Nine To Noon

It's estimated more than 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country in search of shelter, with many more expected to join the exodus. It's shaping up to be Europe's biggest refugee crisis since WW2, with a big shift in the EU's normally fractious refugee policy. Neighbouring countries are doing all they can to welcome Ukrainians, with an outpouring of help from governments and NGOs but also spontaneous networks of volunteers. EU nations and NATO allies are quickly reassessing European security strategies in light of the Russian invasion, with no one taking any chances about what Vladimir Putin may have in mind.

Russia has taken control of Europe's largest nuclear power station in south-eastern Ukraine after an attack that set it on fire and raised worldwide fears of nuclear catastrophe. There has been a lull in major ground offensives against key cities, including Kyiv, but heavy bombing has been reported in Irpin, on the outskirts of the capital. A second attempt to evacuate civilians from the southern city of Mariupol has been halted due to Russian shelling. Meanwhile in Russia, it's estimated more than 10,000 people have been arrested at anti-war protests across the country over the last 11 days. Oliver Carroll is The Independent's Moscow correspondent

The Ministry of Primary Industries is suggesting changing the forestry settings here in New Zealand so further planting of stands of pinus radiata aren't rewarded by the Emissions Trading Scheme. Seeking feedback to this, MPI has published a discussion document Managing exotic afforestation incentives. Submissions are open now and close on 22 April. Environmental organisations - such as Forest and Bird - are in support - saying native forest and wetland restoration provide a much better long-term carbon solution for carbon storage. But Forest Owners Association chief executive, also managing director of forestry management company Port Blakely Phil Taylor tells Kathryn Ryan says it's not that straightforward and not necessarily the right move.

Big changes are coming to the way we get fuel into, and around, the country - and there are warnings about the huge implications of getting it wrong. The price of petrol is already burning a hole through many people's pockets, and with rising inflation and a war in Europe ignited by energy giant Russia, the pain at the pump won't be extinguished any time soon. Amid this smoldering situation, comes the transition of Marsden Point next month from oil refinery to import terminal. Instead of product being refined here and shipped to ports around the country, it's estimated 175 big tankers will bring in what we need each year - roughly one pumping and dumping into our supplies every two days. The two tankers that have been chugging New Zealand-refined product around the country's coastline, the MT Kokako and MT Matuku, will be taken out of service in a few weeks. And this change will affect how we meet our obligation to keep a certain about of fuel in reserve. Kathryn speaks first to Craig Harrison, president of the Maritime Union which is part of the Save Our Tankers campaign - concerned about the impact of these fundamental changes. She'll also talk to Julian Hughes, Z Energy's General Manager, Supply.

Comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew on why everyone needs good neighbours.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman with his take on the White Ferns World Cup changes, sporting sanctions against Russia, the Winter paralmypics and a week of celebrating some true sporting success stories in Aotearoa.

Melanie O'Loughlin of Lamplight Books Auckland reviews The Recent East by Thomas Grattan, published by Macmillan Its 1989, the Berlin Wall is freshly down when an East German defector receives news that the family home she fled as a child has now been restored to her. Taking her children from New York to a seaside town in Germany, this transnational novel bursts with unique characters and tackles refuge, belonging and family love. Characters in "The Recent East" are individual riddles, not just political integers. Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker.

From "alternative facts" to the most outlandish fringe conspiracy theories - we're now living in the age of disinformation. We all became familiar with Russian groups using Facebook to spread fake news and sway the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election. But disinformation spreads far wider and much deeper. Ed Coper is an expert in disinformation and in his new book Facts and Other Lies, he explores how disinformation has fractured our society, and threatens democracy itself. He says the anti-mandate protests which have spread from Ottawa, to Canberra and Wellington are the end product of deliberate disinformation campaigns, which are fuelled by social media and seeded by shadowy forces with suspect motives. Kathryn speaks with Ed Coper from Sydney.

China is being criticised by many in the west for failing to join international efforts to stop Putin's invasion. Ed talks to Kathryn about China's official response to Russia's invasion and to sanctions. And in Hong Kong there are grim scenes with mortuaries filling up and panic buying rife as the city's Covid policy reaches a fresh low.

Last week Nine to Noon looked at plans to build a big film studio complex on the outskirts of Wanaka. The proposal, which was given the greenlight late last year under a fast-tracked consent process, would create the country's first purpose-built, large-scale film studio. The plan by Silverlight Studios, will include 10 sound stages, production facilities and the permanent backlots of Venice, a medieval village, Paris and New York all set around an artificial lake. In addition to a working film set, it'll include a film school and operate as a tourist destination. Kathryn previously spoke to Jerry Rowley and Julian Haworth about their concerns - including the appropriateness of the site and the fast-tracked consent process. Today Mike Wallis, one of the three founding directors of Silverlight Studios, joins Kathryn to talk about the project and how it's progressing.