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As temperatures soar around much of the world, people are cranking up the air conditioning, but blasting icy air into buildings fuels global warming, which increases demand for more cooling, creating a vicious circle.

Climate change, rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and population growth are driving huge demand for air conditioners (AC) globally, but particularly in developing countries.

When prize-winning architect Francis Kéré was growing up in Burkina Faso he spent his schooldays in a gloomy classroom that was so stifling he says it would have been better suited to making bread than educating children.

Years later, while studying abroad, Kéré returned to his home village to build a light and airy school where children could learn in comfort despite temperatures that can hit 45 degrees Celsius (113 F).

World leaders have just five years left to make good on their pledge to end poverty and tackle a host of global injustices before a 2030 deadline.

But in these challenging times, how on earth do they - or we - pay for it?

Britain's lawmakers have voted to following concerns over a growing number of police investigations into women ending late pregnancies.

While abortion has been legal for almost 60 years, women in England and Wales can be prosecuted if they terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks under an 1861 law that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Thousands of overseas workers hired by care companies across Britain have been left broke and desperate after losing their jobs in what campaigners say is a national crisis.

In 2022, Britain launched a visa scheme to encourage migrant workers to bolster its ailing care sector. About 150,000 have arrived from countries including India, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

When Zimbabwean sales rep Zola landed a job in Britain as a care worker she was excited about forging a new career, but the mother-of-three is now homeless, jobless and trapped in debt.

Labour rights experts say Zola is among tens of thousands of victims in an emerging national scandal that they say is a "shocking betrayal" by the government.

Five years after COVID-19 swept around the globe, killing millions and overwhelming health systems, countries have adopted a landmark treaty aimed at bolstering the world's ability to fight future pandemics.

The proposed accord seeks to improve early detection of dangerous new diseases and ensure fairer access to tests, drugs, vaccines and other health supplies.

When the Taliban seized Afghanistan, public prosecutor Roya fled for her life - 18 months and 11 countries later she arrived in the United States believing she had finally found safety.

But now Roya is terrified she may be forced back to Afghanistan after the Trump administration announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, leaving them at risk of deportation.

International aid fell in 2024 for the first time in six years, and is set to plunge further this year after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a sweeping freeze on foreign aid, and many other key donors announced cuts.

The world's major donors contributed $212.1 billion in 2024, down 7.1% in real terms compared to 2023, according to collected by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to slash aid will cost lives in Afghanistan where millions depend on assistance to survive, humanitarian experts say.

They warned of "massive impacts" on everything from healthcare to demining programmes, along with huge staff layoffs.