Eugene Doyle: Why I’ll be marching for global peace on June 20
COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Anti-War Aotearoa and Greenpeace are calling on Kiwis to join the March for Peace on June 20 in Auckland. I will be marching. I will be marching for many of the same reasons that compelled me to march against the Vietnam war in 1973 as a 12-year old — opposition to

Doctor Israel banned after 40 years in Gaza’s hospitals speaks out
INTERVIEW: Dr Myriam François talks to Dr Mads Gilbert on The Tea Eight months on from the so-called “ceasefire” in Gaza, the headlines may have moved on — but Israel’s assault has not. The siege remains. The starvation continues. The displacement continues. The destruction continues. “The Palestinian people, with their heroism and sacrifice, are fighting

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 13, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 13, 2026.

They’re saying the attack on Iran was proportional – here are the stats: You decide
COMMENTARY: By Nuri Vitacchi The US on Wednesday night destroyed civilian water utilities serving 20,000 Iranian people. “The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” US Central Command said in a statement on X. The punishment was “in response to yesterday’s downing of a US Army Apache helicopter,” the US Centcom said. READ

Alifereti Sakiasi: The geopolitical battle for Pacific media narratives
COMMENTARY: By Alifereti Sakiasi in Suva The contest for influence in the Pacific is no longer confined to diplomacy, aid projects or infrastructure. Increasingly, it is being waged through information, media and communications networks. A recent report, Understanding China’s Footprint in the Pacific Island Media Landscape, paints a picture of a region where newsrooms are

Criminal fly-tipping gangs are costing governments millions – AI and drones can help track waste dumpers
Technology could help find illegal waste sites faster and increase the chances of tracking down criminals.

Pieter Obels and Feng Xiao-Min: a compelling exploration of nature through steel and paint
The two artists have very different, yet curiously complimentary, responses to nature.

Baby slings: what the evidence says about benefits, risks and safe use
New research finds that baby slings offer important benefits, but better safety information could help prevent rare deaths and injuries.

As AI plays a bigger role in relationships, true intimacy is getting lost
The normalisation of AI to mediate and shape intimacy arguably erodes self-curiosity.

Women’s prize for non-fiction winner, The Finest Hotel in Kabul, gives voice to the people of Afghanistan
A history of Afghanistan told through the people who stayed and worked at the Kabul Intercontinental.

Not all fruits and vegetables are equal when it comes to heart health, our research shows
Choosing fruits and vegetables more carefully could help us better get important bioactives from our foods.

Fungal highways are vast, yet hidden underground – new study
A new study provides a crucial baseline: the first global map of where these fungal networks are and how much of them exists.

Killing cancer requires immune cells to infiltrate tumors’ hostile microenvironment – sugar shields can help them break in
CAR-T therapy engineers a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. Making these cels more resilient can make treatments more effective.

Trump’s AI security order acknowledges risks but stops short of regulating industry
The executive order is voluntary for AI companies but aligns with AI safety experts on the potential for harm.

Most Pittsburgh-area communities are losing residents – here’s why that might be OK
New census data shows population decline is spreading across America. Planning for growth may be actively making things worse.

Efforts to combat climate change often exclude Indigenous people – and they may not have any recourse
Efforts to protect land and environmental resources, including fighting climate change, often end up displacing people who have lived in those places for generations.

El Niño is back, and ocean temperatures are already near record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals
El Niño can trigger intense periods of extreme ocean warming known as marine heat waves that can devastate marine life.

The Constitution promises an interpreter for fair trials – US courts often can’t deliver
Federal protections promise a fair trial in a language you understand, but for millions who speak lesser-known languages, courts can’t keep that promise.

Israel’s rampant ethnic cleansing of West Bank Palestinian communities
Amnesty International What is happening right now is [the] erasure of humans, trees and stones, and anything that is Palestinian, by settlers under the support of the military. — Muntasir al-Maliki, a resident of Kufr Malik Palestinian Bedouins lived for generations in the occupied West Bank village of Khirbet Zanuta (Zanuta), sustaining themselves through herding,

Magic mushrooms and Alzheimer’s: what one remarkable case can tell us
A woman with advanced dementia appeared to regain speech and independence after psilocybin. The findings are intriguing, but far from proof.

Trump has backed away from renewed war with Iran – here’s why
A return to conflict simply would not have been in the interests of the US.

Germany pulled the plug on flagship FCAS fighter jet – the implications for European defence are worrying
The programme got bogged down by disputes over leadership, workshare and intellectual property.

What John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary means for Keir Starmer and the UK
Two defence resignations come at a time of turmoil for the prime minister.

New Caledonia’s political parties finalise line-up for provincial elections
By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific New Caledonia’s political parties are now in marching order to contest the upcoming local provincial elections scheduled to be held in just over a fortnight. The French High Commission has published an initial list of 24 political groupings are running for a seat in New Caledonia’s three provincial assemblies

The White House UFC event is a perfect storm of fight culture and US politics
Joe Rogan calls it a ‘gimmick’ but Donald Trump says it will be ‘great for America’. Welcome to the White House UFC event.

Why is it misogynistic to call a woman a ‘witch’?
From the middle ages on, threatening the patriarchy by displaying ambition or failing to conform to societal gender norms was taken as evidence of witchcraft.

This Renaissance queen helped build a nation. Her (male) critics called her dangerous
Queen Bona Sforza transformed royal finances and expanded a dynasty’s wealth, becoming one of the most powerful women in early modern eastern Europe.

Aliens might exist. But there are three reasons why they’re not visiting us
The nature of space, time and the evolution of life on Earth mean it’s unlikely extraterrestrial life has visited our home planet.

