Ecosystems are often described using functional language, implying they have purposes they can fail to perform. This essay argues that ecosystems lack intrinsic ends and cannot truly "break down," challenging the "ecosystem services" framework and advocating for clearer thinking about environmental crises.
HSBC is set to admit in Federal Court that it failed to protect Australian customers from a long-running spoofing scam, potentially leading to a massive financial penalty. Hundreds of customers lost millions, with some receiving inadequate reimbursement.
A 25,000-tonne illegal rubbish dump in Bickershaw, UK, has become a symbol of the north-south divide and a broken system, with residents comparing the slow response to a quicker cleanup in Oxfordshire. The dump, located near a primary school, has caused environmental and health hazards, including a nine-day fire last summer. Local politicians are using the issue in a byelection campaign.
A technical fault with FIFA's new semi-automated offside system caused confusion during the Switzerland vs Qatar World Cup match, leading to a penalty and a 1-1 draw. FIFA stated the VAR workflow was unaffected, but the lack of clear animation graphics fueled speculation.
France faces backlash over justice system failures after an 11-year-old girl, Lyhanna, disappears and is found dead; suspect had prior allegations of preying on adolescents.
France is outraged over the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna, whose suspected killer, Jérome B, had a history of unacted-upon allegations of child molestation, sparking political backlash and calls for justice reform ahead of presidential elections.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical "Cockroach Janata Party" (CJP), fears arrest upon his return to India on June 6. He plans to lead a peaceful movement demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination issues.
A Bahamas-bound plane with 11 on board ditched in the Atlantic Ocean 175 miles north of Miami after suffering navigation, radio, and dual engine failures. The pilot and 10 passengers survived an hours-long ordeal in a life raft before being rescued by the US Coast Guard.
WeRide boss Tony Han Xu believes the first fully autonomous cars may arrive on streets by 2035, as global carmakers and tech firms accelerate the application of self-driving technologies despite roadblocks. The latest setback came when Chinese regulators stepped in after an incident in Wuhan on March 31. Authorities scaled back the issuance of new autonomous driving licences after a system failure on March 31 involving Baidu’s Apollo Go fleet, which left passengers stranded and disrupted traffic...
