CDEIU Insights

What is the ‘Omega Block’ causing Europe’s intense heatwave?

The intense heatwave engulfing Western Europe, resulting in more than 40 deaths in France alone, is being sustained by a weather pattern known as an omega block. Here is what…

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What happens next? How the UK will choose Starmer’s successor

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would resign, with a new leader to be in place by the time parliament ‌returns in September, paving the way for Britain…

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Has Trump achieved his goals in the war with Iran?

Shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, U.S. President Donald Trump laid out a host of objectives, from destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities to…

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How Brexit is estimated to have hit the UK economy

Britain's economy has seen weak growth overall since it left the European Union at the start of 2020, though disentangling the effects of Brexit from the COVID-19 pandemic which hit…

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What do we know about the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda?

The World Health Organization on Sunday declared an ‌Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO said…

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How Keir Starmer could be replaced as UK prime minister

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a battle for his job after his Labour Party suffered a calamitous set of results in local elections last week that if repeated…

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What is the hantavirus?

Three people have died in an outbreak of hantavirus aboard a luxury cruise ship, with another five confirmed or suspected cases reported, but the World Health Organization has said the…

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Ted Turner: The Visionary Who Rewired the Media World

Media mogul Ted Turner, who pioneered the modern 24-hour news culture when he launched the CNN channel, has died at the age of 87. Ted Turner did not simply build…

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How the Iran war oil and gas supply shock compares with past disruptions

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have caused the biggest oil supply disruption on record by daily output lost, though at least one…

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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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How Orwell’s 1984 Reflects Modern Global Conflict

There’s nothing new about calling George Orwell’s most influential novel prescient. However, the focus has usually been on his portrayal of the oppressive aspects of life in Oceania. Oceania is…

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The Conversation – How cocaine traffickers launder cartel money

The cocaine market exploded between 2014 and 2023. Production in Colombia increased more than sevenfold to nearly 2,700 tonnes, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).…

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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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How Europe’s new carbon tax on imported goods will change global trade – and our shopping habits

Simona Sagone, Lund University For people living in the EU, the price of their next car, home renovation and even local produce may soon reflect a climate policy that many…

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5 scenarios for a post-Maduro Venezuela — and what they could signal to the wider region

Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University The predawn U.S. military operation that spirited Nicolás Maduro and his wife out of Venezuela and into U.S. custody marks a watershed in hemispheric…

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AI agents arrived in 2025 – here’s what happened and the challenges ahead in 2026

Thomas Şerban von Davier, Carnegie Mellon University In artificial intelligence, 2025 marked a decisive shift. Systems once confined to research labs and prototypes began to appear as everyday tools. At…

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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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The enduring power of journalism in a world of more media and less freedom

James Rodgers, City St George's, University of London A vast amount of information has not necessarily meant more reliable information, writes James Rodgers, a former BBC correspondent who held postings…

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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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From truce in the trenches to cocktails at the consulate: How Christmas diplomacy seeks to exploit seasonal goodwill

British and German troops observe a temporary truce on Christmas Day 1914. Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Andrew Latham, Macalester College President Donald Trump is reportedly setting his sights on…

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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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America’s anti-European attitudes are centred on perceptions of military weakness and the decline of native populations

Roman Birke, Dublin City University The new US national security strategy marks a significant historical turn. It shifts the focus from global overpopulation to anxieties around population decline in the…

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Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’

Survivors, including Anouska De Georgiou, center, during a news conference with victims of Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin,…

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How Europe is using taxes to slow down fast fashion

VicVa/Shutterstock Albert Navarro García, Universitat de Girona Did you know that making one cotton t-shirt uses around 2,700 litres of water, around the amount that a person drinks in three…

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Trump’s new ‘America First’ security strategy: What to know

It's long been a key slogan for Donald Trump, but "America First" appears closer to reality than ever, after the release of a key US strategy document outlining the administration's foreign…

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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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