Briefing


A Chinese calligrapher at work writing on a scroll

Which countries speak the most languages?

ByVictoria HeathFeb 10, 2025
Discover the countries with the most 'living languages' – at number one is a nation that speaks more than 800 different dialects
arctic tern, sterna paradisaea Iceland

The longest animal migrations in the world

ByVictoria HeathFeb 7, 2025
From birds travelling non-stop for 11 days, to the incredible feats of caribou, discover some of the longest migrations animals make…
Shadow of the plane on the agricultural field.

Geo explainer: Can sustainable aviation fuel make plane travel green?

ByVictoria HeathFeb 7, 2025
Some tout sustainable aviation fuel as the key to greener flights, but high prices and environmental concerns may hamper rollout
The Merlion, with the head of a lion and tail of a fish, is Singapore’s official mascot

Country profile: Singapore

ByKatie BurtonFeb 6, 2025
At the centre of world trade, Singapore is an affluent global power. However, as Katie Burton reports, its economic rise has come at a political cost
Textile industry with knitting machines in factory. Textile industry with a loom on the production of kapron tights.

How AI is making the textiles industry more environmentally-friendly

ByVictoria HeathFeb 5, 2025
New AI tech used by textile company helps detect fabric defects, reducing water consumption during production
SIOUX CITY, IOWA, USA - NOVEMBER 6, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking to his supporters at the “Make America Great Again” rally in the Sioux City Iowa convention center

The global impact of Trump’s foreign aid realignment

Trump's executive order to halt much of the US's foreign aid is likely to have ripple effects across the world, as Dr Doug Specht explains
n ambling Eurasian badger appears to glance up at badger graffiti on a quiet road in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK. Residents had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes. But Ian noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage. After seeing a badger walking along the pavement by this wall late one night, he decided to photograph it. He set up a small hide on the edge of the road to take his picture. Only the light from a lamppost illuminated the creature as it ambled along, seemingly glancing up at the badger graffiti just in front of it.

The winner & runners-up of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

ByVictoria HeathFeb 5, 2025
From ambling badgers to stoats in snow, discover the winner and runners-up of this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award
Aerial view to the iluminated city center of Doha, Qatar during evening time

The most productive countries in the world

ByVictoria HeathFeb 4, 2025
Where in the world are the most productive countries? Discover the places with the highest GDP per capita, and why exactly their economies are booming...
Coloured section illustrates the extent of the IBCAO gridded depth compilation.

New Arctic Ocean map marks key milestone in global seafloor mapping project ‘Seabed 2030’

ByVictoria HeathFeb 3, 2025
A new area equivalent in size to Sweden has been mapped in the Arctic Ocean, contributing to the project's aim to map global seafloor by 2030
Gulf of Mexico marked on map with red pin

What’s in a name? The biggest disputes of naming territories across the world

ByVictoria HeathJan 31, 2025
Following Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, find out more about naming disputes across the world…
A group of girls eating rice and vegetables from a bowl

What does the world eat?

ByVictoria HeathJan 30, 2025
From cassava to corn, discover the top staple foods that fuel the world's billions – and which countries are producing them
Close up of the beautifully decorated dragon performing its traditional Chinese New Year dragon dance in Liverpool seen in January 2023.

The places that don’t celebrate New Year’s Day on 1 January

ByVictoria HeathJan 30, 2025
From Lunar New Year to Ethiopia's Enkutatash celebrations, discover the variety of countries which celebrate New Year's Day outside of Jan 1
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