The world’s most essential habitat does not get its proper due - The Economist

UN-HABITAT | Children play at the shaded community center in Gribble settlement for internally displaced people in Bosaso, Somalia 8 October 2026 - Representatives from governments, civil society and academia meeting in Muscat, Oman on Monday called for urgent action to address a global housing crisis affecting nearly 3.4 billion people. They gathered to commemorate World Habitat Day which this year focuses on the theme of Adequate Housing for All.

8 October 2026 - Representatives from governments, civil society and academia meeting in Muscat, Oman on Monday called for urgent action to address a global housing crisis affecting nearly 3.4 billion people. They gathered to commemorate World Habitat Day which this year focuses on the theme of Adequate Housing for All. “Adequate housing is not a luxury. It is a foundation for a dignified life and for sustainable cities,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the agency that promotes sustainable urbanization.

They gathered to commemorate World Habitat Day which this year focuses on the theme of Adequate Housing for All. “Adequate housing is not a luxury. It is a foundation for a dignified life and for sustainable cities,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the agency that promotes sustainable urbanization. She stressed that “housing needs to be treated as a public priority alongside land and basic services”, underlining the need for greater investment in communities and cooperation across government, the private sector and civil society. Millions living in slumsIn his message for the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called adequate housing for all “the foundation of dignity, security, and opportunity.”He noted, however, that more than three billion people worldwide are denied this universal human right. “Over one billion live in informal settlements and slums, and many more experience homelessness or have been displaced by conflict, disasters, and climate change,” he added. Trapped in povertyThe President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, Nga Kor Ming, reminded participants that behind the numbers are real people. Mr.

The right to adequate housing is recognized in international human rights instruments and is closely linked to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. Photo:©UNhabitat Access to adequate housing is a fundamental element of human dignity, safety and well-being, yet the world continues to face a severe housing crisis. More than 3 billion people lack access to adequate housing, more than 1.1 billion people live in informal settlements and hundreds of millions experience homelessness. These challenges are being intensified by conflict, disasters and climate change, with people in vulnerable situations often facing the greatest risks and the fewest resources to recover. The right to adequate housing is recognized in international human rights instruments and is closely linked to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.

Cost of LivingIn October 1926, Henry Ford announced his factories would close not just on Sundays but Saturdays, too, making his company the first big North American employer to do so. But advocates for a shorter workweek say it’s time for an update to reflect both how we work and live today. Henry Ford widely credited, but labour movement fought for it in Canada and U. S. Brandie Weikle · CBC Radio · Posted: Oct 17, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 7 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. The erosion of boundaries between work and personal time has not only increased the amount of work that people do, says labour historian David Henkin, it’s also “decreased the amount of insulation, psychic insulation, that people have from work.” (Worawee Meepian/Shutterstock)LISTEN | How old is the two-day weekend?:Cost of Living9:14A brief history of the weekendAs the two-day weekend turns 100 years old, some say it's high time for a calendar shakeup.

(Screengrab from footage shared on social media)Apple's iPhone 18 smartphones are being advertised in Tehran at unusually low prices as “war booty”, with sellers claiming the devices were recovered from a cargo ship that sank near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran International reported on Saturday. The advertisements surfaced after a container ship reportedly sank near the strategic waterway on October 13. Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed shipping containers floating in the sea, with iPhones and expensive perfumes scattered in the water as people aboard small boats collected the goods. According to a report by Ynet News, footage circulated by media outlets across the Arab world on Thursday evening showed people retrieving objects from the water. One boat appeared to be carrying boxes of iPhones, with one report claiming that the devices were Apple's latest iPhone 18 models. The identities of those seen collecting the goods remain unclear. There has been no official confirmation of the incident. Iran's cyber police have warned prospective buyers against paying deposits or advance fees before inspecting the products and verifying sellers' identities.