Affairs
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Drugs, guns and nice sofas
In Herat, elaborate palaces are being built by businessmen who have made fortunes from post-war opportunities. A mix of foreign influences, the houses have created a new school of design: Narcotecture.
Lessons in Diplomacy
Emerging from years of corruption, oil-rich Azerbaijan is planning a diplomatic campaign to change its image. To fill its new embassies, it needs a new generation of officials trained at its ambassador academy.
Missing Persons
Villages across Europe are being abandoned as people move to cities. Spain knows this problem well: its Soria region has 492 empty villages. Can the country’s ghost towns ever be reborn?
Breaking China
As investors look beyond China’s eastern cities, the wealth of opportunity and resources in the remote western region means the city of Urumqi is about to take centre stage.
Road Wage
Two-thirds of US freight is moved by road and the haulage industry is booming. For those without a college degree, driving offers well-paid jobs with great benefits, even if it means time away.
Expo 04: Invader on the Horizon
Mykonos is a famed summer destination for the elite. Today it is smarter than ever, with five-star hotels and berths for grand yachts. But out of sight are other visitors: migrant workers.
