In the heart of Taliban-controlled territory lies one of Afghanistan's most important hydroelectric dams. As part of an extraordinary compromise, the government runs the dam while allowing insurgents surrounding it to charge locals for power. A Turkish construction firm is working to triple the capacity of the dam, but the project comes with significant risks, as TRT World's Sara Firth reports.

#TurkeyConstruction #PowerGeneration #KajakiDam

Iraq boasts some of the biggest crude reserves in the world. But it hasn't benefited from that wealth, partly due to the corruption that's thrived in the political instability that followed the US invasion in 2003. Now Iraqi leaders are launching a campaign to recover the billions in oil revenue lost over the past 18 years. Paolo Montecillo has more. Edward Dehnert joined us from London for more on this. He's a research analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit.

#Iraq #CorruptionProbe #OilRevenues

The World Health Organization has called for a massive global effort to vaccinate 10 percent of the population of every country against COVID-19 by September. Speaking at the opening of the World Health Assembly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced the need for a war-time mindset if countries are to get on top of the pandemic. Floyd Cush reports. We were joined by Julia Lyubova, who spoke to us from Geneva.

#UN #WHO #Vaccines

Social media is known as a young people's game. But China's senior citizens are proving they too can be influential netizens. Their growing fame is a reflection of the nation's ageing population, as well as the entertainment AND expenses that come with it. Paolo Montecillo reports.

#China #AgingPopulation #Population

The popularity of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, has exploded this year. From record-breaking virtual art, to the first tweet ever posted, prices of the blockchain-protected digital assets have skyrocketed and changed the way we see art. But as Laila Humairah reports, a new type of NFT has investors saying the future's made of virtual realty.

#RealEstate #NFT #DigitalProperty

Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in 2016. Like its Western Balkan neighbours, also hoping for EU accession, Bosnia has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions. But as preparations to switch to renewable energy sources continue, it's not only the climate crisis that's prompting the closure of coal mines. Tayyibe Aydin reports.

#Bosina #CoalMines #JobLosses

While India battles its second wave of COVID-19, life is slowly returning to normal in Europe. EU countries are planning to relax COVID-19 travel restrictions for international visitors. It could reopen doors to tourists who are fully vaccinated with an EU-approved jab. The announcement is driving the region's equity markets higher, as investors expect a boost in demand for travel, hospitality and other sectors. On Thursday, Gemany's DAX gained more than one percent while the CAC in Paris rose 0.8 percent. Mehmet Solmaz reports on the companies hoping to cash in on tourist arrivals. Bruno Verstraete is a partner and chief economist at Lakefield Partners AG. He joined us from Zurich.

#VaccinationPassport #EUcountries #Coronavirus

The Arctic Council has for the first time agreed on a 10-year strategic plan. Ministers gathering in Reykjavik on Thursday emphasized their commitment to fighting global heating, which is happening three times faster in the Far North. But they’re very much at odds over military action in the Arctic region. As Sibel Karkus reports, tensions have been rising as Russia, among others, beefs up its military presence there. We spoke to Ingrid Medby who is a senior lecturer in Political Geography at Oxford Brookes University. She joins us now from Durham in the UK.

#ArcticCouncil #OilandGasReserves #ClimateCrisis

For the commercial aviation industry, the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions have meant major financial losses, government bailouts and even complete closure for some. But it’s also resulted in clearer skies. According to Carbon Monitor, the global sector’s emissions fell by a record 48 percent in 2020. Now, as restrictions ease and many carriers resume flights, the pressure to use cleaner fuel is mounting and at least one airline is taking up the challenge.

#AirFrance #SustainableAviationFuel #CarbonEmissions

Cruising is a popular pastime, particularly for North Americans. The trade group, Cruise Lines International Association had expected more than 32 million people to set sail in 2020, up from 29.7 million in the previous year. But the industry ran aground in March of last year, as ships made headlines for COVID-19 outbreaks early in the pandemic. The standstill has dealt a significant financial blow to operators, who've been pushing to restart voyages from US ports. Kyoko Gasha has more on the economic impact of the shutdown and what it will take to get cruise ships back onto open water.

#USCruiseLiners #Pandemic #TravelRestrictions