A MAJOR ESCALATION IN HOSTILITIES BETWEEN TWO NUCLEAR RIVALS AS INDIA LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKES AGAINST PAKISTAN ` PAKISTAN SAYS IT'S AN ACT OF WAR. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STAYS THE SAME, BUT THE NUMBER OF KIWIS IN PART-TIME WORK HAS SOARED. THE BEST OF FRENEMIES ` TRUMP PRAISES AND TAKES CREDIT FOR CARNEY'S COMEBACK, SAYING IT COULD EVEN TOP HIS OWN. AND IN A FEW SHORT HOURS, THE CONCLAVE BEGINS ` THE CATHOLIC CARDINALS WILL BE SEALED IN UNTIL THEY ELECT A NEW POPE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI HAERE MAI ` WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR ESCALATION IN HOSTILITIES BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS AND NUCLEAR ARMED RIVALS INDIA AND PAKISTAN, PUSHING THEM TO THE BRINK OF FULL-SCALE WAR. INDIA HAS CARRIED OUT STRIKES ON WHAT IT SAYS ARE TERRORIST CAMPS IN PAKISTAN IN RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK IN INDIAN-CONTROLLED KASHMIR THAT KILLED DOZENS OF INDIAN TOURISTS LATE LAST MONTH. PAKISTAN SAYS TODAY'S STRIKES ARE AN ACT OF WAR AND IS PROMISING A ROBUST RESPONSE. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH HAS BEEN MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS. WHEN RETALIATION CAME, IT WAS SWIFT AND DECISIVE. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF 26 TOURISTS, INDIA SAYS IT HIT NINE SITES IN PAKISTAN AND PAKISTAN-CONTROLLED KASHMIR. (EXPLOSIONS BOOM) THE INDIAN ARMY CONCLUDED, 'JUSTICE IS SERVED.' THE ATTACK TOOK A BREATHLESS INDIAN NEWS MEDIA BY SURPRISE. AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALSO PICKING UP THAT INDIA HAS HIT THE TERROR BASES INSIDE PAKISTAN, AND THE OPERATION WAS NAMED OPERATION SINDOOR. THESE PICTURES SHOW THE AFTERMATH ` PILES OF RUBBLE ON THE GROUND. PAKISTAN SAYS EIGHT CIVILIANS WERE, IN THEIR WORDS, 'MARTYRED', INCLUDING A 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND ELDERLY PEOPLE; 35 WERE INJURED. WE'VE JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMED REPORTS THAT INDIA HAS ATTACKED CIVILIAN TARGETS, INCLUDING A MOSQUE AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION ON FIVE LOCATIONS INSIDE PAKISTAN. AS THE MISSILES FLEW, AIRLINE TRACKING APPS SHOWED PLANES DIVERTING FROM THE AREA, SOME FLIGHTS DIVERTING TO KARACHI. FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THERE HAD BEEN MOUNTING FURY IN INDIA OVER THE BRAZEN ATTACK BY THE MILITANTS INDIA INSISTS WERE BACKED BY NEIGHBOURING PAKISTAN. SURVIVORS SAY THE TOURISTS WERE TARGETED BECAUSE THEY WERE HINDU. PAKISTAN SAYS IT SHOT DOWN FIVE INDIAN FIGHTER JETS; INDIA ITSELF SAYS THREE PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN INDIAN-CONTROLLED KASHMIR. REUTERS SAYS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES REPORT THREE FIGHTER JETS CRASHED IN INDIA'S JAMMU AND KASHMIR TERRITORY. PRIME MINISTER SHEHBAZ SHARIF SAID IT WAS AN ACT OF WAR, POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA... PAKISTAN WILL NOW RESPOND, AND RESPOND VERY, VERY EFFECTIVELY, MAKE NO MISTAKE, BECAUSE OUR DESIRE FOR PEACE SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR OUR WEAKNESS. PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE CONFLICT ` THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD BETWEEN TWO NUCLEAR-CAPABLE POWERS ` WOULD END 'VERY QUICKLY'. OH, IT'S A SHAME. WE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT JUST AS WE WERE WALKING INTO THE DOORS OF THE OVAL. UH, JUST HEARD ABOUT IT. I GUESS PEOPLE KNEW SOMETHING WAS GONNA HAPPEN, BASED ON A LITTLE BIT OF THE PAST ` THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A LONG TIME. OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, WINSTON PETERS, SAYS THERE ARE FEW KIWIS REGISTERED AS BEING IN THE REGION, BUT ONE OF THEM IS HIS STAFF MEMBER. OH, LOOK, IT'S SERIOUSLY ALARMING, AND WE URGE RESTRAINT ON ALL SIDES. A HOPE SHARED BY LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD GIVEN THE CATASTROPHIC RESPONSES THESE TWO NATIONS ARE CAPABLE OF. EQUAL PAY ADVOCATES HAVE PUT THE GOVERNMENT ON NOTICE ` WOMEN ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT ITS RADICAL OVERHAUL OF PAY EQUITY LAWS WITHOUT A FIGHT. LEGISLATION TO ENABLE THE SHOCK REFORMS IS BEING WHIPPED THROUGH PARLIAMENT UNDER URGENCY. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH LOOKS AT THE FIGHT THAT'S BREWING. TO BE A CARE AND SUPPORT WORKER IS MORE THAN A FULL-TIME JOB... HOW MANY SUGARS? JUST ONE, THANK YOU. ...BECAUSE THE FULL-TIME PAY ISN'T ENOUGH TO LIVE ON. TO MAKE MORE MONEY YOU DO MORE HOURS, YOU ARE SCREAMING OUT FOR MORE WORK. SO YOU COULD DO 12, 15 HOUR DAYS, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, YOU COULD DO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, YOU ARE JUST PILING ON THE HOURS, BECOMING CRIPPLINGly TIRED, BURNT OUT. SO WHEN KATE HALSELL FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THE PAY EQUITY CLAIM SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN WORKING ON WAS BEING RIPPED UP AND SENT BACK TO SQUARE ONE BY THE GOVERNMENT, 'UPSET' DOESN'T REALLY DESCRIBE IT. PURE ANGER, RAGE. IT FELT LIKE THE LAST THREE YEARS WE WERE FIGHTING FOR NOTHING, WE'RE GOING BACK TO NOWHERE. SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. AXING CLAIMS JUST TO SAVE A BUDGET IS AN OUTRAGE. FORMER EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSIONER DAME JUDY MCGREGOR IS ASTOUNDED. I THINK IT'S A CRUEL ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I THINK THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY FOR IT. I DON'T THINK WOMEN WILL TAKE THIS LYING DOWN. THE IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS WAS CONSIDERED BY CABINET, BUT THEY'VE RELEASED BLANK PAGES COMPLETELY REDACTING THE ADVICE THEY GOT. HAVING BEEN AN EQUAL PAY ADVOCATE AND A FORMER HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER, I WAS STUNNED AND SHOCKED ` BOTH AT THE PROCESS AND AT THE RESULT. THE PROCESS ` IT WAS RUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT WITH NO PUBLIC CONSULTATION, AND WITHOUT EVEN DRAWING UP THE NECESSARY IMPACT DOCUMENTS THE GOVERNMENT WAS REQUIRED TO. THE CABINET PAPER EVEN SAYS IT DOES NOT MEET CABINET'S REQUIREMENTS FOR REGULATORY PROPOSALS. IT'S UP TO THE PEOPLE TO JUDGE WHETHER THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND WE DIDN'T FOLLOW EVERY RULE, BUT IT IS OKAY THIS TIME. YOU JUST PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO JUST FOR LAWMAKING? THIS IS THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT OPERATES. URGENCY IS ALWAYS A LAST RESORT FOR BAD GOVERNANCE. THE FACT IT WAS INTRODUCED SO RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT A MANDATE FROM THE PUBLIC JUST SHOWS HOW CYNICAL IT IS AS A BUDGET RESPONSE. THAT CLAIM IS SOMETHING THE FINANCE MINISTER IS VEHEMENTLY DENYING. DESPITE YESTERDAY, DAVID SEYMOUR SAID THE POLICY HAD SAVED THE BUDGET. WE THINK BROOKE HAS SAVED THE TAXPAYER BILLIONS, SHE HAS SAVED THE BUDGET FOR THE GOVERNMENT. HE WAS SPEAKING AS THE ACT LEADER, NOT AS THE ASSOCIATE FINANCE MINISTER. BUT HE STANDS BY THEM. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, SAVING HER BUDGET, OR ENSURING THAT WOMEN ARE PAID ENOUGH? I REJECTED THE CHARACTERISATION IN THAT FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE MESSAGE THAT'S CARRIED. HOW ARE WE GONNA FILL THE DEFICIT? I KNOW ` LET LOW-PAID WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND SAVE US. THE PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T SHOW AT PARLIAMENT TODAY... HE SHOULD BE HERE, TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON IT, BUT JUST LIKE THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL, HAVING CREATED A CONTROVERSY, HE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM IT. LEAVING HIS MINISTERS TO MOP IT UP. THE MINISTER FOR WOMEN DISMISSING THE CONCERNS OF WOMEN. THIS IS POSITIVE FOR WOMEN. SHE SHOULD STAND DOWN, AND EVERY WOMAN IN A COLLEGE AND GOVERNMENT SHOULD HANG THEIR HEAD IN SHAME. EMPOWERMENT IS MINE A ONE PRIORITY BELIEVE ANYBODY WOULD SUPPORT PUTTING WOMEN ON THE BACK FOOT. AND AS POLITICIANS LINED UP TO DEFEND THEMSELVES TODAY, KATE IS PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STEPS. SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO ` FIGHT, FIGHT FOR MY NIECES, FIGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER, FIGHT FOR ALL THE FEMALES THAT ARE COMING UP. THEY NEED TO BE RECOGNISED FIGHT AGAIN FOR FAIR PAY. JENNA, HAS THE BILL PASSED YET? NOT QUITE, THE POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN DEBATING THIS ALL DAY ` THEY HAVE REACHED THE THIRD READING OF THE BILL, FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS SHOWED UP FOR A SPEECH ON THE BILL. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SHE WAS NOT GIVEN A SLOT ` SHE WANTED TO SHOW UP AND BE ACCOUNTABLE. THAT COMMENT FROM DAVID SEYMOUR HAS GONE DOWN LIKE A CUP OF COLD SICK ` THE COALITION DYNAMICS ARE REALLY INTERESTING. NATIONAL DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT IS AND DON'T WANT TO BE BOASTING ABOUT IT, BUT COME BUDGET TODAY THAT NUMBER WILL BE REVEALED AND WOMEN WILL BE LOOKING FOR IT TO SEE THE QUANTUM OF THE LOSS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 5.1%, DEFYING THE CONSENSUS AMONG ECONOMISTS THAT IT WOULD RISE. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME WORKERS HAS FALLEN BY 45,000 OVER THE PAST YEAR, GIVING WAY TO A RISE IN PART-TIME WORK. AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, IT MIRRORS A SUBDUED DOMESTIC ECONOMY ON THE BACK OF GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY. LIZ WHEADON IS LAUNCHING HER NEW BUSINESS IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND ` NORMANBY FINE WINE & SPIRITS, A RETAIL STORE WITH A CAREFULLY CURATED SELECTION OF WINES, SPIRITS, SAKES AND CRAFT BEERS. YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING FROM 2020 VINTAGE TO 2016; YOU'VE GOT 2012 HERE. BUT OPERATING A BUSINESS IN AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN ISN'T EASY. IT'S VERY COSTLY TO OPERATE IN RETAIL AT THE MOMENT. ALL OF THE COSTS ARE HIGHER. AND THAT INCLUDES PAYING STAFF. THE BIG THING WAS ACTUALLY MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO EMPLOY PEOPLE FULL-TIME. TODAY'S UPDATE FROM STATS NZ SHOWED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNCHANGED FOR THE THREE MONTHS TO MARCH, AT 5.1%. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME WORKERS FELL BY 45,000 OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND THE NUMBER OF KIWIS WORKING PART-TIME JUMPED BY 25,000. THE UNDERLYING DETAILS ARE REASONABLY SOFT. I THINK THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY IS REALLY STRUGGLING TO GAIN MOMENTUM AT THE MOMENT. I THINK THE EVENTS OVERSEAS IS ADDING TO UNCERTAINTY. A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IMPORTING WINE, AND CERTAINLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE NOT SEEN THE EXCHANGE RATE BE FAVOURABLE FOR US. AND THEN ALL THE UNCERTAINTY WITH SHIPPING WITH SUPPLY GLOBALLY ` YEAH, IT'S CHALLENGING. THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE RESERVE BANK'S FINANCIAL STABILITY REPORT, OUT TODAY ` IT STATES THAT, 'WHILE LOWER INTEREST RATES 'ARE REDUCING DEBT-SERVICING COSTS AND EASING FINANCIAL STRESS 'FOR BORROWERS DOMESTICALLY, WHICH 'HAS CAUSED HEIGHTENED FINANCIAL MARKET VOLATILITY 'AND COULD LEAD TO A SLOWDOWN IN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY'. ABOUT HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AND WHERE THOSE TARIFFS END UP THERE'S STILL A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AND WHERE THOSE TARIFFS END UP AS THE