Where do Socceroos come from? Our map reveals Australia’s junior talent hotspots
What to make of the Socceroos’ World Cup squad? It says plenty about which areas produce elite players – and the regions that miss out.

Would you buy milk from a gene-edited cow? Consumers may be more open than you think
Gene-edited dairy products could help farmers adapt to climate change. New research shows consumers may be willing to buy them under the right conditions.

SpaceX raised $75B in record IPO – here’s why insiders like Elon Musk are much likelier than public stock buyers to get rocket-powered returns these days
In the old days, companies went public early to access cash to grow. These days, soon-to-be-public companies are already flush with cash from private finance.

Will ‘move on’ orders for rough sleepers make cities safer – or revive Victorian-era cruelty?
The government says proposed move-on orders will tackle disorder. Critics argue they risk punishing homelessness while doing little to address its causes.

Kids should be involved in their health care. Here’s how to make that happen
Research shows there’s more we can do to engage children during health-care appointments. Three experts explain.

Cartier, ‘the jeweller of kings’, has come to the NGV in a dazzling new exhibit
This is the largest and most innovative Cartier exhibition to ever come to Australia.

How bait-and-switch sales tricks make us click on online ‘bargains’ – and what to do about it
Showing one product, but pairing it with the price of a different product, is common on online shopping sites. It’s not just wasting your time: it can be illegal.

Climate change is causing fish to move to cooler water. But what if their escape route is blocked?
If you’re a tiny prawn, barramundi or rare sawfish in a northern Australian gulf, you can’t easily swim south to escape the heat.

Canada’s AI strategy and universities: Beyond literacy, students need to be fluent with AI
AI fluency implies a deep and critical understanding of emerging AI concepts and applications to equip students to innovate and create alongside AI systems.

The high cost of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD: Unequal mental-health access and the care economy
Mental health disorders such as ADHD are among the top five causes of disability in Canada, yet spending on mental-health care is often viewed as an economic drain.

Why corporate inclusion policies are moral decisions, not just business ones
Before asking whether inclusion is good for business, we should ask whether it is the right thing to do, two scholars argue.

Canada has alternatives to corporate grocery chains. Here’s what governments can learn from them
Public investment in food retail, distribution and wholesale infrastructure could add urgently needed diversity to Canada’s food landscape.

What is the Common Travel Area? Why the Ireland-UK border arrangement isn’t a ‘loophole’ for migrants
Violence continued in Belfast after a man from Sudan was charged with attempted murder following a knife attack.

How Taiwan is balancing between American and Chinese visions of energy dominance
The strategic goal for most countries is energy systems that are affordable and cannot be blocked or held hostage.

The ticket price fiasco for the men’s Fifa World Cup has been a spectacular own goal
Dynamic pricing is not always a bad system. But monopolies usually are.

Keith Rankin Analysis – Truth, Accountability, and the Burden of Proof
In the movie, Mary Mapes – under inquisition – was accused of conducting her research under a 'liberal' presumption that George Bush was guilty; whereas, under formal law, accused persons should enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Dan Rather was accused, implicitly, of lacking judgement by going along with this…

Referees, athletes, fans: how the US border crackdowns are tarnishing the World Cup
Instead of bringing people together, the World Cup is in danger of being remembered for the climate of exclusion and fear generated by one of its host nations.

Women have the right to health care in prison. This should extend to freezing their eggs
Punishment for a crime shouldn’t extend to denying women’s fertility when they’re released from prison. Here’s why.

Are the US and Iran back at war? Why bombing your way to peace won’t work
Escalating a conflict is paradoxically one way to end it. But this strategy can be flawed, particularly in a region like the Middle East.

Private space tourism is taking off – but laws on outer space are from another era
Commercial operators are launching more rockets and carrying more passengers than ever before. But international space law was written in the 1960s.

I built a maths model to simulate the World Cup a million times. Find out your team’s chances
An expanded tournament means traditionally strong nations may not all progress as far as usual at the World Cup.

A 5.3 million-year-old whale graveyard has been found on the floor of the Indian Ocean
Chinese scientists have discovered hundreds of ancient whale carcasses deep in the Diamantina Zone off the coast of Western Australia.

Earth’s energy imbalance has doubled – here’s why that matters
A key climate warning sign just hit a record high.

Good news for renewables: southern Australia’s offshore winds will stay strong even as the climate changes
Strong, reliable winds blowing over Australia’s southern seas make offshore wind farms appealing. These winds are set to stay strong.

How Silicon Valley misreads The Lord of the Rings
For Tolkien, any place can become “Mordor”, when the desire to benefit others turns into the will to dominate them.

A right mess: how mining, media and politics interests are combining to influence public debate in Australia
The big question now is how this new media-politics-money combination will form an effective force on the right of Australian politics.

I used sound waves to make espresso. It could cut coffee-brewing energy use by 75%
‘Ultrasonic espresso’ made with cold water and high-frequency sound waves uses less energy than the traditional version – and taste tests show it’s just as good.

Warming winters are changing NZ’s landscapes, bringing insect pests, smaller fruit and carbon loss
Warmer winters mean insect pests like wasps will likely spread further, while weedy plants and rats invade alpine zones, shrinking the refuge for endangered birds.

Australia’s huge ‘forever chemical’ lawsuit focuses on the cleanup – not human health. Why?
It’s the largest lawsuit ever brought by the Australian government. But what is the $2 billion forever chemicals case meant to achieve?

Life after death: From burned trees to bleached corals, how dead organisms live on as the building blocks of new life
The dead remains of foundation species can boost or deter how well future generations are able to grow and thrive.

Hiring your teen this summer? A family job doesn’t automatically keep them safe at work
Parents who hire their own kids often skip the safety conversations they’d have with any other new employee. But that assumption can put young workers in danger.

