Evening Report – Evening Report

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 12, 2026

Evening Report — Tue, 12 May 2026 05:20:03 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 12, 2026.

Why is the US so obsessed with controlling Cuba?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Shnookal, Research fellow, Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies, The University of Melbourne For months, US President Donald Trump has been fixated on Cuba. He’s issued threats and imposed additional sanctions on the island. The US military has conducted dozens of intelligence-gathering flights off the … Read more

Feeling the pinch? Here are some ways to find savings – and even fight inflation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Mihaylov, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Adelaide University Do you ever feel like everything is getting more expensive, everywhere, all at once? You’re not alone. Australians have been grappling with a cost-of-living crisis since the pandemic. Last year, it briefly began to look like inflation might finally … Read more

Fiji army commander admits military ‘at fault’ for custody death
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s military chief has made a public admission at a church service that the institution was “at fault” for the death of Jone Vakarisi while he was in military custody. Local media reported that Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) commander Ro Jone Kalaouniwai, while addressing officers at a military family service, admitted … Read more

Hantavirus is very different to COVID. Here’s why the ‘Andes virus’ won’t cause the next pandemic
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rhys Parry, Research Fellow, Virology, The University of Queensland For many people, news of a virus outbreak on a cruise ship immediately brings back memories of COVID spreading when the Ruby Princess docked in Sydney in March 2020. Of the passengers and crew who disembarked, 575 had … Read more

NZ’s costly fees-free scheme did little to widen access to tertiary education – new study
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Meehan, Director NZ Policy Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology The government’s decision to scrap the one-year fees-free tertiary scheme in this month’s Budget will be contentious. Some will see it as a sensible saving, others as another blow to students facing high living costs. But … Read more

Netanyahu stresses the need for more propaganda as Israel’s Hasbara budget soars
In a fawning softball 60 Minutes interview released on Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu stressed the importance of winning “the propaganda war” on social media. This comes as Israel moves to quadruple its propaganda budget to $730 million a year. Major Garrett (which apparently is a real name belonging to a real guy who works for 60 … Read more

What is a ‘digital detox’ and will it make me healthier?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher, Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University Are you surrounded by screens? Today, we rely on technology to do everything from sending emails to ordering food. But being constantly connected can leave us physically and mentally exhausted. That’s why some people are doing “digital detoxes”, the … Read more

In an ant colony, the queen isn’t in charge. So who is?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Latty, Associate Professor in Entomology, University of Sydney Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint, find a shortcut through an unfamiliar city without a map, or govern a large organisation with no leaders and no meetings. It sounds impossible. Yet tiny-brained ants, working without … Read more

Trump-Xi summit will be no ‘Nixon in China’ moment – that they are talking is enough for now
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rana Mitter, Professor of U.S.-Asia Relations, Harvard Kennedy School Meetings between Chinese and American leaders are not exactly routine, but few are historically groundbreaking. The exceptions include the very first visit by a sitting U.S. president to China, when Richard Nixon met with Chairman Mao Zedong in … Read more

We found hundreds of huge ancient mass graves hidden in the Sahara desert
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University We have been on a years-long campaign of satellite remote sensing of the vast desert landscapes in Eastern Sudan. This involved using satellite aerial imagery to systematically and painstakingly search for archaeological features in Atbai Desert of … Read more

Specialist doctors are charging too much. 4 options to rein in excessive fees
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Scott, Professor of Health Economics and Director, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler has declared reducing specialists’ fees will be his next key focus of health policy reform. Doctors are currently free to set their own fees and … Read more

Like solar, most of the first home battery subsidies went to the wealthy. We need a fairer approach
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Longden, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Australia is in the grip of a record-breaking battery rush. Last week Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced that more than 380,000 home batteries have been installed since July last year. That’s over 100,000 more than the … Read more

Help! I’m almost finished school but don’t know what I want to do next
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Bradshaw, Research Fellow, Motivation and Behaviour, Australian Catholic University As Year 12 students pass the halfway point of their final year, the question of “what next?” can start to loom large. Some students have a clear plan: a course they want to get into, a trade … Read more

In this year’s budget, Chalmers has to keep a lid on spending – or risk stoking inflation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Crafting a federal budget is never easy. Tonight’s budget is harder than most. The government faces irreconcilable pressures: spend more to meet community demands, spend less to keep inflation down. The Reserve Bank is concerned about inflation. Governor Michele … Read more

7 films to help you understand Iranian women’s fight for freedom
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miniature Malekpour, Research assistant, University of Sydney For women in Iran, life changed dramatically after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The new Islamic Republic of Iran enforced compulsory veiling, legalised polygamy, severely restricted women’s rights to divorce and child custody, lowered the minimum marriage age for girls, and … Read more

How the federal budget became unlocked – and allowed the digital world in
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Fitzpatrick, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to hand down another federal budget, attention is once again turning to one of Canberra’s most tightly controlled democratic traditions: the budget lock-up. For decades, journalists from legacy media organisations have gathered in a secure room, … Read more

What it would have been like to experience the dinosaur-killing asteroid armageddon: a blow-by-blow account
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael J. Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of Bristol A great Tyrannosaurus rex strides through the conifer trees of her territory, sniffing the air. She picks up the scent from the carcass of a dead horned dinosaur, Triceratops, that she was feeding on yesterday. She walks … Read more

One Nation’s rise may seem sudden, but it follows long-term voter trends
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Cameron, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Griffith University The rise of One Nation may seem sudden. In the 2025 Australian federal election, Pauline Hanson’s party received only 6.4% of the national vote. A year later, One Nation has surpassed the Liberal Party in the polls, received … Read more

Conspiracy theories: do 300,000 Kiwis really believe Canada is building an army of mutant super-raccoons?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Kerr, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, University of Otago Four percent of Americans – roughly 12 million people – believe that “lizard people” secretly control the Earth. At least, that was the finding of an infamous 2013 public opinion survey. Do so many people … Read more

Ghana’s transport system is chaotic: how it can move more people with fewer vehicles – research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Appiah Osei, Research Fellow, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), University of Ghana Every morning in Accra, Ghana’s capital, thousands of commuters sit in traffic while minibuses and taxis compete for limited road space. More than 70% of Ghanaians rely on informal public transport, predominantly minibuses (trotros) … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 11, 2026

Evening Report — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:20:10 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 11, 2026.

What is frozen shoulder? And will I need surgery?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fernando Sousa, Research Fellow in Physiotherapy, Monash University Frozen shoulder can make simple tasks – such as lifting your arm, sleeping on your side, getting out of bed, putting on a bra, driving or playing with your kids – painful and challenging. This condition usually starts with … Read more

Instagram can now read all users’ private messages. Will this make kids safer or just boost ad targeting?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Scanlan, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Law; Academic Co-Lead, CSAM Deterrence Centre, University of Tasmania As of May 8 end-to-end encryption is no longer available on direct messages on Instagram. Meta, in announcing the policy reversal, said it had done so because few people used the … Read more

Why has this autumn been so hot and dry?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne We’re less than a month away from the southern hemisphere winter. But you’d be forgiven for thinking summer was only last week. April was unseasonably warm and dry across Australia. Temperatures were above average or … Read more

Worried about your job? You’re not alone. But there are proven ways to ease job insecurity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Kaye Parker, Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, Curtin University Unemployment in Australia is currently at 4.3% – below average for the past century. But last week, the Reserve Bank forecast unemployment will slowly climb from next year on, rising to 4.7% by mid-2028 – and possibly … Read more

Australian teens don’t eat enough nutritious food. But we can change that
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catharine Fleming, Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Western Sydney University Teenagers lead busy lives. And to get through everything from school exams to softball games, they need nutritious food. But research suggests Australian teens aren’t getting the nutrients they need, because their diets often revolve around sugary, … Read more

‘Polyanna policy’ – is NZ’s framework for AI use in government overly optimistic?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Te Kawa, PhD Candidate in Political Science and International Relations, University of Canterbury The New Yorker magazine’s recently published investigation into OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman posed a loaded question: can the people building this powerful technology actually be trusted? The report described a system where … Read more

Majuro reels from huge power rate increase, as govt steps up cash programmes
By Giff Johnson, Marshall Islands Journal editor/RNZ Pacific correspondent One of the biggest electricity increases in the history of the Marshalls Energy Company was implemented last week — the first of a two-step tariff increase. Power charges rose by 6c per kWh across the board for government, business and residential. On May 18, the price … Read more

Birds of prey in South Africa are in trouble – a study analyses data from 16 years of road counts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santiago Zuluaga Castañeda, JdlC Researcher, Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) Birds of prey and vultures (raptors) play a vital role in ecosystems, both as top predators and key scavengers. However, compared to many other bird species, raptor populations are declining faster. This … Read more

Five reasons to add peas into your diet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Woods, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham; University of Lincoln Peas aren’t often seen as a particularly exciting vegetable. They tend to be treated as a basic side dish or something people eat out of habit, rather than choice. But they’re also cheap, widely available and contain … Read more

Silicon Valley’s AI ‘tokenmaxxing’ obsession has a big problem – and philosophers saw it coming
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Lorrimar, Director, Centre for Technology and Human Futures, University of Notre Dame Australia Some time earlier this year, an employee at tech giant Meta built a system to track how much each staff member was using artificial intelligence (AI). Named “Claudeonomics” after the Claude chatbot, the … Read more

