ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on March 17, 2026.
As Israel keeps bombing Iran, Palestinians face growing violence in West Bank
NERMEEN SHAIKH: This is Democracy Now!, I’m Nermeen Shaikh, with Amy Goodman. As we continue to look at the US and Israel war on Iran and Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, we go now to Jerusalem, where we’re joined by Orly Noy. She’s an Iranian Israeli political activist and editor of the Hebrew-language news site Local
South Australians have truth in political advertising laws. Why doesn’t everyone else?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Todd Farrell, Senior Tutor, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne With South Australia in its final week of campaigning ahead of the state election, you may have noticed while there’s been a few scandals around mistaken identity of hospital patients and controversial candidates’
The West Gate Bridge disaster looms large over Melbourne. A new play can’t fully capture its grief
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Graffam-O’Meara, PhD Candidate in Theatre, Monash University Every Melburnian knows the West Gate Bridge, crossing the Yarra River north of its exit to Port Phillip Bay. It looms, it hums, it holds memory, it writhes. You know the feeling – that perceptible flex when you’re stopped
Pacific governments warn against panic buying as war on Iran threatens fuel supply
RNZ Pacific Pacific Island governments are urging their citizens not to panic about the supply of fuels amid the conflict in the Middle East between Israel, the United States and Iran. The conflict has resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that carries around 20 percent of the world’s
Should e-bike riders be required to have a driver’s licence?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard J. Buning, Research Lead, UQ Micromobility Research Cluster, The University of Queensland E-bikes have been increasing in popularity – they make cycling more accessible than ever. However, they’ve also been linked to tragic accidents. In response, the Queensland government has conducted a parliamentary inquiry on e-mobility
Babies learn a lot in their first year. But their behaviour doesn’t always tell the full story
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eylem Altuntas, Researcher, Speech & Language Development, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University Anyone who has spent time with a baby knows how unpredictable the first year can feel. One week a baby suddenly seems to “get” something new. The next week,
Does medicinal cannabis work for depression, anxiety or PTSD? Our study says there’s no evidence
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney The number of Australians using medicinal cannabis has surged over the past five years. Around 700,000 Australians have used cannabis for their health in the past year.
NZ’s 9th COVID-19 wave: why infections are rising – and how booster shots still help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Plank, Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of Canterbury Six years after COVID-19 first reached New Zealand, the country is experiencing its ninth wave of infections. But the virus we are living with today behaves very differently from the one that caused the global emergency in 2020–22.
What the 2026 Oscars revealed about the current political mood in Hollywood
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Freijo, Research Associate in Film Studies, King’s College London The 2026 Academy Awards revealed a striking contradiction. Many of the winning films grapple with urgent contemporary issues, or difficult questions of historical memory. Yet their makers avoided following up on that political character in their acceptance
Saint Patrick’s Day and the mystery of the second Patrick
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Doyle, Lecturer in Ancient and Medieval History, University of Galway Celebrated every year with swathes of green and pints of Guinness, Saint Patrick is the most famous of Ireland’s trio of patron saints (the others are Brigid and Colm Cille, aka Columba). Saint Patrick’s story is
Flesh-eating bacteria spread from possums and mozzies. But Buruli ulcers are preventable and treatable
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Medical Science & Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute; Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney A number of cases of the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer have now been detected on the New South Wales south coast. There is growing evidence mosquitoes are at
Almost 80% of Australian uni students now use AI. This is creating an ‘illusion of competence’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason M. Lodge, Director of the Learning, Instruction & Technology Lab and Professor of Educational Psychology, School of Education, The University of Queensland In Australia, artificial intelligence is becoming a near-universal feature of education. As of 2025, nearly 80% of university students reported using AI in their
Seabirds struggled to raise chicks in the Hauraki Gulf this summer. What happened?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Dunphy, Associate Professor in Marine Biology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Some seabirds breeding in New Zealand’s largest marine park struggled to raise chicks this summer, most likely because climate change is forcing them to travel too far in search of food. The Hauraki Gulf
Australia claims it is ‘on track’ to save nature. We disagree
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Allan Elton, Doctoral researcher, Australian National University Without fanfare, the Australian government has published the latest snapshot on its progress toward halting and reversing the loss of Australia’s biodiversity – our unique wildlife, plants and nature – by 2030. This report on Australia’s progress under the
Real estate powered Dubai’s rise as a magnet for expats. Can its brand survive this war?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan F. Gholipour, Associate Professor of Property, Western Sydney University Once a small fishing and pearling village, Dubai has grown to become a major financial, commercial and tourism hub in the Middle East. It is the second-largest (behind Abu Dhabi) of the seven emirates that make up
All 5 fundamental units of life’s genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kliti Grice, John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Organic and Isotope Geochemistry, Curtin University A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases – the molecular “letters” of life – have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu. Asteroid particles offer a glimpse into the chemical ingredients that
US, Fiji intervene for Israel in South Africa’s Gaza genocide case at ICJ
Asia Pacific Report The United States and Fiji have filed separate declarations of intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging the country is committing genocide in Gaza. While the US explicitly rejects the allegation that Israel is committing genocide, Fiji raises issues about how the 1948
Regulator slaps restrictions on Kyle and Jackie O if they ever return to radio. Will it make any difference?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne If the ARN radio network’s KIISFM stations want to resurrect Kyle Sandilands or Jackie “O” Henderson, either together, singly or in partnership with someone else, they will face significant new conditions on their broadcasting
Chris Hedges: The world according to Gaza – it’s only the start
The new world order is one where the weak are obliterated by the strong, the rule of law does not exist, genocide is an instrument of control and barbarism is triumphant. ANALYSIS: By Chris Hedges The war on Iran and the obliteration of Gaza is the beginning. Welcome to the new world order. The age
Politics with Michelle Grattan: why Farrer is a key test for One Nation vs the Coalition
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Farrer by-election on May 9 will be a major test for new Liberal leader Angus Taylor and new Nationals leader Matt Canavan, as well as a real-time measure of One Nation’s surging poll numbers. One Nation’s David Farley and
