Be Informed

EXPLAINER-Is it safe for Americans to travel for the holidays?

Dec 16 (Reuters) - The spread of the Omicron variant and a surge in COVID-19 cases have raised Americans' concern about traveling over the holidays. Health experts offered the following…

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Factbox: How could UK PM Johnson be ousted by unhappy lawmakers?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing increasing grumblings of discontent among his lawmakers, many of whom believe he is squandering his Conservative Party's successes by self-inflicted missteps and gaffes.…

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FACTBOX-COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children aged 5-11 in the EU

The European Union rollout of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds should begin Dec. 13, as countries are expanding their vaccination programmes to include young children…

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From Siberia to the U.S, wildfires broke emissions records this year

Wildfires produced a record amount of carbon emissions in parts of Siberia, the United States and Turkey this year, as climate change fanned unusually intense blazes, the European Union's Copernicus…

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EXPLAINER-How will New Zealand’s lifetime ban on cigarette sales work?

Dec 9 (Reuters) - New Zealand on Thursday said it will ban young people from buying cigarettes for life, one of the toughest approaches in the world to curbing smoking…

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Factbox: What COVID-19 vaccine and drug makers have to say about Omicron

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has sparked fears that existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment could be less effective against it. South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases said early…

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FACTBOX-Austria’s next chancellor: ex-soldier, hardliner, survivor

Following are some key facts about Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, who was picked by top officials of the ruling conservative party on Friday to be their leader and the…

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FACTBOX-Countries vaccinating children against COVID-19

Countries around the world are expanding COVID-19 vaccination programmes to include young children as infections surge in Europe amid concerns over the new Omicron variant. But with a huge disparity…

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FACTBOX-Global spread of Omicron cases

Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in southern Africa last month and dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization. Scientists…

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EXPLAINER-Does Omicron pose higher risks for infants than other variants?

Data from an area in South Africa hard-hit by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has shown a high number of hospital admissions of infants under 2 years old, raising…

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What is the risk of a war between Russia and Ukraine?

Russian troop movements near Ukraine have drawn concern from Kyiv and the United States that it might be considering attacking its neighbour. Here is a look at some of the…

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How worried should we be about the Omicron variant?

Nov 27 (Reuters) - The new Omicron coronavirus variant - identified first in South Africa, but also detected in Europe and Asia - is raising concern worldwide given the number…

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EXPLAINER-What has to happen before Germany’s new chancellor takes power?

Three parties in Germany have struck a deal to form a new coalition government that will see Social Democrat Olaf Scholz replace conservative Angela Merkel as chancellor. However, it will…

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EXPLAINER-What we know about the COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Global authorities have reacted with alarm to a coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with the EU, Britain and India among those announcing stricter border…

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Germany’s next government: the likely line-up

Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) announced on Wednesday a coalition deal as they prepare to take charge of Europe's biggest economy for the next…

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EXPLAINER-What is happening with U.S. gasoline prices?

Nov 24 (Reuters) - The United States uses more gasoline than any other nation in the world, and lately Americans have grown concerned about the swift rise in costs at…

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FACTBOX: Main policy goals of German coalition partners

BERLIN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The leaders of three German parties were set on Wednesday to present a deal to form a coalition government that will see Social Democrat Olaf…

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FACTBOX-Highs and lows of Solskjaer’s Manchester United reign

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Manchester United sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday, a day after a fifth defeat in seven Premier League games left the Old Trafford club seventh…

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Chile is set for its most polarized election in decades

Chile is set to vote for a new president on Sunday, with a far-right conservative battling for pole position against a young former student leader on the left, in the…

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FACTBOX-Europe starts reimposing COVID-19 restrictions

Nov 19 (Reuters) - Germany warned it may have to move to a full COVID-19 lockdown after Austria said it would become the first country in western Europe to reimpose…

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Countries weigh need for booster COVID-19 shots

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Many countries are rolling out COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, but there is no consensus among scientists that they are necessary and the World Health Organization wants…

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Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory

A sharp upturn in infections caused by the Delta variant and a slowdown in vaccinations have pushed governments to make COVID-19 shots mandatory for health workers and other high-risk groups.…

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What’s in the Glasgow Climate Pact?

Nearly 200 nations agreed to adopt the Glasgow Climate Pact on Saturday after more than two weeks of intense negotiations, with the UK host of the talks saying the deal…

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Review – How the COP26 deal was reached

GLASGOW, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Delegates worked overtime on Saturday to reach a final deal at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow. Reuters reporters were on the ground delivering the…

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Is your electric car as eco-friendly as you thought?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a powerful weapon in the world's battle to beat global warming, yet their impact varies hugely from nation-to-nation and in some places they pollute more than…

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How Belarus became gateway to EU for Middle East migrants

Hundreds of migrants are stuck in freezing temperatures on the Belarusian border with Poland trying to get into the European Union as EU capitals and Minsk accuse each other of…

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U.S. infrastructure bill makes power broker of transportation chief Buttigieg

The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress on Friday is the largest U.S. investment in roads, rail lines and other transportation networks in decades. It also gives some members…

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TIMELINE-Libya’s shaky path towards elections

Nov 12 (Reuters) - Libya's peace plan, aimed at national elections in December, offers a fragile chance of stability after a decade of chaos and division between warring factions. However,…

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What to watch on Friday at COP26

GLASGOW, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The pressure is on. Negotiators for some 200 countries at the U.N. climate summit in Scotland enter the final hours of talks on Friday, with…

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Minsk’s standoff with EU and Belarus border crisis

Thousands of migrants have attempted to cross illegally into the European Union from Belarus since the summer in an escalation of a year-long row between Brussels and Minsk. Poland and…

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Anger, tangle and trouble: Is another Brexit showdown looming?