DUST SETTLES. THAT WILL IMPACT ON GLOBAL DEMAND. THE UPSIDE OF SOFTER DEMAND IS THAT IT'S HELPED TO ALLEVIATE PRICE INCREASES. LABOUR COST GROWTH HAS SLOWED TO 2.5%, THE LOWEST ANNUAL RATE IN 3.5 YEARS, WHICH POINTS TO FURTHER MODERATION IN CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION. THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE RESERVE BANK, WHICH IS TASKED WITH KEEPING PRICE RISES UNDER CONTROL. AS A RESULT, WE THINK THE RESERVE BANK WILL MOVE FROM A POSITION OF TRYING TO SLOW THE ECONOMY, TO TRYING TO SUPPORT IT. LIZ WHEADON UNDERSTANDS HER CUSTOMERS WILL BE SENSITIVE TO THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS... REALLY LOOKING AT VERY GOOD PRICE POINTS FOR CUSTOMERS. ...BUT SHE'S OPTIMISTIC. WE WOULDN'T BE INVESTING WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUSINESS IF WE DIDN'T SEE THE HOPE. THIS STORE IS THE FIRST VENTURE FOR US, BUT WE SEE HUGE OPPORTUNITY. AND THAT IS SEEING THE GLASS HALF FULL. SO, ZANE, WHERE TO FROM HERE? ALL THE FORECAST SAID THAT UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD PEAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND THE CONSENSUS SEEMS TO BE THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE PEAK OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. JOB RATES REMAIN SUBJECT, BUT ECONOMISTS SAY WE COULD SEE THE SHIFT BEGAN TO TURN OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THIS MONTH THE RESERVE BANK WILL PROVIDE THE USUAL CASH RATE UPDATE AND IT IS WIDELY THOUGHT TO DELIVER ANOTHER CUT. ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS LOW BORROWING COSTS AND HIGH AGRICULTURAL EXPORT COSTS SUPPORT DEMAND. SO WE MAY BE WELL PLACED. MARK LUNDY HAS WALKED FREE FROM PRISON. THE CONVICTED DOUBLE MURDERER WAS GRANTED PAROLE LAST MONTH, AND HIS EXACT RELEASE DATE WAS SUPPRESSED, BUT IT CAN NOW BE REVEALED LUNDY HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM A NORTH ISLAND PRISON. HE SERVED MORE THAN 23 YEARS FOR MURDERING HIS WIFE CHRISTINE AND DAUGHTER AMBER IN THEIR PALMERSTON NORTH HOME IN 2000. LUNDY IS SUBJECT TO AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF RELEASE CONDITIONS, INCLUDING A BAN ON CONTACTING THE MEDIA AND USING SOCIAL MEDIA. DONALD TRUMP HAS PRAISED MARK CARNEY'S WIN IN CANADA'S ELECTION, CALLING IT ONE OF THE GREATEST POLITICAL COMEBACKS EVER ` PERHAPS EVEN BIGGER THAN HIS OWN. OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT ALSO TOOK CREDIT FOR IT, ACKNOWLEDGING THE HUGE VOTER BACKLASH TO HIS CALLS FOR CANADA TO BECOME THE 51ST STATE. NOT THAT THAT STOPPED TRUMP FROM CONTINUING TO TALK UP THE IDEA DURING A MEETING IN THE OVAL OFFICE. CARNEY'S RESPONSE? 'SOME THINGS ARE NEVER FOR SALE.' ITV'S DAN RIVERS REPORTS. (CAMERA SHUTTER WHIRRS) AFTER WEEKS OF VERBAL SPARRING, TODAY, IT WAS ALL SMILES AS TWO FRENEMIES PLAYED NICE. MARK CARNEY KNOWS HIS VICTORY A WEEK AGO WAS LARGELY THANKS TO DONALD TRUMP'S THREATS. ONE SUBJECT WAS DOMINATING TODAY. MR PRESIDENT! MR PRESIDENT, ARE YOU CLOSE TO A TRADE DEAL? (OVERLAPPING SHOUTS) INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED HIS THREATS TO CANADA HAD BACKFIRED, TURNING AROUND MARK CARNEY'S ELECTORAL FORTUNES. I THINK I WAS PROBABLY THE GREATEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM, BUT I CAN'T TAKE FULL CREDIT. (LAUGHTER) THEY WERE` HIS PARTY WAS LOSING BY A LOT AND HE ENDED UP WINNING. SO I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM. IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEBACKS IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS ` MAYBE EVEN GREATER THAN MINE. (CHUCKLES) YOU KNOW? THE THREAT OF TURNING CANADA INTO AMERICA'S 51ST STATE STILL HUNG IN THE AIR. HERE, THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO MAKE THE PRIME MINISTER AN OFFER HE COULDN'T REFUSE. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE TAX CUT FOR THE CANADIAN CITIZENS. YOU GET FREE MILITARY. YOU GET TREMENDOUS MEDICAL CARES AND OTHER THINGS. THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ADVANTAGES. BUT MARK CARNEY DID ` WITH THE PERFECT RESPONSE. AS YOU KNOW FROM REAL ESTATE, THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT ARE NEVER FOR SALE. THAT'S TRUE. WE'RE SITTING IN ONE RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, BUCKINGHAM PALACE THAT YOU VISITED AS WELL. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S TRUE. BUT NEVER SAY NEVER. NEVER SAY NEVER. BUT MARK CARNEY DID ` REPEATEDLY. (OVERLAPPING, SHOUTED QUESTIONS) THEN HE FOUND HIS VOICE. RESPECTFULLY, CANADIANS' VIEW ON THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ON THE 51ST STATE. SECONDLY, WE ARE THE LARGEST CLIENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN... IN THE TOTALITY OF ALL THE GOODS. SO WE ARE THE LARGEST CLIENT IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT WHY ARE WE SUBSIDISING CANADA $200 BILLION A YEAR OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER MIGHT BE? IT'S A VERY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER. MARK CARNEY WAS PROBABLY RELIEVED HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BITE HIS LIP ANY LONGER. AFTERWARDS, SWERVING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING AS THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AGAIN SUGGESTED ANNEXING HIS COUNTRY. I'M GLAD THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE KNOWN HIS WISH, UH.... ABOUT THAT ISSUE FOR... FOR SOME TIME. ABOUT THAT ISSUE FOR... FOR SOME TIME. I'VE BEEN CAREFUL ALWAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WISH AND REALITY. I WAS CLEAR THERE IN THE OVAL OFFICE, AS I'VE BEEN CLEAR THROUGHOUT AS I'VE BEEN CLEAR THROUGHOUT. HAVE YOU ASKED THE PRESIDENT TO STOP CALLING CANADA THE 51ST STATE? YES. UH` TODAY. SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DID YOU ASK HIM? EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID. BUT IN WHAT WORDS DO YOU USE? HOW DID YOU ASK? (STAMMERS) LOOK, I GAVE YOU AN ANSWER. I GAVE YOU AN ANSWER. DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP? AN ANSWER AS AWKWARD AS PARTS OF THIS MEETING ` REBUILDING THE U.S.