Doctors can act as gatekeepers or brokers for patients – how they decide can be crucial
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Dew, Professor of Sociology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington General practitioners (GPs) and hospital doctors are usually the first contact point for patients, but as our new research shows, they can take on different roles, acting either as gatekeepers or brokers. As gatekeepers … Read more

Why did my baby die? I’m a pathologist. Here’s what I want you to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Dahlstrom, Pathologist and Emeritus Professor, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University Warning: this article is about stillbirth and its investigations, including autopsies and related procedures. About six babies are stillborn in Australia every day – an incredibly difficult time for families. Understandably, they … Read more

Governments keep trying to make childcare safer. Could a new ‘national commission’ make a difference?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Governments have spent about a year announcing new policies to make early education safer for Australian children. In the wake of reports of shocking abuse and neglect in daycare centres, there have been moves to … Read more

After dumping Inland Rail, Australia has no plan to stop relying on diesel trucks for freight
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong Every day, hundreds of trucks barrel along highways from Melbourne to Brisbane. Some B-triple trucks stretch to 36 metres or more, more than seven times the length of an average car. Australia relies on those largely diesel-fuelled trucks for … Read more

Wealthy people were the first to buy electric vehicles. The current boom risks entrenching inequality
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaveh Khalilpour, Associate Professor in Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney Australia is in the midst of an electric vehicle boom. The combined rise of battery electric, plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrid cars is steadily shifting the long-term market dominance of petrol and diesel. This is … Read more

Australian ‘antisemitism’ – the Royal Conflation Commission is in session
The Bondi Royal Commission started its public hearings in Australia last week — and the mainstream media is lapping up the “antisemitism” narrative while ignoring other Jewish voices, reports Michael West Media. ANALYSIS: By Stephanie Tran The first block of public hearings for the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began last week, focusing … Read more

Iran war fallout – Trump is going to Beijing on bended knees
COMMENTARY: By Lim Tean Why is US President Donald Trump carrying on with his State visit to Beijing this week on May 14? I wouldn’t if I were him. It also shows that he is surrounded by incompetent officials. Any competent advisor would advise him against undertaking this trip. He goes as the leader of … Read more

View from The Hill: Post-Farrer, Liberals will struggle with awkward questions about their relations with One Nation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra No wonder Jim Chalmers was anxious to use every opportunity on Sunday to weigh in on the Liberals’ “bloodbath” in Farrer. It was extremely good news for a treasurer who is having to explain a budget in which key election … Read more

With wind in its sails, One Nation looks to replicate Farrer success in Victoria – and federally
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josh Sunman, Associate Lecturer in Public Policy, Flinders University One Nation’s surge can no longer be seen as a blip or an aberration. As the results in the Farrer byelection showed, the right-wing populist party – which has been hovering on the fringes of Australian politics for … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 10, 2026

Evening Report — Sun, 10 May 2026 05:20:06 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 10, 2026.

Local elections reveal the deep fracturing of UK politics and put the writing on the wall for Keir Starmer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wellings, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Monash University Elections in England, Scotland and Wales have put further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s already troubled leadership of the United Kingdom’s Labour government. These results are further evidence of significant trends in all liberal democracies – … Read more

View from The Hill: A primal scream from Farrer throws Liberals into deeper crisis
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra One Nation’s smashing victory in Farrer fires up the insurgent party, and casts fresh doubts over the future of the Liberal Party. The result could not be a more devastating rebuff for Liberal leader Angus Taylor, who has been found … Read more

West Papuan graduation parade turns violent after police object to Morning Star flag
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Indonesian authorities say investigations are underway into an incident in West Papua when a number of people were allegedly injured after police fired shots amid a student graduation event. Reports from West Papua say seven people suffered injuries when tensions flared at a parade by senior high school … Read more

Tongan armed threat against journalist troubles Pacific media freedom
COMMENTARY: By Kalafi Moala The importance of media freedom is recognised each year globally on May 3. This year the Pacific Island country of Tonga commemorated World Press Freedom Day just a week after one of the most frightening threats to that freedom which took place at a media outlet. A hooded man brandishing a … Read more

One Nation wins Farrer byelection as Liberal vote crashes
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 One Nation has won the Farrer federal byelection – the first time the party has won an election for a federal House of Representatives seat. At the … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 9, 2026

Evening Report — Sat, 09 May 2026 05:20:03 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 9, 2026.

French ambassador’s social media diplomacy lands poorly in Vanuatu
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Vanuatu’s government has urged the French ambassador in Port Vila to use established diplomatic channels rather than social media to communicate his concerns about state-to-state relations. It is the latest development in a diplomatic spat that emerged this week when New Caledonia’s territorial government took umbrage at Vanuatu … Read more

Oriini Kaipara: This reeks of foul play by a NZ govt failing to win public trust
COMMENTARY: By Oriini Kaipara The treatment of Maiki Sherman has been deeply upsetting to witness. To see the first wahine Māori ever rise to the role of political editor at 1News — only to now resign under such intense public and political pressure — is heartbreaking. Maiki is one of the sharpest political journalists in … Read more

View from The Hill: Jim Chalmers on justifying broken promises
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Even before it is delivered on Tuesday, the budget’s looming broken promises are bringing a political backlash. Anthony Albanese pledged at the election not to touch negative gearing or capital gains tax – the budget is set to alter both. … Read more

Keith Rankin Analysis – Clipping the ticket; solving Hormuz, in context
Keith Rankin – What would happen if the Strait of Hormuz was blocked by a giant earthquake? Then a pipe, tunnel, road or canal would have to be built. There would be no argument then about a portage fee being charged.

Keith Rankin Analysis – Citizenship and Denizenship in New Zealand
Keith Rankin – New Zealand is increasingly becoming a country with a high denizen-to-citizen ratio. New rules intended to make it more difficult for New Zealand permanent residents to become citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand can be expected to keep more immigrants here. That may be the intention.

Keith Rankin Analysis – Has Sweden become a de facto Apartheid Narco State?
Keith Rankin – Before mentioning crime, cocaine and apartheid, we should note that Sweden is a large-scale military systems exporter. For Sweden, the 'big gun' industry is equivalent to the dairy industry in New Zealand as a source of foreign exchange revenue.

New Caledonia provincial elections set for June but voter roll changes face criticism
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s crucial provincial elections will be held next month on Sunday, June 28, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced. Lecornu’s announcement was widely relayed by New Caledonian politicians who have just participated in a video conference meeting yesterday. The announcement also came with a … Read more

Minister Anika Wells repays more than $10,000 after four travel claims found to have breached rules
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Communications Minister Anika Wells has repaid more than $10,100, which includes a penalty, after an audit found she wrongly claimed travel expenses on four occasions. Wells said said on Friday she was “sorry for making these honest mistakes”. None of … Read more

TVNZ’s ‘first wahine Māori’ political editor Maiki Sherman resigns
RNZ News TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has resigned, posting on social media that today, Friday, was her last day at TVNZ. The broadcaster confirmed Maiki Sherman had resigned from her role. “As the first wahine Māori to lead 1News’ political team, Maiki has made a significant contribution to our journalism,” TVNZ said in a … Read more

Richard Lewer wins Archibald Prize with radiant portrait of traditional healer Iluwanti Ken
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aiden Magro, Art History Tutor, University of Sydney Melbourne-based artist Richard Lewer has been awarded the prestigious Archibald Prize for his life-sized portrait of senior artist and ngangkari (traditional healer) Iluwanti Ken. Though Ken is small in stature, Lewer’s portrait of her carries what the artist himself … Read more

Hackers just stole data from 9,000 schools and unis around the world. How can we protect student privacy?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Abu Barkat ullah (Barkat), Associate Professor of Cyber Security, University of Canberra This week, US-based education technology provider Instructure announced a significant cybersecurity incident affecting its Canvas system. This is used by schools and universities around the world, including in Australia. Cyber crime group ShinyHunters has claimed … Read more

What’s next for the ISIS families? This is how ‘de-radicalisation’ programs work in Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clarke Jones, Research Fellow, Research School of Psychology, Australian National University Amid great media attention, four women and nine children with links to Islamic State have returned from Syria to Australia. Three of the women were arrested by police after touching down in Melbourne and Sydney on … Read more

Israel’s destructive actions in Lebanon are normalising war without rules
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amra Lee, PhD candidate in Protection of Civilians, Australian National University In late April, Amal Khalil, a 43-year-old Lebanese journalist, was killed in a double-tap Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. When rescue teams tried to reach her and another injured journalist, they reportedly also came under fire. … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 8, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 8, 2026.

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 8, 2026

Evening Report — Fri, 08 May 2026 05:20:04 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 8, 2026.