What happens to microplastics when swallowed? In earthworms, they do not leave the digestive tract
We may need to give the human digestive tract more credit for its ability to act as a barrier to microplastics.

Municipal governments are often slow to act, except when FIFA comes to town
Host cities’ agility in preparing for FIFA stands in sharp contrast to the usual rhetoric that municipalities cannot accomplish other civic needs with urgency.

Belfast violence: an uncomfortable reminder of the innocent people ‘burnt out’ during the Troubles
Families fled burning homes as violence flared in the city.

Belfast unrest shows the power of social media as far‑right views on immigration enter the mainstream
Calls for calm as tensions rise are often a case of too little, too late.

The government is reforming child support. Here’s what’s changing – and what’s been missed
One million children are meant to receive child support each year. Proposed changes will help them in some ways, but fall short of addressing big problems.

Do mandatory body cameras actually reduce police brutality?
NSW police will make body-worn cameras mandatory after recent controversies. But it may not solve the issues they face.

Mark Naglazas: Blaming immigrants when we need to look inside for our heart of darkness
COMMENTARY: By Mark Naglazas Trying to get my head around Pete Hegseth’s bonkers, deeply offensive D-Day memorial speech in which the US Secretary of War drew an equivalence between the Allies storming the beaches of Normandy — the largest seaborne invasion in history — with illegal immigrants seeking refuge in Europe. “Sadly, today, different European

Is milk good or bad for kids? And how much dairy do they actually need?
If you follow child nutrition content on social media, you’re bound to be confused when it comes to giving your kids milk. Here’s what the evidence actually says.

A meteorite impact may have once rained gold on Western Australia – new study
Here’s what happens when a rock from space smashes into a goldfield.

Latest Paris court ruling triggers polarised reactions in New Caledonia
By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific A recent ruling by a French court to drop all charges against pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin and 13 others in their alleged role in the May 2024 civil unrest in New Caledonia has triggered a barrage of emotional reactions from across the French Pacific territory’s political chessboard. Last

Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Simon Welsh on One Nation’s rise and Victoria’s ‘very messy’ election
The pollster also warns any move to replace Victorian premier Jacinta Allan before the November state election would be a ‘disaster’ for Labor.

How can we make buildings more resilient before – and after – earthquakes? We put one solution to the test
A full-scale earthquake test suggests a new generation of low-carbon timber-based buildings could remain usable after major shaking.

The ‘Divine Ponytail’, drug scandals and the OJ Simpson chase: looking back at the 1994 US World Cup
The soccer was superb but the 1994 World Cup in the US is also remembered for multiple controversies.

Astronomers found a galaxy in the throes of death – and they know what’s killing it
All things die, even galaxies.

The market moves before Trump posts
Hundreds of millions of dollars are being made on well-timed oil bets occurring just before Trump posts. But can we call it insider trading?

As SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic plan blockbuster launches, will it make AI giants more accountable?
While all eyes are on whether Elon Musk is about to become the world’s first trillionaire, there may be a hidden upside to AI giants finally facing market scrutiny.

Climate change has already made Australians in one state much poorer, and more’s to come
It’s time to recognise climate change for what it is. A new study shows it’s a current and ongoing threat to our standard of living.

Reform is hard. Albanese and Chalmers need to stay the course
The Albanese government was criticised on its first term for not doing enough. Now that it is prescribing reform, it’s copping flak for that, too.

Does the body really ‘keep the score’ after trauma? How the debunked idea of ‘repressed memories’ is making a comeback
In the 1990s, repressed memories sparked a major scientific dispute about how trauma works. Now, the idea is back – with a twist.

Breathing two-billion-year old air: MONA’s Hard Core is an artistic journey through deep time
An Earth scientist reviews Julian Charrière’s new exhibition spanning volcanoes, glacial rocks, and humans’ short yet impactful role in geological time.

The Social Security trust fund will run dry in 2032 – what that means for retirees and workers who hope to retire
Unless Congress acts, 1 in 5 Americans who receive Social Security could see an across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 22% starting in 2032.

Glucosamine supplements may speed memory loss from Alzheimer’s, new research shows
Animal experiments and analysis of patient records suggest that taking glucosamine is safe for a healthy brain but is associated with further decline in diseased brains.

Greater international co-operation is needed to achieve the UN’s global forest goals
While some progress has been made since these goals were established in 2017, it is uneven. Only seven of the 26 targets have been broadly met.

I don’t want to kill the spiders, ants and other bugs in my house. What should I do instead?
There are 10 quintillion insects in the world. Here’s what to do with the ones in your house.

Koala numbers crashed across Australia 100,000 years ago. Global glacial cycles are likely to blame
A new study rewrites our understanding of the iconic marsupial’s history in Australia.

‘Technostress’: why many older people feel shut out by the digital world
As more services move online, a study based on interviews with over-65s reveals growing barriers to staying connected, informed and independent.

Brushing your teeth in hospital could reduce the chance of catching pneumonia
A toothbrush, some toothpaste and a few minutes of care can prevent a life‑threatening infection. That’s rare in modern medicine.

Meet the internet movement trying to tackle the manosphere. It’s called BreadTube
Video essayists on YouTube are trying to beat the manosphere at it’s own game. Here are five insightful channels to watch.

What’s the difference between intrusive thoughts and suicidal thoughts?
A scary thought that keeps on popping into your mind doesn’t mean it’ll come true or you’ll act on it. But some types of intrusive thoughts are worth listening to.