- CANADA RELATIONSHIP... VERY NICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ...WILL TAKE MUCH MORE THAN JUST A HANDSHAKE AND A SMILE. WELL, IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS' TIME, AROUND 130 CARDINALS WILL GATHER IN ST PETER'S BASILICA FOR A MASS TO BEGIN THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW POPE. THE VATICAN WILL CUT THE MOBILE PHONE SIGNAL TO STOP ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES GETTING THROUGH ` OTHER THAN, OF COURSE, THE HOLY SPIRIT. HERE'S ITV'S JAMES MATES. AFTER 10 DAYS OF THINKING, DISCUSSING, LOBBYING, MAYBE EVEN DEAL-MAKING, TOMORROW, FOR THE MOST INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION OF CARDINALS EVER GATHERED IN ROME, IT ALL GETS REAL. AT 10am, THEY WILL MEET, THEY WILL PRAY, THEY'LL DEBATE A BIT, AND THEN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY'LL VOTE. AS VOTING LOBBIES GO, THIS IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE MOST CULTURED AND THE MOST TASTEFUL, AS THEY SIT IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL UNDER MICHELANGELO'S MAGNIFICENT FRESCOES. AS ELECTIONS GO, IT'S THE WORLD'S MOST SECRET, MOST MALE-DOMINATED, AND ONE OF ITS MOST CONSEQUENTIAL. NOT MANY OF THE 133 MEN WHO GET A CHOICE ARE PREPARED TO TALK. THOSE WHO DO SAY THEY'RE READY. I SHOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE MORE PRAYER TOGETHER ` MORE TIME TOGETHER IN SILENCE. UH-HUH. BUT THAT'S IT. WELL, YOU KNOW, I HEARD MANY ` YOU KNOW, ALL THE CARDINALS, AND, UH... I'M READY. I THINK I'M READY FOR THE FIRST VOTE, AND THEN` AND THEN I WILL SEE. THESE ARE FOUR CARDINALS BEING DISCUSSED AS 'PAPABILE', OR POTENTIAL POPES. PIETRO PAROLIN HAS BEEN THE VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, POPE FRANCIS' NUMBER TWO FOR 12 YEARS ` A POWERFUL FORCE, BUT A MAN WITH A RECORD TO DEFEND. LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE OF THE PHILIPPINES COULD BE THE FIRST ASIAN POPE, BUT HE'S A LIBERAL AND MAY SUFFER FROM A CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH, AND IF SO, ROBERT SARAH OF GUINEA COULD BENEFIT AND BECOME THE FIRST BLACK POPE. THAT WOULD BE A REJECTION OF MUCH OF FRANCIS'S SOCIAL LIBERALISM. ANOTHER ITALIAN BEING TIPPED IS THE SPLENDIDLY-NAMED PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA. ITALIANS USED TO DOMINATE THE PAPACY ` IT MAY BE THEIR TURN AGAIN. ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, HOWEVER IMPORTANT FOR CATHOLICS, DOES IT MATTER WHO WINS? THE POPE IS A GLOBAL LEADER ` NOT JUST A SHEPHERD OF 1.4 BILLION CATHOLICS, AS FRANCIS AND POPE BENEDICT AND ST JOHN PAUL II SHOWED TOO. THEY'RE A PLAYER ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. IS THIS WHY THE WORLD TAKES SO MUCH INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION? THE POPE HAS GOT THAT ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO BE THAT MORAL VOICE OF MORAL LEADERSHIP. THEORETICALLY, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE COULD BE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE CHIMNEY THERE ABOVE THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND A NEW POPE BY TOMORROW EVENING. THAT'S CONSIDERED EXTREMELY UNLIKELY, BUT THE CARDINALS ARE KNOWN NOT TO ENJOY BEING SEQUESTERED, CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD, EVEN FROM THEIR PHONES, WHICH MAKES PEOPLE THINK A RESULT BY THE END OF THE WEEK IS HIGHLY LIKELY. BANKS OF CAMERAS ARE ALREADY TRAINED ON ST PETER'S, WITH ONE AIM ONLY ` CATCHING THE MOMENT WHEN THE SMOKE IS NO LONGER BLACK... BUT WHITE. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER ` AND HOW WAS IT LOOKING TODAY? WE WILL KEEP YOU ACROSS THOSE DEVELOPMENTS. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER ` AND HOW WAS IT LOOKING TODAY? NOT TOO SHABBY. DUNEDIN AIRPORT WAS THE HOTTEST PLACE WITH 22.4 DEGREES; TAUMARUNUI GOT DOWN TO NEGATIVE-0.1. SOUTHWEST CAPE, AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF STEWART ISLAND, RECORDED THE STRONGEST WINDS, AND BY LATE AFTERNOON, MILFORD SOUND HAD RECEIVED NEARLY 60mm OF RAIN. THERE IS MORE ON ITS WAY, WITH SOME WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS ` I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THANKS. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` TWO MORE WORLD TROUBLE SPOTS SUFFER RENEWED VIOLENCE. ISRAEL STRIKES YEMEN'S MAIN AIRPORT, TARGETING IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS. DRONE STRIKES ALSO HIT AN AIRPORT AND ARMY BASE IN SUDAN AS HOSTILITIES THERE INTENSIFY. VOICEOVER: Cheesy Bites are back. For a limited tiiiime. Oh hi Mr Stephenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. VOICEOVER: (MUSIC PLAYING) VOICEOVER: Get twice the cha-ching! On your ring ring! We'll double your top up when you join One New Zealand on a $16 or above Myflex Prepay Plan. Terms apply. ISRAEL HAS CARRIED OUT AIRSTRIKES ON YEMEN'S MAIN AIRPORT IN THE CAPITAL, SANAA, TARGETING IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS. THE ATTACK COMES AFTER THE HOUTHI REBELS LAUNCHED A MISSILE STRIKE ON ISRAEL'S MAIN AIRPORT IN TEL AVIV AT THE WEEKEND. CHANNEL FOUR'S PARAIC O'BRIEN HAS THE LATEST. ISRAEL'S PROMISED ROLLING RETALIATORY ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL OF YEMEN CONTINUED THIS AFTERNOON. EARLIER, THE IDF HAD WARNED PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE AREA AROUND THE MAIN AIRPORT IN SANAA; THEN THIS. (DISTANT RUMBLING, SHOUTING) ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THERE WERE FOUR STRIKES. TARGETS INCLUDED THE RUNWAY, DEPARTURES HALL AND A