CDEIU Insights

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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What’s in the UK-EU reset deal?

Britain agreed the most significant reset of relations with the European Union since Brexit on Monday, with both sides hailing deals on everything from trade and migration to security and…

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What is an Augustinian?

The newly-appointed pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, was the leader of the Catholic order of St. Augustine. A core value for this order is to "live together in harmony, being of one…

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From the moment he steps onto the balcony, each pope signals his style of leadership – here’s how Pope Leo XIV’s appearance compares with Pope Francis’ first

By Daniel Speed Thompson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Dayton As crowds celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, a man in white and red stepped onto the balcony of…

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The symbolic elements of Pope Leo XIV’s election, his vestments, and coat of arms

The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, marked a significant milestone in the Catholic Church’s modern history, making him the first American-born pontiff and underscoring the…

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Who is the new pope, Leo XIV

Robert Prevost has become the 267th pope, the first time in 2,000 years that an American has been appointed to lead the Catholic church. Chicago-born Prevost has chosen to be…

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How does a pope get his name?

In his autobiography "Hope," published in January 2025, Pope Francis, who died on April 21, describes the moment during the 2013 papal election when he found his name. During the…

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Conclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new pope

The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their way to Rome in the…

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What could be behind the Iberian power outage?

The hunt has begun for the cause of a massive blackout across Spain, Portugal and parts of France that halted trains, bank machines and traffic lights, in one of Europe's…

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The official liturgical booklet for Pope Francis’ funeral Mass

The Vatican has released the official liturgical booklet for Pope Francis' funeral Mass, scheduled for April 26, 2025. The document outlines the full ceremony, including prayers, readings, and rituals, reflecting…

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The details of the Russia-Ukraine Deal Framework being proposed by the US, Ukraine and European officials

Reuters has published what it says are details of the Russia-Ukraine Deal Framework being proposed by the US. The news agency says the proposal is described as “the final offer…

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Where Pope Francis stood on Abortion, Islam, Capitalism and other key issues

Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church's teaching in areas such as the death penalty and nuclear weapons, upheld it in others such as abortion, and made inroads with Muslims and…

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Everything you need to know about visiting Rome and the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis

Travellers to Rome should expect closures, visitor restrictions and crowds at some of the city’s main attractions. Tourists who have booked to visit Rome in the coming weeks will experience…

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Who might succeed Pope Francis?

An old Italian saying warns against putting faith, or money, in any presumed front-runner ahead of the conclave, the closed-door gathering of cardinals that picks the pontiff. It cautions: "He who enters a…

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Pope Francis: Key moments from his life

Here are some facts about Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88. - Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of…

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What next after the death of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death has set in motion the centuries-old process of…

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The roots of the Easter story: Where did Christian beliefs about Jesus’ resurrection come from?

As Easter approaches, Christians around the world begin to focus on two of the central tenets of their faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Other charismatic Jewish…

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Who is Friedrich Merz, the man set to be the next German chancellor?

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz is on course to become post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor after finalizing a deal Wednesday to form a new government. Merz, 69, who will succeed…

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What are the EU’s options in response to Trump tariffs?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the European Union had a "strong plan" to retaliate against tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, although it…

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How realistic is France’s offer to extend its nuclear umbrella?

President Emmanuel Macron has said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners. Europe's primary nuclear deterrence comes from…

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What is in the huge German spending plan agreed by parties?

German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz reached an agreement with the Greens on Friday on a massive increase in state borrowing just days ahead of a parliamentary vote next week. This should…

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What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains

By Munira Raji, Research Fellow of Geology, University of Plymouth Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president…

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Everything we know about Ukraine accepting 30-day ceasefire deal after US talks in Saudi Arabia

Ukraine has accepted Donald Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia during crunch talks in Saudi Arabia in which the US agreed to lift its pause on intelligence sharing…

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Text of US-Ukraine statement paving way for resumption of aid, intelligence sharing

Here follows the full text of the joint U.S.-Ukrainian statement that was published after bilateral talks in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Tuesday: Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – under the…

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What we know about the US decision to cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine

The CIA says the US has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, less than a week after a bust-up between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The announcement came just…

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Airlines cautiously return to Middle East

Some global airlines have started lifting suspensions on flights to and from Middle East after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in January. Below are some carriers…

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Europe’s options for paying to bolster its defence readiness

European Union leaders will discuss on Thursday how to finance a sharp increase in defence readiness to deter any possible future attack from Russia and become less dependent for security…

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A guide to Germany’s political parties

Here's a look at Germany's political parties — CDU, CSU, SPD, FDP, Left Party, Greens, AfD, BSW — who they are and what they want. Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social…

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Seismic Alerts in Santorini: What You Need to Know

Residents and tourists on the Greek island of Santorini have been put on high alert after an increase in seismic activity. Since Friday, the island has been hit by more…

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Fears for ‘security of Jews worldwide’ in wake of Elon Musk AfD speech

Elon Musk’s comments to a German far-right party, suggesting that Germans should not focus on their Nazi past, have raised serious concerns about the safety of American Jews and Jews…

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A look at DeepSeek: China’s open-source AI research lab which rivals OpenAI

Chinese AI research lab DeepSeek grabbed global attention last week with the release of its open-source AI model, DeepSeek-R1. The company says the model rivals industry giants like OpenAI in…

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What Measures Are Being Taken for Non-EU Citizens in Spain’s Housing Crisis?

Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties that non-European Union residents buy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro…

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