Be Informed

What are Israel’s military capabilities?

Israel’s military has long been supported by the United States, with $3.3 billion in annual funding, plus $500 million toward missile defense technology. Israel is one of the best-armed nations…

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Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system

Israel’s short-range Iron Dome air defence system has had a 96 per cent success rate in intercepting rockets fired from Gaza during the latest round of fighting between Israel and…

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Iran’s missile capabilities

Iran has developed a range of ballistic missiles and drones in a programme that has long worried the West. The missiles are an important part of the arsenal at Tehran's…

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards: powerful group with wide regional reach

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards launched a drone attack against targets in Israel on Saturday, Iranian English-language press TV cited Iranian sources as saying. A senior commander in the Corps' Quds…

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How three European human rights cases could shape climate litigation

Does government inaction on climate change violate human rights? That is the question the European Court of Human Rights will for the first time seek to answer in Strasbourg, France,…

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Slavery tribunal? Africa and Caribbean unite on reparations

By Catarina Demony Support is building among Africa and Caribbean nations for the creation of an international tribunal on atrocities dating to the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, with the…

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Could the Palestinians become a full United Nations member?

The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday formally asked for renewed consideration by the United Nations Security Council of its 2011 application to become a full member of the world body. Palestinian…

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Six months into Gaza war, Israel faces deepening isolation

By James Mackenzie and Nidal Al-Mughrabi Six months into the war in Gaza, the killing of a group of aid workers by an Israeli air strike summed up both the…

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Illness, scandal and discord leave UK royal family looking depleted

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - King Charles is due to make his first public appearance at a royal event since his cancer diagnosis on Sunday, but the likely absence…

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How war has hit the Gaza Strip

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed thousands, caused a humanitarian catastrophe and raised the chances of a wider conflict across the Middle East. Here are some facts about…

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Somali pirates’ return adds to crisis for global shipping companies

Pirates had been dormant for nearly a decade 2008-2014 attacks cost the global economy billions of dollars Recent pirate raids are increasing costs for shippers Pirates take advantage of security…

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Who is Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales?

Following are some facts about Kate, the Princess of Wales and wife of Britain's heir to the throne Prince William. She announced in a video message on Friday that she…

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Turbulent 2024 for Britain’s royal family

Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, said she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests following an abdominal surgery revealed that cancer had been present. Below is a timeline of recent events…

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Why did ISIS-K attack a Moscow theater?

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The U.S. has intelligence confirming Islamic State's claim of responsibility for a deadly shooting attack at a concert near Moscow on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters.…

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After 100 days, Poland’s Tusk faces questions over election promises

By Alan Charlish WARSAW, March 22 (Reuters) - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk hit his first 100 days in office on Friday with solid public support but facing criticism for…

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What are Putin’s top challenges in new six-year term?

By Mark Trevelyan LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin has won six more years in the Kremlin with a landslide victory in an election where he faced no serious…

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What is Britain’s new extremism definition?

Britain unveiled a new definition of extremism this week to counter a surge in hate crimes, raising some concerns it would inhibit free speech and unfairly target Muslim groups. WHY…

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How news organisations decide whether a photo is ‘too edited’

In the era of artificial intelligence and accessible photo editing, you can’t believe everything you see online. One exception, of course, is (usually) if it’s published by a reputable news…

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New European law aims to protect media outlets against disinformation

Disinformation, AI-generated content and fake news pose a serious threat to our democratic processes. With half of the world’s population taking part in more than 80 national elections in 2024…

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Will Biden’s temporary port plan stop famine in Gaza?

March 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that the military will build a temporary port on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to receive humanitarian aid by sea. It's part…

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Euro is back on the scene for global central banks

Reserve managers plan to add euros short- and long-term -OMFIF Positive rates boosting euro appeal Euro also benefits from de-dollarisation By Dhara Ranasinghe and Alun John LONDON, March 6anks to…

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Donald Trump’s third presidential nomination has never been in doubt. He’s made an art of political survival

Donald Trump’s political obituary has been written many times. His dominant performance in the Super Tuesday Republican primaries marks one more instance of him outlasting those who counted him out.…

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Haiti called for security support. Who answered?

By Sarah Morland (Reuters) - More than a year ago Haiti's government formally requested a multinational force be deployed to help its police restore control of the capital Port-au-Prince, as…

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China’s Parliament to meet as economy clouds linger

By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING, (Reuters) - China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), will kick off its annual session on Tuesday, with all eyes on plans to support growth…

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Who is George Galloway, the left-winger elected again to UK parliament?

LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - Veteran left-wing political maverick George Galloway was elected as the new lawmaker for the English town of Rochdale on Friday, the latest political comeback for…

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Yulia Navalnaya: Who is Alexei Navalny’s widow and new Russian opposition politician?

By Andrew Osborn Before the shock death of her husband Alexei in a grim Arctic prison last week, Yulia Navalnaya had always played down the idea she would one day…

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Five reasons why Trump’s Republican opponents were never going to beat him

Donald Trump’s inexorable march to the 2024 Republican presidential nomination has sparked plenty of second-guessing. What could his opponents, including former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron…

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Alexei Navalny had a vision of a democratic Russia. That terrified Vladimir Putin to the core

Alexei Navalny was a giant figure in Russian politics. No other individual rivalled the threat he posed to the Putin regime. His death in an Arctic labour camp is a…

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Who was Alexei Navalny ?