MILITARY AIR BASE UNDER HOUTHI CONTROL. (EXPLOSION BOOMS) MAN: WHOA! WHOA! AT THE WEEKEND, A HOUTHI MISSILE LANDED NEAR BEN-GURION AIRPORT IN TEL AVIV. THE IRANIAN-BACKED GROUP SAY THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPOSE AN AERIAL BLOCKADE ON ISRAEL, TARGETING ITS AIRPORTS IN RESPONSE TO PLANS TO EXPAND IDF OPERATIONS IN GAZA. TODAY'S STRIKES COME A DAY AFTER THE PORT OF HODEIDAH IN YEMEN WAS ALSO HIT. THE U.S. AND BRITAIN HAVE BEEN TARGETING THE HOUTHIS AS WELL ` AN EFFORT TO PROTECT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING ATTACKED IN THE RED SEA. A FEW HOURS AGO, WITH THE AIRPORT STILL SMOULDERING IN SANAA FROM THE ISRAELI ATTACK, DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED THAT THE HOUTHIS HAD GIVEN UP THE FIGHT AGAINST COMMERCIAL SHIPS. WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD NEWS LAST NIGHT ` THE HOUTHIS HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE NOT... WELL, THEY'VE ANNOUNCED TO US AT LEAST THAT THEY DON'T WANNA FIGHT ANYMORE. THEY JUST DON'T WANNA FIGHT. AND, UH, WE WILL HONOUR THAT, AND WE WILL, UH... WE WILL STOP THE BOMBINGS. AND, UH, THEY HAVE... CAPITULATED. IS THERE A DEAL? DID ISRAEL GET THE MEMO? WE'LL SEE. AN EXPANDING CONFLICT IN SUDAN IS ALSO CAUSING CONCERN IN THE REGION. IT'S SEVERED DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AFTER ACCUSING IT OF BACKING A RIVAL GROUP IN SUDAN'S CIVIL WAR. IT COMES AMID ONGOING DRONE ATTACKS ON THE ONCE SAFE CITY OF PORT SUDAN THAT HAVE TARGETED THE AIRPORT AND MILITARY BASES. CHANNEL 4'S LINDSEY HILSUM REPORTS. PORT SUDAN HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ` THREE DAYS OF DRONE STRIKES, TODAY'S TARGETING SUDAN'S ONLY FUNCTIONING AIRPORT, AN ELECTRICITY STATION AND OIL TERMINALS. A DRAMATIC ESCALATION THAT BRINGS THE WAR TO A PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAS REMAINED PEACEFUL UNTIL NOW... (DISTANT EXPLOSION BOOMS) ...AND WHERE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SUDAN ARMED FORCES, THE SAF, THOUGHT THEY WERE SAFE. THEY BLAME THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, WHICH IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE ARMING SAF'S ENEMY, THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES. TRANSLATION: WE WILL CONTINUE OUR OPERATION AGAINST THESE MILITIAS AND AGAINST UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WILL ATTACK US. WE ARE PROUD PEOPLE, A STRONG NATION WHOSE SPIRIT WILL NOT BE BROKEN. AT 4.40am, A MISSILE CAME STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE CORAL HOTEL AND INTO THE LOBBY, WHICH WAS MERCIFULLY EMPTY. AID WORKERS, DIPLOMATS AND JOURNALISTS OFTEN STAY HERE. YESTERDAY IN THE HAGUE, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REJECTED ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS A CASE BROUGHT BY THE SUDAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSING THE UAE OF GENOCIDE. THE UAE DENIES ARMING THE RSF BUT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAS DEPLOYED ONLINE INFLUENCERS TO ACCUSE THE SUDAN GOVERNMENT OF TERRORISM. NOW SUDAN, WITH THIS HISTORY, IS TRYING TO BLAME THE UAE. WE ARE NOT THE ONE WHO'S CAUSING PROBLEM. THEY ARE. THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES CONTROL MUCH OF WESTERN SUDAN, WHILE THE SUDAN ARMED FORCES CONTROL THE CAPITAL, KHARTOUM, AND THE TERRITORY AROUND PORT SUDAN. IT'S POSSIBLE THE DRONES WERE LAUNCHED FROM THE RED SEA ` WHICH WILL WORRY REGIONAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING EGYPT AND SAUDI ARABIA, WHICH SUPPORT THE SUDAN ARMED FORCES. AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FLEE THE WAR, SUDAN'S DEFENCE MINISTER TODAY ANNOUNCED THEY HAD BROKEN OFF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE UAE. (CLAMOURING) REGIONAL POWERS ARE NOW LIKELY TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROXIES, WHILE WESTERN COUNTRIES TURN AWAY, REFUSING TO PROVIDE THE AID REFUGEES AND OTHER CIVILIANS NEED AND FAILING TO PERSUADE THE PARTIES TO NEGOTIATE. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` ENVIRONMENTAL CRUSADER SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH TURNS 99 AND CELEBRATES BY LAUNCHING WHAT HE SAYS IS ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT FILMS YET. AND ANOTHER ALL BLACK RECOMMITS TO NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TILL AFTER THE NEXT WORLD CUP. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR ESCALATION IN HOSTILITIES BETWEEN TWO NUCLEAR POWERS AFTER INDIA ATTACKED WHAT IT SAID WERE TERRORIST SITES IN PAKISTAN. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 5.1%, BUT THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME WORKERS HAS FALLEN, WITH A SURGE IN PART-TIME WORK. AND MARK LUNDY IS OUT OF PRISON AFTER SERVING 23 YEARS FOR THE MURDERS OF HIS WIFE, CHRISTINE, AND DAUGHTER, AMBER. 15 YEARS AGO, AUCKLAND'S SUPER CITY WAS BORN ` THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIMENT. BUT HAS IT LIVED UP TO ITS PROMISE? A PANEL OF LEADERS, POLITICIANS AND RESEARCHERS GATHERED TO REFLECT ON THE MILESTONE ` AND DIDN'T HOLD BACK. AVA WHITWORTH HAS MORE. IN 2010, AUCKLAND BECAME A SO-CALLED SUPER CITY ` BUT NOT EVERYONE'S CONVINCED IT'S WORKING. IN A ROOM FULL OF POLITICAL AND BUSINESS HEAVYWEIGHTS, MINISTER FOR AUCKLAND SIMEON BROWN SAYS IT'S TIME TO RETHINK HOW AUCKLAND COUNCIL IS RUN. THE MAYOR IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO WAKES UP IN THE MORNING AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE WHO HAS TO THINK REGIONALLY FOR AUCKLAND. ALL OF THEM ARE ELECTED ON LOCAL WARDS, AND THAT IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AND POTENTIALLY REBALANCED. RIGHT NOW, THE MINISTER SAYS, LOCAL BOARDS ARE STUCK MAKING SMALL DECISIONS. MAYOR WAYNE BROWN BACKED AMALGAMATION BUT SAYS IT WASN'T DONE WELL. HE