IT'S MIDDAY ` WHY NEW ZEALANDERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES, AND WHETHER WE COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF AN EPIDEMIC. STATE TROOPERS CLASH WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN AMERICA OVER THE WAR IN GAZA, WHILE A CEASEFIRE DEAL EDGES CLOSER IN THE BESIEGED TERRITORY. PLUS ` WHAT'S SPARKING AN ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF SEXTORTION CASES IN THE UK. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH AND BRIGIT KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BECOMING SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES IS INCREASING BY 1000 EVERY MONTH, PROMPTING A WARNING NEW ZEALAND COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC. A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE SHOWS IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS IS AT 80% ` WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAYS CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATIONS FOR 15-MONTH-OLDS TO 9-YEAR-OLDS. WE HAVE ABOUT HALF A MILLION OR MORE PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND EVEN WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES, SO THE POTENTIAL IS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH MEASLES, AND IN 2019, NEARLY A THIRD WITH MEASLES ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL. THERE ARE ALSO MORE SUSCEPTIBLE YOUNG ADULTS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS. A FORMER NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY PRESIDENT IS BLAMING THE COALITION FOR A DROP FOR THE PARTY IN THE POLLS. THE LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL HAS THE PARTY SITTING BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD TO REMAIN IN PARLIAMENT, MEANING NATIONAL AND ACT WOULDN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR A MAJORITY. BRENT CATCHPOLE SAYS NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S DROP IS A REFLECTION OF COALITION DECISIONS. IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HUGE CALLS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MAKING, AND THERE'S SOME UNPLEASANT ONES THERE TOO, SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DIP. NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER WINSTON PETERS ALSO SLIPPED IN THE PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER STAKES, DOWN 2% TO 4%. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRICES ARE SET TO DOUBLE FROM TOMORROW AS SUBSIDIES COMES TO AN END. TODAY'S THE FINAL DAY FOR HALF-PRICE AND FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES, AXED BY THE COALITION GOVERNMENT AFTER THEY WERE INTRODUCED BY LABOUR IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE 'FREE FARES CAMPAIGN' WARNS ENDING THE DISCOUNT WILL ONLY WORSEN THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. FOR PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT MORE, WE NEED SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AND WE ALSO NEED CONSISTENCY IN THE CHEAPER FARES SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE FARES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN LOW, AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HELP US TO EMBED NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORT HABITS, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING UNCERTAINTY AND CHANGING FARES ALL THE TIME. THE CHANGE WILL NOT AFFECT PRE-EXISTING DISCOUNTS FUNDED DIRECTLY BY COUNCILS, OFTEN CLAIMED BY TERTIARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. THERE'S A WARNING FROM POLICE AFTER AN INCREASE IN JEWELLERY STORE RAIDS. DESPITE ASSURANCES THAT FRONTLINE OFFICERS WERE PRIORITISING VISITS TO SHOPPING