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Technology / 1 day ago

Wall Street’s surprise 2025 winners: How AI, chips, and old-economy giants are powering the S&P 500

2025 looks like another year dominated by Big Tech, but available data on the best-performing S&P 500 stocks year-to-date spells a completely different reality. 2025 looks like another year dominated by Big Tech, but available data on the best-performing S&P 500 stocks year-to-date spells a completely different reality. While artificial intelligence and semiconductors are still driving market momentum, some of the biggest gains are coming from companies many investors once considered mature, or even left behind.

Business / 1 week ago

Global giants in soft drink exports

Europe, not the United States, is at the centre of the world’s soft drinks export market. Austria and Germany rank first and second globally by export value, each accounting for nearly a tenth of total global soft drink exports. Europe, not the United States, is at the centre of the world’s soft drinks export market. Austria and Germany rank first and second globally by export value, each accounting for nearly a tenth of total global soft drink exports. At a time when global food and beverage supply chains are being reshaped by inflation, energy costs, and shifting consumer preferences, the dominance of these countries highlights how production efficiency, logistics, and branding define leadership in the global drinks industry.

Culture / 1 week ago

Lebanon’s religious mosaic: Power and politics without a majority

Lebanon is one of the few countries in the Middle East without a single religious majority. Instead, power, territory, and political authority are shared among communities in a system designed to prevent domination. Lebanon is one of the few countries in the Middle East without a single religious majority. Instead, power, territory, and political authority are shared among communities in a system designed to prevent domination. Demographic estimates show that Muslims make up roughly 59% of Lebanon’s population, Christians around 34%, Druze about 5%, and Alawites approximately 1%, with small numbers belonging to other groups.

Maps / 1 week ago

Why the world is dotted with Santa Cruz, Sainte-Croix and Santa Croce

Across continents and oceans, the same place name appears again and again: Santa Cruz, Sainte-Croix, and Santa Croce. Whether in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, or parts of Asia, these names, translated from Spanish, French, and Italian, mean the same thing: “Holy Cross.” Across continents and oceans, the same place name appears again and again: Santa Cruz, Sainte-Croix, and Santa Croce. Whether in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, or parts of Asia, these names, translated from Spanish, French, and Italian, mean the same thing: “Holy Cross.” Their global spread is not a coincidence but the result of centuries of European exploration, colonisation, and Christian missionary activity that permanently reshaped the world’s maps.

Technology / 2 weeks ago

Why your food arrives late: The delivery bottleneck slowing the global food economy

When you order a takeout, it may take just 20 minutes to prepare, but it can take over 53 minutes to arrive at your door. In some cases, delivery takes more than 2.5 times longer than cooking, highlighting a problem that extends far beyond impatient customers and cold fries. When you order a takeout, it may take just 20 minutes to prepare, but it can take over 53 minutes to arrive at your door. In some cases, delivery takes more than 2.5 times longer than cooking, highlighting a problem that extends far beyond impatient customers and cold fries. According to industry data referenced by Restaurant Times, the average restaurant kitchen has become increasingly efficient due to automation, pre-prep systems, and optimised workflows. Many quick-service and fast-casual restaurants now complete orders in 15–25 minutes, even during peak hours.

Culture / 2 weeks ago

Why Saturday means different things across Europe

Saturday is simply the start of the weekend, but across Europe, the word carries layers of history shaped by religion, Roman mythology, daily life and social customs. Saturday is simply the start of the weekend, but across Europe, the word carries layers of history shaped by religion, Roman mythology, daily life and social customs. Across much of Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, Saturday is derived from “Shabbat”, the Jewish day of rest. Languages such as Italian (sabato), Spanish (sábado), Greek (Savvato) and Russian (subbota) trace their roots to the Hebrew word Shabbat, reflecting early Jewish influence and the spread of Christianity through the Roman and Byzantine worlds.

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Culture / 2 weeks ago

Unusual but traditional: A look at the world’s most bizarre foods

You have likely encountered a dish from another country or culture and immediately decided you would never try it because it appeared strange or unappealing. You have likely encountered a dish from another country or culture and immediately decided you would never try it because it appeared strange or unappealing. However, what may seem strange on a plate often carries deep cultural meaning. Many foods considered unusual today were shaped by history, climate and survival, long before modern tastes emerged.

Maps / 3 weeks ago

Here is what the world’s population map could look like in 2100

New projections from the UN Population Division show that population growth will be heavily concentrated in Africa and parts of Asia, while Europe, the Americas and Oceania face slowdowns or long-term declines. By the end of this century, the global population will look dramatically different from the world we know today. New projections from the UN Population Division show that population growth will be heavily concentrated in Africa and parts of Asia, while Europe, the Americas and Oceania face slowdowns or long-term declines.

World / 4 weeks ago

Why cotton is draining global water supplies more than we realise

Cotton is one of the world’s most familiar materials, worn daily and found in everything from shirts to bed sheets. But behind this comfort lies a high environmental cost, as producing just 1 kilogram of cotton requires about 10,000 litres of water. Cotton is one of the world’s most familiar materials, worn daily and found in everything from shirts to bed sheets. But behind this comfort lies a high environmental cost, as producing just 1 kilogram of cotton requires about 10,000 litres of water. The number is striking, and it puts fresh attention on how something as ordinary as clothing can quietly strain global water supplies at a time when droughts and climate pressures are rising worldwide.

Business / 4 weeks ago

Qatar’s exports surge to Asia as China becomes its top global market

Qatar’s export landscape is shifting even more firmly toward Asia, with new 2024 data showing China, South Korea and India as the country’s top destinations for goods. Qatar’s export landscape is shifting even more firmly toward Asia, with new 2024 data showing China, South Korea and India as the country’s top destinations for goods. The figures, published by World’s Top Exports, offer a clear picture of where Qatar’s energy-rich economy is finding its strongest demand, and how global geopolitical changes are shaping those relationships.