SAYS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT ALSO NEEDS TO GROW UP. FORMER PM JOHN KEY RECKONS AUCKLAND COUNCIL SHOULDN'T JUST POINT THE FINGER AT WELLINGTON. IN ALL FAIRNESS, AUCKLAND COUNCIL CAN'T JUST BLAME THE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE WITH PLAN CHANGE 79 FOR INTENSIFICATION, WE'VE GOT THE COUNCIL WORKING AGAINST WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS. HE SAYS HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING IS PART OF THE FUTURE, WHETHER AUCKLANDERS LIKE IT OR NOT. I DON'T THINK WE WANT THESE MASSIVE SKYSCRAPERS LIKE SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG, BUT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUY A HOUSE, WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC. THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD $700,000 TO A MILLION-DOLLAR HOUSE. HELEN CLARK DEFENDED THE SUPER CITY. IT'S A JOURNEY, AND YOU ALWAYS STRIVE TO GET MORE OUT OF IT. BUT HOW THEN TO MOVE IT TOWARDS MAKING IT AN INCLUSIVE, INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE CITY. A NEW SURVEY FROM AUCKLAND UNI ON THE PUBLIC'S THOUGHTS OF THE SUPER CITY SHOW SOME SHARP POINTS OF DIVISION. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS WAS THAT OVER HALF OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVED AMALGAMATION OF THE EIGHT FORMER COUNCILS HAD SUCCEEDED IN CREATING A UNIFYING VOICE FOR THE CITY, BUT ONLY 18% FELT THEY HAD INFLUENCE OVER COUNCIL DECISIONS. THE PANEL WAS HOSTED BY AUT, DELOITTE, THE HELEN CLARK FOUNDATION AND THE COMMITTEE FOR AUCKLAND, AND WHILE OPINIONS DIFFER, ONE THING'S CLEAR ` AUCKLAND'S SUPER CITY STILL HAS SOME GROWING UP TO DO. SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH TURNS 99 TOMORROW, AND TO CELEBRATE, HE'S LAUNCHED WHAT HE SAYS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARIES OF HIS CAREER. IT'S A FEATURE FILM CALLED 'OCEAN', AND HE HOPES IT WILL PLAY A DECISIVE ROLE IN SAVING BIODIVERSITY AND PROTECTING THE PLANET FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. OCEAN'S PREMIERE HAS BEEN HELD IN LONDON, WITH THE GUEST LIST INCLUDING KING CHARLES. (SOARING MUSIC) I WOULD FIND IT HARD NOT TO LOSE HOPE... (SOARING MUSIC CONTINUES) ...WERE IT NOT FOR THE MOST REMARKABLE DISCOVERY. IT WAS BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS. THE FILM SHOWS HOW THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S OCEANS AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY FUNCTION HAVE CHANGED DURING SIR DAVID'S LIFE. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THAT. OLLIE'S IN WITH SPORT. AND A BATTLE FOR TOP SPOT IN SUPER RUGBY THIS WEEKEND? A BIG MATCH. CRUSADERS ARE CHIEFS. THE CHIEFS TOP OF THE TABLE, COMING OFF A LOSS AGAINST A THE HURRICANES. CRUSADERS REFRESHED COMING OFF BY, AND WITH THE GAME IN HAND. WINNER TAKES TOP SPOT. INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT TOWARDS THE BACK END OF THE SEASON. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM A REFRESHED CRUSADERS NEXT AS THEIR SUPER SUB JAMES O'CONNOR CONTINUES TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE FRAME FOR A WALLABIES RECALL. SO WHAT DOES JOE SCHMIDT THINK? AND WHY THIS SEMIFINAL TIE BETWEEN INTER MILAN AND BARCELONA IS BEING HAILED AS THE GREATEST IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY. (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) BORN TO ADVENTURE WITH SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES AND THREE NEWS SPORT. THE CRUSADERS ARE BRACING FOR A CHIEFS SIDE HUNGRY FOR REDEMPTION AFTER THE TABLE-TOPPERS WERE BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH BY THE HURRICANES LAST WEEKEND. SATURDAY'S CLASH IN CHRISTCHURCH WILL GO A LONG WAY TO DECIDING WHO FINISHES THE SEASON AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. WITH A GAME IN HAND, THE CRUSADERS ARE IN THE BOX SEAT ` AND THEY'RE DETERMINED TO MAKE A STRONG RUN HOME. BACK FROM A BYE WEEK AND HUNGRY TO PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF BEFORE IT. THE CRUSADERS ARE SITTING PRETTY, SECOND BEHIND THE CHIEFS ` BUT, CRUCIALLY, WITH FOUR GAMES TO GO, HAVING ALREADY HAD BOTH OF THEIR BYES. WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE A BIT OF A MASTER OF OUR OWN DESTINY, WHICH IS AWESOME, AND, UM... IT'S GONNA BE A BRUTAL WEEKEND, AND, UM... YOU KNOW... (SIGHS) YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO CAPITALISE ON THAT OPPORTUNITY WE'VE GOT. THAT OPPORTUNITY IS TO MOVE CLEAR OF THE CHIEFS INTO OUTRIGHT FIRST ON THE LADDER ` EASILY SAID; NOT SO EASILY DONE. DESPITE FALLING TO THE HURRICANES LAST WEEK, CLAYTON MCMILLAN'S SIDE HAVE BEEN THE FORM TEAM ALL SEASON, AND ROB PENNEY'S EXPECTING TO FEEL THE BACKLASH FROM THEIR LOSS IN THE CAPITAL. IT'S NORMALLY THE WAY. IT'S NORMALLY... AFTER A BIT OF A` YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A KNOCK-BACK, THE RESPONSE... THEY'RE PROUD MEN; THEY'LL COME HERE DETERMINED. WITH TAHA KEMARA DONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A RUPTURED ACL, PENNEY HAS HANDED THE KEYS TO RIVEZ REIHANA AT FIRST FIVE, AVOIDING TEMPTATION TO PROMOTE STANDOUT SIGNING JAMES O'CONNOR OFF THE BENCH. PROBABLY RIGHT FROM THE GO AFTER RIVEZ'S PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS, WE WERE ERRING ON THAT SIDE. AS THE CRUSADERS AND CHIEFS JOSTLE FOR POSITION AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE, FURTHER DOWN THE LADDER, THE BLUES ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO CLAW THEIR WAY INTO THE TOP SIX. ONE AT A TIME, UH, I THINK IS THE KEY. IF YOU START LOOKING TOO FAR AHEAD, YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE. AND WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SO IT'S REALLY THE 80-MINUTE PERFORMANCE IN FRONT OF US THAT WE NEED TO BE UP FOR. THAT BEGINS WITH A TRIP TO SUVA TO FACE THE DRUA