Nine To Noon

Monica Ali's debut novel Brick Lane catapulted her to fame in 2003 which she followed with Alentejo Blue, In the Kitchen, and Untold Story. Her latest novel, Love Marriage, is her first book in 10 years, and has been well worth the wait. It tells the story of Yasmin, a 26-year-old trainee doctor from an Indian family, who is engaged to her colleague Joe, the upper middle-class son of an outspoken feminist author. Two people. Two families. Two cultures. What could go wrong? Love Marriage continues Monica Ali's longstanding interest in how individuals and families respond when conflicts arise and family truths emerge... The book has already been picked up for adaptation by the BBC.

Congress has passed a $13.6 billion aid package for Ukraine, divided between humanitarian and defense aid. The humanitarian section includes money for direct support to refugees, food and health care support and money to help groups working with people who have fled the country or are displaced within Ukraine. The defense spending includes $3 billion to support the U.S. military's European Command and additional money to allow President Biden to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and allies supporting Ukraine. There's also funding to fight disinformation and to provide support for cybersecurity. On the domestic front, Kelsey says gas prices have hit a new record high this week with prices rocketing over $4.17 a gallon. It is creating huge price shocks across the economy, which is already struggling with inflation. Kelsey Snell is a congressional correspondent for NPR, based in Washington DC.

In New Zealand they are a bloodsucking nuisance, but in other parts of the world mosquitos spread serious disease - including the Zika virus, West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria. The Ministry of Health website states that Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other living creature. UK based, medical entomologist at Keele University, Frederic Tripet is the co-author of a study recently published in the journal Scientific. The study has found that mossies have learned to avoid five common pesticides after a single non-lethal dose.

The recent commitment by 175 UN nations to end plastic pollution waste is being hailed as an historic moment and a huge global step in the right direction. Earlier this month, Heads of State, Ministers for the environment and other representatives, including New Zealand, endorsed a resolution at the UN Environment Assembly in Kenya. The aim is to draft a legally-binding treaty by 2024 - to stop the proliferation of plastic. But what does this mean in practice, and what is achievable from this large global commitment?. To discuss the scope of the mandate and what negotiations lie ahead to actually stem and prevent plastic pollution, Kathryn talks to Dr Trisia Farrelly who is on the United Nations Environment Programme's Scientific Advisory Committee and Expert Group and Marine biologist and Senior Scientist at ESR and Dr Olga Pantos. Olga is the co-lead of the MBIE-funded national project 'Aotearoa Impacts and Mitigation of Microplastics'.

Bill talks to Kathryn about commercial conversion; transforming empty office space into apartments and reinvigorating our inner cities. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Anzil is a labour of love for Hungarian husband and wife team, Andras Laszlo and Ivett Kerekes. With their family they're bringing gourmet Italian cheeses, Central-European inspired salami and ciabatta bread to local weekend markets - all of which are being snapped up by customers craving a taste of abroad without brandishing the passport. Anzil is also the name their catering business and restaurant goes by. Kathryn is joined by Ivette Kerekes.

Brigitte, Shane and Kathryn discuss National overtaking Labour in the polls, and whether this is a turning point for the Labour Government. Also National's strategy in honing in on cost of living, and the rising prices of grocery shopping and the cost of living. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. Shane Te Pou is a former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labour Party, and a former union official. He is no longer a member of any political party

Ralph McAllister reviews Lily by Rose Tremain, published by Penguin

Christchurch-based environmental philanthropist and one of our most high profile forensic scientists, Dr Anna Sandiford has contributed forensic evidence to the likes of David Bain and Mark Lundy's murder trails. But with twenty-five years of DNA samples and footprint examination under her belt, Anna is also branching-out to her first scientific love, environmental protection. She has four hectares of land on the West Coast, close to Punakaiki, which she's setting about restoring to its former native glory.

Reaction from European nations to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including the possibility of new sanctions from the west and the latest diplomatic efforts from EU members. Thomas Sparrow is a political correspondent for Deutsche Welle, based in Berlin