Nine To Noon

Jayden Klinac views problems as design opportunities, and the environment is his target. He's developed New Zealand's first biodegradable and compostable water bottle, made entirely from plants - For the Better Good. It's the lead product for a system he's designing; from production, to collection, to composting. His firm is also composting the packaging of Whittaker's trial of biodegradable Peanut Slab wrappers. And in one year, Jayden Klinac's suburban farm in Wellington has diverted over 40,000 kg of food waste and packaging from landfills. Kathryn speaks with Jayden Klinac - the founder of For the Better Good and Edible Earth and co-founder of Nudes Drinks.

The EU says the bloc could engage with the Taliban - if certain conditions are met. Italy's Prime Minister says Covid vaccines could be made mandatory, and the trial over the 2015 terror attacks in Paris opens this week.

Ars Electronica Garden Aotearoa gets underway later this week. It explores how the digital world connects with the physical world and is part of global cyber exhibition showcasing installations of art, technology and society. One of the organisers, Associate Professor Uwe Rieger from the University of Auckland's arc/sec Lab for Cyber physical design says all you need to take part is a good internet connection. He talks to Kathryn about some of exhibits including the Light Sense and the Tumour Evolution Project.

The Covid vaccine roll out continues at pace, but at what point should we start planning for covid booster shots? An Oxford University study published last month found Covid vaccines do not protect people as well even after three months. It found the Pfizer vaccine was 75 percent effective in preventing infection after 90 days, down from 85 percent two weeks after the second shot. The study is not yet peer-reviewed. In the United Kingdom, half a million people with weakened immunity are being offered a third dose of the vaccine in order to improve their protection against the virus, and health officials are discussing whether to roll out a booster programme. Our Covid 19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said New Zealand could have as many as two million doses left over for use as boosters if the science and officials recommend it. Meanwhile the WHO is asking wealthy countries to delay buying excess supplies to ensure poorer countries can at least get their first and second shots. Kathryn speaks with Professor David Hunter is a Professor of Epidemiology at Oxford University and Professor of Medicine, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School.

Following Friday's terror attack, Cabinet will today consider the need for any changes to immigration or anti-terror laws, and a higher level inquiry. Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen was shot dead by police after stabbing six people inside Auckland's Countdown LynnMall. In February 2019, his refugee status was cancelled on the basis of fraud. He appealed that cancellation to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, and could not be deported until that appeal was determined. But two and half years later, why had that appeal not been heard? Kathryn asks Stewart Dalley, Chair of the Auckland District Law Society's Immigration and Refugee Law Committee.

Comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew bring a few laughs.

It was Sophie Pascoe's final race in the pool last night and although she didn't win a medal in the 100m butterfly she has already cemented her place as New Zealand's most decorated paralympic athlete. These Games she has won 2 gold, a silver and a bronze. And the Football Ferns new coach is Czech-Kiwi Jitka Klimkova, the first woman to coach the team. Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport.

Jane Westaway reviews Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard, published by Harper Collins

Shehnaz Hussain's beautiful photos of her culinary skills on Instagram sparked requests for recipes - which has now led to a book called Tang, Spice, Crunch. She'd always had a passion for food, but a bit of lockdown boredom really stirred things up and got her breaking down what she was cooking into recipe form. Proceeds from the book will go to an orphanage in Chennai, India, that her family has had a long association with. Food is just one passion in Shehnaz's life - she's in her final year of medical school with an interest in sports medicine. She's also a powerlifter and has represented New Zealand three times. She's shared her favourite Sundal recipe from the book, and one for a chilli and orange-infused dark chocolate tart.

Concerns over Kim Jong Un's nuclear programme have re-emerged all with a report from the UN's atomic energy watchdog suggesting North Korea's plutonium production could be ramping up. And in China, government reforms are targeting the wealth of the country's richest and most famous tech tycoons. Billionaires like Jack Ma are trying to quickly give as much as they can to charitable causes as a way to appease the government. Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.