MALLS, FIVE OFFENDERS TARGETED A MICHAEL HILL STORE IN WEST AUCKLAND ON SUNDAY. DETECTIVE INSPECTOR GLENN BALDWIN SAYS EVEN WITH INCREASED SUPPORT, THEY STILL RELY ON BEING INFORMED BY THE PUBLIC. WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS SPATE OF CRIMES IS OFTEN THERE'S TWO STOLEN CARS. THERE IS A POINT WHERE THEY GET OUT OF ONE CAR AND GET INTO ANOTHER. SO PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THOSE CARS BEING DROPPED OFF, OR THEY MIGHT SEE THAT EXCHANGE, AND THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT THAT, THE SOONER WE CAN RESPOND. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT ON SUNDAY NIGHT, WHERE WE WERE ON TO THAT SECOND CAR, AND WE CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE OFFENDERS. FIVE PEOPLE REMAIN ON THE RUN FROM POLICE FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S WEST AUCKLAND ROBBERY. THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD, IN THE US STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE OFFICERS WERE TRYING TO SERVE AN ARREST WARRANT FOR A FELON WANTED FOR POSSESSING A FIREARM, WHEN GUNFIRE ERUPTED IN THE CHARLOTTE SUBURB. FIVE OTHERS WERE WOUNDED DURING THE SHOOTING. AFTER A THREE-HOUR STANDOFF, THE ATTACKER WAS ALSO SHOT DEAD. THE UNITED STATES' TOP DIPLOMAT IS BACK IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS ISRAEL AND HAMAS EDGE CLOSER TO A CEASEFIRE. ANTONY BLINKEN IS IN THE REGION ONCE AGAIN TO DISCUSS GAZA AND POST-WAR PEACE PLANS. THE LATEST PROPOSAL FOR A TRUCE WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF HOSTAGES RELEASED FOR A 40-DAY PAUSE IN ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE. THE UNITED STATES IS URGING HAMAS TO TAKE THE DEAL. HAMAS HAS BEFORE IT A PROPOSAL THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS ON THE PART OF ISRAEL. AND IN THIS MOMENT, THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND A CEASEFIRE IS HAMAS. A DELEGATION FROM HAMAS IS IN EGYPT FOR THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS. AND POLICE HAVE CLASHED WITH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THIS MORNING AS PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA CONTINUE. UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ORDERED THE PROTESTERS TO DISPERSE AND LEAVE THE CAMPUS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE STATE TROOPERS EQUIPPED WITH RIOT GEAR MOVED IN. ANTI-WAR PROTESTS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE U.S., WITH DEMONSTRATIONS NOW UNDERWAY AT CAMPUSES ACROSS AT LEAST 22 STATES. SINCE THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS, IT'S BELIEVED MORE THAN 100 JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA. FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THE BBC'S ADNAN EL BURSH HAS BEEN REPORTING THERE WHILE LIVING IN A TENT, EATING ONE MEAL A DAY AND STRUGGLING TO KEEP HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN SAFE. HE'S BEEN KEEPING A VIDEO DIARY, DOCUMENTING THE HARROWING MOMENTS HE FACED COVERING THE WAR. (COUGHS, SPITS) UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS CALLING FOR THE FASTER DELIVERY OF WESTERN WEAPONS AS RUSSIA MAKES GAINS ON THE FRONTLINES. WHILE MEETING WITH THE HEAD OF NATO OVERNIGHT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WARNED RUSSIA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEST'S SLOW SHIPMENT AND GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE. IT COMES AFTER THE UNITED STATES SIGNED OFF ON A $100B PACKAGE OF MILITARY AID FOR THE COUNTRY. SOME ARMS HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE, BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THEY NEED TO BE DELIVERED FASTER. AND THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH HAS BECOME THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY TO VISIT UKRAINE SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION. BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID SOPHIE'S ONE-DAY TRIP WAS TO DEMONSTRATE SOLIDARITY WITH THE WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IMPACTED BY THE WAR. SHE ALSO MET WITH THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY. AN UNPRECEDENTED ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED IN THE UK ABOUT THE DANGER TO YOUNG PEOPLE OF SEXTORTION. IT INVOLVES CRIMINALS TRICKING THEIR TARGETS INTO SHARING INTIMATE IMAGES OF THEMSELVES ONLINE, THEN BLACKMAILING THE VICTIMS FOR CASH. ACCORDING TO BRITISH POLICE, THERE'S BEEN AN ALARMING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES. THE BBC'S ANGUS CRAWFORD HAS MORE. JUST 16, MURRAY DOWEY ENDED HIS LIFE. CRIMINALS POSING AS A GIRL ONLINE, TRICKED HIM INTO SENDING COMPROMISING PICTURES. THEN THEY BLACKMAILED HIM. HE COULDN'T BEAR IT. THEY'VE TOTALLY DESTROYED OUR FAMILY. UM, MURRAY WAS A HAPPY, NORMAL TEENAGER. HE WAS DRIVEN TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE BY WHATEVER THREATS AND AWFUL THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY OUT OF HIM WERE SAYING TO HIM. HEY. HOW ARE YOU DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO MURRAY IS CALLED SEXTORTION. GANGS POSE AS YOUNG MEN OR WOMEN, SEND EXPLICIT VIDEOS OR PICTURES TO TARGETS THEY IDENTIFY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY DEMAND THE SAME IN RETURN. THEN ` THE FILM WILL BE SHARED WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR WORKMATES, EVERYONE YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU PAY. TODAY, IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, THE NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY ISSUED AN ALERT TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UK ABOUT THIS GROWING THREAT. THE NCA IS WARNING THAT CRIMINALS ARE INCREASINGLY TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TEENAGE BOYS. IT'S MAINLY DONE BY GANGS BASED IN WEST AFRICA OR SOUTHEAST ASIA. THEIR AIM ` TERRIFY CHILDREN INTO HANDING OVER AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN. IT CAN HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING EFFECT ON YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS IS WHY WE ARE ISSUING THIS ALERT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE IT EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO PANIC. SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS THAT PARENTS CAN DO, CONVERSATIONS THAT COULD BE HAD. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT CHILDREN KNOW THAT THEY'RE NEVER TO BLAME. BUT WHAT'S REALLY DISTURBING FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS IS HOW YOUNG THE VICTIMS ARE NOW. KEEPING THEM SAFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS A DAILY CHALLENGE. NEVER PRESUME IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE. PRESUME IT COULD HAPPEN. I THINK BE VIGILANT. SET UP SOME REALLY GOOD, CLEAR PARAMETERS, ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS, SO THAT IT'S NOT BEING DONE TO THEM, BUT DONE WITH THEM. TODAY'S ALERT BY THE NCA STRIKES A CHORD WITH JOSH (14). I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, COS I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SORT OF THING. IT IS QUITE EASY TO GET INTO THESE SORTS OF BAD SITUATIONS. FROM A MOTHER WHO LOST HER SON, A PLEA TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE ` MY MESSAGE WOULD BE ` PLEASE DON'T DO WHAT MURRAY DID. NOTHING, NOTHING IS WORTH TAKING YOUR OWN LIFE FOR, NOTHING. NO MATTER HOW TERRIFIED AND AWFUL YOU'RE