Russian authorities have just announced that the country’s most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died in prison on Friday after collapsing and losing consciousness at the penal colony north…

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Finland’s new president sees no limit to NATO ties, Ukraine support

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, (Reuters) - Alexander Stubb declared himself winner of Finland's presidential election on Sunday after a campaign built on promises to make the most of his country's…

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The health of Britain’s King Charles: sporting accidents to cancer diagnosis

Britain's King Charles, 75, has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will receive out-patient treatment for the condition for an unspecified period. The king has enjoyed good health…

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Why are French farmers protesting?

By Gus Trompiz, Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - French farmers blocked major highways to Paris on Monday as they pursue protests over a range of grievances,…

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UN’s top court puts Israel on notice over its war in Gaza. Here’s what its judgement could mean

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has issued an unprecedented set of preliminary orders in the case brought against Israel by South Africa alleging it is committing…

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Holocaust Memorial Day shouldn’t be about ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’ – unsung, ordinary people made the biggest difference

The theme for the 2024 Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place on January 27, is the “fragility of freedom”. This year is an especially poignant one, marking 80 years since…

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ICJ ruling: Key takeaways from the court decision in Israel genocide case

THE HAGUE, (Reuters) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel on Friday to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in…

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What is the genocide case against Israel at UN court?

By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.N. judges at the International Court of Justice will rule on Friday on South Africa's request for emergency measures…

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Iran-Pakistan flare-up rooted in restive borderlands, not Mideast strife

Iran strike sought to shore up internal security, sources say Iran says security of its people 'a red line' 'We have warned everyone' not to attack Iran - Iranian official…

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What is behind Iran-Pakistan attacks and could conflict escalate?

By John Davison Iran launched missile strikes on three different countries this week - Iraq, Syria and Pakistan - while proxy militant groups it backs continue to target U.S. and…

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Why are there concerns about China’s pension system as its population ages?

By Farah Master HONG KONG, Jan 18 (Reuters) - China's ageing population threatens key Beijing policy goals for the coming decade of boosting domestic consumption and reining in ballooning debt,…

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Who are the separatists targeted by Pakistan’s strikes in Iran?

ISLAMABAD, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Thursday it had carried out airstrikes against separatist militants in Iran, the latest step in a tense standoff after Iran's missile and…

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Red Sea crisis: expert unpacks Houthi attacks and other security threats

Recent attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militia in the Red Sea have put the vital shipping region in the spotlight. The rebels, based in Yemen, claim to be targeting…

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Yemen’s Houthis and why are they under attack?

By Maha El Dahan (Reuters) - The United States and Britain launched strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement's attacks…

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How does a Taiwan election work?

(Reuters) - Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday, which will be watched closely by neighbour China as it views the island as a Chinese province. Taiwan's government rejects…

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Key facts on Taiwan-China relations ahead of Taiwan elections

(Reuters) - Taiwan goes to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president and parliament. China, which considers Taiwan merely a Chinese province and part of its territory despite…

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Houthi attacks on shipping in Red Sea persist, U.S. and allies strike back

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States and Britain carried out strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement's attacks on ships…

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EU’s energy security drive may have gone too far

By Lisa Jucca MILAN, Jan 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Europe may have overplayed its energy security strategy. President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 attack on Ukraine exposed the European Union’s heavy dependence…

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What is happening in Ecuador?

(Reuters) - A live broadcast by Ecuadorean television station TC was interrupted on Tuesday by balaclava-clad gunmen, the most dramatic recent example of a renewed explosion of violence in the…

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Bangladesh PM Hasina: From champion of democracy to iron lady

By Sudipto Ganguly and Ruma Paul DHAKA, (Reuters) - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once joined rivals in a fight to restore democracy but her long reign in power has…

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After 3 months of devastation in the Israel-Hamas war, is anyone ‘winning’?

The 19th century German war strategist and field marshal Helmuth von Moltke famously coined the aphorism “No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy”. His observation might well be…

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US government shutdown: What would close, what would stay open?

By Andy Sullivan Jan 8 (Reuters) - The top Democrat and Republican in the U.S. Congress have reached a deal to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but…

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Boeing’s ongoing 737 MAX crisis

Reuters) - The latest black eye for Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX aircraft occurred Friday when a cabin panel blowout forced an Alaska Airlines flight to make an emergency landing. U.S.…

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Children born or raised during lockdown are developing language skills at a slower rate

Social interactions in the first months of life are fundamental for babies to learn how to communicate and develop their language skills. Physical contact, touch, smiling and our first face-to-face…

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Global triggers: why these five big issues could cause significant problems in 2024

The tensions between the US and China made the global economy shudder in 2023. The ramifications of the Ukrainian war echoed beyond the country’s border. In Africa, the coup d’état…

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US-China relations: Expect more turbulence in 2024

By Don Durfee and Antoni Slodkowski WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - After a year that brought panic over spy balloons, a fight over semiconductors and an intensifying military rivalry, China and the…

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Gaza in 2024: Signs of more devastation, open-ended occupation

By Samia Nakhoul (Reuters) - The war aims of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gaza's Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar look unattainable in 2024, and their fight may consign the…

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The actors, musicians, writers and artists who died in 2023

Icon of American rock David Crosby Crosby was a prominent figure of the 1970s Laurel Canyon scene who helped bring folk-rock mainstream with both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills &…

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How media attention harms female political candidates

A video of Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing at a party was leaked in August 2022. There was massive media reaction to what was, essentially, a young female politician…

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