ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 14, 2026.
Jewelled eels, beards of gold and unfathomable cruelty: 5 of ancient Rome’s most eccentric leaders
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Edwell, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Macquarie University Ancient Roman political leaders could be violent and cruel. Some had odd tastes and were out of touch. Others had wildly eccentric habits that might seem amusing today. But eccentric behaviour combined with almost unlimited power, made some
Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiangyu Liu, Research Fellow, School of Environment and Science and Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University Katerina Holmes/Pexels It’s 7:45am. You grab a takeaway coffee from your local cafe, wrap your hands around the warm cup, take a sip, and head to the office. To most of us,
FLNKS boycotts Macron-convened Paris talks over future this week
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), one of the main components in New Caledonia’s pro-independence Kanak movement, has confirmed it will not take part in a new round of talks in Paris this week called by French President Emmanuel Macron. In mid-December 2025, Macron invited New Caledonia’s politicians back to the negotiating table
A ‘cosmic clock’ in tiny crystals has revealed the rise and fall of Australia’s ancient landscapes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maximilian Dröllner, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University; Georg-August-Universität Göttingen The remnants of violent stellar explosions where cosmic rays are born. NASA/ESA/The Hubble Collaboration/R. A. Fesen/J. Long, CC BY Australia’s iconic red landscapes have been home to Aboriginal culture and recorded in
The World Trade Organization is on life support. Will Trump’s new rules finish it off?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The United States has now withdrawn from 66 international organisations, conventions and treaties, illegally invaded Venezuela, and promoted an “America First” agenda in its new National Security Strategy. This all signals the
From bolts to blue jets, lightning comes in many strange forms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Lightning has captured people’s fascination for millennia. It’s embedded in mythology, religion and popular culture. Think of Thor in Norse mythology or Indra in Hinduism. In Australia, lightning is also associated with important creation ancestors
What’s the difference between a sprained ankle and a twisted ankle?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, Adelaide University Kindel Media/Pexels After the summer break, you’re ready to get back into exercise. You put on your shoes, pop on your headphones and head out the door on your first run of the new year. But as you step
As we begin to assess the fire damage in Victoria, we must not overlook these hidden costs
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sonia Akter, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Devastated by widespread fires, Victoria has declared a state of disaster. More than 500 structures have reportedly been destroyed and 1,000 agricultural properties have been affected. Tragically, there has also been one fatality. On Monday,
Why the Heated Rivalry TV series understands gay men better than the book
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Stewart, PhD Candidate in Queer Male Romance, Flinders University HBO Heated Rivalry, written and directed by Jacob Tierney, has become a massive hit, going viral among gay romance fans and gathering millions of likes on the show’s official TikTok page. Tierney’s adaptation of Rachel Reid’s 2019
NZ’s health data hack needs a proper diagnosis – and a transparent treatment plan
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dylan A Mordaunt, Research Fellow, Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Flinders University; The University of Melbourne Getty Images Two cyber hacks have highlighted the vulnerability of New Zealand’s digital health systems – and the vast volumes of
From flammable neighborhoods to moral hazards, fire insurance maps capture early US cities and the landscape of discrimination
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Swab, Assistant Professor Department of Geography & Sustainability, University of Tennessee 1909 Sanborn map of Suffolk County in Boston, Mass. Library of Congress Imagine a map that allows you to see what your neighborhood looked like a century ago in immense detail. What you’re thinking of
Indonesia accused of being ‘unfit’ for UN rights council presidency
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan advocacy group has condemned Indonesia over taking up the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying it was “totally unfit” and the choice “makes a mockery” of the office. Indonesia was the sole candidate for the Asia-Pacific bloc at the council (HRC), which also includes China, Japan
Adelaide Writers Week: Cancelled – no decorum without a quorum
By Kim Wingerei and Michael West in Sydney Adelaide Writers’ Week, a core part of South Australia’s premier cultural event, the Adelaide Festival, has finally been cancelled in its 40th year. There are own goals. And then there is the board of the Adelaide Festival (ably assisted by referee, Premier Peter Malinauskas). After yesterday’s resignation
This is the playbook the Iranian regime uses to crack down on protests – but will it work this time?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD Candidate in International Relations, Deakin University In late December, Tehran’s bazaar merchants began protesting against Iran’s theocratic rulers over the sharp collapse of the currency. These protests quickly spread nationwide, although the level of participation remained limited, initially. The situation changed when Reza Pahlavi,
Three early January polls have Labor down, but disagree on One Nation’s vote
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Three early January national polls have Labor sliding to between 52–53% two party preferred against the Coalition, down from around 55% to Labor before Anika Wells’ expenses
View from The Hill: Kevin Rudd, a controversial energy ball as ambassador to US, quits early
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Kevin Rudd’s premature departure in March from his post of Australia’s ambassador to the United States is a surprise, but perhaps not as unexpected as it might initially appear. Rudd’s term had another year to run. Any extension would have
ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for January 13, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 13, 2026.
