Be Informed

UPDATED: The US election at a glance

The U.S. presidential election takes place Nov. 5 and will be closely watched around the world. They will also be voting for members of Congress, who play a key part…

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What is ‘Taiwan independence’ and is Taiwan already independent?

Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to toughen the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S.…

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Key measures in UK Labour Party’s first budget in nearly 15 years

British finance minister Rachel Reeves presented her first budget statement to parliament on Wednesday, unveiling the biggest tax rises since 1993 and changes to the government's fiscal rules to increase…

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What caused deadly floods in Spain? The impact of DANA explained

Catastrophic flash floods that have killed at least 95 people in Spain are caused by a destructive weather system in which cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain…

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Slavery reparations: Where do Europe and the United States stand?

Discussions on reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism are gaining momentum, with Caribbean and African nations calling on former colonial powers to engage on the issue. From the 15th to…

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Israel’s Weapon Suppliers: A Closer Look

The US has cautioned Israel that it might halt weapon supplies if Gaza's humanitarian crisis doesn't improve. This isn't the first time Israel's key ally has made such a threat.…

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The extraordinary life of Alfred Nobel

The Nobel prizes may be one of the most famous and prestigious awards in the world – but who was the man behind them? As I explain in my lectures…

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2024 Nobel prizes announced this week

The Nobel prizes are to be announced this week, starting with the award for medicine or physiology on Monday. The awards, which are also given for achievements in physics, chemistry,…

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Escalation of Israeli-Hezbollah Conflict: A Historical Overview

A sharp escalation in border warfare between the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and Israel, raising fears of a new Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon, is the latest episode in decades of…

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Understanding Russia’s Nuclear Arsenal: Key Facts and Figures

President Vladimir Putin has warned the West that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it was struck with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any assault on it supported…

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What’s on the agenda at the UNGA?

As global leaders converge on New York this week, the world and the U.N. itself are facing a host of challenges. From armed conflict and the existential threat of a…

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Who’s who in top picks for European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday nominated her candidates for posts in the EU executive. Each of the EU's 27 member states gets a seat at the…

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Trump golf course shooting; What we know about the reported suspect

A gunman attempted to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump's golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, authorities said. CNN, Fox News and The New York Times identified the…

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What is the UNGA and what will world leaders talk about?

Every September world leaders travel to New York to address the start of the annual United Nations General Assembly session. The six days of speeches to mark the beginning of…

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Takeaways from the Harris-Trump presidential debate

Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump met on Tuesday for their first and perhaps only debate, a square-off that could have a significant impact on the Nov. 5 election…

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Main elements of Draghi competitiveness report

The European Union needs far more coordinated industrial policy, more rapid decisions and massive investment if it wants to keep pace with economic rivals the United States and China, Mario…

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Michel Barnier: Key facts about France’s new prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his new prime minister on Thursday in a bid to end political paralysis following an inconclusive…

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What’s behind Libya’s oil shutdown?

Libya's latest oil shutdown has pushed up global energy prices. This explains the situation. HOW DID WE GET HERE? Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and thrust…

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Kamala Harris’ agenda: Gaza ceasefire, NATO support, middle class tax cut

U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris laid out part of her agenda during her Democratic National Convention speech, promising to pass a middle class tax cut, support…

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What we know about the sinking of the superyacht off Sicily

Six people are missing, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and a Morgan Stanley executive, one person is dead and there are 15 survivors following the sinking of a luxury…

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Gaza ceasefire talks: The main sticking points

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel stepping up diplomatic pressure in a last-ditch attempt to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal. The marathon…

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Why is mpox an emergency again, and how worried should one be?

The World Health Organization has declared that an outbreak of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, represents a global health emergency for the second time in two…

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Who is Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ new running mate

Born in Nebraska, the 60-year-old Minnesota governor, was enlisted in the US Army National Guard at the age of 17 and served for 24 years. Walz is a Lutheran, often…

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‘Teflon Flu’ Cases on the Rise

Cases of "Teflon flu" — an ailment associated with cooking in a nonstick pan — are rising, leading to questions about just how safe the nonstick cookware is to use.…

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Russia-Western prisoner swap: who was freed?

