The Los Angeles City Council voted 14-0 on Tuesday to advance a plan that would phase out oil drilling across the city. The proposed ordinance directs the city attorney to prohibit new oil and gas extraction and classify existing operations as nonconforming uses, following new state-level legal authorities that grant cities broader regulatory power. Why … Read more
JPMorgan Chase and former supervisor Lorna Hajdini are moving to block ex-banker Chirayu Rana from withdrawing his high-profile “sex slave” lawsuit, arguing the attempt is a tactical maneuver to avoid accountability for allegedly false claims. According to court filings from late last week, the defendants claim Rana is engaging in “blatant forum shopping” by attempting … Read more
A Durban Metro Police officer has been suspended and arrested on corruption charges after allegedly soliciting bribes by promising jobs in the service. The officer appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on June 12, 2026, where he was released on bail while the South African Police Service investigates the matter. The arrest took place last … Read more
Tectonic stress along Southern California’s San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems has reached its highest level in at least 1,000 years, according to a study published in the AGU Journal. Researchers warn that this accumulation increases the likelihood of a major, multi-fault rupture, though they emphasize that current geological data cannot predict the specific … Read more
Hannah Kidd and Simon Farrell-Green, the founders of architecture magazine Here, have acquired Auckland’s Metro magazine from Still Group. The acquisition marks a strategic pivot for the publication, which is moving away from regular print production to focus on digital content, newsletters, and events due to the tightening economics of the print industry. Why is … Read more
The Death of the “High Art” Divide: Why Narrative is the New Frontier For decades, the art world operated under a rigid hierarchy. On one side, you had the “high art” of Renaissance oil paintings and classical sculptures; on the other, the “low art” of comic books, cinema, and pop culture. But a massive cultural … Read more
The Future of Marine Rehabilitation: Lessons from Southern California’s Latest Success The recent return of three sea lion pups—Tortellini, Rotini, and Cavatappi—to the Pacific Ocean marks more than just a heartwarming local story. It serves as a vital case study in the evolving field of marine mammal rescue. As climate patterns shift and coastal stressors … Read more
The Unpredictable Arena: Why Wildlife Encounters are Increasing in Adventure Sports A recent, viral moment during the Monterey Hoe Wa’a race served as a stark reminder of a growing reality: the boundary between human recreational spaces and wild habitats is thinning. When an overexcited sea lion launched itself onto an outrigger canoe manned by the … Read more
The Fragile Future of Island Ecosystems: Lessons from the Santa Rosa Fire The recent wildfire on Santa Rosa Island serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly isolated, biodiverse hotspots can face existential threats. As climate change accelerates, the vulnerability of “Galápagos-like” environments—where species have evolved in total isolation—is becoming a central concern for conservationists … Read more
Los Angeles County Metro is marking Bike Day by opening its entire transit system to the public at no cost. Throughout the day, riders can access trains, buses, Metro Micro services, and the Metro Bike Share program free of charge. To facilitate the initiative, Metro has unlocked train turnstiles and instructed bus operators to forgo … Read more