FEELING AT THE MOMENT, THAT WILL PASS, AND THIS CAN BE FIXED. HOW GIVING LEGAL RIGHTS TO NATURE COULD HELP THE ENVIRONMENT FLOURISH. PLUS ` NEW ZEALAND NAMES A STRONG SWIMMING SQUAD FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS. It's time to save big bucks in Big Save's Big Sale. Big beds. Big couches. Big lounge suites. See the big picture. Be a big deal. Have the big idea. Only at Big Save. AROUND 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KENYA AFTER A DAM BURST ITS BANKS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN. IT PUSHES THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LATEST WAVE OF FLASH FLOODS PAST 120, BUT IT'S FEARED MANY MORE COULD BE BURIED UNDER DEBRIS. THE BBC'S BARBARA PLETT USHER REPORTS. THE TIDE OF WATER WOKE PEOPLE UP WITH ITS ROAR OF DESTRUCTION. NO TIME TO SCRAMBLE OUT OF THE WAY. THIS RUSHING RIVER USED TO BE A STREAM. RESCUE TEAMS WORKED LONG AFTER DISASTER STRUCK, SAVING THOSE THEY COULD. FINDING AND COUNTING THE DEAD ` A VILLAGE THAT WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN AN INSTANT. THE WATER CAME FROM THAT DIRECTION, CRASHING THROUGH THE VILLAGE, GOUGING OUT THE VALLEY, AND THE RIVER BURST ITS BANKS. YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE DAMAGE; THE CARS DESTROYED, TREES WERE UPROOTED, HOUSES SWEPT AWAY, HOUSES DESTROYED. PEOPLE WERE CARRIED AWAY BY THE FLOODWATERS. DOZENS OF PEOPLE DEAD. BUT THEY'RE STILL SEARCHING FOR BODIES OF THE MISSING. AND THERE WERE OTHER HOUSES WHERE THE CARS PARKED. PETER'S HOUSE SURVIVED, BUT NOT HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD. HE SPENT THE NIGHT PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER AND OUT OF THE MUD. THERE ARE LITTLE BABIES IN THE WATER. ALL THE PEOPLE AND A LOT OF THINGS` THINGS ARE BEING SWEPT AWAY. ALL THE PEOPLE AND A LOT OF THINGS` THINGS ARE BEING SWEPT AWAY. ACTUALLY, IT WAS A VERY BAD, VERY BAD SCENARIO. PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING. PEOPLE ARE CRYING. PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES. PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LOVED ONES, AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES STILL NOW. THE RAINY SEASON HAS BEEN PUNISHING THIS YEAR, BRINGING RUIN HERE, ELSEWHERE IN KENYA, AND THE REGION. THIS MAN WAS UP TO HIS NECK IN WATER BEFORE HE HAD TIME TO THINK. HE SAW THE FLOOD TAKE HIS WIFE. IT TOOK HIM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE GRABBED A TREE BRANCH AND HUNG ON TO LIFE. SO DID SHE. BUT NOT MUCH ELSE. NO HOME, JUST BITS OF FURNITURE. THERE'S HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED IN THE NEXT DAYS. MORE DAMS ARE FILLED TO THE BRIM. MAYBE MORE DISASTERS TO COME. IN WHAT COULD BE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR CLIMATE ACTION, IT'S UNDERSTOOD ENERGY MINISTERS FROM THE G7 NATIONS ARE CLOSE TO AGREEING TO SHUT DOWN ALL COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS BY 2035. THE MINISTERS ARE CURRENTLY MEETING IN ITALY, WHICH HAS BEEN TARGETED BY PROTESTERS. IT'S HOPED ANY DECISION FROM THE G7 TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS COULD SEE OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW SUIT. A FINAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE MEETING IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED TONIGHT. IT'S HOPED THE CONCEPT OF GRANTING NATURE LEGAL PERSONHOOD STATUS COULD HELP NATIVE ENVIRONMENTS FLOURISH. IN A BID TO SAVE FORESTS AND RIVERS, THERE'S GROWING SUPPORT FOR GRANTING NATURE SIMILAR LEGAL RIGHTS AS HUMANS. VIKTORIA KAHUI SAYS THE MOVEMENT IS IN RESPONSE TO ECONOMIC PRESSURES, SUCH AS POLLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT. WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING IF EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY IWI, IN NEW ZEALAND WAS ABLE TO APPLY IN A STREAMLINED SORT OF PROCESS TO MAKE ITS OWN BACKYARD NATURAL TREASURE, BECOME ITS OWN LEGAL PERSON? 