ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 26, 2026.
Caitlin Johnstone: Yet another escalation in the empire’s war on activism and journalism
COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone The empire’s war on activism and journalism continues to escalate as the Trump administration targets leftwing streamer Hasan Piker and antiwar activist Medea Benjamin for the “crime” of bringing humanitarian aid to Cuba. This is yet another act of aggression in the same onslaught that has seen inconvenient truth-telling and expressions
Pope Leo warns of AI’s risks to humanity in his first encyclical
The pope has warned that AI is never truly neutral: it reflects the society that made it. He has called for ethical oversight – and protecting workers.
This election year budget is a political tightrope walk for Willis and National
National hasn’t achieved two of its three big fiscal policy promises from the previous election. Thursday’s budget will be a hard sell.
Cricket and soccer are Australian sporting giants. How can they be struggling financially?
Football Australia and Cricket Australia highlight how sport organisations can appear commercially successful while remaining financially fragile.
Is Beijing the world’s ‘living room’? China is enjoying the global stage, but there are limits to its influence
A parade of global leaders through Beijing is good for optics. But this visibility does not necessarily translate into global leadership.
Entanglement injuries cause prolonged suffering for whales and dolphins – early intervention is crucial
Entanglement is a major animal welfare issue for marine mammals. A successful rescue is not just whether an animal is cut free but whether it recovers from injuries.
Thousands of sheep and cows die in trucks and saleyards every year. They need better protection
This isn’t just a major animal welfare issue – it’s an economic one as well. And there are steps we can take to resolve it.
Gaza freedom flotilla – reluctance of the West to protest Israel’s thuggery enabled the abuse
The failure of Australia and Western governments to hold Israel to account has enabled the abuse of Gaza flotilla detainees, including New Zealanders, argues Jerusalem Peace Prize recipient Stuart Rees in Michael West Media. ANALYSIS: By Professor Stuart Rees If bullies notice that no one intervenes to stop their behaviour, they may interpret such non-intervention
PNG prime minister visits France, plans to open Paris embassy
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape was on an official visit to France last week, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and held a number of important meetings to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Topping
Reddit short stories are popular in Hollywood – joining a long trend. Here are 5 of the best short stories on film
Online platforms like Reddit and Wattpad let writers test their skills for an audience – and provide a testing ground for Hollywood, too, through likes and upvotes.
In a tight NZ budget, will money go where it’s needed most – or to political priorities?
Higher inflation, tighter operating allowances and rising geopolitical uncertainty are turning this year’s budget into a test of national priorities.
Mali’s security crisis holds warnings for Nigeria: here’s why
Located in the same Sahel region and threatened by similar jihadist insurgents, Nigeria has some lessons to learn from Mali.
Global media networks simplify Ethiopia’s conflicts: insights from 5 years of data
Global media coverage tends to focus on just one of Ethiopia’s conflicts.
Iran war is exposing South Africa’s dependency on diesel: what went wrong
Diesel has become South Africa’s shadow infrastructure system by compensating for failures in electricity generation and freight rail.
Pakistan’s voter turnout decline: Why more women registered, but fewer cast ballots in 2024
Pakistan added millions of women voters in 2024, but declining turnout reveals deeper barriers to meaningful political participation.
New DNA analysis identifies more members of the ill-fated Franklin expedition
Researchers have revealed the identities of six sailors and shed new light on the expedition that went missing more than 170 years ago.
Errol Flynn’s biographer calls him the greatest heartthrob of his time – but racist and a rapist too
Most of Errol Flynn’s films now seem B-grade at best – but Patricia O'Brien’s biography of this Tasmanian devil is compulsive reading.
How community groups, activists and local media turned Camden into a model of police reform
Camden, New Jersey’s homicide rate in 2025 was four times the national average – still high, but a marked change from when it was 18 times the national average in 2012.
The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage
As millions gather for Hajj, they will circle the Kaaba, which is draped in the black cloth known as the kiswah – a sacred object shaped by centuries of faith, politics and power.
You’ve been trying to get around Amazon – but it’s not that easy
For shoppers tying to avoid Amazon, its expansion into shipping and logistics for thousands of companies makes that choice more difficult.