A drought in Afghanistan has cut "agricultural output" by about half. It is not clear what portion of that decrease is in food production and what part in opium, but there is a big shortage of food.

Both kinds of decrease cause instability, and any instability will be useful for the Taliban.

What was touted as a "sharing economy" has evolved into a domain of quasi-monopolies which are now changing from platforms into owners of things for rent.

Diesel emissions cost Europe 70 billion per year.

The French state's refusal to recognize race is intended to discourage racist politics. It has not been entirely successful.

This does not necessarily mean the policy is doing no good, or that it is clear how to do better.

Ireland is phasing out the practice of extracting peat and burning it, perhaps going no faster than the bogs are being exhausted. But the bogs that were already dried out and mined will continue spewing greenhouse gases unless they are filled with water again.