Business, Economics and Jobs

In Uganda, motorcycles are one of the most popular forms of public transport. In the capital city, Kampala, there are hundreds of thousands of them. Until recently, all of them were driven by men. But that’s starting to change, with a new initiative to get women into the business.

Thirteen years since Syria’s civil war broke out, Lebanon remains home to the largest Syrian refugee population per capita in the world: roughly 1.5 million people. Now, Lebanese politicians say they must be sent home. Many employers have stopped hiring Syrians for menial jobs. And municipalities have issued new restrictions, even evicting Syrian tenants, according to recent news reports.

One of the world’s most well-known and prestigious makers of sparkling wine — or cava, as it’s called in Catalan — is laying off 80% of its workforce. There’s plenty of demand for Spanish-German Freixenet’s bottled beverage, just not enough water to get the grapes to grow. They have shriveled on the vine as the lack of rain and restrictions on water use combine. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Sant Sadurní d’Ainoa, Spain.

Malawi is ranked one of the poorest globally, and now, soaring fertilizer costs are crippling farmers and traders, pushing residents into economic hardship.

A one-year-old law in Spain meant to control soaring home rental prices has had the opposite effect: Prices have continued to climb. It’s part of a trend going back a couple of decades now. But this year alone, in some cities, rents have jumped by more than 20%. Experts – and renters – say finding an affordable place to live is now next to impossible. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona on why Spain’s rent control law has backfired.