Squeak up! I can’t hear you: pilot whales are shouting to hear themselves over ship noise
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University In the Strait of Gibraltar – a famous marine road connecting the Mediterranean and the Atlantic – lives a critically endangered sub-population of a few hundred long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas). Despite their name, these dark and blubbery … Read more

Fenian: the anti-Irish history behind Kneecap’s defiant new album title
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ciara Smart, Staff member, History and Classics, University of Tasmania Irish hip-hop group Kneecap recently released their latest album, called “Fenian”. A proud reclamation of a painful derogatory slur, Fenian is a word that connects Irish people to a history in which they were sometimes seen as … Read more

Ignore the polls: One Nation is the unofficial opposition
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashlynne McGhee, Head of Editorial Innovation, The Conversation The polling headlines have been shouty: One Nation is surging! It’s a One Nation bubble! One Nation has peaked! But beyond the noise, there’s a trend: more Australians are voting for One Nation. The controversial minor party has become … Read more

Higher-strength medicinal cannabis may be linked to a disturbing pattern of side effects, our study shows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfanwy Graham, NHMRC Postgraduate Scholar and Fulbright Alumna in Public Health Policy, Monash University In recent years, we’ve seen a sizeable shift in medicinal cannabis prescribing, to products containing higher levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – the component that can cause drowsiness or a high. Now, our new … Read more

IS-linked women are facing a raft of criminal charges. A legal expert explains the laws at play
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University After multiple attempts to leave Syria, four ISIS-linked women (often referred to as “ISIS brides”) and nine children have arrived back in Australia. The government has long promised that if these women, who are Australian citizens and have … Read more

Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele ousted after just over two years in power
RNZ Pacific Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has been ousted following a no-confidence vote in Honiara. Manele was voted out by 26 votes to 22 in Parliament yesterday. There were two absentees. Manele will remain in office and perform his normal duties until he is officially removed by the Governor-General Sir David Tiva Kapu. … Read more

What is the ‘grey rock’ method for dealing with narcissists or difficult family members?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Willis, Associate Professor, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University If you’re dealing with a relationship marked by conflict, criticism or manipulation – be it with a parent, co-parent or colleague – chances are you’ve come across the “grey rock” method on social media … Read more

Gas and coal have long tied Japan to Australia. It’s time for a new climate and green industry partnership
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewelyn Hughes, Professor of Public Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University There was much warmth on display at the official leaders’ meeting between Australia and Japan on Monday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave his Japanese counterpart Senae Takaichi an AC/DC drum skin signed … Read more

Australia has the world’s highest rate of ACL reconstruction surgery. Rehab may be just as good
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Thomas West, Lecturer in Physiotherapy/Research Fellow, La Trobe University If you’ve ever watched a game of Australian rules football, rugby league or basketball, you’ve probably seen it happen: a player lands awkwardly, grabs their knee, and doesn’t get back up. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury … Read more

Cyclone Gabrielle exposed the risks of forestry slash. New research suggests little has changed
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Urlich, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management, Lincoln University, New Zealand When Cyclone Gabrielle tore through New Zealand’s Tairāwhiti region in 2023, it left behind more than silt and floodwaters. Rivers were choked with forestry debris, beaches littered with logs, and homes, bridges and farmland buried under … Read more

Ted Turner didn’t just revolutionize television − he changed the way we see our world
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine Ted Turner, who died on April 6, 2026, was bright, shrewd and, most of all, lucky. The cable TV visionary proved to be in the right place, at the right time, to change television and video … Read more

Iran war has become a lesson in how power really works
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bamo Nouri, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of International Politics, City St George’s, University of London For months, the Iran war was framed through the language of military success. This was shaped in part by longstanding orientalist assumptions reflected in the rhetoric of leaders such as Donald Trump … Read more

Does 432Hz tuning improve your wellbeing? A music psychologist unpacks the evidence
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra Garrido, Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychology, University of Sydney If you scroll through social media for long enough, you’ll probably find videos claiming that listening to songs tuned to “A 432Hz” can provide an amazing sense of calmness or healing. It’s even claimed that listening … Read more

Choosing a high school can seem enormous. How do you know if one is right for your child?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tania Leach, Associate Professor, Education and Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland Across Australia, Year 6 families are doing the rounds of high school open nights, information evenings and tours. Perhaps in your area, you don’t get a choice of schools. Maybe you and your child have … Read more

Apps such as Stremio let you stream for free. How do they work? And are they legal?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marc C-Scott, Associate Professor of Screen Media | Deputy Associate Dean of Learning & Teaching, Victoria University For a brief period, film and TV piracy in Australia seemed to be somewhat under control. When Netflix launched in Australia in 2015, it provided a service the local media … Read more

Family and business trusts could soon have to pay more tax – with a few likely exceptions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donovan Castelyn, Senior Industry Fellow – Taxation and Director of the UTAS Tax Clinic, University of Tasmania Should some of Australia’s more than 1 million family and small business trusts face higher taxes in future, bringing them closer to what ordinary wage earners already pay in income … Read more

Iran wants oil tariffs paid in Chinese yuan – is the power of the US petrodollar in decline?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Ogden, Associate Professor in Global Studies, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau After weeks of blockades by Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, it’s clear the narrow waterway is now pivotal to the outcome of the conflict. The US has begun to … Read more

Lower East Side street named for ‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby, a nod to one of the countless kids of immigrants who shaped the genre
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miriam Eve Mora, Managing Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, University of Michigan The gesture may lack the explosive drama of a rooftop fight or the tension of a car chase, but on May 11, 2026, a street sign honoring a legendary comics creator will be unveiled … Read more

‘We’re under attack!’ – the night the Israelis struck the Global Sumud Flotilla
SPECIAL REPORT: By Eugene Doyle New Zealander Jay O’Connor had finished a long but satisfying day as a crew member aboard Eros 1, one of dozens of vessels that formed the Global Sumud Flotilla that was heading to besieged Gaza to open a humanitarian aid corridor. What Jay wanted was a well-deserved rest, not a … Read more

‘Fed up, fired up, and finally heard’: inside the political earthquake brewing in Farrer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lain Dare, Professor, Centre for Environmental Governance, University of Canberra In Australia’s regional heartland, something unusual is happening — and voters know it. For decades, elections in regional seats such as Farrer have followed a familiar script: predictable outcomes, entrenched party loyalties, and little sense that individual … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 7, 2026

Evening Report — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:20:06 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 7, 2026.

Humid heat may increase the risk of premature birth. But aspirin could help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stacey Savin, Postdoctoral researcher, Vascular Immunology of Pregnancy Group, University of Adelaide, University of Adelaide Pregnancy can be a time of joy and anticipation. But it can also be a nerve-wracking experience, with many factors affecting when and how a baby arrives. A new study, published today, … Read more

Landlords pay almost $7 billion a year more in tax than home owners, pushing rents higher
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Murphy, Visiting Fellow, Economics (modelling), Australian National University In Tuesday’s federal budget, the government is widely expected to bring in changes to how investment properties are taxed, including negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. Ever since the Albanese government’s re-election, there have been growing … Read more

Moana Maniapoto: Why trashing the BSA is a sign of journalism and fairness being undermined
COMMENTARY: By Moana Maniapoto I was reluctant to enter into journalism because I valued the research and skills attached to the profession, particularly given it’s responsibility to hold the powerful to account. I was lucky enough to have the legendary Colin McRae as my producer. He said there are basically three rules. You must be … Read more

Does abolishing the BSA mean the end of NZ’s enforceable media standards in general?
ANALYSIS: By Peter Thompson The announcement by New Zealand’s Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith that the government was abolishing the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) came as no real surprise. But it leaves a big question hanging: will the news media still be held accountable to basic standards which protect the public interest and the … Read more

Is Richard Dawkins right about Claude? No. But it’s not surprising AI chatbots feel conscious to us
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Koplin, Lecturer in Bioethics, Monash University; The University of Melbourne In recent days, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins wrote an op-ed suggesting AI chatbot Claude may be conscious. Dawkins did not express certainty that Claude is conscious. But he pointed out that Claude’s sophisticated abilities are difficult … Read more

Does abolishing the BSA mean the end of enforceable media standards in general?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Thompson, Associate Professor in Media and Communication, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The announcement by Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith that the government was abolishing the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) came as no real surprise. But it leaves a big question hanging: … Read more

Election day in the UK: what to look out for – and when we’ll know the results
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Bunting, Senior Lecturer in Quantitative British Politics and Co-director of The Elections Centre, University of Exeter Voters are casting their ballots in elections to 136 English local authorities, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd. For most, it’s the first opportunity to cast a ballot since … Read more

As David Attenborough turns 100, four experts explore his legacy, from science to storytelling
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chloe Brimicombe, Postdoctoral Researcher, Climate Science, University of Oxford Sir David Attenborough has mastered the craft of storytelling. He has undoubtedly inspired generations of people around the globe to love and care for the natural world. And in doing so, he’s become one of the most recognisable … Read more

5 great podcasts parents can listen to with children – backed by research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey Martin, Lecturer and Podcast Producer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology When it comes to sharing media with their children, many parents are left weighing up two imperfect options: screen time or reading. Screen time is convenient, but continues to be linked to … Read more

Transcribing speech is never neutral. It shapes power and bias
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celeste Rodriguez Louro, Associate Professor, Chair of Linguistics and Director of Language Lab, The University of Western Australia Earlier this year I gave a talk about my research at Oxford’s All Souls College, and worked with a chef to design an accompanying menu. Thinking about my work … Read more

Increasing JobSeeker is long overdue. Here’s how we could do it, without breaking the budget
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Phillips, Associate Professor, POLIS@ANU Centre for Social Policy Research, Australian National University In the lead-up to the federal budget, there’s much focus on what the government will do to address cost-of-living pressures for households amid rising inflation and interest rates. Research shows where those cost-of-living stresses … Read more

