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There was widespread shock at a World Wildlife Fund report published this week that revealed that mankind had wiped out 60% of all the animals on the planet since 1970.

This could prove to be a good week for mental health provision in Northern Ireland. Maybe. Not just because of more money for services - the City Deal could help, too. And it might have to.

The Big Lottery launched a £15 million fund this week to help charities make the most of digital technology, offering grants of up to £500,000.

In Northern Ireland, parents are still allowed to use corporal punishment as long as it is "reasonable chastisement". New research suggests this leads to more violence among young people than if it was banned outright.

A fascinating survey published by PwC this week shows that people in Northern Ireland are more receptive to Artificial Intelligence in health care than any other part of the UK.

Schools are saving money by cutting teaching hours - in other words, by providing less education. Urgent change is required.

One of the most toxic debates of recent times is that around immigration. It was a central issue in the Brexit referendum.

Protectionism is back. Neoliberal orthodoxy is under question. Perhaps social value, rather than suffocating trade, can layer some new thinking on top of it.

Other services have huge waiting lists but prescribing drugs to treat mental health problems takes very little time. Given the sector's fundamental lack of resources, an over-reliance on medication is unsurprising - but it needs to stop.

The Brexit debate has got so heated that it is all but impossible to absorb the facts amid the claims and counter-claims.

In 150 years time every single living person will be dead.

Industry leaders are optimistic about the potential for automation, predicting it will create more jobs in the next few years than the tens of millions it will displace. Is this optimism meaningful?

More young people in the UK are contacting Childline because of issues around consent and peer sexual abuse. Here in NI, our ethos-driven schools system fails by design.

The debate about the future of health care tends to centre around how we can raise more money to pay for it. Yet this neglects a vital issue.

Charities are under intense scrutiny after a series of media firestorms which have undermined public trust and confidence not just in the organisations concerned but the entire sector.

Some major issues that drove Brexit could worsen after we leave the EU. This says some interesting things not just about the UK's decision - but also about the status quo we are leaving behind.

Charity shops do great work fundraising for the sector, providing affordable goods, and recycling. But, with the High Streets struggling, are they too successful? Probably not – but the context is important. 

A landmark report into the economy by an influential think tank argues that more devolution is a key element in boosting prosperity.

Prevention is better than cure. When it comes to poor mental health, prevention can often mean resilience - but how can this be improved? Scope speaks with Action Mental Health about their efforts to do just that.

Stevie McGirr of Development Trusts NI explains how community asset transfers work in advance of its conference on 19 September