Te Kuaka advocacy group calls for NZ transparent, independent ‘Pacific foreign policy’
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand policy research and advocacy group released a detailed blueprint today for a fresh “independent” Te Tiriti and Pacific-based approach to foreign policy, and called for greater transparency in election year. The current coalition government has “radically shifted New Zealand’s longstanding foreign policy traditions” — including by moving the country

One Nation takes primary vote lead in Newspoll as Albanese’s ratings slump to record low
Anthony Albanese’s net approval slumped seven points to -24, a record low below his previous record low -21 in February 2025.

Extreme heat at the World Cup: are FIFA’s safeguards enough?
One of the most effective heat-mitigation strategies requires no ice, no towels and no new technology: avoid playing at the hottest time of day.

Italian prosciutto in place of Yunnan ham: how Chinese migrants navigate food in Australia
Chinese food heritage is diverse and vast, and embodies the distinct geographical and historical traces of various cultural identities.

How waves, ponds and green algae are accelerating sea ice melt in Antarctica
This remarkable seasonal change in Antarctic sea ice is like a heartbeat within our planet’s climate system. We need to better understand it.

To achieve ‘AI for all’ in agriculture, Canada’s farmers need regional, systems-level change
Canada is developing sophisticated AI tools for agriculture but lacks the systems to help farmers understand, integrate and trust these technologies.

We desperately need skilled workers. So why is vocational education treated as the ‘back-up plan’ for school leavers?
When it comes to life after Year 12, the media and schools tend to focus on ATARs and university study.

As Japan’s popularity booms, a new survey shows strong anti-foreigner sentiment
An issue that Japan’s governments have long neglected is now of serious concern to its population, a new survey shows.

Washing machines could support skin health for First Nations people – if we get the wash settings right
More evidence is needed to understand how laundry could help curb skin disease.

How the invention of glassblowing changed everyday life in ancient Rome
Ancient furnace workers experimented with heating the ends of glass tubes to rework them. One day, someone blew into that tube and changed history.

Demand for menopause hormone therapy is on the rise – but training gaps remain for doctors
The latest research on menopause hormone therapy is reassuring, showing little to no association with stroke and blood clots, but benefits for bone health.

Getting scammed via a text will be harder from July 1 – but more businesses need to act
Australia’s 2.6 million small businesses and community groups need to act fast, or risk having their texts mistaken for scams – all because of one new word.

Why more doctors are validating near-death experiences
What five decades of research has taught us about surviving death.

Why the director of national intelligence needs more than political loyalty to do the job
The newly named director of national intelligence is a Trump political ally who has no experience in national security. A veteran of the field says it matters who holds the job.

Vision, Europe of the Future conference – in partnership with The Conversation
The Conversation is a media partner of the think tank Vision’s seventh ‘Europe of the Future’ conference in Siena, Italy.

Lim Tean: Why standing on the wrong side of history cost Germany its UNSC seat
COMMENTARY: By Lim Tean Germany learnt to its huge cost and embarrassment last week that supporting Israel’s genocidal operations in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East leads only to opprobrium from the international community. A country which had been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for decades lost in its bid

Two decades of research show Indonesia’s coral reefs are heat-tolerant — but only up to a point
While many Indonesian reefs have remained surprisingly stable despite decades of ocean warming, this resilience has its limits.

Masters of the Universe shows how companies learned to monetise childhood forever
In some ways, the new film has been four decades in the making. And it all comes down to Mattel’s savvy franchising strategy, starting in the 1980s.

Seahorses and shark fins are illegally trafficked. An AI tool could help stop this crime
Many marine creatures are among the 4,000 species affected by wildlife trafficking.

Why the tax NZ never wanted to talk about is back on the political agenda in 2026
Labour’s proposed capital gains tax has revived a debate long deemed politically toxic. But growing pressure on NZ’s tax system is making it harder to avoid.

Richard Scolyer leaves a unique legacy of pioneering brain cancer research
Scolyer captured the world’s attention when he volunteered for a world-first experimental treatment for brain cancer. He died on Sunday night, aged 59.

World Cup creates perfect conditions for infectious diseases to spread – here are the biggest threats health experts are watching for
Respiratory diseases like measles and flu pose a much bigger threat to public health for the World Cup than does Ebola.

Should we ‘stream’ school students based on ability? New research suggests yes – but we need to be cautious
Educators have long debated whether it is better for students to be learning with students of a similar ‘ability’ or a mix.

Curaçao and Cabo Verde are into the World Cup. What impact can these ‘minnow nations’ make?
Several so-called minnow nations are making their debuts at the World Cup. Will they add to the tournament or is it overkill?

How the food industry shapes your child’s fussy eating
Making Nutella sandwiches for lunch again? The food industry has you in a bind, a new study shows.

Are Australia’s carbon farming schemes just hot air? Hardly – forests are regrowing almost everywhere
Critics have taken aim at an Australian scheme meant to encourage forest regrowth. But independent assessments show the regeneration schemes are working

This tax time, here’s what to watch out for – and when it’s better to lodge early or later
From dodgy deductions to avoid, to timing when you submit depending on if you expect a refund or a bill, two tax experts explain what you need to know.

Australia wants social media to be ‘safe by design’. What does that actually look like?
Australia’s proposed digital duty of care will ask social media platforms to actively prevent harm.

Canada’s possible expansion of MAID for mental illness is worrisome, including for high schools
In 2027, Canadians 18 years and older with mental illness who are deemed to meet age and other eligibility criteria could potentially access doctor-assisted death in Canada.

Modern warfare aspires to be pan-domain. What does that mean for western militaries?
NATO is moving toward a broader approach to deterrence and defence — one that reflects elements of the ‘pan-domain’ thinking that Canada is championing.

How you can stop your cat from bringing home unwelcome pathogens
Thinking about how and where your cat roams outdoors can help safeguard biodiversity, feline and wildlife welfare and public health.