Donations, access and secrecy: 3 tactics tobacco companies use to influence smoking laws
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Professor in Public Health, University of Sydney In April, the United Kingdom passed landmark laws that aim to create a “smokefree generation”. This means anyone born on or after January 1 2009 can never legally be sold tobacco products. The law is a triumph for … Read more

Urban trees cool the world’s cities more than we thought – but we can’t rely on them alone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Researcher in Urban Transformation, Western Sydney University Cities and towns are usually 1–3°C hotter than the surrounding countryside, because asphalt, concrete and brick absorb heat from the sun and radiate it slowly. Some cities can be as much as 7°C hotter. This effect is known … Read more

NZ is overdue for a population strategy – but there is only so much governments can do
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tahu Kukutai, Professor of Demography, University of Waikato Across the world’s most advanced economies, demographic issues have risen to near the top of the policy agenda. Governments have implemented a range of measures to try and address the challenges of falling birth rates, ageing populations and shrinking … Read more

A new survey of 10,000 migrants reveals exploitation at work is the norm. Here’s how to fix it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurie Berg, Associate Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney A 28-year-old international student from Pakistan took a job as a chef in Queensland. His employer paid a flat hourly rate that was well below the legal minimum, with no payslips. When he eventually left, his employer … Read more

UN commissioner condemns Israeli kidnapping, detention of Brazilian flotilla activist
By Jamil Chade The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned Israel, saying it has no right to detain Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila and demanding his “immediate and unconditional” release. In a statement on Tuesday, Thameen Al-Kheeta, spokesperson for the United Nations entity, said: “Israel must immediately and unconditionally release Saif Abukeshek and Thiago … Read more

New Caledonia suspends trade cooperation with Vanuatu in row over FLNKS meeting
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s government says it has suspended all trade cooperation with Vanuatu after the Vanuatu government hosted the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in Port Vila. Vanuatu is hosting a series of talks under the theme “VOICE 2030” (Vanuatu Opportunities for Investment and … Read more

Media programmes at USP, FNU join forces for World Press Freedom Day talanoa
Wansolwara News The University of the South Pacific (USP) Journalism Programme has marked the 2026 World Press Freedom Day this year in partnership with the Fiji National University (FNU) School of Language, Communication and Literature. A successful collaboration between two universities, the event highlighted a strong partnership focused on advancing journalism education in the Pacific. … Read more

Israel’s kidnapping of two important pro-Palestine global activists reaffirms persecution
COMMENTARY: By Chris Hedges Nothing illustrates the inversion of the international and moral order more than the genocide in Gaza and the shipment of tens of billions of dollars of weapons to Israel by Western nations — especially the United States — to sustain it. Part of this inversion is the unrelenting persecution of those … Read more

The government’s plans to bolster Australia’s fuel stores are sensible – but 5 years too late
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tina Soliman-Hunter, Professor of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Macquarie University News the Australian government will spend over A$10 billion to boost fuel supplies is both welcome and well overdue. The plans announced today ahead of next week’s budget include $3.7 billion for publicly owned fuel reserves … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 6, 2026

Evening Report — Wed, 06 May 2026 05:20:04 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 6, 2026.

Can’t get your HRT patches? What to do and what to avoid
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ada Cheung, Professorial Fellow in Endocrinology, The University of Melbourne Since 2020, Australia has had an ongoing shortage of oestrogen patches, which are usually prescribed to help ease menopause symptoms. In March, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed shortages of several brands and doses of patches will … Read more

‘What do you want to be?’ The spark that helps Indigenous people go to uni
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Fong-Emmerson, Lecturer in Marketing, Edith Cowan University Across Australia, universities and governments say increasing the numbers of Indigenous graduates is one of the main priorities in tertiary education. First Nations people are still considerably underrepresented in our universities. They make up 1.9% of domestic higher education … Read more

Crashes involving animals spike in winter. Here’s how to avoid them
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne If you’ve driven on regional Australian roads, you’ve likely seen the signs warning of kangaroos and other animals – the familiar “wildlife ahead” signs. They are supposed to warn drivers of … Read more

ISIS families to return to Australia, with police waiting to make arrests
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Four of the so-called “ISIS brides” and nine children are set to arrive in Australia from Syria imminently, with the Australian Federal Police ready to make arrests. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the group had “plans to travel to … Read more

NZ’s AI data centre boom: who benefits from the build-out?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angus Dowell, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Around the world, the boom in artificial intelligence is driving a parallel race between major tech companies to secure the physical infrastructure that enables it. This race has now reached New Zealand, with Singapore-based … Read more

How to read the classics in an age of distraction – and 3 short books to get you going
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Johanna Harris, Associate Professor, Literature, Western Civilisation Program, Australian Catholic University Over the past 15 years, I have witnessed university students’ shrinking patience for reading – especially for reading “long” books. Increasingly, students also opt for audiobooks. While speeding up the reading experience, these fundamentally change what … Read more

Themes of peace and human dignity have been central to Pope Leo as he marks his first year in office
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross When he was elected pope on May 8, 2025, Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, greeted the crowd with Christ’s words to his disciples: “Peace be with you.” Peace has become a central theme … Read more

NZ govt must ‘call in’ Israeli envoy for protest over beating of citizens, says PSNA
Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has called on the New Zealand government to follow through on its demands that Israel complies with international law following the abduction and beating of citizens by the Israeli military in international waters in the Mediterranean last week. PSNA national spokesperson Rinad Tamimi said the government … Read more

Massive marine heatwave caused Caribbean coral reefs to collapse much faster than predicted – new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Perry, Professor in Tropical Coastal Geoscience, University of Exeter For decades, coral reefs throughout the Caribbean have been suffering from disease, pollution, overfishing and rising sea temperatures, yet most have continued to grow – until now. In 2023 and 2024, surface temperatures climbed to record highs … Read more

TikTok’s ‘nonnamaxxing’ trend explained: here’s how living like an Italian grandma can benefit health and wellbeing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences The key to better wellbeing is acting like an Italian grandmother, according to social media’s “nonnamaxxing” trend. Proponents of the trend say that adopting the lifestyle habits of an Italian nonna … Read more

Can Australia green its heavy industry? It’s hard – but necessary
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Changlong Wang, ARC ECR Industry Fellow in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Monash University Australia is rich in minerals, metals, sun and wind. Iron ore, copper and critical minerals are all mined here and largely exported overseas to be turned into products such as steel, fertiliser, fuel and … Read more

The lost koala: new fossil species was hiding in plain sight for 100 years
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kenny Travouillon, Curator of Mammals, Western Australian Museum; Curtin University In 2024, the Western Australian Museum received a donation. It was a koala skull collected from Moondyne Cave in Margaret River by Lindsay Hatcher, an avid caver. There was something a bit odd about this skull, and … Read more

Low-cost and unexpected ways to keep warm and save energy this winter
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niusha Shafiabady, Professor in Computational Intelligence, Australian Catholic University Winter is coming, and the increased cost of living might have you worried about higher energy bills. Most winter energy advice focuses on heaters and insulation but energy savings often come from places people rarely check. Small and … Read more

‘I’m mad at the people who could have solved the problem’: what kids told us about eco-anxiety
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Kirk, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, Monash University This is our home. If we destroy it, and we can’t build it up, then that’s a part of the Earth that’s destroyed, and we won’t be able to get it back. Matthew, aged ten, isn’t alone in … Read more

Warming seas can threaten the hidden relationship that supports seagrass meadows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renske Jongen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney On the western side of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, sits Myuna Bay, a quiet bay with meadows of seagrass waving beneath the water. The most common marine plant species you find there is … Read more

‘No fear of roaring lions’: Iran has a long history of standing firm against outside aggressors
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 US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran since the war began have targeted not just the country’s military capabilities, but its entire civilisation. In recent days, he has threatened … Read more

The artist population of Greater Sydney is shrinking – and becoming less culturally diverse
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ianto Ware, Honorary Associate, Department of Gender and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney Between 2011 and 2021, the number of professional artists, writers, musicians and performers living in Greater Sydney shrank by 17% – even as overall employment increased by 20%. This didn’t happen anywhere else in … Read more

Should I test for flu at home if I have the sniffles?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor Emerita, Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University You are “coming down with something”. Maybe you have a scratchy throat and body aches. You have an old, combination flu/COVID rapid antigen test in the cupboard. Should you use it to see … Read more

Over the past 15 years, NZ moved its fuel safety net offshore – now it’s being exposed
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olga Dodd, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Auckland University of Technology Amid a worsening global energy crisis, New Zealand and Singapore’s freshly struck deal to keep fuel and other essential goods flowing is being touted as a boost to supply chain resilience. The agreement commits both countries not … Read more

Tongan police investigate journalist threatened at gunpoint after gang-related report
RNZ Pacific A female journalist in Tonga has been threatened at gunpoint following the broadcast of a news story about an Australian criminal deportee serving a life sentence in Tonga for methamphetamine importation. The incident, in which an unknown individual threatened the journalist at the Kele’a Publications office in Nuku’alofa 12 days ago — 23 … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 5, 2026

Evening Report — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:20:05 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 5, 2026.

