ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on October 15, 2026.
What might turning off the algorithm look like? Chinese social media provides some hints
If the government’s digital duty of care bill passes, users would be able to switch off algorithms. But this might not be as good as it seems.
Can my health records be used for medical research?
Veterans have launched a class action against the department for ‘mass and routine sharing’ of their medical records over 20 years. How common is this?
Michelin came for the food. It found what makes South Australia special
South Australia’s first Michelin selection celebrates a food culture rooted in place, shaped by migration and sustained by the people behind every plate and welcome.
Prime ministers, billions in UAE investment: the Manchester City cheating scandal turns political
The cheating scandal has caused political ripples across the UK and UAE and highlights how geopolitical interests can threaten sporting independence.
‘Stress hormone’ cortisol is blamed for infertility, but major new study hints that could be wrong
Cortisol has been cast as a modern health villain, seeking to slowly destroy you. But it’s actually a critical hormone.
How did early Māori society develop? New research reveals a clearer timeline
Radiocarbon dating at two archaeological sites shows how early settlers adapted to life in Aotearoa, with some economic changes happening sooner than thought.
‘Poor becoming poorer’ – South Auckland foodbanks warn poverty is deepening among Pasifika
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific People running foodbanks in South Auckland say poverty is deepening among the Pacific community, and the high demand they are seeing is the just tip of the iceberg. Persistent high rents and basic living costs, plus nagging debt, continue to leave Pasifika families facing tough decisions on whether to
Vote progressive parties – if you seek justice for Palestine
Justice for Palestine Vote for the three progressive parties — Labour, Green and Te Pāti Māori — in next month’s general election if you want to see a principled Aotearoa New Zealand foreign policy stance based on international law and justice. Here is how Aotearoa New Zealand’s political parties stand on the Palestinian solidarity movement’s
Keith Rankin Analysis – David Seymour is a Financial Mercantilist
Keith Rankin writes; Mercantilism is both a narrative about what the elite world is (as opposed to what someone might wish it to be), and a prescription for success within that world. That prescription may be best summarised as 'mining money'.
World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off coast of Turkey
There’s little left of the ship itself but based on clues from its cargo, a research team has tentatively dated the wreck to around 2700–2400 BCE.
Cystic fibrosis patients got their ‘miracle drug’ thanks to federal research funding – new Trump administration rules may cut future miracles short
The Trump administration exerted increased political control over NIH research funding, leading to major cuts and disruptions to lifesaving research.
It’s no secret drug firms donate to political parties. But it’s still a secret exactly how much, and why
Donations of A$7.7 million over a decade have been disclosed. But that’s not the full amount, a new study shows.
Australia urgently needs a national bushfire database. Here’s what it could look like
Bushfires will only become fiercer and more frequent in the face of climate change.
NAZA: harrowing documentary shows how killing in Gaza became just another day’s work
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor offer us a look inside the systems used by the Israeli military to target Palestinians.
Hordes of yabbies are trashing rivers in Africa. How did this happen?
In the 1980s and 1990s, the hardy redclaw crayfish was exported from Australia around the world. But escapee yabbies have become a nightmare.
Australian scavengers don’t just eat everything and slink away. They approach a carcass like a buffet
First come the eagles, then the dingoes. And then the foxes, to fight over the scraps.
In the northern Appalachian Mountains, warmer weather is making alpine regions greener
Botanists and ecologists have noticed changes in the northern Appalachian Mountains. More trees and small shrubs are growing in the alpine zones. Will they crowd out alpine plants?
My own security system flagged me, a Black woman, as an animal
As Ottawa seeks billions in international investment in advanced technology, bias cannot be a moral footnote.
AI can predict intimate partner violence before survivors disclose. But should it?
Technology that predicts when someone might experience intimate partner violence can undermine a survivor’s control over whether, when and how they share their abuse,
Canada could save millions by developing its own operating system instead of relying on Microsoft Windows
A national, open-source operating system could help reduce Canada’s dependence on the U.S. while improving security and saving a surprising amount of money.