming sector.

England's cricket coach Brendon McCullum is adjusting to being the enemy in New Zealand.

News from the business sector.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is tracking towards the upper parts of the North Island.

The low-pressure storm has formed in the Coral Sea and could hit New Zealand by the end of the week. 

The areas most likely to experience its extreme weather include Northland, Coromandel, and Auckland.

Those areas are still dealing with slips, wrecked homes, and other damage from the flooding and torrential rain.

The mayor of the Thames-Coromandel District Council Len Salt, and Auckland's deputy mayor Desley Simpson spoke to Māni Dunlop about how their areas were preparing for the storm.