Blame the NZ govt for ‘selective’ human rights morality, not activists
COMMENTARY: By John Minto Forough Amin in her opinion piece “The consequences of selective morality” (The Press, 28 April 2026) argues that the Palestine solidarity movement’s call for sanctions against Israel is “selective morality”. She says we should be calling out all human rights abuses everywhere — which in her case means Iran. We agree … Read more

Hollow-Earth myths and Nazi UFOs on TikTok are bringing white supremacism into the mainstream
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marten Risius, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland Eighty-one years after Adolf Hitler died by his own hand in a Berlin bunker, a viral video on TikTok shows an AI-generated vision of the Nazi dictator standing in Antarctica, shoulders broad and face smiling, … Read more

How to talk to your kids about separating and managing the change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimie Northam, Lecturer in Clinical Child Psychology, Western Sydney University If you’ve decided to separate from your partner, and you have kids together, it’s normal to worry about the potential impact on them. Although some studies have shown a higher risk of mental health problems for children … Read more

Is New Zealand sliding toward a US-style approach to immigration and asylum?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jay Marlowe, Professor of Social Work, Co-Founder Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau A person fleeing persecution may not travel with extensive documentation, legal advice or even a neatly ordered account of their situation. Trauma, fear, language barriers, fragmented evidence and … Read more

Hostage‑taking by rogue states is on the rise. New research provides fresh ways to tackle it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Research Fellow, Security Studies, Macquarie University Hostage-taking by nation-states is emerging as an overlooked consequence of the more unstable and dangerous world that’s been created by the fracturing rules-based order. In an increasingly might-is-right system of international relations, malign actors have become even more emboldened … Read more

‘Demand the impossible’: how lived experience leaders make systems and policy better
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Morgan Cataldo, Visiting Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University There’s a growing awareness policy works best when shaped by the people and communities who have lived through the issues it aims to address. If we don’t listen to and learn from those who … Read more

‘Decision fatigue’ could be hurting your health. A nutritionist explains
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Beckett, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition and Food Science, Australian Catholic University You’re standing in a supermarket aisle, weighing up whether to buy a microwave meal or a bunch of fresh carrots. We all know making healthy eating choices can be tough. That’s especially true if you are … Read more

Keith Rankin Analysis – “I am a Semite”
Analysis by Keith Rankin, 4 May 2026. Not me personally; and, of course, all ethnicities are equal. A week or so ago, as I was casually doing something else, I saw being interviewed a gentleman who I understand was a Gazan intellectual. When asked about antisemitism, on the presumption that many Gazan people are somehow … Read more

Keith Rankin Analysis – New Zealand’s Dependence: Wheat, Rice, Fuel, Ships
Analysis by Keith Rankin, 1 May 2026. New Zealand is almost completely dependent on four things for its survival in the contemporary world. Imported wheat, rice, and refined fuel. And ships. Wheat New Zealand grows wheat in the South Island, most of which becomes animal feed. Reliance on New Zealand grown wheat is forestalled by … Read more

Pacific political caricatures: Why criticising a leader’s actions isn’t a personal attack
POLITICAL CARTOONS: By Campion Ohasio My name is Campion Ohasio, and I am currently the only political cartoonist in Solomon Islands. In recent weeks, I have received many questions and comments from people across the country about my cartoons. Some ask why I draw our national leaders in certain ways. Others wonder whether my caricatures … Read more

Copyright law is being used to hide alleged animal abuse. Here’s what’s at stake
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lev Bromberg, Lecturer, La Trobe University Over the decades, journalists and activist groups have revealed horrendous animal cruelty using covert recordings. A 2011 Four Corners investigation of abuse of Australian cattle in Indonesia is among the most well-known examples. Many attempts to record agricultural operations have involved … Read more

Chinese companies are increasingly taking on foreign governments. It’s not just the Port of Darwin
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Hawes, Associate professor of law, University of Technology Sydney The Chinese-owned firm that operates the Port of Darwin isn’t happy about the federal government’s push to return it to an Australian owner. Now, the situation is escalating, with the stage set for an international legal showdown. … Read more

How a sense of awe can be good for your mental health
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nikki-Anne Wilson, Lecturer, School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney; Neuroscience Research Australia Words escape you. Your skin tingles. You are overwhelmed by how small and insignificant you really are, bursting with a feeling that is hard to define. This is awe. Awe is a complex emotional state we … Read more

From Taylor Swift to Bollywood, stars turn to the civil courts to fight deepfakes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Austin, Professor of Law, University of Melbourne; Chair of Private Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Music superstar Taylor Swift has applied to trademark her voice and image to head off the threat of AI-generated impersonations. But the problem extends much further than … Read more

Red button or blue button? What a viral question tells us about game theory and the state of the world
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Conway, Senior Lecturer – Games and Interactivity, Swinburne University of Technology Everyone on earth takes a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue … Read more

Next week’s budget to reduce electric vehicle FBT concession
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week’s budget will contain cutbacks to the concessional treatment of electric vehicles (EVs) that will save the government $1.7 billion over the budget period. Announcing the changes to the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption for EVs, Treasurer Jim Chalmers … Read more

After Israel’s brutal attack on Kiwis the NZ government does nothing
COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Kiwi Julien Blondel’s face may be bloodied but it is unbowed. So far the New Zealand government has done nothing after Blondel and other New Zealand peace activists were savagely beaten by Israeli soldiers who attacked the Global Sumud flotilla near the Greek Island of Crete on April 30. The flotilla … Read more

Keith Rankin Analysis – China and Taiwan; a geopolitical solution?
Analysis by Keith Rankin, 30 April 2026. There is a narrative going around that the war in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman – Israel/USA versus Iran – is a training exercise for the big one, a war between the United States and China centred on the Taiwan Strait. In Hormuz Today, Taiwan Tomorrow … Read more

Fiji jumps, Samoa plunges in World Press Freedom Index
By Stefan Armbruster of Pasifika TV Fiji has recorded a dramatic jump in its media freedom rating to be in the top 25 nations globally while Samoan government press restrictions have seen its rating plummet in the latest World Press Freedom Index. Advocacy group Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) said globally it was the first time … Read more

Keith Rankin Analysis – Inflation versus our Cost-of-Living Crises of Choice
Analysis by Keith Rankin, 24 April 2026. Inflation is a topic which has, for a long time now, been at the forefront of normative economics. Normative economics is the economics of mainstream ideology, not the economics informed by concept or science. The latest New Zealand CPI-inflation data – released this week – have been called … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 4, 2026

Evening Report — Mon, 04 May 2026 05:20:07 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 4, 2026.

With a shrinking population, China needs new drivers of growth. Consumer spending has yet to fill the gap
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiujian Peng, Senior Research Fellow, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University China’s latest national accounts show the economy grew by about 5% through 2025 and into the first quarter of 2026, pointing to resilience despite ongoing trade tensions. But the underlying picture is weaker: growth slowed last … Read more

Albanese’s ratings jump in federal polls; Liberals easily retain Nepean at Victorian byelection
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 In both the Redbridge and Freshwater polls, Anthony Albanese’s net favourability has jumped eight points since late March to -9. In Redbridge, the Coalition rebounded from a … Read more

NZ-India free trade deal: were early fears about immigration and investment justified?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rahul Sen, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics and Finance, Auckland University of Technology Depending on which side of the argument you listen to, the recently signed New Zealand-India free trade agreement represents either a huge economic opportunity for New Zealand or a risk to its economic sovereignty. … Read more

Fiji climbs to 24th in World Press Freedom Index, biggest gain in the Pacific
RNZ Pacific Fiji has recorded the biggest improvement in the Pacific in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, rising to 24th out of 180 countries. The index has been compiled and published by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) since 2002. Papua New Guinea moved up slightly on the index to 73rd. But Samoa … Read more

FMA praises Fiji media workers for press freedom climb but warns it is ‘tenuous’
Fijian Media Association Three years after the lifting of draconian media laws under which Fiji’s media industry operated, and even with significant improvements in the country’s media freedom rankings, the gains from the return of media freedom remain tenuous. This World Press Freedom Day, the Fijian Media Association is heartened by the country’s remarkable progress … Read more

Political reforms drive Fiji’s big press freedom gains, says RSF
By Anish Chand in Suva Fiji’s rise in the latest global press freedom rankings is being credited to improved media conditions following key political and legal reforms in recent years. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says the country’s jump to 24th place in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index reflects a shift in the media environment … Read more

Does your child only read graphic novels? That’s OK – it’s helping them build literacy skills
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judith Ridge, Sessional academic, University of Tasmania Some parents worry if their children only read graphic novels – or even mostly read them. A common question goes something like: how do I get my child to read something other than comics or graphic novels? But the answer … Read more

A year on from the election, what has the Albanese government achieved?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pandanus Petter, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University This time last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was jubilant. Having just won 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, Labor had its best result in terms of seats since … Read more

Australia and Japan face a similar dilemma: how to be indispensable to the US without relying on it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryosuke Hanada, PhD Candidate, Japanese Foreign and Security Policy, Macquarie University Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Australia this week comes against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop. The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran – and the subsequent closure of the Strait of … Read more

Why the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline doesn’t actually constrain presidents
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasmine Farrier, Professor of Political Science, University of Louisville May 1, 2026, marks the 60th day of Operation Epic Fury in Iran – a symbolically significant date designating when a president who has mounted unilateral military operations must receive Congressional approval or wind it down. However, the … Read more

