Infrastructure
A Chinese company strikes a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from Afghanistan
Beijing signs onto a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from the north of Afghanistan. Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group, discusses the implications of the agreement with The World's host Carol Hills.
Lula promises sustainable development for the Amazon
Residents of informal settlements among the most at risk from climate change
'The system is broken': At COP27, developing countries push for more money to adapt to climate change
A state-owned company from China is building a massive commercial port in Peru
Long before electricity, wind catchers of Persia kept residents cool. Climate-conscious architects are taking notes.
This 12th-century invention was a reliable form of air-conditioning in Iran for centuries. And as temperatures continue to rise around the world, this ancient way of staying cool has gained renewed attention for its emissions-free and cost-effective design.
‘Never give up’: Lviv mayor prepares for long winter amid ongoing war with Russia
Lviv Mayor Andriy Ivanovych Sadovyi speaks to The World’s Daniel Ofman about how the city is preparing for a long winter ahead. Top concerns are housing for internally displaced people, sufficient fuel for heat and medical supplies.
In the north of Mexico, water cuts to cope with shortages hit poor communities hardest
Extreme heat and drought have left water in short supply in Monterrey, Mexico, but not everyone is feeling the pinch. Some poor neighborhoods seem to be facing far more restrictions on water usage than wealthier ones.
Storms and rising sea levels threaten to wipe out French language in Louisiana’s bayou country
Rising sea levels, erosion and storms in Louisiana's bayou country have flooded entire communities. For some French speakers, Hurricane Ida was the last straw — and many are now moving away.
'How long will this continue?': People in Istanbul see their rents double as inflation soars
This summer, Turkish inflation reached levels not seen since the 1990s, and nowhere is it more clear than the rental market. Tenants are seeing their rents double, or even triple, in just one year.
In Cancun, this man is turning seaweed trash into natural-building treasures
A brown seaweed called sargassum is washing up on Cancun beaches, threatening the region’s efforts to recover its tourism. Local resident Omar Vazquez Sanchez got the idea to transform the seaweed into “sargablocks,” what he calls a small solution to a big problem.
Modular housing in Ukraine provides shelter — and hope — for internally displaced people
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have ended up in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the Polish border, where prefabricated homes have become a fast and affordable way for the city to house refugees.
Ladder theory: Part II
Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive this week into the nature of American public support for cyberattacks — responses depend largely on the harm done and who launched it.
Solar power is the 'only business that's booming' amid financial and electricity crises in Lebanon, experts say
As people faced with electricity blackouts install solar panels on their rooftops, they say they're seeing some relief — but it comes alongside frustration with the government's inability to power the country.
'Everything is destroyed': Extreme flooding in Ghana tests climate resilience
Accra has been hit with heavy rain and flash flooding in May and June, leaving many experts worried about the city’s capacity for climate resilience if trends continue.