Why don’t FIFA and the Premier League treat racist abuse as a workplace hazard?
Governing bodies treat racism as a public relations problem. Doing so lets the system perform action without real structural change.

What happens when the world’s breadbaskets start failing simultaneously?
The modern food system was built on the expectation that geography would spread out the risks from droughts and floods. Climate change is testing all of that at once.

Enhanced Games: what’s the issue?
The Enhanced Games wound up on May 24 2026 without the medal shower that was widely expected, but what does the multi-sport event really stand for when it’s stripped of the moral frenzy?

Internet access is unequal in South Africa’s economic powerhouse: survey shows race and income mark the digital divide
Access to the internet in South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng, is marked by inequalities.

Case dismissed for pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin
By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific A court in Paris has dropped all charges against pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin and 13 others in their alleged role in the May 2024 civil unrest in New Caledonia. In announcing their ruling on Friday in Paris to French national media, the panel of judges said they had

Green growth claims are overstated – our study shows three reasons why
Real efforts have been made, and recent lines on the chart do go in the right direction. But what if they are wobbles, not turns.

How migration became a key to World Cup success
There is some evidence to suggest that national teams with more migrant players perform better on the pitch.

Victorians called burnout ‘overwork’ – and they cured it by holidaying in France
Victorians were acutely aware of the health problems which could come from devotion to the ‘gospel of work’.

Marjane Satrapi’s masterpiece Persepolis transformed the world’s understanding of Iran
First published in 2000, Persepolis created a transformative shift in comics, memoir and political storytelling. Its Iranian–French creator has died, aged 56.

The Fifa men’s World Cup 2026 could be too big for its own good
How recent expansion could dilute football’s most powerful brand.

Why sophrosyne, an ancient Greek virtue, matters more than ever in the age of AI
For the Greeks, sophrosyne was an ideal second to none. It’s just as important today, in an age of internet addiction and misinformation – but harder to come by.

How businesses with ties to Jeffrey Epstein saw norms – and even share prices – suffer
The more Epstein-connected directors a company had, no matter its size, the more likely it was to have governance problems.

When global trade becomes a weapon, how can African economies protect themselves?
Africa needs to navigate the tension between interdependence, economic security, and economic diversification.

Poetry can give voice to Ireland’s unspoken abortion stories
No poetry collection on the subject of abortion has come out of Ireland.

Ebola: vaccines alone won’t stop an outbreak – here’s what else is needed
Events in eastern DRC are a reminder that Ebola outbreaks are rarely controlled by vaccines alone.

Building more renewable energy sources means rethinking land use for agriculture and conservation
Generating solar power requires a lot of land – but which land should it be? And what else can be done on that land?

Child drownings spike during heatwaves – and it’s a serious climate justice issue
As the UK gets hotter, children will seek water to cool down. The real question is why so many have so few places to go.

UK Home Office to use AI age estimation on asylum seekers – how accurate is the technology?
Leading algorithms now achieve a mean absolute error of less than three years across all ages.

Heartbreaking historical tales, unsettling scenes and shortlisted non-fiction – what to read, watch and see this week
Our picks for this week include a film where internet folklore comes to life, books to lose yourself in and a eerie landscape exhibition.

How a simple blood test could help detect heart damage during breast cancer treatment
Researchers are investigating whether blood tests and heart scans can detect hidden heart damage during breast cancer chemotherapy.

What Pennsylvania’s AI chatbot lawsuit teaches us about the psychology behind medical trust
A Carnegie Mellon researcher explains the connection between our brains and AI chatbots – and what a new Pennsylvania lawsuit reveals about the dangers of AI.

Methane rocket fuel is easier to handle and convenient but, as Blue Origin saw, it can be very explosive
A physical chemist outlines the promises and risks associated with methane fuel and describes why SpaceX and Blue Origin use it in their superheavy rockets.

As an American, should you feel guilty about rooting against the US in the World Cup?
It’s one thing to pull for your national team when patriotism feels uncomplicated. It’s quite another when you aren’t feeling very proud to be an American.

What is ‘strategic autonomy’ – and why is everyone suddenly reaching for it?
The leaders of Canada, France, India and Turkey are among those looking to leverage their ability to say ‘no’ to Washington.

Yes, you really can be allergic to exercise – and the symptoms can be serious
Between 2.3% and 5% of all cases of anaphylaxis globally are triggered by exercise.

Friday essay: love, sex and intimacy in the time of AI
We are designed to smell each other – but the custom-made soulmates of AI are frictionless, and always available. What if we fall out of love with our own kind?

Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions
Following news of Australia acquiring used Virginia-class submarines from the US, AUKUS has been in the headlines again, but how much of what you’ve heard is true?

Is Victoria really the ‘car theft capital’ of Australia? And if so, why?
At a time when vehicle theft claims are falling across most of Australia, Victoria is heading in the opposite direction.

Can you really drain your lymphatic system, and should you?
Social media is spruiking the health benefits of ‘lymphatic draining’. 2 lymphoedema experts explain what it is and whether it works.

AI at the World Cup: smarter tactics, healthy players, safer crowds – but new risks
This year’s World Cup will be the biggest ever – it also promises to be the most technologically advanced.

Australia now has access to Anthropic’s Claude Mythos. It may improve cyber safety – but not for everyone
The AI era has fundamentally changed the risks associated with poor cybersecurity practices.

From exporting spyware to surveilling activists – how democracies became the new digital authoritarians
Democracies can either defend rights in the digital age, or drift into complicity as the architects of a new, global authoritarianism enabled by AI.

NZ’s new forestry rules promise consistency. Will they also increase environmental risk?
As an overhauled rulebook for commercial forestry comes into force, there are concerns it could weaken safeguards as climate risks intensify.