'LEGAL PERSONHOOD' HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE WHANGANUI RIVER, TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK, AND WILL SOON INCLUDE TARANAKI MAUNGA. AMERICA'S NEWEST BILLIONAIRE HAS BEEN REVEALED ` THE WINNER OF A LOTTO JACKPOT OF MORE THAN $2B STRUCK EARLIER THIS MONTH HAS COME FORWARD ` THE FOURTH BIGGEST PRIZE IN THE POWERBALL LOTTERY'S HISTORY. HERE'S THE ABC'S JACLYN LEE WITH WHAT THEY PLAN ON DOING WITH THE MONEY. IT'S A NEAR PIPE DREAM FOR NEARLY EVERYONE WHO PLAYS THE LOTTERY, ALL HOPING THEY'LL PICK THOSE LUCKY NUMBERS THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND BANK ACCOUNTS DRAMATICALLY. WELL, FOR THREE PEOPLE, THAT BECAME A REALITY. I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE THREE WINNERS OF THE $1.3B JACKPOT. THE FOURTH LARGEST POWERBALL JACKPOT IN THE GAME'S HISTORY. THE TICKET, WORTH $1.326B, WAS SOLD AT THIS CONVENIENCE STORE, THE PLAID PANTRY, IN PORTLAND, OREGON. THE WINNING NUMBERS DRAWN ON APRIL 6TH. ONE OF THE WINNERS COMING FORWARD TODAY. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE SHOCK OF DISCOVERING YOU WON. AND I TOLD MY MOM, 'MOM, WE'RE RICH!' (LAUGHTER) OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IS WHAT DO YOU EVEN DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY? WELL, FOR CHARLIE, HIS HEALTH. HE'S BEEN BATTLING CANCER FOR EIGHT YEARS. NOW I CAN REST MY FAMILY AND FIND A GOOD DOCTOR FOR MYSELF. WINNERS CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE A LUMP SUM, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS A PRE-TAX PAYMENT OF $621M. OR THEY CAN OPT FOR ANNUAL PAYMENTS STRETCHED OUT OVER 30 YEARS. AS FOR THE STORE THAT SOLD THE WINNING TICKET, THE STORE'S MANAGER WILL SHARE A $100,000 BONUS, WHICH THE PLAID PANTRY PRESIDENT SAYS GETS SHARED WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES AT THE LOCATION. AND THE LARGEST U.S. LOTTERY JACKPOT EVER WON WAS IN CALIFORNIA IN 2022. WE'RE TALKING $2.04B. NOW, IF YOU HAVE A WINNING TICKET, BE SURE TO SIGN THE BACK OF IT, SO NO ONE ELSE CAN CLAIM IT IS THEIRS. TO SPORT, AND NINE SWIMMERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND AT THE UPCOMING PARIS OLYMPICS. WORLD CHAMPIONS ERIKA FAIRWEATHER AND LEWIS CLAREBURT LEAD THE GROUP, WITH EVE THOMAS THE ONLY OTHER SWIMMER WITH OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE. FAIRWEATHER AND THOMAS WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN THE WOMEN'S 4X200M FREESTYLE RELAY. THE MAINLAND TACTIX HAVE REJOINED THE CENTRAL PULSE AT THE TOP OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE WITH A NARROW WIN OVER THE NORTHERN MYSTICS. THE TACTIX TRAILED BY FOUR GOALS AT HALF-TIME, BUT MANAGED TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK FOR A 62-59 VICTORY. GOSH, IT WAS A BIT OF A TUSSLE OUT THERE. THE CROWD REALLY BROUGHT IT. SO IT FELT LIKE AT TIMES WE WERE PLAYING AGAINST AN EIGHTH PLAYER, BUT REALLY PROUD OF THE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. AND NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE SILVER FERNS, WITH STAR SHOOTER GRACE NWEKE LEAVING THE COURT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH A KNEE INJURY. ENGLAND RUGBY FORWARD BILLY VUNIPOLA HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN MAJORCA. IT'S UNDERSTOOD THE 31-YEAR-OLD WAS TASERED BY POLICE AND CHARGED WITH RESISTING THE LAW ON THE SPANISH ISLAND, AND FINED JUST OVER $400. VUNIPOLA DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING. HIS CLUB, SARACENS, SAYS IT WILL DEAL WITH THE MATTER INTERNALLY. 