Mexico City

The mayor is handing out a half-million whistles to women in hopes of combating sexual harassment on public transportation. But critics say this only addresses a small part of the problem.

Mexico City has its worst smog in more than a decade. The government has ordered cars off the street one day a week, but city planners say that isn't a long-term solution.

Valeria Luiselli, who was born in Mexico City and lives now in Harlem, released two slim, multinational books this year: the essay collection Sidewalks and her time-jumping novel Faces in the Crowd.