Ancient Ariana, stretching across the highlands of modern Iran and Afghanistan, was no isolated backwater but a lively crossroads whose mountains, rivers, and oasis towns shaped the trade routes that would knit Central Asia together for millennia. Discover how its cities, passes, and political networks turned rugged landscapes into enduring arteries of commerce and culture.
Canada’s real GDP grew 0.8% quarter over quarter in the second quarter of 2026, or 3.3% annualized, following revised first-quarter growth of 0.3%. Exports, domestic demand, household spending and business investment all contributed to the stronger performance. Economic activity also increased in Read More
Carnegie Mellon University researchers discovered an unconventional anomalous Hall effect that occurs when magnetization lies within the plane of a material. The multidirectional response emerges from a low-dimensional heterostructure combining a low-symmetry topological semimetal with a ferromagnetic insulator. Experimental and theoretical analysis Read More
Anthropic has introduced a research preview of the Model Hardware Standard, a shared interface for AI agents to operate programmable devices such as microscopes, liquid handlers and robotic arms. The standard aims to reduce the time required to integrate equipment with different Read More
AI agents bring new security risks to business systems
Global trade is changing in 2026 amid economic uncertainty, shifting policies, supply-chain pressures and technological development. Goods and services trade have grown, partly because of higher energy and transportation prices, while businesses are diversifying suppliers and markets to reduce disruption risks. Technology Read More
The world is entering a period of growing geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change. At the same time, countries continue to face challenges that cannot be solved by one nation alone, including climate change, humanitarian crises, economic instability and global Read More
Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education. Since 2021, millions of girls have been unable to continue beyond primary school, limiting future employment opportunities and contributing to shortages of skilled women. Many girls Read More
Recent evaluations underscore the critical need for stricter government accountability and modernized transparency tools to combat financial waste and restore public trust. Safeguarding democratic integrity requires ongoing legislative oversight, better record retention, and unhindered public access to government data.
Streaming platforms are shifting toward hybrid monetization models, ad-supported tiers, and strategic bundles to achieve profitability amidst changing consumer habits. Industry consolidation and international expansion are defining the next phase of the digital entertainment market as companies prioritize sustainable growth over sheer subscriber volume.
