Be Informed

Why Easter is called Easter, and other little‑known facts about the holiday

The date of Easter, when the resurrection of Jesus is said to have taken place, changes from year to year. The reason for this variation is that Easter always falls…

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Why parts of Good Friday worship have been controversial

By Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Churches around the world were and are holding services for their three most important days during…

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Takeaways from Trump’s speech on Iran

President Donald Trump staunchly defended his handling of the month-old U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in a prime-time address on Wednesday, saying the U.S. military was nearing completion of its mission…

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Biggest global oil supply disruptions in history

The International Energy Agency said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the largest disruption to global oil markets in history, with supply expected to fall by about…

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Does Trump’s new ‘surcharge’ make EU worse off than under trade deal?

The EU has demanded that the United States stick to the terms of a trade deal they agreed last year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's…

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What are Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities?

Here are some details about Iran's missiles: WHAT ARE BALLISTIC MISSILES? A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled weapon that is guided during its ascent but follows a free-fall trajectory for…

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Trump and the State of the Union address

The stage is set for US President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. The US Capitol in Washington DC will be packed with the country's top…

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What are key issues dividing US and Iran in nuclear talks?

he United States and Iran are due to hold crucial talks in Oman on Friday, with President Donald Trump's threat of military action looming over a region buffeted by conflict…

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What is EU-INC and its plan to make European businesses borderless?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the EU-INC at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Europe’s plan to radically simplify startup operations across the bloc and improve the…

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Five takeaways from Davos 2026

World leaders and business executives departed from Davos last week after an eventful World Economic Forum annual meeting which was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump. Here's what we learned:…

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‘Trump whisperer’ Rutte steers NATO around Greenland crisis

As tensions over Greenland between Donald Trump and Europe neared boiling point this week, NATO boss Mark Rutte cemented his reputation as a "Trump whisperer" after the U.S. president dropped…

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Greenland galvanizes Europe to confront new US reality

Europe may have rallied to see off President Donald Trump over Greenland, but its leaders recognise the confrontation is unlikely to be the last in dealings with his increasingly strident…

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What are the military assets in the Arctic?

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland as he says it is the only way for the United States to secure its defence. Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory,…

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Widening Unrest in Iran Draws Comparisons to Turmoil of the Islamic Revolution

In a matter of days, nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy exploded into a crackdown and bloodshed that blew past reported casualty figures of decades of past demonstrations in the country.…

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Why Iran’s clerical establishment still holds as protests rage

Despite Iran's nationwide protests and years of external pressure, there are as yet no signs of fracture in the Islamic Republic's security elite that could bring an end to one…

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US flexed air power in Maduro extraction mission

The extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife a week ago showcased U.S. air dominance, deploying stealth fighters to control the skies, jets to jam enemy air defenses,…

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The coalition of the willing that could secure peace in Ukraine

The UK and France have pledged to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. Plans for such a move were made last year but have…

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Why does Trump want Greenland to be part of the U.S.?

Why does the United States want control of Greenland? President Trump has made it clear that he thinks the U.S. needs to control the Arctic island to ensure the security…

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Mock house, CIA source and Special Forces: The US operation to capture Maduro

At 4:21 on Saturday morning, President Donald Trump sent a message on his Truth Social platform: the United States had carried out a daring mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas…

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The elections that will shape Europe in 2026

2025 proved to be a pivotal year for high-stakes elections across the European Union. Romania found itself at the centre of coordinated foreign interference campaigns on social media, while Poland’s…

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The cultural works becoming public domain in 2026

A new year means a new parade of classic characters and works entering the public domain. Under U.S. law, the copyright on thousands of creations from 1930 — including films,…

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The World Welcomes 2026: From Christmas Island to the Bering Strait

The first country to celebrate the New Year is Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. Consisting of 33 islands in total, Kiribati has only 20 of them…

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Coups in Africa: how democratic failings help shape military takeovers – study

By Ernest Harsch, Researcher, Institute of African Studies, Columbia University Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Gabon have all suffered regime change in the last five years, led by men…

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Gold Investment Explained: Buying Channels and Market Drivers

Gold hovered within striking distance of the $4,500-an-ounce mark on Tuesday, buoyed by expectations of looser U.S. monetary policy and lingering geopolitical tensions that have driven the prices to a…

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Is it safe to travel to Thailand and Cambodia as border clashes escalate?

A new round of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has raised concerns for travellers heading to two of Southeast Asia’s most popular holiday destinations. Tensions boiled over on Monday when…

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How will the next UN chief be chosen and who wants the job?

A new United Nations secretary-general will be elected next year for a five-year term starting on January 1, 2027. On Tuesday the process formally began to elect the next Secretary-General…

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Full text of European counter-proposal to US Ukraine peace plan

Below is the text of a European counter-proposal to the United States' draft 28-point Ukraine peace plan, seen by Reuters. The counter-proposal, drafted by Europe's E3 powers of Britain, France…

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Trump vs the BBC

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for at least $1 billion over its airing of what he says was a deceptively edited documentary, but the case…

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Louvre heist: five keys to understanding the robbery – and security threats to museums everywhere

By Carmen Jordá Sanz, Directora del Departamento de Criminología y Seguridad, Universidad Camilo José Cela On Sunday October 19, criminals managed to steal eight pieces of extremely valuable jewellery from…

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Prince Andrew’s Fall from Grace: The Scandal That Stripped Him of His Royal Privileges

Britain's King Charles stripped younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and ordered him out of his royal home over renewed scrutiny after the release of a posthumous memoir…

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What to expect from the Dutch election

The Netherlands heads to the polls for the third time in less than five years on October 29. Here is an overview of how the general election works and what…

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Why does the joint prayer of Pope Leo and King Charles symbolise reconciliation?