Three new Ebola vaccines are being developed. An infectious disease expert explains
There is no approved vaccine to curb the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. But new funding offers hope.

What the hit new show Off Campus gets right in its portrayal of sexual violence
For decades, TV has had a ‘rape problem’. But Off Campus proves stories about sexual violence don’t need to be graphic to be powerful.

Australian unis have dropped again in global rankings. Here’s why we can’t just shrug it off
According to international assessments, Australian unis are ‘struggling’. Closer to home, some academics are questioning whether a uni degree is even worth it.

People are using AI to communicate without disclosing it. Is this morally wrong?
Not all deceptions are equal.

Kerbside parking is great for drivers – but terrible for everyone else. Could we get rid of it?
Australia largely has enough off-street parking to do away with unsightly kerbside parking – and free up space for bikes, pedestrians and scooters.

Politicians have long misunderstood the ‘working class’. The rise of the far right shows how mistaken they have been
Class has always mattered, and now labour parties around the world are finding out why.

National insecurity: what happens when countries start to lose their sense of identity?
Borrowed from psychiatry, the term “ontological security” describes how nations understand themselves and their place in the world – and how it can break down.

Starting kindergarten soon? Summer is a perfect time to support your child’s early literacy learning
The best part of having fun with rhymes and words, noticing letters and reading together is that interactions build both early literacy skills and family connections.

Wildfires are reversing America’s progress on ozone pollution
The US had been reducing surface-level ozone, a harmful pollutant and the main component of smog, but that changed as wildfire activity picked up around 2015.

US mortgage rates are staying high – and the Fed can do very little about it
Investors’ inflation expectations, much more than the central bank, are among the factors that affect the cost of home loans.

Ocean conservation needs strong relationships, not just targets
There is no shortage of global objectives and targets driving ocean conservation. However, protecting oceans depends on the communities that steward them.

Zelenskyy’s honouring of wartime nationalists is straining Ukraine’s alliance with Poland
Two years after Canada’s parliament unwittingly gave a standing ovation to a veteran of a Nazi SS division, Ukraine’s own president is honouring figures from the same dark chapter of wartime nationalism.

How common is sex-selective abortion in Australia, really?
On first glance, this might appear to be a defensible measure. But there’s little evidence these abortions are occurring.

Why Australia needs stronger laws to stop dangerous products being sold online
Can consumers be confident the products we buy online now are safe? Not really. Changing the law to catch up with other countries would help.

Australia is facing a new 12.5% US tariff over anti-slavery claims. Are they actually right?
Using tariffs to make nations act on forced labour is questionable. Yet there is substance behind the US allegations – including that Australia hasn’t done enough.

UN report warns AI could soon use 3% of world’s electricity and more water than we need to drink
As AI models become cheaper and more attractive, they will likely encourage new uses and higher volumes of use – erasing any efficiency gains.

Game changers: how a stroke of paint transformed basketball, and the athletes who play it
For decades, basketball was dominated by super tall players crowding around the basket for easy shots. Then things changed with a stroke of paint.

Beast: Australia’s first MMA film, starring Russell Crowe, is cheesy yet oddly comforting
The new Stan sports drama is brimming with cliches. But there are some standouts among the cast.

Exoskeletons for people with cerebral palsy are now a reality – but there’s still much to figure out
A new review on exoskeleton therapy for cerebral palsy reports some promising findings.

What would it take for Pauline Hanson to become prime minister?
It’s certainly not impossible for the One Nation leader to take the country’s top job – but there are several hurdles she’d have to jump to get there.

What we still get wrong about how people from non-Western backgrounds recover from trauma
Western PTSD treatments typically focus on talking to a therapist about your feelings and emotions. But this doesn’t actually help everyone.

Hidden in plain sight: the race to discover new species before they’re gone
Even now, in an age of satellites and genome sequencing, the Earth still holds secrets.

What’s a living wake? The end-of-life ritual that lets you say goodbye on your own terms
Whether you call it a living funeral or a ‘bon voyage party’, a growing number of Australians are choosing to celebrate their lives before they die.

Is Israel planning to reoccupy the Gaza Strip? This is what’s happening behind the ‘yellow line’
Two million Palestinians are being squeezed into a smaller pocket of Gaza, while Israel is preparing the ground for a longer-term occupation.

Why a US ‘freeloading’ claim has put the heat on NZ’s independent foreign policy
Defence Minister Chris Penk has inadvertently highlighted a major tension between increased defence spending and New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy.

Police to review anti-racism guidance after Henry Nowak murder – why they’re right to do so
Police Minister Sarah Jones said the current guidance gives the ‘wrong impression’.

Focus apps are failing neurodivergent minds, new research finds
Many focus apps fail to consider neurodivergent strengths, such as the ability to hyperfocus.

Canada’s ‘major projects’ should not come at the cost of the environment
Impact assessments prevent harm before it occurs. Circumventing the process before we understand the risks is misguided and a gamble with our collective future.

In a world divided, teachers need to connect with each other
We need to reduce workplace isolation to support teachers’ collegial capacity to mitigate loneliness, bolster engagement and contribute toward more equitable school environments.

The Regency period was queer and trans. ‘Bridgerton’ barely scratches the surface
The Netflix show is missing a richer and more accurate history of queer and trans life during that period in history.

An unfinished reckoning with police violence: Community data shows ongoing systemic racism
Racialized communities are systematically over-represented in police use-of-force data across 17 cities and regions. And this is rooted in ongoing racism in policing.

The graduate job market is grim right now – but the data says university is still worth it
The employment benefit of a degree is large.

Australia’s economy slows as households tighten their belts, while AI investment surges
If GDP per person falls again in the June quarter, Australia would enter a ‘per capita’ recession – signalling the average Australian is going backwards.

