Nine To Noon

Te Radar and Pinky Agnew bring the lighter moments of the week, including how a North Korean propaganda song became a Tiktok hit, and the political party in Germany calling for kebabs to be subsidised.

Dana Johannsen has been investigating the tough selection standards New Zealand sets for its Olympic athletes. Is it helping, or harming, the country's medal prospects?

The Buller District Council has started on what it calls a "once in a generation" master planning exercise. It is looking at Westport's environmental vulnerability but also social and economic factors.

Shortly after her 60th birthday party, Jo Peck's husband of 25 years announced he was in love with someone else. In her new memoir Suddenly Single at 60, the Australian advertising exec encourages other women not to get stuck in the despair of divorce.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has made his first trip to Europe since the Covid-19 pandemic, where he was met by varying receptions across different countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ramping up the rhetoric against Muslim people as he vies reelection. And a popular Hong Kong anthem has been banned for its ties to pro-democracy demonstrations. Ed White is a correspondent for the Financial Times, based in Shanghai.

Hydrogen remains more expensive than diesel as a trucking fuel, and the cost of getting a hydrogen powered truck on the road is higher.

European Union's ambassador to New Zealand, Lawrence Meredith talks to Kathryn about the war in Ukraine and the recent FTA with New Zealand.

The country has come through a tight electricity generation supply situation this morning. Transpower chief executive Alison Andrew

The Climate Change Minister, Simon Watts, has just announced a cross party inquiry will be conducted by the Finance and Expenditure Committee into climate adaptation.

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz looks at season two of The Jinx, Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black and Hollywood Con Queen, about a scam targeting professionals in the film industry and how those behind it were caught.

Melbourne-based provisional psychologist Darren Godwin says tween and teens athletes and their parents can benefit from the same sort of assistance pros get to deal with ups and downs.

Technology commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to look at two billion dollar tech deals that are worth keeping an eye on - one for Kiwi Alex Kendall and his autonomous vehicle start up Wayve.

The cyclones which hit the region last year still have a long tail. Thames Coromandel District Councillors are about to review submissions and develop their long term plan. The Hauraki Rail trail is growing in popularity and John has another chapter in the ongoing saga of Cathedral Cove.

Ralph McAllister reviews Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney published by Quercus Books.

Kathryn talks to Corin Tucker from the American rock band Sleater-Kinney. The band is marking 30 years of playing together this year and will perform in Auckland next week.

UK correspondent Matt Dathan looks at another damaging defection for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Labour, this time of Natalie Elphicke over the issue of immigration. Matt looks at why her move could also be a blow for Labour. It comes as the Tories try to pick themselves up after their worst results in more than 40 years, following the weekend's local elections. Home secretary James Cleverly has announced a new package of measures against Russia as he revealed new spying activity being carried out by Moscow in the UK. And US anti-Israel protests have inspired a dozen sit-ins at UK universities. Matt Dathan is Home Affairs Editor at The Times

Kathryn speaks with finance commentator and bank customer advocate, Janine Starks, on the POLi payments story.

Proponents of a strong global plastics treaty are raising concerns about the influence of lobbyists on the process. This as research seeks to establish a link between microplastics and a rise in bowel cancer.

Money expert David Boyle joins Kathryn to talk about some holes in the argument to make KiwiSaver compulsory to ensure more people are equipped to fund their retirement.

More than 30 New Zealand women who are not mothers write about their experiences in Otherhood. The essay collection explores what it means to live a fulfilling life while giving "a middle finger" to the societal expectations on women, the book's editors tell Nine to Noon.