Following are details of some of the people from the United States, Russia and several other countries who were freed in a major prisoner exchange, as named by the United…

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Why the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is heating up again

A deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has added to concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah could be sucked into a full-scale war - something…

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Extreme heat: How does it affect medicines and those taking them?

The world just experienced the hottest day on record and prolonged heat waves have become more common due to climate change, conditions that can alter medications and their effects on…

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Who is Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela opposition leader?

Laughter, tears, and requests for help often greet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as she tours the country urging voters to back change in the upcoming July 28 presidential…

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Who could be Kamala Harris’s running mate?

US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced he would end his re-election campaign, and said Kamala Harris should take his place. If she is successful, a running mate will be…

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How a Harris foreign policy could look

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to stick largely to Joe Biden's foreign policy playbook on key issues such as Ukraine, China and Iran but could strike a tougher tone…

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Biden will step aside in the 2024 race. What happens next?

President Joe Biden said on Sunday he would withdraw from the 2024 presidential election race, putting the United States into uncharted territory. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be…

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Heat stress: what is it and how is it measured?

As climate change continues to exert its influence, elevating temperatures across the globe, the impact of extreme heat is increasingly felt, including in Europe, which is warming at twice the…

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What caused the global cyber outage?

A global tech failure disrupted operations across multiple industries on Friday, halting flights and forcing a number of broadcasters off-air, as the outage upended everything from banking to healthcare systems.…

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Takeaways from the Republican National Convention

Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination before a raucous audience of thousands on Thursday, the crowning event to a gathering of the party's faithful just days after the former…

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Von der Leyen gets second term as EU Commission boss. What happens now?

Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. EU lawmakers…

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The King’s Speech: A guide to the new UK government’s proposed laws

Britain's new Labour government set out its first package of proposed laws on Wednesday as Prime Minister Keir Starmer tries to deliver on his promise to rebuild the country. The…

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Key figures to know in the left-wing New Popular Front bloc

France's left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), an alliance of parties hastily assembled after President Emmanuel Macron called a surprise snap parliamentary election, scored a shock win in Sunday's vote over…

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2024 Presidential Election: Biden vs. Trump Timeline and Events

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump will face each other in the 2024 presidential election in what is expected to be a divisive and closely…

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Who is Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader vowing to shake up British politics?

Brexit kingpin Nigel Farage has finally won a seat in Britain's parliament at the eighth attempt and is as determined to be as much of a "bloody nuisance" there as…

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French election run-off: How does it work and what to look out for

The second round run-off vote in France's parliamentary election on Sunday may lead to a hung parliament with no clear majority, opinion polls show, unless the far right wins enough…

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Scientists wary of bird flu pandemic ‘unfolding in slow motion’

Scientists tracking the spread of bird flu are increasingly concerned that gaps in surveillance may keep them several steps behind a new pandemic, according to Reuters interviews with more than…

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France’s political alliances and their election pledges

France's political parties have scrambled to form political alliances after President Emmanuel Macron's surprise move to call a parliamentary election, reshaping the political landscape into three large blocs. From the…

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Keir Starmer: Who is the UK’s new PM and what has he promised?

Keir Starmer enters power with one of the longest lists of problems ever to face an incoming prime minister and few resources to deal with them - a situation that…

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Israel’s contentious military exemption for ultra-Orthodox community

Israel's Supreme Court has ruled the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students to the military, a move that ends a longstanding exemption on their conscription and risks destabilising…

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Reactions to Julian Assange’s flight to freedom after US plea deal

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is due to plead guilty on Wednesday to violating U.S. espionage law, in a deal that will set him free after a 14-year British legal odyssey…

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Trump’s second-term agenda: deportations, trade wars, NATO rethink

Donald Trump plans to deport millions of migrants, reshape global trade with expensive tariffs and fill the government with loyalists if he wins a second four-year White House term in…

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What’s at stake in Macron’s shock snap election call?

In a high-risk gamble, President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he would dissolve France's parliament and call legislative elections later this month after he was trounced in European elections by…

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