What is ‘clean eating’ and how can it affect wellbeing?
For some people, healthy eating can become an obsession that has a devastating impact on their health and relationships.

How much water and power will AI data centres use in Australia? Ironically, we don’t have the data to know
Don’t panic about AI data centres and water – it’s energy we should worry about

Babies with older siblings have a higher infection risk, but are less protected through vaccination
New research reveals maternal vaccination drops with each pregnancy. This means later-born children are less protected but at higher risk of infectious illness.

Can ‘grip strength’ exercises actually help you live longer?
This sounds far-fetched. But what does the science say?

One Nation surges to first on primary votes in two new polls
Both Redbridge and YouGov polls have Pauline Hanson’s party ahead of the government, before preferences.

From ‘USA94’ to now: how soccer has changed since the last American World Cup
More matches, smaller nations, significant rule changes – the 2026 World Cup will be vastly different to the 1994 version in the US.

Indigenous digital colonisation: How the internet is affecting the lives of Indigenous peoples in the Amazon
While technology can promote inclusion and access to information, it can also lead to dependency and affect the cultural identity of indigenous communities.

Indonesia has ‘kidnapped’ Pesta Babi star to cover up ecocide, claims ULMWP
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has kidnapped and threatened Mama Yasinta Moiwend (Mama Sinta), one of the Marind tribe women featured in the controversial documentary Pesta Babi (Pig Feast), into denying the film and its message, claims a West Papuan advocacy group. Pesta Babi, which focuses on the Merauke sugarcane megaproject and was premiered in New

How flu overtook COVID as Australia’s deadliest respiratory virus
In the second half of 2025 influenza killed more Australians a month than COVID. Here’s how it happened.

Online ads are becoming harder to spot – but we’re not powerless to stop it
Increasingly, digital advertising is designed to dissolve into the flow of the content you consume online.

How to encourage a child to try new, scary things (without traumatising them in the process)
If your child has ever dug their heels in on the morning of school athletics day, or refused to speak in front of the class, you’re not alone.

Galloway Hoard exhibit in Sydney dives into the secrets of the Viking world
This mysterious Viking-age hoard lay buried for more than a millenium. Unearthed by an amateur metal detectorist, it is now on show in Sydney.

Hanson’s gas policy follows the far-right playbook: attack ‘elites’ and push for drilling
One Nation wants to differentiate itself from the Liberals on energy at a time when the parties increasingly overlap on social issues.

New season of The Conversation’s award-winning Curious Kids podcast launching this June
The podcast where kids ask questions direct to academics is back for a second season.

A lot of ‘recycled’ plastic is being burned overseas – and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems
As more countries ban waste imports, plastic waste generators like the US will need to find better solutions. A few states are putting more responsibility on producers.

Myanmar’s forgotten war: How the world is failing the test of the UN’s Responsibility to Protect
The war in Myanmar draws far less western attention than Ukraine or the Middle East. Why is such an enduring and intractable conflict being treated with so little urgency?

The push to standardize ESG scores could make corporate greenwashing easier, not harder
Tying executive pay to ESG metrics is now standard practice at most large companies. But new research finds that when the scoring methodology becomes predictable, it becomes easier to game.

Jacinda Ardern turns her own imposter syndrome into self-help wisdom for young readers
In this adaptation of her bestselling memoir, Jacinda Ardern turns inward toward the psychological terrain of her own self-doubt – and how to overcome it.

Breakthrough drug nearly doubles survival with advanced pancreatic cancer – an oncologist explains how daraxonrasib overcame an ‘undruggable’ disease
Around 97% of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer die within five years. Researchers have figured out a way to target the mechanism that makes these tumors so deadly.

Ebola may have spread beyond Africa. How are health authorities responding?
Three experts explain how the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola may have crossed continents.

Australia has been the victim of an AUKUS ‘bait and switch’
The change in the submarine delivery plan should come as no surprise – this deal has been unequal from the start.

Will the budget boost small firms? Not in the way we might think
Budget 2026 offered useful support for small firms. But building blocks are not the same as a productivity blueprint.

It costs a million dollars a day to keep low-risk defendants on remand. More prisons aren’t the answer
Budget 2026 spends $503 million on expanding prisons. But 41% of the prison population are people on remand and more than half are released once their case is heard.

Fish bones and scorching hair: new research shows how Aboriginal people fought smallpox
A smallpox epidemic in the 1830s brought a new and deadly disease to the southeastern frontier. Aboriginal people responded with three distinct techniques.

‘Do you want a player to die on court?’ – athlete wellbeing concerns heat up at the French Open
Sweltering conditions at this year’s French Open sparked fresh debate about whether the sport was doing enough to keep athletes safe.

Food industry exposé Fast Food Nation predicted today’s chronic illness epidemic, 25 years ago
A GP reflects on the lessons of Eric Schlosser’s ‘muckraking’ classic. A necessary health check on the world we’ve built, it urges us all to take back our agency.

The complex history of ‘pride’, from shame and sin to a symbol of protest and power
Tracing the history of this emotion can help us understand how it came to be empowering for LGBTQIA+ people – even as certain groups try and hijack it.

National wants to scrap sexual offender character references. Should NZ go further?
Countries including the US, UK, Canada use consistent sentencing guidelines. Is it time that New Zealand follows suit?

Three hours of free power a day sounds good – but is Australia’s scheme fair?
Three hours of free power isn’t a giveaway – it’s meant to help the grid use floods of cheap solar. To succeed, the new scheme has to be fair.

Marriage, divorce and parenthood all shape Canadians’ decisions to become self-employed — here’s how
Research tracking Canadians through marriage, childbirth, divorce and widowhood finds that entry into self-employment can be shaped as much by household circumstances as by individual ambition.

