Nine To Noon for Wednesday 23 December 2015

09:05 The role of Special Forces against Islamic State
There appears to be a push to get more western special forces in the fight against Islamic State. At the start of this month US President Barack Obama announced a new task force to target IS leaders and gather intelligence. Over the weekend the UK Times newspaper trumpeted the role of British SAS forces in combating IS fighters in Libya. The New Zealand Labour leader Andrew Little announced yesterday said he would support sending New Zealand special forces into Iraq if the conditions are right. Michael Knights is an analyst and Iraq expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He's been on the ground in Iraq this year assessing the situation on the ground and giving advice to US military command

09:20 Sesame Credit - China 'social credit'

In most countries, the existence of a credit system isn't controversial. Past financial information is used to predict whether individuals will pay their mortgages or credit card bill in the future.

But China is taking the whole concept a few steps further. The Chinese government is building an omnipotent "social credit" system that is meant to rate each citizen's trustworthiness.

By 2020, everyone in China will be enrolled in a vast national database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distils it into a single number ranking each citizen.

Journalist Jiayang Fan has written about Sesame Credit for the New Yorker

09:45 Australia correspondent Bernard Keane

10:05 Daniele Finzi Pasca on the Art of Circus & Making the Impossible, Possible.

Daniele Finzi Pasca, is an internationally acclaimed director with a special knack for letting the audience's imagination run wild.  His shows range from productions of the English National Opera, to Cirque du Soleil, to orchestrating Olympic closing ceremonies in Italy and Russia. 

He was introduced to the circus world through gymnastics; later, under the guidance of a clown named Fery, he set foot on stage for the first time.

In his latest artistic venture he's bringing a surreal Dali inspired circus to Wellington's Opera House in March next year, as part of the New Zealand Festival. It's called, La Verita. 

In October 2012, Daniele was awarded the 2012 Hans Reinhart Ring, the highest distinction of Swiss theatre, in recognition for his lifelong contribution to the performing arts.  

10:35 NZ Literature Review: Landfall 230 edited by David Eggleton

Reviewed by Louise O'Brien, published by Otago University Press

10:45 The Reading:   Night Flight - A short story by Malcolm Bowers read by Michael Wilson

St. Nicholas puts on his night vision goggles, does the pre-flight check, and goes into battle with the goblins once again.

11:05 Marty Duda features The Kinks

Artist: The Kinks
Song: I Need You (2:24)
Composer: Ray Davies
Album: NA (1965)
Label: Reprise

Artist: The Kinks
Song: Waterloo Sunset (3:16)
Composer: Ray Davies
Album: Something Else (1967)
Label: Reprise

Artist: The Kinks
Song: No More Looking Back (3:55)
Composer: Ray Davies
Album: Schoolboys In Disgrace (1975)
Label: RCA

Artist: The Kinks
Song: Father Christmas (3:45)
Composer: Ray Davies
Album: NA (1977)
Label: Arista

11:20 What's it like to land a double back flip in a wheelchair? 

Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham is a WCMX - or wheelchair motocross athlete who was diagnosed with spinal bifida at birth. We take a peak into his fearless world.

11:45 Science commentator, Siouxsie Wiles

This week, science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles explains the nice and not so nice reasons Rudolph may have a red nose, and talks about a recent study in which researcher engineered an insect-killing toxin into a harmless probiotic bacteria that may be useful to treat the millions of people around the world infected with intestinal worms