ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 9, 2026.
Fake QR codes make for easy scams – be careful what you scan out there
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meena Jha, Head Technology and Pedagogy Cluster CML-NET, CQUniversity Australia It’s a simple thing we encounter many times every single week – often while in a hurry. You pull up at a parking spot, scan a QR code and pay within seconds. Or you sit down at
‘Cuddle therapy’ sounds like what we all need right now. But will it actually help?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glen Hosking, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology, La Trobe University Cuddle therapy is having a moment. The idea for this emerging therapy is for you to book in a specified time with a “professional cuddler”. Websites promote cuddle therapists as specialists in platonic touch, offering
Donald Trump’s US ratings fall to a record low amid Iran war
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 United States President Donald Trump’s net approval has fallen to a record low on the Iran war, while Democrats had a 25-point swing in their favour in
NZ’s latest push to roll out more EV chargers is a good thing – but can it go the distance?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mingyue Selena Sheng, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau A $50 million plan to expand New Zealand’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network marks another step toward a lower-emissions transport system. The government will provide interest-free loans to private
Israeli threats to occupy or annex south Lebanon dust off a decades-old playbook
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies, Dickinson College A chorus of hawkish Israeli politicians is urging the country’s military to intensify its weekslong ground and air campaign against Hezbollah and pave the way for a more permanent presence in the country’s south. On April 5, 18
When a president is unfit for office, here’s what the Constitution says can happen
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Matoy Carlson, Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Wayne State University Bipartisan calls for President Donald Trump’s removal from office increased on April 7, 2026, after he issued threats to destroy “a whole civilization” if Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Was the Hawke government really the ‘gold standard’ for reform?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Journalism is sometimes called the first draft of history. Near contemporary works, such as the University of Canberra’s long running series of books on Australian governments, going back to the Hawke government (1983-1991), might be viewed as
Middle East conflict: this ceasefire may have made Iran stronger
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bamo Nouri, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of International Politics, City St George’s, University of London Ceasefires are often presented as moments of relief – pauses in violence that open the door to diplomacy. But sometimes they reveal something more consequential: who has actually gained from the war.
Recent outbreaks highlight the risks of bacterial meningitis – and the need to vaccinate
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Una Ren, Senior Scientist in Genomics, New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science Outbreaks of bacterial meningococcal disease in England and recent cases in students in New Zealand have raised awareness of this serious and life-threatening disease. The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria
Humanity is heading back to the Moon. Australia isn’t even funding telescopes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Walker, Visiting Fellow, National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Australian science policy is in a confused place. The government is negotiating with the European Union to join the Horizon Europe program for funding and collaboration. Australian facilities are crucial to NASA’s
Injectable peptides are the new anti-ageing trend. But what evidence do we have they’re safe for humans?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Piatkowski, Senior Research Fellow in Public Health, The University of Queensland Injectable peptides are the new anti-ageing trend sweeping the beauty industry. These compounds are promoted on social media as tools for skin repair, collagen production and “cellular rejuvenation”. They are widely available online from overseas
K-pop without the K: BTS’ English-heavy comeback sparks debate over cultural identity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Moon, PhD Candidate, Department of Media, Adelaide University BTS is officially back. After a four-year hiatus for mandatory military service, the massively popular K-pop group has returned in full force with their new album Arirang, released March 20. The record debuted at number one on the
How Australia’s mining sector locks women out of high-paying roles
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Gander, Associate Professor, Business, Murdoch University Mining is a critical industry for the Australian economy and has the potential to offer secure, well-paid and meaningful careers. But the evidence from our review of the 29 studies of 40 years of research on women working in the
City animals act in the same brazen ways around the world
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel T. Blumstein, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles The urban monkeys in New Delhi are so bold they’ll steal the lunch right off your plate. If you’ve spent time in New York, you’ve probably seen
How Trump’s White House demands as prerequisites for stopping bombings bit the dust
COMMENTARY: By Yanis Varoufakis Having launched an illegal, destructive war that brutally struck the entire planet’s economy (and confirmed once again Europe’s combination of irrelevance and hypocrisy), and after threatening Iran with genocide and “civilisational annihilation,” President Trump ultimately backed down on everything. Like a Roman Emperor during the Empire’s declining years would declare victory
The US-Israel ceasefire with Iran presses pause on a costly war, but can peace last?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University President Donald Trump’s acceptance of a Pakistani proposal for a two-week ceasefire in the war with Iran brings a sigh of relief to the international community. Just hours before,
Does the Iran ceasefire mean the fuel crisis is over? Not even close
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Morrison, Industry Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney It might feel like a lifetime ago, but it was just last week analysts began talking about fuel rationing in Australia. This week, that prospect seems less likely. A temporary ceasefire in the Iran war
Nationals leader Matt Canavan promotes work from home to grow regional areas
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Nationals leader Matt Canavan has urged the embrace of work-from-home opportunities as a way to boost the growth of smaller towns and regions. In a Wednesday speech calling for an “economic revolution”, Canavan told the National Press Club that today
Money’s tight but food prices are up. Here’s how to save on your grocery bill
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Another interest rate rise and a spike in fuel prices is placing increasing pressure on household budgets. Many households are also seeing the impact of the war in the Middle East on the price of
Should the government encourage people to work from home to save fuel?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dorina Pojani, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland The current fuel crisis, instigated by the war in the Middle East, has prompted countries to respond in different ways to ensure their fuel supply. One popular measure has been directing people to work from home
