ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on November 5, 2026.
Samoa government urged at UN to address declining media freedom
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific The international community has urged Samoa’s government to rectify the decline in press freedom in the country. Press freedom and media restrictions in Samoa came under scrutiny during Samoa’s periodic review at the United Nations Human Rights Review in Geneva this week. Ten countries raised concern about media restrictions
Godzilla Minus Zero is incredibly loud. Who decides on the cinema volume? And is it safe?
The new film, out in IMAX, has viewers shaking in their seats from the volume. Why are some cinema screenings so loud?
Voters have sent a message to Trump on tariffs, but the White House still holds significant power
Democrats will dig into the decisions behind tariff rates for various industries and trade partners, but can’t do much more for now.
As diesel from the Gulf and Russia dried up, Australia had to find new suppliers – at a cost
The US–Iran war has upended the diesel supply chain. Australia’s supply of diesel has held up, but it now leans on fewer suppliers and a longer, more fragile chain.
Who’ll hold power in the Victorian upper house after the state election?
While much attention has been on Victoria’s lower house, there may also be a power shift in the important upper house.
I study polling failures – this time, pollsters were mostly right, if not precise
Polls had signaled important gains for Democrats ahead of Election Day, in the most reassuring performance since accurately anticipating Barack Obama’s presidential election in 2008.
Polls understated Democrat vote in landslide repudiation of Donald Trump
While counting continues in some seats, there was little suggestion the Democrats would win both houses so comfortably .
Australia needs serious discussion on AUKUS. This inquiry didn’t deliver it
Of its recommendations, some are hard to disagree with, such as developing a national security strategy. Others seem tangential, or even concerning.
Florida just voted for lower property taxes – and that could mean cuts in government services and new housing construction
Amendment 3, which cuts property taxes for most homeowners, will also mean a 30% drop in tax revenue for Florida counties.
‘Toxic Netanyahu’ – Israeli opposition calls for his removal after US midterms
Palestine Chronicle staff reporters Israeli opposition leaders have called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to leave office following the sweeping Democratic victories in the US midterm elections, warning that his continued leadership threatened Israel’s international standing and relations with Washington. Yair Golan, leader of the left-leaning Democrats party, said the results revealed “just how toxic
Lula’s victory in the 2026 Brazilian elections was far from inevitable
First round result was a warning against complacency, but the runoof comeback does not resolve the structural tensions facing a fourth Lula administration.
Why one positive E. coli sample put a Pittsburgh-area community under a boil-water advisory
A boil-water advisory in Beaver County has residents and schools adjusting. Water researchers explain what E. coli in tap water means and how utilities make it safe.
Pennsylvania Democrats now have power to push forward on election reform, marijuana legalization and minimum wage increases
Pennsylvania has had a split legislature since 2000. No more.
NASA’s Swift telescope has burned up, months after a robot sent to save it failed – here’s why it’s so hard to boost a satellite
If you bump a spacecraft in orbit, it may start tumbling uncontrollably. To save a falling satellite, the rescuer must be incredibly steady and precise.
Young Australians are trusting AI for financial advice. But chatbots can fail in 3 ways
If you do use AI, treat its answers as a starting point. Ask for sources, check them against Moneysmart, and keep your account details out of it.
Climate change is undermining our health and the burden falls heaviest on women
Our response to climate change must reflect the everyday health realities people face.
Earth’s rocks have a missing layer spanning up to a billion years. We finally know where it went
The Great Unconformity is a mysterious gap of hundreds of millions of years in Earth’s geological history – and new research may have finally explained it.
Midterms are bad for incumbents – and even worse when energy prices are high
The US economy is built on energy prices. When people’s bills are high, they tend to vote against incumbents and their parties.
What science says about perimenopause, menopause and mood swings — minus the hype
The link between between this transition and mental health is real but more complicated than the ‘meno-boom’ suggests.
From green smoothies to stem-cell supplements — online ‘immune-boosting’ ideas may lead you astray
Maintaining the immune system is about maintaining balance — not about supercharging its functions and abilities.