ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 20, 2025.
‘Green Islam’: how Muslims are powering environmental action across the world
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eva F Nisa, Associate Professor, Cultural Anthropology, Australian National University Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto via Getty Images As the world grapples with myriad environmental problems, a growing number of studies shows the role of religion is key. Religion influences people’s worldviews, including how we think about nature and our
The most powerful tool in an astronomer’s arsenal is a lens – but not the kind you might think
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tania Barone, Research Associate in Galaxy Evolution, Swinburne University of Technology LRG 3-757, or the Cosmic Horseshoe, where the yellow galaxy has magnified the light of the blue one farther away. NASA, ESA Astronomers are living in a golden age of bigger and better telescopes. But even
Saige England: Why I have spent a decade proudly standing with Palestinians and I will never stop
COMMENTARY: By Saige England I unequivocally support Irish author Sally Rooney with all my heart and soul. The author risks imprisonment for donating funds from her books and the TV series based on Normal People to a Palestinian group. Once again the United Kingdom tells Palestinians who they should support. Go figure.In her opinion piece
Liberals retain government in Tasmania, while federal Labor keeps big lead in polls
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 The Liberals won 14 of the 35 lower house seats at the July 19 Tasmanian state election, Labor ten, the Greens five, independents five and the Shooters,
French Overseas Minister in New Caledonia in bid to ‘save’ Bougival deal
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls is once again in New Caledonia for a four-day visit aimed at maintaining dialogue, despite a strong rejection from a significant part of the pro-independence camp. He touched down at the Nouméa-La Tontouta Airport last night on his fourth trip to New Caledonia since he took office in late
We’ve been sending animals into space for 7 decades – yet there are still no rules to protect them from harm
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Waikato Ham was one of the chimpanzees NASA used during the 1960s to test the Mercury capsule before human space flight. NASA/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA This week, Russia is expected to launch its Bion-M No.2 biosatellite from the
How can Western countries back up Palestine recognition with action? Here are 4 ways to pressure Israel
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University; Adjunct Professor of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said recently the Israeli cabinet has “lost its reason and humanity” in Gaza, reflecting a
AI has produced 2 new antibiotics to kill ‘superbugs’. It’s promising – but we shouldn’t get too excited yet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have used artificial intelligence (AI) to design two new antibiotics effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs”. This is a potentially exciting development, but it’s important
Want to see Australia’s rare and remarkable species for yourself? Here are 10 standout spots
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Finnerty, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation and Wildlife Management, University of Sydney Uwe-Bergwitz/Getty Australia is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, ranging from striking palm cockatoos to elusive mountain pygmy-possums and remarkable rat-kangaroos. Most of us never get to see these creatures in real life
The social media ban is coming, whether families like it or not: 5 ways to prepare kids and teens
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Micah Boerma, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland Helena Lopes/Pexels , CC BY In less than four months, world-first legislation will ban Australian under-16s from certain social media platforms. Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit and YouTube will all be off limits
Australian farmland values are at lofty heights. Research reveals this could be hurting some farmers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amir Arjomandi, Associate Professor of Economics, School of Business, University of Wollongong Pixabay/Pexels Over recent decades, farmland values in Australia have soared. Nationally, the price of broadacre farmland – used for cropping or sheep and beef grazing – has increased by more than eightfold since 1992. It
Matcha latte for the likes: how ‘performative eating’ is changing our relationship with food
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Ever ordered a salad on a first date when you really wanted the burger? Many of us eat differently when we’re around other people, often without realising it. Our food choices shift depending on who’s
Humans keep building robots that are shaped like us – what’s the point?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John McCormick, Director of the Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Professor of Interactive Media, Swinburne University of Technology A relay race at World Humanoid Robot Games, August 17 2025, Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images News Robots come in a vast array of shapes and sizes. By definition,
Who will win the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup? We ran 10,000 simulations to rank the contenders
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niven Winchester, Professor of Economics, Auckland University of Technology Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images Women’s rugby is growing rapidly worldwide, and now accounts for 25% of the total global playing base. US women’s rugby star Ilona Maher is the most followed rugby player in the world, ahead
Suspended Green MP tells Al Jazeera NZ must stand on ‘right side of history’ over Palestine
Pacific Media Watch The New Zealand Green Party co-leader suspended over criticising government MPs over a “spineless” stance over Gaza has called for action. Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said in an interview with Al Jazeera that public pressure was mounting on governments to end the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The politician continues to push for
Rewarding knowingly illegal conduct – some might say, Israeli terrorism
Why the recognition of the State of Palestine by Australia is an important development. Meanwhile, New Zealand still dithers. This article unpacks the hypocrisy in the debate. ANALYSIS: By Paul Heywood-Smith The recognition of the State of Palestine by Australia, leading, it is hoped, to full UN member state status, is an important development. What
Israeli PM Netanyahu denounces ‘weak’ Albanese in social media outburst.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at prime minister Anthony Albanese, accusing him of betraying Israel and abandoning Australia’s Jews. The extraordinary outburst follows Israel revoking the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for
The Bolivian Left’s Self-Destructive Path
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage By William Camacaro New York The Bolivian political landscape is currently characterized by a deep, self-inflicted crisis within the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) which has culminated in a devastating electoral defeat yesterday. As the country approached the crucial presidential elections of August 17, 2025, the party’s leaders—specifically former
Caitlin Johnstone: Israelis understand that Trump can end the nightmare in Gaza. Americans should know this too
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone It’s so revealing how Israelis keep begging Trump to end the killing in Gaza, because they understand that the US President has the power to force Israel to stop. It seems like Israelis understand this far better than Americans do. Six former
Zelensky leaves Washington with Trump’s security guarantees, but are they enough?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sonia Mycak, Research Fellow in Ukrainian Studies, Australian National University The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House earlier this year, he was berated by Donald Trump. On Monday, he returned with European leaders by his side. He emerged with some signs of progress
