Middle distance runner Nick Willis will miss this weekend's Diamond League 2013 event in New York.
He was due to run the Adidas GP 800m event on Saturday. That would have seen him compete against Olympic champion and world record holder, David Rudisha.
However, a fall suffered in the Shanghai stage of the Diamond Race last Saturday resulted in a slight injury and has forced Willis to pull out of the New York run. He remained positive and tweeted that he expects to be fit for the Prefontaine Classic at the end of the month.
"My goal is to win the world championships 1500m in Moscow. Sure, I might fail, but Shanghai's bad race showed me it's possible."
Nick Willis' latest post conveyed excitement about a completely different topic - his impending fatherhood. He and his wife Sierra are expecting their first child in five weeks.
- Newstalk ZB/ Twitter
New Zealand tennis's top female is teaming up with an international star.
Kiwi number one, Marina Erakovic, will again join forces with one of the world's best doubles players, Cara Black, at the French Open and Wimbledon. Erakovic recently paired with the 10-time Grand Slam champion in Madrid, reaching the final of the Tier One tournament.
They are third seeds in Strasbourg this week, and Erakovic says she's lucky to be playing with one of the greats. She described Zimbabwean Black as an amazing player and believed they 'click well' together.
Erakovic's good doubles form has contrasted with her less successful singles performances - she is heading into Roland Garros on the back of six first-round defeats in seven tournaments.
- Newstalk ZB
These are troubling times for two Kiwis play-makers facing struggles at their NRL clubs.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson, and Tigers star Benji Marshall are in the spotlight. Johnson was pulled from the field in the loss to Penrith, and says his confidence has taken a big knock since then. However, he insists his relationship with coach Matt Elliott is fine.
Benji Marshall was dropped to the bench last week but has now been restored to the starting side. He displayed a resolute attitude about the setback, saying the only way to get out of a slump is to play yourself out of it - and if you play well, everyone 'shuts up'.
The Warriors and Tigers are respectively second-to-last and last on the NRL ladder.
- Newstalk ZB
The Defence Force is planning to remain in the Golan Heights, despite the temporary abduction of a New Zealand peacekeeper.
The soldier was taken from an observation post yesterday at around 11am NZT, held for five hours then released unharmed. The officer is now at a secure United Nations facility receiving counselling, and intends to stay on in the area, at least for now.
The officer is one of eight New Zealand Army personnel serving as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and a Defence Force spokesman says the Army has no plans to change its contribution to the force.
Media advisor Major Aidan Shattock revealed there have been several incidents in the Golan Heights. He said when soldiers serve overseas in these types of places they understand there are always risks, although the Army does its best to mitigate those.
There have been concerns about peacekeepers' safety on the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria for a number of months. Otago University's expert on international relations says the region where the Kiwi officer was abducted is becoming more dangerous, thanks to the Syrian civil war.
Previously in December last year, a Kiwi Military Observer was briefly detained while on patrol on the Syrian side of the Golan. He was released later that day unharmed.
- Newstalk ZB/ RBG News/ press rls
The White House has released 99 pages of emails regarding last year's deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.
It's reported that government officials hope the released communications, which were provided to Congress several months ago, will help to defuse criticism from the opposition - including attention around "who knew what" about Benghazi. One of the e-mails shows CIA Director David Petraeus wanted more information made public.
Addressing media earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney emphasised that while the Obama government may have other domestic issues to contend with, the Benghazi tragedy was not forgotten. He assured that there is an ongoing effort "to ensure that that kind of thing never happens again when it comes to the security that exists for our diplomatic personnel and facilities around the world."
Ambassador Chris Steven (b.1960-d.2012)
- Newstalk ZB/ RBG News
England is optimistic but hardly cavalier about their next face-off against New Zealand.
The first cricket test against the Black Caps starts tomorrow morning at Lord's. In addition to the five-day test series, the two teams will also play an ODI at the end of the month.
Both teams are closely matched following their summer season in New Zealand. It is just two months since the sides battled to a 0-0 series draw in New Zealand - the English only narrowly avoided a loss, with just one wicket to spare in the final test.
However, the team's pace bowler Stuart Broad says they showed they can compete even when they're off their game. He believes that they should have lost two of the tests, but instead successfully held on for draws in those games. He also pointed out that home advantage will play a significant role at Lord's, which is a difficult ground to play on for those new to the venue.
The bowler has assured that even though some regard an upcoming Ashes series as the team's main act for the northern summer, the England side are concentrating on the imminent challenge.
"We have a huge summer ahead of us but nothing more important than the first hour here on Thursday... We have to focus on the opening bowlers or opening batters doing their job at 11 o'clock on Thursday."
The Black Caps 11-man line-up will be named tonight.
England: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Matt Prior, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott
- Newstalk ZB/ press rls/ RBG News
Waimarama Taumaunu's new assistant will soon be revealed.
The Silver Ferns coach had various assistants last season, employed in a part-time capacity. But tomorrow, Netball NZ will appoint the successful applicant to a full-time role.
Two netball veterans stand out: Steel coach Janine Southby and former Silver Fern Sandra Edge have been tipped as the strongest contenders.
- Newstalk ZB
The America's Cup regatta remains on track.
Cup organisers issued a statement today announcing that the competition will go ahead. But that is only once a wide-ranging review is completed into last week's fatal training exercise. The capsizing of Team Artemis' AC72 catamaran in San Francisco Bay last Thursday cost British sailor Andrew Simpson his life.
New Zealander Jim Farmer will be part of a six-person review team into the Artemis accident. Organisers say the review team members have strong backgrounds in the sport, and past experience with similar reviews:
Regatta Director and Chair of the review committee, Iain Murray, said they will look at a host of factors. That includes the type of racing, the courses, where they sail, the times they sail, various parts of the yacht design and the amount of wind they sail in.
Mr Murray vowed they will leave no stone unturned.
- Newstalk ZB/ RBG News
An injury-plagued season has been blamed for Wigan's Premier League relegation.
Just 72 hours after winning the FA Cup, the Latics are out of the top flight of English football, and down to the Championship league. Their fall from triumph follows a 4-1 loss to Arsenal in London.
Manager Roberto Martinez is defending the team saying it has actually been the best season in terms of consistent performances... but the worst in terms of injuries. He says he has never seen such a 'horror run' of injuries this season, with six defenders being out for periods of the season.
Mr Martinez is blaming the injuries for Wigan's relegation, because the partnerships at the back suffered and they conceded goals without playing badly. Evidence of the Latics' solid performance can be seen in their victory three days earlier at the FA Cup final at Wembley - the club's first major trophy in its 81-year history.
However, another new record that the Wigan Latics won't be celebrating is that it has also become the first club in history to be relegated after winning the FA Cup.
- Newstalk ZB
A new smartphone application delivers digital tracking of how tax dollars are used.
The Government will launch the "NZ Budget" 'app' update on Thursday complete with interactive features. That will enable people to see how much tax they pay, and how that government revenue is being spent.
Finance Minister Bill English explained that as well as the tax information, people can access the full set of Budget documents and monthly economic updates from Treasury. He described the "NZ Budget" app as, "a refresh of the Budget app which was successfully launched last year and is part of the Government’s continuing focus on delivering innovative and better-value public services."
The new technology for smartphones, tablets and iPads means there has been a reduced print-run on hardcopies of the actual Budget, but printed versions will continue to be available from selected bookshops.
Live delivery of the app is timed to coincide with the Budget 2013 announcement this Thursday 16 May at 2pm, whereupon free downloads will be available from Apple and Android app stores.
- Newstalk ZB/ press rls