The sight of King Charles praying with Pope Leo at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel signalled the latest step in a historic reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion…

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La Sante: The prison where France’s ex-President Sarkozy will serve his sentence

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy heads to jail on Tuesday to serve a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in a case related to efforts to obtain…

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The Louvre Robbery: Piecing Together the Daring Jewellery Theft

The Louvre Museum in Paris has been forced to close while police investigate a brazen heist which targeted France's priceless crown jewels. Thieves wielding power tools broke into the world's…

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The Gaza peace plan – what comes next?

On 29 September, US President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new plan to address the war in Gaza. Commonly referred to as Trump’s 20-point plan,…

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Details of the Gaza ceasefire agreement

Israel's government approved the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal early on Friday, setting the clock ticking on the first phase of an agreement that aims to end the two-year-old…

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What will the first phase of the Gaza peace plan look like – and what’s next?

Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan late last night. He said on Truth Social: "This means that ALL…

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What are the Nobel prizes and when will the 2025 awards be announced?

The Nobel prizes are set to be announced from next week, starting with the award for medicine or physiology on Monday and ending with the unveiling of the winners in…

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What to know about Trump’s tariffs on branded drugs, furniture and other goods

President Donald Trump on Thursday unleashed a fresh round of punishing tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, including 100% duties on branded drugs and 25% tariffs on heavy-duty…

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What would wider recognition of Palestine mean for Palestinians and Israel?

About 10 countries including Australia, Belgium, Britain and Canada are expected to formally recognise an independent Palestinian state on Monday at a summit before the annual leaders' gathering at the…

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Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK

Donald Trump is set to fly to the UK today for an unprecedented second state visit. The US president and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted by the King…

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Who wasTrump ally and conservative activist Charlie Kirk?

U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot by an unknown assailant during an event in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. Here are some facts about Kirk: He was a co-founder at…

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Poland vs. Russian Drones — How NATO Articles 4 and 5 Work

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had asked NATO to open consultations under Article 4. It comes after Polish forces shot down 19 drones over its airspace,…

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What you need to know about Norway’s upcoming election

Norway's general election on September 7-8 is expected to be a close race between a centre-left bloc led by the incumbent Labour Party, and a centre-right bloc dominated by the…

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What becomes of the fashion empire Armani built?

Giorgio Armani established one of the world's best-known fashion brands over the past five decades, and his death inevitably raises questions about the future of an Italian company whose independence…

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What deal might emerge from Trump-Putin summit and could it hold?

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine when they meet on Friday in Alaska for a summit…

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Why Alaska for the Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine?

It is unlikely that Vladimir Putin will arrive in Alaska on Friday to present Donald Trump with a territorial demand for the 49th state, sold by Tsar Alexander II to…

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Italy’s planned bridge to Sicily: what to know about landmark project

Italy's government gave final approval on Wednesday to the construction of what will be the world's longest single-span bridge, connecting Sicily to the mainland, despite financial and environmental concerns that…

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What does recognising a Palestinian state mean?

Here’s a look at how and why the new European and Canadian announcements to recognize a Palestinian State could be important: WHY DOES IT MATTER? U.N. partition plan in 1947…

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Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting along their border?

Thailand and Cambodia are engaged in their worst fighting in over a decade, exchanging heavy artillery fire across their disputed border, with at least 16 people killed and tens of…

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US B-2 bombers and bunker-busters used in Iran strike

The U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were involved in strikes on Iran's nuclear sites on Saturday. Three Iranian nuclear sites were struck in a "very successful attack," President…

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Who is Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who crushed internal threats repeatedly during more than three decades in power, now faces his greatest challenge yet. His archenemy, Israel, has secured free…

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Israeli and U.S. intelligence differ on status of Iran’s nuclear program. Who’s right?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued for decades that Iran was on the verge of producing a nuclear weapon. And he ordered the attack on Iran because he believed…

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Iran’s Fordo Facility And The Role of the U.S. Bunker-Buster Bombs

If the U.S. decides to support Israel more directly in its attack on Iran, one option for Washington would be to provide the “bunker-buster” bombs believed necessary to significantly damage…

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The Iran-Israel Standoff: Missile Capabilities

Here’s a look at Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and the defensive systems employed by Israeli and other forces in the region. Iran’s missiles Tehran has thousands of ballistic and cruise…

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Israel and Iran: How do they compare militarily?

Israeli strikes on Iran on Friday and Tehran’s vows of reprisals have brought the two Middle East adversaries closer to an all-out war, which also threatens to draw in the…

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What to know about Iran’s nuclear sites

Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday as tensions reached new heights over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head…

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