In the global dialogue about megacities, Asia often steals the limelight with Tokyo, Delhi, Jakarta, and Shanghai shining brightly on the list of the top four. However, the horizon is shifting, and a new contender is poised to redefine the urban landscape. Enter Lagos, currently Africa's largest city, and by 2100, it's projected to be the world's biggest, with a staggering population of over 80 million.
In the heart of China's economic transformation, a shiny new engine is taking shape. The once-dominant property market, now in a prolonged slump, has sapped consumer confidence and put a damper on an economy already reeling from the effects of heavy industry and cheap manufacturing. But Beijing has a bold vision for a replacement: a high-tech, clean, lucrative, and sustainable economy. This is where new energy, semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and A.I. come into play — industries that are not only the world's major economies' Holy Grail but also the cornerstone of China's potential to overtake the United States as the world's largest economy and a formidable geopolitical force.
The Winthrop Center, a landmark sustainable development project in Boston, presents a compelling case study in the challenges and opportunities of green building. From its inception, the project faced hurdles that are emblematic of the broader real estate industry's transition towards sustainability.
The rise of BRICS has been a topic of fervent debate since its inception, posing a significant question: is this economic partnership a serious contender to the Western-led financial order, or is it merely a collection of nations with fleeting influence? As the world watches, the answer remains shrouded in uncertainty.