ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on September 16, 2026.
Climate change is putting the squeeze on the world’s grapegrowers: new research
Renowned wine regions from Australia to South Africa are battling increasingly fierce fire seasons.
Do pimple patches actually work? Here’s what the science says
If you’re squeamish, you might want to avoid the TikTok videos of people peeling off their pimple patches. But if you want to know if they really work, read on.
Naomi Klein’s new book calls out end times fascism. What is this – and what’s the role of big tech?
Two new books, End Times Fascism and Nerd Reich, take a hard look at fascism today – and its intersections with big tech.
Is the nuclear non-proliferation pact a model for regulating runaway AI?
Competition for AI dominance resembles the nuclear arms race of the Cold War era. A similarly serious response may also now be needed.
Should schools ban students from doing cartwheels?
Some schools are reportedly restricting cartwheels and handstands to prevent injuries.
The government might strip some asylum seekers of their work rights. Here’s why it shouldn’t
The government is reportedly considering restricting the work rights of asylum seekers as part of its plan to decrease migration. But it’s not a good idea.
Fiji declares HIV emergency as 1 in 60 Fijian adults live with HIV
RNZ Pacific reporters Fiji’s Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has formally declared a national HIV emergency in the country. In a pre-recorded video press statement on Tuesday, Dr Lalabalavu said the decision was backed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Cabinet due to the “seriousness of the epidemic”. The health minister confirmed that
Russian team ‘misused’ Claude AI to train a killer drone on scraped Ukrainian war footage
Visual footage — even that created by journalists and civilians to document conflict and hold nations accountable — can now become raw material for weapons development.
Bird flu has claimed its first Australian sea lion and dolphin. How does the virus get into these animals?
How does a dolphin or seal even get bird flu? Most likely through contact with sick birds – or eating their carcasses.
Trump’s thumbs-up to Irish reunification breaks with precedent, but evokes earlier age of White House support
Trump waded intro controversial territory with his comments in Ireland.
How would One Nation’s immigration plan affect the labour market and economy?
Reducing the number of people on student and graduate visas may reduce migration numbers, but it could also weaken demand for Australian goods and services.
Australia’s data centre build-out carries risks for the economy – and inflation
The rush to build data centres brings investment and the promise of a sophisticated digital economy. But it also creates new pressure on housing and skilled workers.
Is pasta a type of noodle? The surprisingly serious debate over two beloved carbs
Like many food debates, this one is tangled up in culture, history and power.
How does the menopause drug Veoza work? And how is it different to hormone therapy?
Some women can’t take hormone replacement therapy to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. This medication is one alternative.
How bacteria hijack viruses to shuffle their own DNA
Bacteria have transformed some viruses — now called gene-transfer agents — into a means of exchanging genetic material among themselves.
Pittsburgh’s kindergartners fall below the measles safety threshold, testing the city’s vaccine legacy
Pittsburgh helped pioneer the polio vaccine. Now, as measles cases rise across Pennsylvania, an epidemiologist explains the disease and the vaccine that prevents it.
Incorporation law gave Big Tech state-like power. Can it now help rein it in?
Governments can curb corporate power. But first we need to understand how corporate law allows private ventures to accumulate power that can endure for generations.
A Cree psychotherapist reflects on relationship, belonging and the illusion of a fixed self
An Anishinaabe storyteller and healer from Serpent River First Nation shares Ojibwe teachings on suffering, acceptance and Ceremony as ways of connecting Indigenous healing wisdom with psychological practice.
AI music lawsuits raise questions about American companies and Canadian arts
A recent survey of working musicians in Canada points to a growing discontent about AI in music, and points to how we could gain a music industry that allows Canadian music to flourish.
How war and sanctions are reshaping how Russia governs its vast territory
Support settlements are now at the forefront of Russian federal spatial policy and they tell us a lot about how the land lies in Russia today.