ON FRIDAY. VERN COTTER RESISTING THE URGE TO LOOK AT ANYTHING WITH A PLAYOFF FOCUS. THAT SORT OF SPECULATION WILL ONLY, UH... I THINK WILL JUST PARASITE US. TIPPING UP THE DRUA IN FIJI THE SOLE CONCERN FOR THE BLUES AS THEY LOOK TO OPEN THE DOOR TO PLAYOFF RUGBY. SIX-TEST ALL BLACK SAM DARRY'S INKED A NEW DEAL WITH THE BLUES AND NEW ZEALAND RUGBY FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS. DARRY HASN'T PLAYED IN SUPER RUGBY THIS YEAR DUE TO A SHOULDER INJURY BUT HAS EXTENDED HIS CURRENT DEAL THROUGH TO 2028. HE JOINS ANOTHER PLAYER WHO BURST INTO THE ALL BLACKS LAST YEAR ` PASILIO TOSI, WHO THIS WEEK ALSO ANNOUNCED HE'S STAYING BEYOND THE NEXT WORLD CUP. DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT FOR TOO LONG. LOVE IT IN AUCKLAND HERE, LOVE WHAT WE'RE BUILDING, OBVIOUSLY, FOUND SOME SUCCESS LAST YEAR IN THAT SUPER COMPETITION, WHICH WAS A MASSIVE GOAL OF ALL OF OURS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT. DARRY'S TARGETING A RETURN TO RUGBY FOR CANTERBURY IN THIS YEAR'S NPC. WALLABIES COACH JOE SCHMIDT IS TALKING UP THE VALUE OF VETERAN JAMES O'CONNOR AS HE CONTEMPLATES THE WALLABIES SQUAD FOR THE UPCOMING LIONS SERIES. O'CONNOR HAS IMPRESSED FOR THE CRUSADERS IN SUPER RUGBY, LEADING TO SUGGESTIONS HE COULD GET AN INTERNATIONAL RECALL, AND SCHMIDT HAS ENDORSED THE ATTRIBUTES THE 64-TEST WALLABY WOULD BRING. JAMES, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD BRING EXPERIENCE BACK INTO THE GROUP ` A LITTLE BIT OF VERSATILITY, IN THAT HE'S PLAYED 12 IN HIS CAREER AS WELL. O'CONNOR STARTED AT FIRST FIVE FOR THE WALLABIES THE LAST TIME THE LIONS TOURED IN 2013. BRUMBIES STAR NOAH LOLESIO AND REDS PLAYMAKER TOM LYNAGH ARE CONSIDERED THE FRONT-RUNNERS FOR THE 10 JERSEY, WITH THE FIRST TEST ON JULY 19. THE BLACK FERNS 15 WILL RETURN THIS YEAR WITH A TRIAL GAME IN NORTHLAND BEFORE HEADING TO SOUTH AFRICA. THEY'LL FACE THE WORLD CHAMPION BLACK FERNS IN WHANGAREI ON JULY 5 AS PART OF A DOUBLE HEADER WITH THE MAORI ALL BLACKS AND SCOTLAND. THE BLACK FERNS 15 WILL THEN TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA TO PLAY THE SPRINGBOKS WOMEN ON JULY 26 AND AUGUST 2. THE TEAM'S ONLY PLAYED ONCE BEFORE, WHEN THEY BEAT MANUSINA 15 IN 2023, BUT IS PART OF A BOOSTED WOMEN'S HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME. IT'S BEING HAILED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST TIES IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY ` LEVEL AT 3-3 ON AGGREGATE, INTER MILAN AND BARCELONA WENT INTO THIS MORNING'S SECOND LEG SEMIFINAL WITH IT ALL TO PLAY FOR, AND WHAT UNFOLDED IN MILAN WILL GO DOWN AS A MATCH FOR THE AGES. ANT STEVENS HAS ALL THE DRAMA. HEADING INTO THE SECOND LEG AT HOME, INTER MILAN TOOK A GIANT LEAP TOWARDS A SECOND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL IN THREE YEARS, SCORING TWO FIRST-HALF GOALS. LAUTARO MARTINEZ! 20 MINUTES GONE. CHECKS THE FLAG ` IT STAYED DOWN! INTER 1, BARCELONA NIL! SCORES. HAVE INTER GOT ONE FOOT IN THE FINAL IN MUNICH? A CUSHY 5-3 LEAD ON AGGREGATE, THERE WAS LITTLE SIGN OF THE DRAMA TO COME AS BARCELONA STAGED A STUNNING SECOND-HALF COMEBACK. OH, IT'S A SCREAMER! IT'S ERIC GARCIA FROM NOWHERE. MARTIN MIGHT HAVE A GO FROM THERE. OH, IT'S A LOVELY BALL, AND IT'S A BRILLIANT GOAL! ALL SQUARE AT 2-2 BEFORE RAPHINHA GRABBED WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE WINNER FOR BARCA THREE MINUTES FROM TIME. RAPHINHA AGAINST SOMMER BREAKS. RAPHINHA! IT'S IN! IT'S IN! DEEP INTO STOPPAGE TIME, BARCA WERE ON THE CUSP OF THEIR FIRST FINAL IN 10 YEARS, BUT CUE ANOTHER PLOT TWIST. REFEREE SAYS PLAY ON. DUMFRIES INTO THE MIDDLE! IT'S ANOTHER TWIST! 37-YEAR-OLD FRANCESCO ACERBI TURNING BACK THE CLOCK, HIS YOUTHFUL CELEBRATIONS EARNING HIM A YELLOW CARD. CELEBRATIONS COULD'VE BEEN SHORT LIVED, AS LAMINE YAMAL HAD A CHANCE TO WIN IT FOR BARCA AT THE DEATH. YAMAL INTO THE PENALTY AREA! STRAIGHT AT SOMMER. SO TO EXTRA TIME, AND THIS ROLLERCOASTER WAS FINALLY DECIDED IN THE 99th MINUTE ` SUBSTITUTE DAVIDE FRATTESI THE EXTRA-TIME HERO FOR INTER. LAID OFF BY MEHDI TAREMI. FRATTESI! INTER 7-6 WINNERS ON AGGREGATE, CREATING SHEER SCENES OF ECSTASY AND AGONY AS THIS TIE WAS QUICKLY HAILED THE GREATEST IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY, NEEDING 13 GOALS TO DECIDE THE WINNER. INTER NOW SET TO FACE EITHER ARSENAL OR PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN IN THE FINAL ` AND A SHOT AT A FOURTH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CROWN. THE NBA PLAYOFFS CONTINUE TO SERVE UP DRAMA, WITH THE INDIANA PACERS TAKING A 2-0 LEAD OVER THE TOP-SEED CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WITH A THRILLING 120-119 VICTORY. DESPITE THE CAVS STILL LEADING BY AS MANY AS 20, IT CAME DOWN TO THE FINAL SECONDS. WHEN TYRESE HALIBURTON MISSED A FREE THROW, IT GAVE HIM THE CHANCE TO WIN IT. TYRESE HALIBURTON STEPS BACK! AND HITS! TYRESE HALIBURTON TRYING TO TAKE CLEVELAND'S HEART! AND IT IS OVER! THE INDIANA PACERS IN A GAME-TWO STUNNER! ELSEWHERE, THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS DISPATCHED THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 99-88 IN GAME ONE DESPITE STEPH CURRY LEAVING THE COURT IN THE SECOND QUARTER WITH A HAMSTRING STRAIN. IF YOU CAN WIN WITHOUT STEPH CURRY, I THINK YOU ARE PROBABLY DOING OKAY. I WOULD THINK SO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. A NEW TRAILER FOR ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED VIDEO GAMES EVER HAS DROPPED. THAT'S DESPITE A DELAY IN THE RELEASE OF GRAND THEFT AUTO VI TO MAY NEXT YEAR. I GOT SOME PROPERTIES WITH PAYING TENANTS. IS THAT WHY YOU CAME BY? JUST GO GET ME MY CHEQUES! SEE YOU, BRIAN. VIDEOGAMES REALLY HAVE CHANGED. MAKERS ROCKSTAR GAMES SAY GTA VI WILL BE THE BIGGEST, MOST IMMERSIVE EVOLUTION OF THE GRAND THEFT AUTO SERIES YET. (CHUCKLES) OK. WELL, LAURA'S HERE NOW WITH SOME SEVERE WEATHER UPDATES. I AM QUITE KEEN TO KEEP WATCHING THAT. LET'S BOTH GIVE IT A GO WHEN IT COMES OUT IN MAY. IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVE SOME SEVERE WEATHER WATCHERS? YES, WE'RE TALKING HEAVY RAIN AND GALE NORTHWESTERLIES FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS FOR THE RANGES OF THE WESTLAND DISTRICT, THE HEADWATERS OF THE OTAGO LAKES AND RIVERS, AND FOR FIORDLAND NORTH OF DOUBTFUL SOUND. MOST OF THESE ARE THROUGH TO THE EARLY HOURS OF FRIDAY MORNING. THERE'S ALSO A STRONG WIND WATCH FROM TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY, QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT, CENTRAL OTAGO AND CLUTHA WEST OF TAPANUI, AS WELL AS FIORDLAND, SOUTHLAND AND STEWART ISLAND. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST NEXT. EVEN IF THE WEATHER ISN'T ON YOUR SIDE FOR A ROADIE, AMI ROADSIDE RESCUE WILL BE. AMI ROADSIDE RESCUE, BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. STRONG WINDS ARE ON THE WAY FOR INLAND AREAS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND, FROM TONIGHT. SOME WARMER OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH NORTHWESTERLIES AT PLAY. AND THEN AS DAY BREAKS, IT'S WET ON THE WEST AND DRY BUT WINDY ON THE EAST. AND IN THE NORTH ISLAND, A DIFFERENT WEATHER SYSTEM AT PLAY ` BRINGS HEAVY SHOWERS AND PERHAPS SOME THUNDER TO PARTS. LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. HEAVIER FALLS FOR FIORDLAND AND WESTLAND ` YOU COULD GET UP TO 250mm OF RAIN THROUGH TO FRIDAY, BUT THAT WET WEATHER WILL PUSH THROUGH TOWARDS SOME INLAND AREAS AND EVEN TO DUNEDIN BY DAY'S END. BUT GENERALLY DRIER IN EASTERN PARTS WITH GUSTY WINDS, MAYBE EVEN SEVERE GALES IN EXPOSED PLACES. THE BOTTOM HALF ` CLOUDY ON THE WEST AND MAINLY FINE TO THE EAST. THE UPPER HALF ` WET WEATHER FOR COROMANDEL, AND BAY OF PLENTY COULD GET HEAVY FALLS, PERHAPS THUNDERY. IT'S GOING TO BE SHOWERY FOR MOST HERE ` THEY COULD GET HEAVY TOO, AND WHITIANGA MAY EVEN GET SOME THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING. A LOT LESS EVENTFUL IN HAMILTON ` MAYBE A MORNING SHOWER. TOKOROA, SIMILAR TO HAMILTON ` JUST A MORNING SHOWER OR TWO. BUT THE REST HERE ` SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP IN THE MORNING AND AROUND LUNCH AND COULD GET HEAVY AND THUNDERY, ESPECIALLY FOR ROTORUA, TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. QUITE DIFFERENT HERE ` FINE FOR MOST, WITH NORTHEASTERLIES STRENGTHENING IN THE MORNING. A CLOUDY START FOR GISBORNE, AND SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. MASTERTON COULD GET A SHOWER AT NIGHT. FINE FOR PALMY AND WHANGANUI; THEN SOME CLOUD ABOUT FOR MOST OTHER PARTS. KAPITI COAST COULD GET A MORNING SHOWER, AND TAUMARUNUI COULD GET AN AFTERNOON ONE. IT'S GOING TO BE WET HERE. IT WILL BE MORE PERSISTENT IN HOKITIKA, BUT OTHERWISE THE SHOWERS WILL RAMP UP AFTER MIDDAY, WITH THE HEAVIEST FALLS LIKELY TO ARRIVE IN THE EVENING. FINE WITH HIGH CLOUD FOR SOUTHERN PARTS; THE HIGH CLOUD WILL ARRIVE IN THE EVENING FOR KAIKOURA AND CHRISTCHURCH, AND GUSTY NORTHWESTERLY WINDS, WITH THE STRONG WIND WATCH IN PLACE. THEY EXTEND TO AREAS HERE TOO ` NORTHWESTERLY GUSTS OF 100km/h ARE EXPECTED IN CENTRAL OTAGO AND INVERCARGILL. THERE WILL BE SOME RAIN ALSO ` THAT COULD GET HEAVY IN THE EVENING FOR QUEENSTOWN. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW. OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN ` A MAINLY FINE DAY WITH HIGH CLOUD; GUSTY NORTHERLIES, TURNING LIGHTER SOUTHWESTERLY IN THE EVENING; THEN THAT RAIN WILL DEVELOP LATE EVENING. 20 DEGREES, THOUGH. SAME FOR YOU HERE ` A FINE THURSDAY WITH HIGH CLOUD FROM THE EVENING AND, OF COURSE, THOSE GUSTY NORTHERLIES. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA, WELLINGTON ` MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW MORNING AND EVENING SHOWERS, BUT AFTERNOON FINE BREAKS; NORTHERLIES STRENGTHENING IN THE EVENING AND A HIGH OF 17. TE MATAU-A-MAUI, HAWKE'S BAY ` NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING, BUT OTHERWISE FINE. 22 FOR NAPIER AND 21 FOR HASTINGS. TAURANGA ` EASTERLY WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN IN THE MORNING AND SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP, SOME HEAVY, AND POSSIBLY THUNDERY RIGHT THROUGH UNTIL THE EVENING. KIRIKIRIROA, HAMILTON ` A FINE DAY WITH SOME PATCHY MORNING FOG AND NOR'EASTERS DEVELOPING; THEN IT'LL BECOME PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER BEFORE LUNCH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND ` SOUTHEASTERLIES TURNING NORTHEASTERLY IN THE MORNING. A FEW SHOWERS ` COULD GET HEAVY, AND WILL BE MORE FREQUENT IN THE EVENING. OVERSEAS NOW ` PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST MAIN CENTRES IN AUSTRALIA; A FEW SHOWERS IN SYDNEY. IN THE PACIFIC, A FEW SHOWERS; HEAVIER RAIN FOR VANUATU, AND NEW CALEDONIA SHOULD STAY DRY. BACK HOME NOW ` ON FRIDAY, A STRONG, HUMID NORTHERLY FLOW ARRIVES AS THE FRONT FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND MOVES ON TO THE NORTH ISLAND. ON SATURDAY, IT WILL MOVE AWAY TO THE EAST AND A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER CENTRAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH MEANS ON FRIDAY, THE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND A WEAK FRONT WILL REACH THE LOWER PARTS OF TE WAIPOUNAMU LATE SATURDAY; AND ON SUNDAY, THAT RIDGE WILL DOMINATE OVER THE WHOLE COUNTRY. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. THANKS TO BRUCE FOR THIS LOVELY SUNSET IN TINKERTOWN, SOUTHLAND. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE, BUT I LOVE THE NAME AND I THINK I SHOULD VISIT. IT IS A REAL PLACE. POPULATION 12. NOT FAR FROM WINTON, NORTH-WEST OF INVERCARGILL. COME AND HAVE A CHAT TO ME ABOUT THAT. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025