Now is the time to place housing at the heart of sustainable development. That was the message delivered on Monday by UN Secretary General António Guterres to participants at a global forum on urban sustainability under way this week in Baku. His video address set the tone for the 13th session of the World Urban…
Soaring housing costs, climate shocks and conflicts are leaving millions without adequate shelter – but what can be done? As the 13th UN World Urban Forum opens on Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan, participants will grapple with solutions to a deepening global housing crisis. The conference, organized by UN-Habitat together with Azerbaijan, will bring together world…
The World Bank made history in 1994 by creating the Inspection Panel, the first independent accountability mechanism at any international organisation. Its function is to investigate complaints from communities who allege they were harmed because the bank failed to comply with its own policies and procedures. By establishing the three-member Inspection Panel, the World Bank…
The most culturally diverse men’s football World Cup in history is taking place in the United States at a time when foreign nationals feel less and less welcome in the country. The 2026 competition kicks off on 11 June with games in Canada, Mexico, and the US. The US will host by far the largest…
Anticipation is building for next month’s World Cup Soccer Tournament, and so are costs, for both fans and the host cities. Adam Yamaguchi has more.
Zhou Qunfei’s rise from poverty to woman behind smartphone screens around the world Zhou Qunfei, the founder of Lens Technology in China with Apple Inc.’s chief operating officer Jeff Williams in her touchscreen factory.PHOTO/Weibo / @Derrick_Zhang. By PATRICK MAYOYO [email protected] In the glittering halls of power where billionaires, presidents and technology titans gather, few stories…
Millions more people will face hunger in the coming months if the conflict in the Middle East is not resolved soon, the UN has warned. The price of energy, which instantly affects the cost of producing and transporting food, has risen sharply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The price of fertiliser,…
Global pop artiste Shakira has released “Dai Dai”, the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in collaboration with Nigerian Grammy-winning Afrobeat superstar Burna Boy. The news agency reports that the Colombian singer announced the release of the highly anticipated song to fans on her social media page on Friday. The song is now…
Fans from five African World Cup qualifying nations with valid tickets are exempt from paying a hefty bond. But fans from several other countries still face major hurdles to seeing their teams play in the United States. The United States has announced exemptions from visa bond payment requirements for FIFA World Cup ticket holders whose teams have qualified for…
Iran’s football team given farewell ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday, but state media reports US visas yet to be issued. Published On 14 May 202614 May 2026 Iran’s football federation chief says no visas have yet been issued for the national team to play World Cup games in the United States, state media reported. “Tomorrow…