What happens if Britain triggers emergency unilateral provisions in the Brexit divorce deal known as Article 16? WHAT IS ARTICLE 16? Article 16 is a clause in the Protocol on…

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What to watch on Wednesday at COP26

GLASGOW, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Time is getting tight. With the U.N. climate agency publishing the first draft of a final COP26 deal on Wednesday, negotiators are poised to begin…

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EXPLAINER-What’s the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming?

GLASGOW, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Over and over at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, world leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The…

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FACTBOX-Parties and leaders contesting Portugal’s snap election

Portugal will hold a snap general election on Jan. 30 Following are snapshots of the main parties and leaders contesting the vote: SOCIALIST PARTY (PS) The centre-left party of Prime…

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Spies, lies and losses: Credit Suisse’s scandals

Credit Suisse will pare back its investment bank and focus on building its wealthy client base, the Swiss bank said this week, as it regroups following a string of scandals.…

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What to watch on Day 5 and over weekend at COP26

GLASGOW, Nov 5 (Reuters) - After a week of non-stop pledges and announcements, national delegates on Friday will cede the stage at the U.N. climate conference to youth activists and…

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What to watch on Day 4 at COP26

GLASGOW, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Money was the theme of Wednesday’s sessions at the U.N. climate conference, but on Thursday delegates turn to energy – both dirty and clean. Britain…

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Factbox: New promises at Glasgow climate talks

Here are some of the pledges delivered so far this week at the U.N. climate conference, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland: DEFORESTATION More than 100 global leaders pledged to halt and…

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Climate finance could make or break the COP26 summit. Here’s why

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - At the U.N. climate conference, expect one theme to drown out the cacophony of pledges from countries and companies around the world: money. The COP26…

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EXPLAINER-From Paris to Glasgow: cutting through climate jargon

Representatives from nearly 200 countries meet in Glasgow, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 to flesh out the rules of a new global climate pact. Decades of climate talks have…

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EXPLAINER-Why Japan’s election is a bigger deal than it looks

TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, is running in a tightrope general election on Sunday that could see his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lose…

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FACTBOX-Five to watch: the big numbers for Japan’s general election

By Kiyoshi Takenaka Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, will face his first major test on Sunday when Japan holds a general election that could see his ruling Liberal Democratic…

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Which countries and blocs are major players at the Glasgow climate summit?

The diverse interests among the 197 signatories to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) make for a tough challenge reaching consensus on the next steps to stem global…

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A look at the post-Brexit fishing rules at the heart of new UK-France clash

France’s seizure of a British trawler in French territorial waters marked a serious escalation in a dispute between Paris and London over post-Brexit fishing rights. Tensions between the two sides…

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As Facebook changes name, what is the “metaverse”?

Facebook has changed its corporate name to Meta as part of a major rebrand. The company said it would better "encompass" what it does, as it broadens its reach beyond…

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FACTBOX-The whys and wherefores of the Group of 20 summit

ROME, Oct 28 (Reuters) - International leaders descend on Rome this weekend for a summit of the Group of 20 - a forum that gathers together the world's biggest rich…

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What’s next for German politics as new Bundestag meets?

Germany's new lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, met for the first time on Tuesday following a federal election last month. Here's an overview of why it is meeting now,…

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FACTBOX-Australia prepares to reopen borders for first time during pandemic

SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australia will start lifting its outbound travel ban for fully vaccinated residents from Nov. 1 amid a strong uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, as Sydney and…

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COP26 in Glasgow: Who is going and who is not?

Several prominent figures are in doubt to attend the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 U.N. COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in person. Here is the latest on the status of delegates: OUT…

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What is happening in Sudan?

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Members of Sudan's cabinet and a large number of pro-government party leaders were arrested on Monday in an apparent coup after weeks of tension between the…

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Why today’s economy can handle oil at $100 a barrel or higher

For all the angst caused by this year's 65% oil price leap, concerns about a return to 1970s-style stagflation are overblown and the developed world, at least, can probably handle…

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Electric-vehicle batteries: major players and their expansion plans

The global auto industry's shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has spurred an expansion race among battery makers and led to a growing skills shortage. Global EV sales, estimated at 2.5…

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A few facts on Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the world's longest-reigning monarch, spent a night in hospital but returned to Windsor Castle on Thursday. Here are some facts about the 95-year-old queen: PRINCESS Elizabeth Alexandra…

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Auf Wiedersehen: Merkel attends her swan song EU summit – probably

European Union leaders paused their meeting in Brussels on Thursday for a farewell photograph with Angela Merkel, who is attending what could be the last of more than 100 summits…

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How is the EU responding to record-high energy prices?

The European Commission published a "toolbox" of measures this week to tackle surging energy prices, which have curtailed industrial production and left European consumers facing higher heating bills as winter…

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Countries vaccinating children against COVID-19

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE have asked U.S. regulators to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children aged 5-11, with an expert panel to the Food and Drug…

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How Target, Home Depot, UPS, FedEx plan to ease U.S. port congestion

President Joe Biden on Wednesday pushed to ease supply chain logjams that are threatening the all-important U.S. holiday shopping season. A port in Los Angeles will join Long Beach, California,…

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