New Zealand's government recently declared that the nation's population had jumped from 5 million to 695 billion. The eye-catching figure, displayed on digital billboards across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, represents the Department of Conservation's attempt to count every visible plant, bird, fish and tree in the country. Director General Penny Nelson describes it as a "back-of-the-envelope estimate" designed to spark conversations about the country's biodiversity crisis and underline the importance of those other residents to New Zealand's human inhabitants.The campaign, dubbed "Always Be Naturing," emerges from sobering research revealing a dangerous disconnect in public perception. While 90% of New Zealanders care about nature and 89% believe it's in good shape, the reality tells a starkly different story: just 238 kkp remain, fewer than 40 New Zealand fairy terns survive, and 63% of ecosystems teeter on the brink of collapse. As the DOC states: "Humans make up less than 0.001% of New Zealands population. Maybe its time to start thinking about the other 99.999%."
Ten years after opening in a modest 16-square-meter kiosk in Jakarta, Indonesian coffee chain TUKU now has 72 stores across Indonesia and is preparing to bring its homegrown approach to European markets. The company is opening its first international store in Amsterdam later this month. The brand's signature drink? Kopi Susu Tetangga, or 'Neighbor's Milk Coffee,' consisting of espresso, milk, creamer and palm sugar.Central to TUKU's identity is its commitment to Indonesia's agricultural heritage through direct partnerships with local farmers. The company works closely with 630 coffee farmers and 275 palm sugar producers, creating a supply chain that connects traditional farming communities with modern retail operations. This farm-to-cup approach allows TUKU to showcase distinctly Indonesian ingredients from single-origin beans grown across the archipelago to traditional palm sugar that adds local character to the brand's beverages.
A new photography concept has launched in Dubai that removes a major reason people feel apprehensive about professional portrait sessions: the photographer. Self.space offers private studios where clients control their own shoots using a remote, capturing unlimited photos in front of a full-length mirror equipped with a professional-grade camera.The 50-minute sessions include AI-powered retouching that processes images automatically, ensuring no human staff sees the photos before they're encrypted and delivered to a password-protected gallery. Each session costs AED 750 and includes access to lighting controls, music selection, makeup facilities and accessories, with the space accommodating up to four people.TREND BITESelf.space highlights how traditional service hierarchies are being dismantled as consumers demand greater control over personal experiences. The traditional photographer-subject dynamic where one person controls while another performs feels increasingly outdated to people who expect ownership of how they're represented. By removing human intermediaries entirely, the concept transforms a potentially uncomfortable situation into an empowering one, allowing customers to be both creator and subject without external judgment or direction.The studio's privacy-first approach is also key. In an era where consumers assume their digital content will be harvested, monetized or mishandled, the promise of zero human contact and AI-only processing becomes a premium feature. Here, artificial intelligence isn't positioned as a disruptive force but as a protective one handling retouching and privacy seamlessly. What other industries could reframe AI as a guardian of consumer autonomy and security?Related: Google's new Camera Coach for Pixel 10 Pro uses Gemini to help users take better photos. Instead of having AI create the image for them, it offers practical, in-the-moment tips on elements like framing, zooming, better angles, lighting, etc.
