Our daily tour of world

🇨🇦 Toronto developers are turning a defunct airport into a small city. The $22 billion development, which aims to support ~55,000 residents, will feature playgrounds, bike paths, shops, 11 repurposed airplane hangars, and an airport runway that’s been redesigned as a pedestrian thoroughfare. The 35+ million square foot development is expected to take 30 years to complete.

🇨🇳 A Chinese firm claims it has created the world's fastest-charging EV battery. Chinese automaker Zeekr says its new EV batteries can be charged from 10% to 80% capacity in 10.5 minutes under ideal conditions, and also perform well at temperatures as low as 14°F (for comparison: a 15-minute charge of Tesla’s Model 3 covers ~50% of the car’s full range). Zeekr’s first vehicle to feature the new battery will debut next week.

🇦🇫 The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan passed the three-year mark yesterday. The Taliban has enacted a stricter version of Sharia law in Afghanistan after returning to power following the full withdrawal of US troops in August 2021, with new policies including banning education for girls above sixth grade, restricting freedom of religion, and enforcing public executions. Overall poverty rates have more than doubled in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover, a trend analysts attribute to recent droughts, internal military conflicts, and reduced foreign funding.