ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 5, 2026.
Keith Rankin Analysis – When did World War Two end and the Cold War begin?
Keith Rankin writes; January 1956: "In a famous interview with Life magazine, Dulles formalized his philosophy of 'Brinkmanship', boasting that intentionally pushing the Soviet Union and China to the very verge of nuclear war was a 'necessary art' to secure peace." Is such Dulles-style brinkmanship Nato's present doctrine against Russia?
How a new UN cybercrime treaty could be used to crack down on dissent
Even with human rights safeguards in place, the new convention risks giving authoritarian regimes new tools to target their critics.
35% of Australian uni students are part-time. But higher ed is still geared towards full-timers
Part-time students are more than twice as likely to drop out of university than their full-time peers. How can unis better support this vulnerable group?
Eating less protein may ‘slow’ ageing. But here’s why the evidence isn’t clear-cut
A new review links to eating less protein to longer lifespans and improved metabolism. But lots of this evidence comes from animals, not humans.
Russian exile and comedian Sasha Nezlobin brings laughter therapy to the Edinburgh Fringe
Presented as Russia’s Michael McIntyre, Sasha Nezlobin is having to nearly start over in exile.
How singing in a choir hits the right note for people living with brain conditions
Singing in a choir helps people regain their voice and reduces social isolation and the sense of loss that often follows diagnosis with a brain condition.
We can help frogs beat a deadly disease. But can they still reproduce?
We need to carefully study what happens to frogs after we intervene to save them.
KNPB plans coordinated demos across Papua on New York Agreement anniversary
Jubi News Desk The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says it will stage another round of coordinated demonstrations next week to mark the anniversary of the New York Agreement. Protests are planned across all 36 of the organisation’s regional commands throughout the Land of Papua. KNPB spokesperson Ogram Wanimbo announced the plan following the group’s
How hackers attack municipal water systems – and why the utilities are so vulnerable
A cybersecurity researcher explains how hackers target small computers that control a water system’s tanks, pipes and valves.
Donald Trump’s ‘art of the deal’ means reneging on them. That’s why Canada cannot capitulate
Countries that sign deals with the Trump administration are quickly finding out that the stability and certainty they hoped to purchase was an illusion.
On the origin of feces: how animal poo drove Earth’s greatest evolutionary event
Is the evolution of excrement the reason we exist?
Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals
As a lethal bird flu spreads in Australian wildlife, it can be easy to think nothing can stop it. That’s an error – much can be done.
Bird flu decimated South America’s marine mammals. What can Australia do differently?
An expert explains why the H5N1 strain is such a threat to seals worldwide.
The biggest news from NAPLAN 2026? The results aren’t really better or worse
National NAPLAN results are released today, putting the spotlight on students’ numeracy and literacy skills.
From home support to residential care – how to navigate the aged-care maze for ageing parents
Accessing care often means long wait lists, complex forms and significant out-of-pocket costs. So start planning early, before a crisis hits.
How Hitchcock’s Vertigo gave us the dolly zoom – one of cinema’s trippiest visual effects
From Jaws to Pixar, you’ve likely seen this hypnotic camera technique before. Here’s how it works.
Is it a gift or a loan when parents help kids buy a home? How to avoid family fights over money
When money is coming from the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’, a recent study found parents and adult children can have very different assumptions – which they rarely discuss.
5 ways to improve gynecologic care and women’s health outcomes in Canada
Canada can significantly improve women’s health, in both the short- and long-term, by focusing on five attainable and affordable immediate actions.
Return of the Red Scare: how the US right is weaponising the word ‘communism’
As democratic socialists make inroads into mainstream US politics, one loaded word is doing a lot of work for their ideological opponents.
Decolonizing economics means questioning where its ideas came from — and imagining new ones
Calls to decolonize economics challenge the discipline’s foundational assumptions about development, markets and inequality.