IT'S MIDDAY. AS THE GOVERNMENT RAMPS UP ITS CRACKDOWN ON GANGS, WILL NEW MEASURES TARGETING THE GROUPS HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT? FRESH AIRSTRIKES IN YEMEN HIT CLOSE TO THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL. WHAT NEW ZEALAND'S ROLE WAS IN THE ALLIED OPERATION. PLUS, HOW 50 YEARS OF SEA VOYAGING CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR GROUPS OF YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS. CAPTIONS BY COURTNEY SOLE AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 AN AUCKLAND COURTROOM IS FULL TODAY, AS THE WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND SENTENCING BEGINS, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FATAL ERUPTION WHICH KILLED 22 PEOPLE. VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN READ, WITH PROSECUTORS SUGGESTING FIVE OF THE DEFENDANTS BEING SENTENCED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY A FINE, SHOULD ONE BE IMPOSED. ALL FIVE DEFENDANTS ASKED THE COURT NOT TO IMPOSE A FINE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE APPROPRIATE. THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY ASKING THE COURT TO CONVICT AND DISCHARGE THEM WITHOUT PENALTY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY. WHITE ISLAND TOURS AND VOLCANIC AIR SAFARIS BOTH FACE MAXIMUM FINES OF UP TO $1.5M, WHILE AERIUS AND KAHU FACE MAXIMUM FINES OF $500,000 FOR EACH OF THEIR TWO CHARGES. THE POLICE COMMISSIONER BELIEVES BANNING GANG PATCHES WILL HELP THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO CRACK DOWN ON GANGS. THE PATCHES WILL BE BANNED IN PUBLIC AREAS, AND POLICE WILL HAVE MORE POWER TO STOP GANG MEMBERS CONGREGATING IN PUBLIC. POLICE COMMISSIONER ANDREW COSTER SAYS THE GANG PATCH HOLDS FAR MORE POWER THAN JUST A LEATHER JACKET. ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT OUR GANGS TRADE ON THE FEAR CREATED BY THE PATCH, TO COVER VIOLENCE, TO COVER ORGANISED CRIME ACTIVITY. AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT REPUTATION IS HOW THEY RECRUIT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, SO THERE'S A RANGE OF THINGS THERE THAT ADDRESSING THE PATCH WILL ASSIST WITH. COSTER SAYS THE NEW APPROACH HAS HAD MIXED REVIEWS FROM HIS FRONT-LINE STAFF. FRESH AIRSTRIKES IN YEMEN HAVE HIT CLOSE TO THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL, SANA'A. THE U.S. AND UK JOINT OPERATION, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY NEW ZEALAND, HIT 18 HOUTHI REBEL TARGETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE HOUTHIS HAVE ATTACKED NUMEROUS SHIPS IN THE RED SEA AND GULF OF ADEN, AS RETRIBUTION FOR ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST HAMAS. HERE'S THE BBC's JAMES LANDALE. BRITISH WARPLANES IN CYPRUS, BOUND FOR THE SKIES OVER YEMEN. THEIR TARGET ` HOUTHI FORCES ATTACKING MERCHANT SHIPS IN THE RED SEA. U.S. WARPLANES WERE ALSO IN ACTION FROM THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER, IN WHAT WAS THE FOURTH COMBINED ALLIED STRIKE ON HOUTHI TARGETS IN YEMEN SINCE JANUARY. AND THESE WERE THE CONSEQUENCES ` EXPLOSIONS OVER SANA'A, THE CAPITAL OF YEMEN. THE U.S. SAID 18 TARGETS IN EIGHT LOCATIONS HAD BEEN STRUCK, INCLUDING MISSILE STORES, AIR DEFENCES AND DRONES. THE IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHIS HAVE ATTACKED MORE THAN 45 VESSELS SINCE NOVEMBER. ONCE THEY ACTUALLY SEIZED A SHIP. THEY CLAIM THEY'RE SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AND PROMISED TO HIT BACK. TRANSLATOR: THE YEMENI ARMED FORCES CONFIRMED THAT THEY WILL CONFRONT THE AMERICAN BRITISH ESCALATION WITH MORE QUALITATIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST ALL HOSTILE TARGETS IN THE RED SEA. THIS IS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. A BRITISH-OWNED CARGO VESSEL, THE RUBYMAR, ATTACKED LAST WEEK. THE CREW ABANDONED SHIP. THE MOST RECENT PICTURES SHOW IT LISTING, LEAKING OIL. LAST NIGHT'S ATTACK HAD ONE SPECIFIC AIM. IN A JOINT STATEMENT, THE U.S., UK AND SIX OTHER COUNTRIES SAID THEY WANTED TO DISRUPT AND DEGRADE THE HOUTHIS' ABILITY TO THREATEN GLOBAL TRADE, NAVAL VESSELS AND THE LIVES OF INNOCENT MARINERS IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CRITICAL WATERWAYS. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS OBVIOUS. IN NORMAL TIMES ABOUT 12% TO 15% OF GLOBAL TRADE FROM THE FAR EAST TO EUROPE PASSES THROUGH THE RED SEA, AND MANY SHIPS NOW ARE TAKING THE LONGER AND COSTLIER ROUTE AROUND SOUTHERN AFRICA. THE HOUTHIS, THOUGH, APPEAR UNDETERRED. THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS IN SANA'A ON FRIDAY DEMONSTRATED IN SUPPORT NOT JUST OF PALESTINIANS, BUT ALSO ATTACKS ON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING. THE RISK OF ESCALATION REMAINS. THE U.S. SAYS THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF A DEAL FOR A POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE IN GAZA HAS BEEN AGREED BUT THERE ARE STILL DETAILS TO FINALISE. THE DEAL WOULD ALLOW MORE AID INTO GAZA AND SEE THE RELEASE OF MORE ISRAELI HOSTAGES. THIS COMES AMID PROTESTS IN ISRAEL ACCUSING ITS GOVERNMENT OF NOT DOING ENOUGH TO FREE CAPTIVES. THE BBC'S PAUL ADAMS REPORTS. (PROTESTERS CHANT) TEL AVIV LAST NIGHT. ISRAEL'S DEEP DIVISIONS ON RAW DISPLAY. THESE STREETS ARE USED TO PROTESTS, BUT THEY'RE BIGGER NOW, ANGRIER. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER, THE POLICE RESORTING TO TOUGHER MEASURES. THE LOATHING FOR ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER AND HIS HARDLINE CABINET GOES BACK MORE THAN A YEAR, BUT IT'S SPURRED ON BY THE WAR IN GAZA AND THE FEAR THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS MORE INTERESTED IN DEFEATING HAMAS THAN FREEING HOSTAGES. WE CANNOT KEEP ON DOING THE MILITARY SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WORKING. IT'S BECOMING WORSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEAD ON BOTH SIDES. WE'RE WAITING FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT, AND WE WANT THEM HOME. THE GOVERNMENT HERE SAYS THAT TALKS AIMED AT GETTING THE HOSTAGES BACK ARE MAKING PROGRESS, SOMETHING HAMAS DENIES. THE PROCESS IS DUE TO CONTINUE IN QATAR THIS WEEK, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SAYING THAT IT'S ABOUT TO APPROVE PLANS FOR AN ASSAULT ON RAFAH. THE ISRAELI MILITARY, WHICH RELEASED THESE PICTURES, IS STILL FIGHTING IN NEARBY KHAN YOUNIS. AN ASSAULT ON RAFAH COULD BE WEEKS AWAY. ISRAEL HAS YET TO SIGNAL ANY REAL PREPARATIONS. SPEAKING ON AMERICAN TELEVISION TODAY, MR NETANYAHU SAID IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. IF WE HAVE A DEAL, IT'LL BE DELAYED SOMEWHAT, BUT IT'LL HAPPEN. IF WE DON'T HAVE A DEAL, WE'LL DO IT ANYWAY. IT HAS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE TOTAL VICTORY IS OUR GOAL AND TOTAL VICTORY IS WITHIN REACH. IF ISRAEL AND HAMAS DO STRIKE A DEAL ON HOSTAGES, WHICH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SO DESPERATELY NEED. THE SHOOTING COULD STOP BEFORE THE START OF RAMADAN IN TWO WEEKS' TIME. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST RESPITE SINCE THE END OF NOVEMBER, A CHANCE FOR EVERYONE TO DRAW BREATH AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. AND THERE'S BEEN FURTHER FIGHTING IN GAZA'S NORTH WHERE THE CURRENT OFFENSIVE BEGAN AND WHERE MUCH OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED. A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT OF AN AREA OF GAZA CITY COULD BE SEEN FROM KILOMETRES AWAY. GAZA'S HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS ALMOST 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THE VIOLENCE. ISRAEL SAYS 10,000 MILITANTS HAVE BEEN KILLED. AROUND 130 HOSTAGES ARE BELIEVED TO STILL BE IN GAZA, AND A QUARTER OF THOSE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED. UKRAINE SAYS THE TWO YEAR WAR WITH RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 31,000 TROOPS. THAT'S ON TOP OF A REPORTED CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL OF ALMOST 11,000. THE NUMBERS WERE RELEASED AS UKRAINE PLEADS FOR MORE AID TO CONTINUE FIGHTING ` AND QUICKLY. THE COUNTRY'S DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS HALF OF PROMISED WESTERN AID IS TOO SLOW TO ARRIVE. A HUGE U.S. SUPPORT BILL REMAINS STUCK IN CONGRESS. AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HAS GIVEN A DEADLINE FOR THAT FUNDING, TELLING A MEDIA CONFERENCE THAT UKRAINE NEEDS THAT FUNDING WITHIN A MONTH. HE SAID HE'S EXPECTING A RENEWED OFFENSIVE FROM RUSSIAN FORCES SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID UKRAINE'S RECENT MILITARY SHAKE UP CHANGED THE MILITARY'S PLAN FOR THE CONFLICT AHEAD, BUT DECLINED TO SHARE HOW. POLICE DIVERS ARE SEARCHING A SERIES OF DAMS, HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES OUTSIDE SYDNEY AS THEY SEARCH FOR THE BODIES OF JESSE BAIRD AND LUKE DAVIES. THE PAIR ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED LAST WEEK BY MR BAIRD'S EX, BEAU LAMARRE-CONDON. HE'S IN CUSTODY AND IS YET TO ENTER A PLEA ON BOTH CHARGES. AUTHORITIES IN VICTORIA ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR EVACUATION PLANS READY AMID A LOOMING BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY. THE TOWNS OF BEAUFORT AND LEXTON ARE IN DANGER FROM A FIRE WHICH HAS ALREADY DESTROYED AT LEAST SIX RURAL PROPERTIES. AROUND 550 FIREFIGHTERS ARE TACKLING THE FLAMES WHICH HAVE SO FAR SCORCHED MORE THAN 17,000 HECTARES. OF MOST CONCERN ` A FORECAST SPIKE IN HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, WHICH COULD GIVE THE FIRE A BOOST. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MARCHED IN AN ANTI-FAR-RIGHT PROTEST IN HAMBURG. THE MARCH IS PART OF AN ONGOING WAVE OF DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. THEY'RE PROTESTING AGAINST THE RISE OF THE FAR-RIGHT 'ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY' PARTY, WHICH IS GAINING SUPPORT IN A NUMBER OF POLLS AHEAD OF STATE ELECTIONS LATER THIS YEAR. DONALD TRUMP IS URGING HIS ONE REMAINING COMPETITOR FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION TO QUIT. TRUMP BEAT NIKKI HALEY IN HER HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT SHE ALREADY HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON THE NEXT ROUND OF VOTING. HERE'S THE ABC'S JAY O'BRIEN. THE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION NOW TURNING TO MICHIGAN AND THEN SUPER TUESDAY AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BEAT CHALLENGER NIKKI HALEY BY 20 POINTS IN HER HOME STATE, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN SAYING THE PRIMARY IS OVER. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SPIRIT LIKE THIS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SO UNIFIED AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. ONCE A POPULAR TWO-TERM GOVERNOR IN THE PALMETTO STATE, NIKKI HALEY, NOW LOOKING PAST THE LOSS HERE AND VOWING TO STAY IN THE RACE UNTIL SUPER TUESDAY IN EARLY MARCH, WHEN 15 STATES WILL GO TO THE POLLS. I DON'T BELIEVE DONALD TRUMP CAN BEAT JOE BIDEN. (CROWD CHEERS) NEARLY EVERY DAY, TRUMP DRIVES PEOPLE AWAY. HALEY'S SUPPORTERS WE MET PUSHING HER TO STICK IT OUT AS A REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP. SHE WANTS TO MOVE PAST THE DRAMA AND FOCUS ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT SHE MAY NOT SECURE THE NOMINATION? YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO LET EVERYBODY VOTE. I THINK SHE STILL HAS A LOT OF FIGHT LEFT IN HER. BUT TRUMP STILL PULLING FROM A PASSIONATE BASE OF SUPPORTERS. HE'S JUST DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THE COUNTRY. YOU JUST CAN'T GO WRONG WITH HIS RESULTS. EXIT POLLS SHOWING MOST SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS VIEW TRUMP AS MORE LIKELY THAN HALEY TO BEAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IN NOVEMBER. AND A MAJORITY SAY TRUMP WOULD BE FIT TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT IF CONVICTED IN ONE OF HIS FOUR PENDING CRIMINAL CASES. NIKKI HALEY TOLD SUPPORTERS HERE SHE'S STICKING IN THE RACE, BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ARE BOTH UNPOPULAR WITH VOTERS, AND SAYING SHE'S GOING TO KEEP MAKING THAT CASE. HER CAMPAIGN ALREADY PROMISING WHAT IT SAYS WILL BE SEVEN FIGURES WORTH OF CAMPAIGN ADS IN THOSE SUPER TUESDAY STATES. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` ANOTHER FIRST FOR BEYONCE AS THE MUSIC SUPERSTAR GOES A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY. PLUS, THEY NEEDED EXTRA TIME, BUT LIVERPOOL SNARE THEIR FIRST TROPHY OF THE SEASON. NCEA ACHIEVEMENT HAS DECLINED NATIONALLY, WITH THE HIGHEST DROPS IN SOME SMALLER COMMUNITIES. NATIONALLY, STUDENTS ACHIEVING LEVEL 1 DROPPED NEARLY 5% FROM 2022, AND UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE DROPPED BY 3%. BUT IN THE MANAWATU-WHANGANUI REGION LEVEL 1 DROPPED BY NEARLY 8%. MANAWATU COLLEGE PRINCIPAL MATTHEW FRASER SAYS COVID-19 PLAYED ITS PART BUT THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS IS ALSO DISRUPTING LEARNING. IT HAS A BIG IMPACT. WE'VE GOT STUDENTS WHO ARE WORKING PART-TIME OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, FULL-TIME AS WELL, JUST TO SUPPLEMENT HOUSEHOLD INCOME. PARENTS ARE OFTEN WORKING TWO JOBS, AND THE OLDER SIBLINGS ARE LOOKING AFTER THE YOUNGER ONES. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THOSE FACTORS, ACTUALLY THAT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. FRASER BELIEVES IT ALL COMES DOWN TO MONEY, SAYING MORE RESOURCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT COULD BETTER HELP THEIR STUDENTS IN NEED. THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE IS CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE ` 50 YEARS OF VOYAGES. THE ANNIVERSARY IS BEING MARKED BY AN OPEN SHIP EVENT TONIGHT, WITH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ONE OF THOSE ON THE GUEST LIST. COURTNEY HAMMOND MET SOME OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE LATEST ADVENTURE. FOR HALF A CENTURY THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE HAS BEEN CHANGING YOUNG LIVES AT SEA. THEY WORK TOGETHER. THEY PLAY TOGETHER. SO THEY PREPARE FOOD, THEY WASH THE SHIP, THEY SAIL, THEY SWIM EVERY MORNING AT 6.30 IN THE MORNING, OVER THE SIDE, NICE AND COOL. THEY TRAMP ` WE TAKE THEM ASHORE. JUST LOTS OF ACTIVITIES. THIS GROUP OF 40 TEENAGERS ARE THE LATEST TO GET THE EXPERIENCE, DISEMBARKING AFTER A 10-DAY VOYAGE AROUND THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS. IT'S A TRIP THEY'LL REMEMBER FOREVER. I DON'T WANNA BE BACK ON LAND. IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE. OVERCOMING PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND PICKING UP A FEW NEW SKILLS ALONG THE WAY. FROM DAY DOT, I WANTED TO BE CAPTAIN. I THOUGHT, I KNOW I DON'T KNOW, LIKE, THE KNOWLEDGE, BUT I MADE SURE I GOT THERE IN THE END. WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH A BUNCH OF ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERSONALITIES ` LIKE, WE'RE ALL SO DIFFERENT BUT SO CONNECTED. I ASKED OUR NAVIGATOR, 'CAN I HAVE A LOOK AROUND WHAT YOU'RE DOING?' AND I WAS BASICALLY THE NAVIGATOR EVER SINCE. SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAYS THESE VOYAGES CAN BE A CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR SOME TEENS. THE WHOLE WORLD IS TURNED OFF AND THEY HAVE AN ADVENTURE. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY DISCOVER THEMSELVES AGAIN. THEY GET THEIR CONFIDENCE UP, THEY FEEL MORE SEEN, THEY GET MORE HOPEFUL, AND THEY COME OFF, AS YOU CAN SEE, WITH JUST A NEW SENSE OF DIRECTION. IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, TAKE IT. LIKE, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT ME, ABOUT HOW TO REFLECT ON MYSELF AND ON OTHERS. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD. I RECKON EVERYONE SHOULD GIVE THIS A GO. YEAH, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD, EVER. AND NOW MORE PEOPLE CAN. BUT PUB CHARITY HAVE SUPPORTED US, AND THEY'VE ENABLED US TO DISCOUNT THE PRICE FROM $3500 DOWN TO $1250. AND AS OF TODAY, WE'RE GONNA EXTEND THAT OUT TO CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS AMAZING. SO ANY YOUNG PERSON IN NEW ZEALAND HAS AN OPPORTUNITY. GETTING MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD FOR DECADES TO COME. COURTNEY HAMMOND, ONE NEWS. THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED AIRLINE, AIR CHATHAMS, COULD FACE PRICE HIKES IF AUCKLAND AIRPORT RAISES ITS FEES. THE AIRPORT PLANS TO SPEND UP TO $8B OVER THE NEXT DECADE UPGRADING FACILITIES. AIRLINES WILL HELP FOOT THE BILL, WHICH MEANS SOME OF THAT COST WILL BE PASSED ON TO PASSENGERS, INCLUDING REGIONAL AND DOMESTIC. IT'S A VERY COMPLEX BUSINESS SETTING PRICING. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, PRICING IS ACTUALLY SET BY DEMAND ` SO IT'S WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE PREPARED TO PAY. SO WE COULD GO AND PUT $100 ON A TICKET AND HAVE A GO AND SEE WHAT THAT DOES FOR OUR CUSTOMER DEMAND, BUT AS A BUSINESS, WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL HOW WE DO THAT. AUCKLAND AIRPORT SAYS THE UPGRADES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE-PROOFING FACILITIES. NEW ZEALAND'S GIANT CARNIVOROUS SNAILS ARE FACING EXTINCTION. THE LATEST THREAT CLASSIFICATION REPORT SHOWS THAT OF THE 109 SPECIES, NEARLY HALF HAVE DECLINED IN STATUS. AN EXPERT PANEL IS PUSHING FOR ACTION TO PROTECT THE SNAILS' HABITAT AND CONTROL PREDATORS TO BOOST THE GIANT SNAILS' POPULATION. DOC'S KATH WALKER SAYS THERE HAS BEEN A PERFECT STORM OF FACTORS THAT HAVE LED TO THE DECLINE IN NUMBERS. WE'VE BEEN WARMING THE CLIMATE. NOW, THAT'S GOT QUITE A FEW EFFECTS. IT'S ALLOWED RATS TO GO HIGHER IN THE MOUNTAINS, BECAUSE IT'S NOW WARMER, AND THEY CAN SURVIVE THERE. IT'S DRYING OUT THE SOILS AND INCREASING DROUGHTS. IF THE HIGH RATE OF DECLINE CONTINUES, THE SNAIL POPULATION COULD CRASH BY A FURTHER 95% OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES. BEYONCE IS BEING CREDITED WITH SHIFTING THE DIAL ON COUNTRY MUSIC. SHE HAS BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO TOP BILLBOARD'S HOT 100 COUNTRY CHART. HERE'S THE ABC's REENA ROY. # THIS AIN'T TEXAS. # AIN'T NO HOLD'EM. THIS MORNING QUEEN BEY ADDING ANOTHER JEWEL TO HER CROWN, MAKING HISTORY YET AGAIN WITH HER NEW COUNTRY HITS. # 16 CARRIAGES DRIVING AWAY... BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN EVER TO TOP BILLBOARD'S HOT COUNTRY MUSIC CHART. 'TEXAS HOLD'EM' HOLDING THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT, AHEAD OF HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM, 'ACT II'. TO BE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO DEBUT AT NUMBER ONE, FOR 'TEXAS HOLD'EM', THAT'S HISTORY IN ITSELF. THE BEY-HIVE BUZZING ALONG WITH THE COUNTRY MUSIC WORLD, ALSO PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER BLACK FEMALE ARTISTS WHO ARE MAKING THEIR OWN WAY IN THE GENRE, LIKE TANNER ADELL... # ...BACK ROAD WITH THE COWGIRL STYLE. # GET YOU LIT. ...AND MICKEY GUYTON. COUNTRY MUSIC ALSO LOOKS LIKE THIS. WRITING ` BEYONCE ISN'T THE ONLY BLACK ARTIST TAPPING INTO THAT COUNTRY GENRE. AND IT'S GOOD THAT THIS IS A CONVERSATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GONNA OPEN THE DOORS FOR, LIKE, NEW COUNTRY ARTISTS THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS. AND IT COMES AFTER THIS SURPRISE GRAMMYS PERFORMANCE WITH LUKE COMBS AND TRACY CHAPMAN. # I'D ALWAYS HOPED FOR BETTER. HER CLASSIC HIT 'FAST CAR' IMMEDIATELY SKYROCKETING IN SALES AND STREAMS MORE THAN THREE DECADES AFTER ITS DEBUT, CHAPMAN ALSO BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO EVER WIN SONG OF THE YEAR AT THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. TO SPORT, AND THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES HAVE BEEN NAMED FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS. JULIAN DAVID AND SARAH TETZLAFF ARE THE FIRST SPEED CLIMBERS EVER SELECTED TO REPRESENT AOTEAROA AT THE OLYMPICS. THE PAIR QUALIFIED AFTER WINNING THEIR DIVISIONS AT THE OCEANIA TOURNAMENT. DAVID EARNED THE EMERGING TALENT AWARD AT LAST WEEK'S HALBERGS AND IS THE CURRENT JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION. WORLD RUGBY HAS DEFENDED THE USE OF SMART MOUTHGUARDS AFTER A NUMBER OF PLAYERS WERE PULLED FROM THE FIELD DURING THE OPENING ROUND OF SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC. THE MOUTHGUARDS DETECT HEAVY IMPACT ON PLAYERS AND ALERT OFFICIALS TO CARRY OUT ASSESSMENTS. WORLD RUGBY'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER TOLD SKY'S 'THE BREAKDOWN' IT'S ABOUT TAKING A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THAT PLAYER COMES OUT FOR A REVIEW. THEY MAY NOT HAVE A CONCUSSION, BUT THEY'RE COMING OFF TO HAVE A LOOK AT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OK, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE GUYS AREN'T STRUGGLING ON THE PITCH WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING ABOUT IT AND PUTTING THEMSELVES AT FURTHER RISK AS THEY PLAY. PROFESSOR FALVEY SAYS WORLD RUGBY WILL BE PUTTING THE SMART MOUTHGUARDS INTO THE MOUTHS OF AROUND 8000 PLAYERS THIS YEAR. FRANCE HAVE BEEN HELD TO A 13-13 DRAW WITH ITALY IN THE SIX NATIONS THIS MORNING, THOUGH WERE LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH THAT RESULT. FRANCE LED 10-3 AT HALF-TIME BUT WERE REDUCED TO 14 PLAYERS BY THIS RED CARD. THE AZZURRI FOUGHT BACK TO LEVEL THE SCORES, FIRST FIVE PAOLO GARBISI LEFT WITH A PENALTY ATTEMPT IN STOPPAGE TIME TO SNATCH THE WIN, ONLY TO RUSH THE KICK AS THE SHOT CLOCK TICKED DOWN. OH, IT'S OFF THE POST. AND THE BALL IS STILL ALIVE. IT'S TAKEN INTO TOUCH. AND BY THE THICKNESS OF AN UPRIGHT, FRANCE HAVE GOT THEMSELVES A DRAW. IRELAND LEAD THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A PERFECT RECORD AFTER THREE GAMES, WITH FRANCE FOURTH AND ITALY LAST. LIVERPOOL MIGHT HAVE THEY EYES ON THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, HOLDING A ONE-POINT LEAD ON THE TABLE, BUT THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE FOR THE SEASON. THEY'VE BEATEN CHELSEA 1-0 TO LIFT THE LEAGUE CUP FOR A RECORD-EXTENDING 10TH TIME. THE BBC's JOE WILSON HAS THE ACTION. AT WEMBLEY, THIS RED VERSUS BLUE WAS NOTHING NEW. AND ONCE AGAIN, THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING BETWEEN THE TEAMS. LIVERPOOL STARS ` NUNEZ, SALAH, ETC ` INJURED AND WATCHING. LIVERPOOL'S LEAGUE CUP GOALKEEPER IS KELLEHER. WHAT A SAVE. RIGHT THERE TO REPEL CHELSEA'S BEST EARLY ATTACK. 59 MINUTES GONE, AND HERE COMES VIRGIL VAN DIJK'S HEADER. VAN DIJK! GOAL. SIMPLE. IT NEVER IS ANY MORE. WATCH LIVERPOOL'S ENDO ` OFFSIDE AND BLOCKING A CHELSEA PLAYER, THE REFEREE EVENTUALLY DECIDED. VAR RULED IT OUT. NOW, THIS FINAL WAS CHELSEA'S OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR NEW IDENTITY. CONOR GALLAGHER WAS CENTRAL TO THEIR BEST MOMENTS. BUT A GOAL? NO, THAT DID NOT COME. LIVERPOOL HAD TEENAGE SUBSTITUTES ON THE PITCH. EXTRA TIME WAS ALMOST DONE, WHEN VAN DIJK HEADED AGAIN. (CROWD ROARS) AND THIS TIME NO VAR. JUST THE JOY. THE FIRST TROPHY OF LIVERPOOL'S SEASON. IT MAY NOT BE THE LAST. BUT WHATEVER COMES, THEY HAVE THIS MOMENT, THIS SUCCESS, TO HELP SAY GOODBYE TO JURGEN KLOPP. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. - ALL: Hooray! - Hip hip! - Hooray! - Happy birthday, mate. - It's your bowel screening test. I've done mine. - WOMEN: Me too! - Uso, you've got this! # Pull the stick from the test. # Put it in the poo. Just follow the pictures... - Koro. You can 'poo' it! - # Put it in the pottle. Put on the date. # Don't delay or procrastinate. (ALL CHEER) # Early detection can save the day. # TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (PEACEFUL ORCHESTRAL RENDITION OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S 'ENCHANTED') THANKS FOR JOINING US. FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY COURTNEY SOLE AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.