16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS HAVE VOTED TO INTRODUCE A SPENDING CAP. THE PROPOSED MODEL WOULD LIMIT CLUBS' SPENDING ON TRANSFERS, WAGES AND AGENTS' FEES AND IS LIKELY TO BE LINKED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE LOWEST-RANKED CLUB MAKES IN TELEVISION REVENUE. MANCHESTER CITY, MANCHESTER UNITED AND ASTON VILLA WERE THE ONLY TEAMS WHO OPPOSED THE SPENDING CAP, WHILE CHELSEA DIDN'T VOTE. FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION MIKE TYSON'S RETURN TO THE RING HAS BEEN GIVEN FULL PROFESSIONAL STATUS. THE FIGHT BETWEEN TYSON (58) AND YOUTUBER JAKE PAUL (27) WILL NOW COUNT ON BOTH THEIR PROFESSIONAL RECORDS. THE HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH-UP WILL BE FOUGHT IN JULY OVER EIGHT ROUNDS AT AT&T STADIUM, THE HOME OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS. THE 'TAYLOR SWIFT EFFECT' ON THE NFL COULD BE PAYING OFF BIG TIME FOR HER PARTNER. IT'S REPORTED TRAVIS KELCE HAS AGREED TO A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, WHICH WILL MAKE HIM THE NFL'S HIGHEST PAID TIGHT END. TEAMMATE PATRICK MAHOMES WITH A MESSAGE TO CHIEFS FANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ` 'I TOLD YOU I'LL NEVER LET HIM LEAVE.' THE NBA'S MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES ARE SWEATING ON AN INJURY AHEAD OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS, BUT IT'S NOT ONE OF THEIR PLAYERS. COACH CHRIS FINCH RUPTURED HIS PATELLA TENDON AFTER COLLIDING WITH VETERAN GUARD MIKE CONLEY DURING YESTERDAY'S GAME WITH THE PHOENIX SUNS. FINCH WAS HELPED OFF THE COURT AND MISSED THE END OF THE GAME ` CONLEY LATER SAID HIS COACH WAS IN THE WAY. THE TIMBERWOLVES WENT ON TO CLOSE OUT THE SERIES, THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF WIN IN 20 YEARS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. EXPERTS IN THE UK REMAIN BAFFLED BY A ROMAN ARTEFACT UNEARTHED IN A LINCOLNSHIRE FIELD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THE DODECAHEDRON IS BELIEVED TO BE 1700 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT TO GO ON DISPLAY. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT DODECAHEDRA IS THEY ARE JUST A MYSTERY TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS, AND HAVE BEEN FOR 200 OR 300 YEARS. WE'VE BEEN LUCKY FINDING ONE WITHIN AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG ` IT'S ONLY THE FOURTH ONE FOUND WITHIN AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG, AND A COMPLETE SURPRISE, BUT IT DOES HAVE SOME CONTEXT NOW. MOST OF THAT ARE FOUND ARE BROKEN ` THEY'RE IN LITTLE PIECES, OFTEN. OURS IS COMPLETE, IT'S PERFECT, AND IT GIVES SOME IDEA ABOUT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT WAS USED TO CREATE IT AS WELL. IT'S NOT AT ALL ` BECAUSE OURS SHOWS NO SIGNS OF WEAR WHATSOEVER ` IT'S NOT A MEASURING DEVICE, BECAUSE DODECAHEDRA AREN'T STANDARDISED. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RULE AS TO HOW BIG THEY ARE, SO YOU CAN'T MEASURE THINGS WITH THEM. WHAT IT PROBABLY IS IS SOME SORT OF RELIGIOUS OR RITUAL DEVICE. THE ROMANS WERE VERY, VERY SUPERSTITIOUS. THEY HAD TO HAVE SOME WAYS OF MAKING DECISIONS. AND YOU DO GET 12 CHOICES WITH A DODECAHEDRON, BECAUSE IT'S GOT 12 SIDES. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (SARAH MCLACHLAN'S 'I WILL REMEMBER YOU') THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE AT 4, FOLLOWED BY THE 1 NEWS TEAM AT SIX, AND YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S NEWS ONLINE AT 1NEWS.CO.NZ. FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH AND BRIGIT KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024