AI chatbots can prioritize flattery over facts – and that carries serious risks
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nir Eisikovits, Professor of Philosophy and Director of Applied Ethics Center, UMass Boston In the summer of 2025, OpenAI released ChatGPT 5 and removed its predecessor from the market. Many subscribers to the old model had become attached to its warm, enthusiastically agreeable tone and complained at … Read more

How individual consciousness works – and makes us unique
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Coppola, Visiting Researcher, Cambridge Neuroscience, University of Cambridge As we go through life, our brains run different processing modes. Some – the attention and sensory systems – result in very similar experiences of the world: what colour the sky is, how warm the day feels. But … Read more

AI road safety cameras are fuelling a surge in driver fines. Are they fair?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Andreotta, Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University Artificial intelligence (AI) road safety cameras have been rolling out across Australia, resulting in a large number of fines. For example, roughly 184,000 infringements have been issued in Western Australia since the cameras were launched in October … Read more

Should surrogates be paid for carrying other people’s babies? And how much would be enough?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evie Kendal, Associate Professor of Health Promotion, Swinburne University of Technology The Australian Law Reform Commission is currently reviewing Australia’s surrogacy laws to ensure they’re fit for purpose and reflect the population’s current views. One aspect being considered is whether surrogates should be allowed to receive financial … Read more

Honeybees may be helping spread tree-killing myrtle rust – new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sacchi Shin-Clayton, PhD Candidate, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge We know introduced honeybees as the ever-busy helpers of our gardens, farms and orchards. In pollinating crops and fertilising fruit, they support more than a third of the food we eat and are worth billions of dollars … Read more

You don’t get long in parent-teacher interviews. Here’s how to use the time well
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Zunica, Lecturer in Mathematics Education, University of Sydney It’s the time of year when schools and parents typically meet for parent-teacher interviews. These meetings are often short: in high school, usually only five to ten minutes per subject. In primary school, they might go for around … Read more

The 2026 Met Gala dress code is ‘Fashion is Art’. But is it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace Waye-Harris, Research Associate, Australian Catholic University; Adelaide University The first Monday in May marks the annual Met Gala: a collision of celebrities, designers and cultural icons. Established in 1948, the gala was originally a high-society event held to raise money for the Costume Institute of The … Read more

How to make public spaces accessible, safe and attractive for an aging population
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By François Racine, Professeur-chercheur en design urbain et urbanisme, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) To be truly inclusive, public outdoor spaces must meet the needs of the entire population, regardless of age, physical ability or mobility. Although many cities have adopted universal accessibility policies in recent years, … Read more

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 3, 2026

Evening Report — Sun, 03 May 2026 02:50:28 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 3, 2026.

Former Greek minister slams ‘Western complicity’ over brutal Israeli kidnap of Gaza flotilla leaders
SPECIAL REPORT: By Brett Wilkins Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has slammed European leaders — and the West at large — for what he said is their complicity in Israel’s abduction of two leaders of the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla seized off the coast of Greece. In what numerous critics have called an act

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 2, 2026

Evening Report — Sat, 02 May 2026 02:50:04 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 2, 2026.

View from The Hill: Albanese sensitive on one tax reform that won’t be in the budget
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With all the talk about the May 12 budget containing significant tax reform, Anthony Albanese sounded very sensitive when confronted about one big reform his government won’t be making. In a question-and-answer session at a forum run by the Daily

Cricket Australia’s Big Bash cash grab is rejected – but there are better options on the table
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Mangan, Emeritus Professor Australian Institute for Business and Economics, University of Queensland, The University of Queensland After a year-long push to raise money via private capital, Cricket Australia (CA) has announced it will not sell some or all of its Big Bash League (BBL) franchises. The

Physicists have measured ‘negative time’ in the lab
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Howard Wiseman, Director, Centre for Quantum Dynamics, Griffith University As Homer tells us, Odysseus made an epic journey, against the odds, from Troy to his home in Ithaca. He visited many lands, but mostly dwelt with the nymph Calypso on her island. We can imagine that his

Making tech giants pay for news was a success the first time around. It can be done again
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod Sims, Enterprise Professor, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne With the release this week of the government’s News Bargaining Incentive, it’s worth reconsidering the origins and achievements of its predecessor, the News Media Bargaining Code. Both have the same aim:

One Nation: built by the media, supercharged by the algorithms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashlynne McGhee, Head of Editorial Innovation, The Conversation The media made Pauline Hanson and One Nation, but now the party holds all the power. For 30 years, journalists have ridden a merry-go-round reporting on its stunts and inflammatory rhetoric, while grappling with how to interrogate its policies

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 1, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 1, 2026.

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 1, 2026

Evening Report — Fri, 01 May 2026 02:50:18 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 1, 2026.

What is lipoprotein(a) cholesterol, or Lp(a)? And can you lower yours?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Most people know about “good” and “bad” cholesterol. But few realise there is another type called lipoprotein(a). It can raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even in people who do everything right. This

Arsenal might be choking again in England’s Premier League. Here are 4 psychological fixes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alberto Filgueiras, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Arsenal is still on the top of the English Premier League ladder, but as in previous years, the Gunners might be crumbling just when a first title since 2003–04 is within touching distance. In early April, Arsenal had a

What do the proposed NDIS changes mean for people with disability living in supported accommodation?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Libby Callaway, Associate Professor, Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University Amid major reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), unveiled last week, NDIS minister Mark Butler announced the government’s plans to commission supported

Sramcbled wrods: the real reason you can still read jumbled text
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Stollznow, Research Fellow of Linguistics, Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University; University of Colorado Boulder You’ve probably seen it on social media before: a paragraph of scrambled text that looks like nonsense at first glance, yet somehow you can read it with surprising

Intimate partner violence is a hidden contributor to women’s suicide
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Rasmussen, PhD Researcher, School of Psychiatry / Senior Research Officer, UNSW Sydney Australians are familiar with the disturbing statistics of intimate partner homicide: one Australian woman is killed every 11 days, on average, by a current or former intimate partner. While these deaths are increasingly reported

Marty Supreme, Watergate, and menopausal punk-rock rage: what to stream in May
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Along with a drop in temperatures, May brings plenty of new streaming options, whether you’re after some classic American political drama, or some local family TV you can enjoy with the kids. We’ve also got

Coalition preferences could deliver a One Nation victory in Farrer by-election
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josh Sunman, Associate Lecturer in Public Policy, Flinders University Since 2025, the radical-right One Nation party has experienced a polling surge – regularly polling ahead of the Coalition. In the midst of this surge, and wider voter fragmentation, the Coalition is facing a by-election contest in the

‘Just looping you in’: why letting AI write our emails might actually create more work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology I hope this article finds you well. Did that make you cringe, ever so slightly? In the decades since the very first email was sent in 1971, the technology has

What alternatives do Gulf states have to the Strait of Hormuz?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David B Roberts, Associate Professor, School of Security Studies, King’s College London Two months into the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz is still mostly shut. Vessel traffic is running at a fraction of pre-war levels, with the patchwork of ceasefires, blockades and re-closures since February

Dolls beat screens for building children’s social skills, study finds
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Gerson, Lecturer in Developmental & Health Psychology, Cardiff University What’s the point of play? Is it simply a way to keep children occupied, or something more? For some, it’s about learning literacy and numeracy. For others, it’s how friendships form and relationships deepen. But it can

The Devil Wears Prada 2: lots of frothy fun, not so much devilry
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura O’Flanagan, PhD Candidate, School of English, Dublin City University Twenty years after the first instalment catapulted Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt onto Hollywood’s A-List, The Devil Wears Prada is back with a second incarnation. The sequel reunites the pair with Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci for

Were enormous octopuses apex predators in ancient oceans?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Clements, Lecturer, University of Reading At the time of the dinosaurs, the oceans were teeming with life. Below the waves, giant marine reptiles, such as the fearsome 4m (13ft) long mosasaurs, were the undisputed apex predators. In artistic reconstructions of these ancient oceans, cephalopods – the

How unhealthy ultra-processed foods are designed and marketed to make us crave them
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Garton, Senior Research Fellow in Population Health, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Consumption of ultra-processed foods – including soft drinks, snacks and ready meals – is growing worldwide, despite evidence they are unhealthy. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up about 70% of packaged food products on

What is OPEC and how does it shape global oil markets?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tina Soliman-Hunter, Professor of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Macquarie University Oil is once again making headlines. This week, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made the shock decision to leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC is network of oil-producing nations formed in 1960

$50,000 arts degrees look set to stay, despite a new bill trying to slash uni fees
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor of Higher Education Policy, Monash University For five years, many Australian university students have been watching the amount they have to pay for their studies with alarm and despair. In response, the Senate is considering a Greens bill to slash high university student contributions

Royal commission report doesn’t help us start making sense of Bondi terror attack
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keiran Hardy, Associate Professor, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University Justice Virginia Bell has handed the governor-general her interim findings from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded immediately by promising to implement all its recommendations. The interim report recommends specific changes

Why does squishing NeeDoh, slime, or putty feel so satisfying?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Rowe, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Bond University NeeDoh is the latest squishy sensory toy to go viral. Social media is reporting how these blobs of gel are flying off the shelves, and are in short supply. But squishy sensory toys have been around much longer

Hold your nose and don’t stop for a selfie: why getting up close to a beached whale is a really bad idea
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, Honorary Fellow in Public Health, The University of Queensland; UNSW Sydney The beaches of Sydney’s Royal National Park have been disrupted by a pungent odour. And its source is drawing in more than just seagulls. A 25-tonne sperm whale is rotting on the rock platform

Australia isn’t getting a fair share of tax on gas exports. Queensland has shown how to raise the bar
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Morrison, Industry Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised no new taxes on Australia’s gas exports in next month’s federal budget, saying the government “will not undermine existing contracts”. Questioned further, he said future gas tax changes aren’t

Albanese is prioritising politics over the responsible handling of ISIS families, setting a dangerous precedent
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Se Youn Park, Sessional academic, School of Political Science and International Studies, The University of Queensland Thirteen Australian women and children linked to ISIS have reportedly been blocked from leaving Syria again, with the Syrian Foreign Ministry blaming the Australian government, saying it had “refused to receive

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 30, 2026

Evening Report — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:50:03 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 30, 2026.