Stressing about your baby’s growth check? Here’s what you need to know
A single dot on a growth chart doesn’t mean much in isolation. Here’s what your nurse is looking for when checking your baby’s growth – and how they’ll support you.

Payday super is coming on July 1. Workers will be thousands of dollars better off long term
Unpaid super costs Australians around $6 billion. So how much is ‘payday super’ likely to boost your balance? And where can employees or employers get more help?

In Iran war’s shadow, Israel’s renewed Lebanon campaign risks repeating failed lessons – and occupations – of the past
Unable to defeat Iran, Israel shifts its focus to Lebanon, fearing U.S. negotiations with Tehran could limit operations against Hezbollah.

Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir is negatively impacting female education
The stark difference in women’s education statistics shows how Kashmiri girls and women are bearing a disproportionate brunt of militarized governance.

Tony Blair has taken aim at Keir Starmer – but some of his criticisms apply to New Labour too
Several of the UK’s current problems trace their roots back to Blair’s time in office.

What happened to Afghanistan’s female academics?
By December 2022, all universities in Afghanistan had closed their doors to women.

Should FIFA be doing more to protect soccer players from the World Cup heat?
The heat stress players may face during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could negatively affect their performance and pose a threat to their health.

Centuries-old logbooks reveal how bowhead whales are recovering from near-extinction
New research used whaling logbooks to explain why only two of the four bowhead whale populations are bouncing back from whaling, which was abandoned a century ago.

Battleground Vienna: Austrian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Russia belongs to a long tradition
The Austrian capital of Vienna has long been a hub of espionage.

Australia’s spent billions on renewable gases, with little to show. This is how to do it properly
If we’re serious about reducing Australia’s emissions, we need far more renewable gases. And soon.

‘Some people’s lives matter more than others’: local responders in Sudan feel ignored as the world focuses on other crises
Sudan is one of the most dangerous places in the world to deliver humanitarian assistance. It is also home to one of the most chronically underfunded.

When to rescue food and when to chuck it out, according to a nutritionist
From brown bananas to soggy salad, we often let food get past its prime. Here are some tips to salvage what you can.

Activism, complicated sexualities, and rural Oklahoma: what to stream this Pride Month
From Queer as Folk to Reservation Dogs, this is a Pride Month special edition of what we’re streaming.

Israeli forces capture Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle, a Crusade-era site once held by the Knights Templar
This has historically been a very strategic site, especially during the Crusades.

Are our cars spying on us? A cybersecurity expert explains how to stay safe
Australia’s spy agency has issued a stark warning about the privacy and national security risks of ‘connected cars’.

Pauline Hanson attracting women voters? It’s part of a global far-right trend
Riding high on new opinion polling, Pauline Hanson is one of the women leading the charge for the far-right all over the world.

French Constitutional Council approves changes to New Caledonia’s electoral roll
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The French Constitutional Council has validated an adjustment to New Caledonia’s restrictions for their forthcoming provincial elections due to be held on 28 June 2026. The adjustment will now allow more than 10,000 people to cast their votes in the French territory’s local elections. The ruling

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if it’s the right type
A new study has shown that more vegetation is not automatically better.

Kāpū Tī with Antony: Confessions of a fringe City Centre local
By Antony Phillips in The Vertical For this edition of Kāpū Tī with Antony, I sit down with journalist and academic, Dr David Robie. A professor of journalism who has worked in Aotearoa and abroad, David is a Central Aucklander and regular visitor who is highly engaged in the City Centre. We sit down for…

Almost 20% of Australian students don’t finish school – these 3 things can help them stay
There are 3 key things high schools can do right from the start to support students to stay until Year 12.

Men film themselves sexually abusing sedated women and share it with other men online. Why?
Thousands of men around the world, including in Australia, have formed online communities to trade in rape content and advice. They do it to impress one another.

Australia’s banking system locks many Muslims out of first home buyer schemes. Here’s how to fix it
Many Muslim Australians who observe the Islamic prohibition on interest cannot get government help to buy their first home unless they compromise on their faith.

Talking about trauma doesn’t always help. Brain scans show one reason why
Therapies aimed at reframing negative thoughts may not work for some people with PTSD. New research shows it may be because their brains work differently after trauma.

Cities are making it rain more – but not as much as scientists thought
A new study shows it does rain more in cities, but the trend over time has been exaggerated by changes in satellites.

Feral horse numbers in Australia’s alps are on the rise again. It’s time to act
A mild summer led to breeding. And a dry winter could concentrate feral horses around fragile alpine waterways.

Why Melbourne’s obsession with black clothing actually makes sense
In the words of fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: ‘Above all black says this: I don’t bother you – don’t bother me!’

Can Wegovy move the needle on NZ’s obesity crisis, or simply treat its symptoms?
The popular new drug can bring dramatic weight loss for some patients. But for NZ, tackling a rising obesity epidemic is likely to require much broader change.

Canada should invest in nature as critical infrastructure
We are all familiar with the built infrastructure we rely on every day. However, we don’t think as much about the critical value of nature.

Smart sensors could help Canada tackle its $58-billion food waste problem
By improving how freshness data is measured and shared, Canada can waste less food, lower costs for households, reduce emissions and build a more resilient food system

Poop tests and blood tests join colonoscopy as options for colorectal cancer screening
The American Cancer Society updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to reflect advances in technology and increase access to screening.

Pro-Palestine groups plan coordinated protests in Fiji and NZ over Israel’s first Pacific embassy
Asia Pacific Report Pro-Palestine activist groups plan to simultaneously protest against the opening of the first Pacific embassy by Israel with pickets in the Fiji capital Suva and the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Wellington next week. Fijians for Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) are planning these coordinated protests in opposition