Which part of European countries is the richest In Europe, the wealthiest part of a country often lies closest to the geographical center of the region. In the east, the western part tends to be the wealthiest, in the north - the south, and in the south - the north. However, the eastern regions have not been as fortunate, being the richest only in Denmark, Lithuania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated in the Balkans, is a unique case that defies this trend. In this region, proximity to the sea holds more significance than being near the center of Europe.

Is It Acceptable for a Man to Cry? In European countries, the majority of people find it acceptable for men to cry. However, the acceptance levels vary across the region. In Eastern Europe, the percentage ranges from 60-70%, with a minimum of 64% in Romania. Contrastingly, in Northern and Western parts of Europe, the acceptance rate exceeds 90%, reaching a peak of 98% in Sweden.

Proportion of Population with One of the 10 Most Popular Surnames in the Country An impressive 22.85% of the population in Denmark bear one of just 10 of the most common surnames in the country! Hungary and Spain have around 17.5%, while over 10% of the population with one of the top 10 surnames is also found in Portugal, Sweden, Serbia, and Bulgaria! Moreover, Malta, being small, and Iceland have them too, although there are no surnames (and 12.26% - people with one of the top 10 patronymics). In contrast, only 3.46% of our population carry one of the top 10 most common surnames - more than approximately 2% in France, Belgium, Belarus, Czechia, and Slovakia, and not reaching record lows like Croatia's at 1.8%, but overall still few.

Layoffs in Technology Companies In 2025-2026, tens of thousands of employees were laid off in the largest global technology companies. Amazon leads in reducing staff numbers (over 30,000 people), followed by Intel (27,000) and Microsoft (15,000). Oh, this AI...

How Trust in the USA Has Changed Over the Past Year In the period from November 2024 to November 2025, trust in the USA has seen a significant decline in allied countries. There has been a notable decrease in trust levels: by 52% in Canada, 21% in South Africa and Italy, and 20% in Brazil. Interestingly, even in countries less favorable towards the USA, there has been a decrease in trust, with a 9% drop reported in China.

China's National Debt Surpasses Entire European Union's China's national debt hit $18.7 trillion by the end of 2025, surpassing the European Union's total debt by $1.1 trillion ($17.6 trillion). In comparison, the United States holds a debt of $38.3 trillion, indicating that China still has a significant distance to cover. Surprisingly, 30 years ago, the European Union held the largest national debt, even exceeding the US by a slight margin. However, since the late 1990s, the US debt has been growing almost exponentially, similar to China's trajectory since the early 2000s, while the EU has maintained a more balanced budget approach.

Proportion of Residents in European Countries Believing Men's Main Role is to Earn Money Residents in Northern and Western European countries hold a contrasting view compared to their Eastern counterparts. In Sweden, only 11% of residents, 13% in Denmark, and 16% in the Netherlands believe that men's main role is to earn money. On the other hand, Eastern European countries lean towards a more traditional perspective, with over 70% of Bulgarians, Slovaks, and Hungarians considering earning money as the primary role for men. Additionally, over half of the respondents in neighboring countries share this belief.

World's Top Defense Companies by Revenue The top three defense companies globally in terms of revenue are American firms: Lockheed Martin ($64.7 billion), RTX ($43.6 billion), and Northrop Grumman ($37.9 billion). Additionally, a domestic company, Rostec, secured the 7th spot on the list with a revenue of $27.1 billion.

Maximum Penalties for Crimes in Different Countries Around the World In countries like Ecuador and Paraguay, the maximum punishment for crimes is 25 years of imprisonment, with no possibility for extension. In several Latin American countries, Africa, and the Balkans, penalties do not exceed a specific number of years in prison. Typically, countries have either the death penalty or life imprisonment, with the death penalty being largely symbolic in some nations.

Locations and Planets in the Names of Chemical Elements Three chemical elements have names associated with locations in Russia: ruthenium (Russia), moscovium, and dubnium (specific cities). The USA has contributed names to 4 elements (3 linked to California), while around 2-3 elements bear names of locations in key European countries. Notably, no chemical element is named after any African location or many regions beyond European cultural influence. In contrast, planets and their moons have been more fortunate in receiving location-based names.