‘More empowered’: how online gaming benefits people with disability
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Hastas, PhD Researcher, Western Sydney University You are more empowered because you get to be seen for who you are. These are the words of Link*, an online gamer with disability – one of a group of 15 gamers with disability we interviewed as part of

To protect Australians, the federal parliament must push Albanese on gambling reforms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Democracy Deputy Program Director, Grattan Institute In early April, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he was finally implementing several restrictions on gambling advertising. The long-awaited announcement was unveiled – or perhaps buried – in Albanese’s National Press Club address on the fuel crisis, held on

Heat and cold alter how animals fight disease. As the climate changes, this knowledge may be vital
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor in Biology, Zoology and Animal Science, Western Sydney University Each animal species has an optimal temperature at which it can metabolise food and its immune system can best fight off pathogens. As our recent research shows, temperature directly affects the immune systems of

Will weakening Treaty provisions in NZ law create more problems than it solves?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carwyn Jones, Honorary Adjunct Professor, Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington On the face of it, the government’s desire to make references to te Tiriti o Waitangi consistent across all legislation sounds reasonable. As Justice Minister

Dignity and resolve: Francesca Albanese’s When the World Sleeps humanises Palestinian lives
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Kear, Lecturer, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer and scholar, is the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Her job is to report to the UN

20,000 stranded seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz face missile fears, exhaustion and isolation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University As the closure of the Strait of Hormuz drags on, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization has sounded the alarm over a related humanitarian crisis: the plight of the crew stuck on ships at or near the strait. Up to

The cradle of Earth’s rich ocean life was a massive coral reef system 20 million years ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandre Siqueira, ARC DECRA and Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Science, Edith Cowan University New research published today in Science Advances reveals that the largest expansion of coral reefs in the past 100 million years happened about 20 to 10 million years ago, between Australia and Southeast

Wastewater data suggests meth use is at a record high. Here’s why we don’t need to panic
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University Data from Australia’s wastewater drug monitoring program suggests methamphetamine use (also known as speed, ice or crystal meth) is at a record high. Cocaine is also up. MDMA may be levelling off. Heroin

‘I don’t believe no screens is possible’: how parents manage devices and little kids
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Milford, Research Officer, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University; Curtin University; Federation University Australia Parents are told to avoid screens altogether in the first two years of a child’s life. At the same time, digital devices are part of everyday family life used for

The UAE is leaving the OPEC oil cartel. What could that mean for oil prices?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Cross, Assistant Professor of Econometrics & Statistics, Melbourne Business School The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that on May 1, it will leave both the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the larger OPEC+ group. By withdrawing, the UAE will now be able

Sending women to the ‘Khia Asylum’ is music’s latest cruel trend. But it reflects an old historical bias
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University What do Bebe Rexha, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor and Rita Ora all have in common? They’re all trapped in the “Khia Asylum”. The Khia Asylum (pronounced “kye-ah”) is a metaphorical space carved out for famous music artists

UAE’s departure from Opec tells a story about the limited future of oil production
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adi Imsirovic, Lecturer in Energy Systems, University of Oxford The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave the oil producers’ cartel Opec after 59 years is more than a symbolic break. It highlights a growing divide among major oil producers over how to respond to a

Why omega-3s may be vital to getting the most out of your daily workouts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fernando Naclerio, Professor in Strength and Conditioning and Sports Nutrition, University of Greenwich Most people know omega-3 fish oils are good for health – especially heart health. But what many people might not realise is that these friendly fats can also be beneficial to your workouts. Research

The Iran war has depleted supplies of tungsten, a critical mineral for the world’s militaries
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin D. J. Harper, Research Fellow, Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials, University of Birmingham The US and Israel’s conflict with Iran has drained munitions at an astonishing rate. This is placing pressure on the supply of a crucial metal: tungsten. Tungsten is used in

Why your brain turns against you during arguments – and what to do about it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences My ex once told me, mid-argument, that I was the most unempathetic person he’d ever met. It was a low blow. I’m a clinical psychologist. Empathy is literally my job. What

How King Charles charmed the US while taking digs at Trump
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Murphy, Director of History & Policy at the Institute of Historical Research and Professor of British and Commonwealth History, School of Advanced Study, University of London King Charles’s speech to the US Congress – only the second such address by a British monarch – demonstrates how

An affordable vision: how a modest investment in NZ’s eye health would make a big difference
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Goodman, Research Fellow, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Few things matter more to us than our eyesight. We fear losing it even more than some life-threatening conditions. Yet for many New Zealanders, access to routine eye care remains out

Wenda calls on Indonesia to halt crackdown on peaceful Papua protests
Asia Pacific Report A leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on Indonesian security forces to halt their crackdown on peaceful protest in the wake of this month’s massacres in Dogiyai and Puncak. Interim president Benny Wenda accused Indonesian authorities of suppressing peaceful action in order to “stoke a cycle

Albanese government’s latest attempt to make tech giants pay for journalism is needed but carries big risks
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, La Trobe University The government’s plan to fund Australian journalism through a levy on digital platforms rests on a sound premise: a healthy democracy depends on reliable information. But this latest attempt — following the shortcomings of the News Media Bargaining

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Antony Green on how Farrer’s ‘breakout’ by-election will make history
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Early voting is now in full swing for the coming Farrer election on May 9. The by-election is being framed as a temperature check of the right in federal politics, given the rise of One Nation and the collapse of

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 29, 2026

Evening Report — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:50:04 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 29, 2026.

Why we still love The Devil Wears Prada, 20 years on
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Simon, Casual Lecturer, Education and English Departments, University of Tasmania The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) has become a mythic cinematic character. The magazine editor is icy, commanding, manipulative, cruel, oddly sympathetic and endlessly imitated. Streep’s portrayal was surprisingly inspired by the quiet authority

Trump’s US ratings are near a record low after dropping further last week
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 US President Donald Trump’s net approval is near a record low after a further dip, despite a surging US stock market. In Australia, there are federal Essential

Cities are getting hotter – and bigger. New research reveals the scale of the challenge
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hamish Lewis, Lecturer in Climate Change, University of Waikato We tend to think of climate change impacts as dramatic and destructive. Storms and floods that bring down landslides and swamp streets, or raging wildfires that tear through forests and farmland. Heatwaves, by contrast, often pass for many

Robots can run a marathon and play ping pong. But will they ever achieve true sporting greatness?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Roberts, Professor in Robotics, Queensland University of Technology A humanoid robot recently made headlines around the world for running a half-marathon and beating the human world record. Around the same time, an AI-powered robot defeated an elite human player in table tennis. What the robot lacked

Fight Club at 30: toxic masculinity handbook or clever takedown of capitalism?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Copland, Honorary Fellow in Sociology, Australian National University Chuck Palahniuk’s first novel, Fight Club, is as relevant and controversial today as when it first hit shelves 30 years ago. The story follows a depressed, insomniac unnamed narrator, who unknowingly creates an alter ego – the charismatic

Prostate cancer overdiagnosis risk sharply rises after age 70 – new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Brentnall, Reader in Biostatistics, Queen Mary University of London Over the past decade, millions of men without symptoms of prostate cancer have voluntarily undergone a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in the UK to find out if they might have prostate cancer. While research has shown that

Could warming seas bring great white sharks back to the North Sea? A 5-million-year-old shark tooth may provide clues
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Stewart, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeoecology, Bournemouth University As the Earth shifts to climates not seen for several hundred thousand years, we may need to look at ancient environments for clues about what could happen next. Our new study of two whale fossils, with preserved fragments of

The Bondi Beach terror attack mobilised a team of volunteer medics. Here’s what we learned
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aidan Baron, Adjunct Senior Lecturer Paramedicine, University of Tasmania; University of Notre Dame Australia; Kingston University Warning: this article contains details of injuries sustained during a terrorist attack. The 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack was different to other terrorism incidents. What stands out was the response. Lifeguards,

Nest-building chimpanzees seem to anticipate future weather
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Al Razi, PhD Student, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia Every evening, as they move from place to place through the forest, chimpanzees stop to build a nest – most often in a tree – to sleep in. Using a selection of branches,

AI decides what we see online. It’s time digital platforms tell us exactly how they do it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sora Park, Professor of Communication, News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra If you suffer from information overload, or are unsure what to trust online, you’re not alone. Australians are increasingly disengaging from traditional news, turning instead to social media, influencers and – more recently –

A probe into ‘forever chemicals’ in activewear lays bare fashion’s greenwashing problem
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Swee Lin Tan, Associate Professor in Fashion Entrepreneurship, RMIT University Have you ever paid more for a product because a brand told you it was good for you and the planet? Many activewear shoppers do exactly this, trusting that the “healthy” image on the label matches

In his first year as pope, Leo has emphasised peace, unity and social responsibility – and shown he won’t be stared down
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Professor of History, Australian Catholic University When white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel on May 8 2025, the surprise was immediate. The Catholic Church’s leadership had elected its first pope born in the United States, a former Augustinian missionary in Peru who

‘Mum and dad investors’ are pulling back. What will that mean for NZ’s housing market?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Rehm, Associate Professor in Property, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau In New Zealand’s long and storied romance with the property market, the “mum and dad” investor has always been a central character. With equity ready to draw on, they’ve traditionally accounted for between a third

New NZ film The Weed Eaters asks: why bury a body when you can just eat it, maybe with some tomato sauce?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury In the microbudget horror comedy The Weed Eaters, a group of bumbling townies get high on someone else’s supply with grisly and ridiculous consequences. Jules (Alice May Connolly) gives up partying with her friends for

Girmitiya ancestry the inspiration behind Fiji writer’s debut novel
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A woman whose great-grandparents — all eight of them — were Girmitiya labourers has put their stories into her debut novel. The result is Banjara, a novel partly based on what she found, which is told through the eyes of two women more than 100 years apart. Author,

The Taiwanese pop megastar spreading the hidden Chinese history of Australia’s gold rush to a global audience
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Loy-Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Australian History, University of Sydney Taiwanese pop music superstar Jay Chou, known in Mandarin as Zhou Jielun (周杰倫), has put country Victoria’s Sovereign Hill on the map. Chou’s 25 albums have sold more than 30 million copies, and the music video for

Why Australia has to boost fuel supply – and electrify transport
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Senior Fellow in Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute As Australia’s immediate fuel crunch eases after successful efforts to diversify supply, policymakers are turning their attention to dealing with the next energy security crisis. The question is, what would actually work? The Coalition this week

Fuel now, electricity later: why Australia has to both boost fuel supply – and electrify transport
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Senior Fellow in Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute As Australia’s immediate fuel crunch eases after successful efforts to diversify supply, policymakers are turning their attention to dealing with the next energy security crisis. The question is, what would actually work? The Coalition this week

Meghan Quinn becomes first woman to head Defence Department
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Meghan Quinn will move from secretary of the Industry Department to head the high-profile Defence Department – the first woman to hold that post. She follows Greg Moriarty, who has become Australia’s ambassador to the United States. Quinn will oversee

Fed up with health insurance costs? 5 expert tips to negotiate a better deal
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Farrell, Professor of Economics (Health Economist), RMIT University Petrol. Groceries. Electricity. Rent. The cost-of-living crisis is squeezing household budgets from every direction, and private health insurance premiums have just joined the list. From April 1, the average premium rose by 4.41%. Consumer group Choice notes average

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 28, 2026

Evening Report — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:50:04 +0000

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 28, 2026.

Banning protest slogans won’t end antisemitism. We need to understand the complex forces driving it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Imogen Richards, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Deakin University The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will deliver its interim report to the governor-general by April 30. Public hearings will follow, defining antisemitism and its effects on Jewish Australians. As a researcher of political violence, I provided

You’d better start paying attention to the manosphere. You’re living in it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Rich, Director of the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), Curtin University As the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February, the social media posts by some US national security agencies took a particular turn. With missiles and bombs raining down, Pentagon

Fluorescent quail embryos could help solve serious birth defects in humans
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samara Ranie, PhD Student, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland The quail is a small, unassuming bird that glides rather than flies and prefers to hide under bushes than to perch on top of a tree. And now, it’s also helping scientists understand serious birth

Antarctica’s ice shelves are vulnerable to melting from below – knowing how far ocean heat reaches is crucial
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Stevens, Professor in Ocean Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Earth Sciences New Zealand A rare dataset collected by instruments at the point where Antarctica’s largest ice shelf begins to float reveals ocean processes that drive melting at this critical part of the continent. During

As Trump’s narrative on negotiations flails, Iran is setting its own terms for ending the war
ANALYSIS: By Jeremy Scahill Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been on a strategic tour to prepare for two dramatically different paths that could unfold in the coming days — a return to diplomacy or a resumption of the war with the US and Israel. While President Donald Trump has claimed that the Iranian government

Coalition would boost Australia’s fuel reserve to 60 days
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A Coalition government would boost Australia’s minimum fuel reserve to 60 days, and deliver at least one billion litres of new storage with a $800 million Fuel Security Facility. The opposition, making the announcement on Monday, said the new storage

Fiji PM Rabuka gives govt support for controversial waste-to-energy project
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Prime Minister has thrown his government’s support behind a controversial waste-to-energy project at Vuda Point in the country’s Western Division despite “a delay”. The multi-million-dollar “Fiji Energy from Waste Project”, backed by Australian billionaire Ian Malouf and Fiji-born businessman Robert Cromb’s company The Next Generation (TNG) Fiji, has been making headlines

Bought a new EV? Here’s a quick guide to driving and charging
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isrrah Malabanan, PhD Candidate in Transport Engineering, The University of Melbourne Electric vehicle purchases in Australia have surged amid the ongoing war in Iran, as drivers worry about rising fuel costs. The big drawcard: much cheaper running costs. As of 22 April, A$1 of electricity takes an

Is oil king again? China’s surging cleantech exports show the opposite is true
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ray Wills, Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia Over the last two months, nations have scrambled to shore up oil supplies as the Iran war prevented oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. This, according to some global analysts, would lead to a downturn for

Months on from the Bondi terror attack, the national gun buyback is floundering
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, Adelaide University The day after the horror shooting and killing of 15 people at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last year, national cabinet agreed to take steps to eradicate antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism. In addition to

Your ‘recycled polyester’ leggings are not as sustainable as you think
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Swee Lin Tan, Associate Professor in Fashion Entrepreneurship, RMIT University Recycled polyester activewear and swimwear are now everywhere. Major global brands sell leggings, swimsuits and puffer jackets with labels that claim they’re “made from recycled plastic bottles”. Millions of people buy these products believing they’re making

What do people mean when they say their nervous system is overloaded or needs a reset?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Loughman, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The University of Melbourne You might have heard people talking about their nervous system being “overloaded” or “dysregulated” when they’re going through periods of heightened stress. Or perhaps you’ve been offered ways to “heal” or “reset” your nervous system on social

Negative gearing tax breaks could finally be tightened in the May budget. What options are on the table?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, John Curtin Distinguished Professor & ARC Future Fellow, Curtin University In the lead-up to the May federal budget – now just a fortnight away – Treasurer Jim Chalmers has left the door open to winding back negative gearing, used by around 1.1 million investors

A24 is a billion-dollar brand parading as cinema’s indie darling. Here’s how it pulls it off
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lynch, Lecturer, Cinema and Screen Studies, Swinburne University of Technology Over the past decade, US-based entertainment company A24 has become synonymous with “quality” independent and edgy screen content. Having distributed and produced (or co-produced) more than 180 films, as well as a number of series, the

Coalition would boost Australia fuel reserve to 60 days
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A Coalition government would boost Australia’s minimum fuel reserve to 60 days, and deliver at least one billion litres of new storage with a $800 million Fuel Security Facility. The opposition, making the announcement on Monday, said the new storage

Martyn Bradbury: Why Iran is winning and will continue to win
COMMENTARY: By Martyn Bradbury How insane is it that, a Theocracy is winning the propaganda war against a Democracy? How badly has Trump screwed up when religious zealots are beating you in the marketing game? It’s not just the social media meme burns where Iran is winning, they are actually winning the war strategically. Trump’s

Coalition would boost Australia fuel storage to 60 days
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A Coalition government would boost Australia’s minimum fuel reserve to 60 days, and deliver at least one billion litres of new storage with a $800 million Fuel Security Facility. The opposition, making the announcement on Monday, said the new storage

Starlink set to return to PNG after court quashes ban, clearing path
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A Papua New Guinea National Court ruling to overturn a ban on Starlink has been widely welcomed, fresh off the back of a natural disaster which highlighted the need for low-orbit satellite services in the country. Last December, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) announced that

Eugene Doyle: Iran demands hundreds of billions in reparations for being attacked. Guess who’ll pay?
ANALYSIS: By Eugene Doyle If Iran succeeds in extracting reparations for the damage done to it in the US-Israeli war, it will be a world historic moment. Iran may be bloodied but it remains unbowed and is seeking compensation from the Arab states over “direct involvement” in the US-Israeli war of aggression. Iran sent a

How 2 men smashed through a marathon barrier long thought unbreakable
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Connick, Postdoctoral Researcher in Paralympic Classification and Biomechanics, The University of Queensland; Queensland University of Technology On May 6 1954, Sir Roger Bannister did what was deemed impossible in athletics: he ran a mile in less than four minutes. The milestone was celebrated worldwide, not just