CDEIU Insights

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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Turbulent times for turbulent leaders

By Tonio Galea, Senior Editor at The Dispatch These last weeks were particularly turbulent days for certain leaders around the world. There was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico who survived…

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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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13

Jun

What’s on the agenda at Italy’s G7 summit?

Italy hosts the annual summit of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies on June 13-15. Here are key facts and figures about the three-day event. WHERE IS…

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What are tactical nuclear weapons and why is Russia and its ally Belarus holding drills?

Russia and its ally Belarus are carrying out exercises to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. What are these weapons, how might they be used and what do we…

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Zelenskiy’s Peace Summit in Switzerland: What to Expect

Switzerland will host a summit on June 15-16 that aims to build broad international support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals, which includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops…

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What is the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict?

The Gaza war has put renewed focus on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, still seen by many countries as the path to peace even though the negotiating process…

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How does Italy’s migration deal with Albania work?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Albania on Wednesday, where her government plans to build reception camps to house thousands of migrants picked up at sea. Looking to curb migration…

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Starmer vs Sunak: How Britain’s parties are addressing immigration concerns

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is promising to cut immigration levels if his Conservative Party wins next month's election, making the issue one of the major battlegrounds of the upcoming…

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European election 2024: How it works and who can vote?

Around 373 million citizens across the 27 member states of the European Union are eligible to vote on June 6-9 in elections to the European Parliament. Here is all you…

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European election 2024: What are the political groups?

Voters in the 27 countries of the European Union will elect 720 lawmakers to the European Parliament for the next five years between June 6-9 and are expected to deliver…

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A quick look: D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history

D-Day was the Allied troops invasion in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, having been delayed by 24 hours because of poor weather, to fight Nazi Germany in World War…

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India’s Historic General Election 2022: Turnout, Challenges, and Emerging Technologies

India's general election, with nearly a billion eligible voters, ended on Saturday. Votes are to be counted on Tuesday and results will be known later that day. Here are some…

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India election 2024: What next after voting ends?

The winners of India's April 19-June 1 general election are expected to form a new government by the middle of June after votes are counted on June 4. Analysts largely…

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Seven political groups fighting in European Parliament election

Voters in the 27 countries of the European Union will elect 720 lawmakers to the European Parliament for the next five years on June 6-9 and are expected to deliver…

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Once ostracised, Italy’s Meloni is now centre stage in Europe

When Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took power in 2022, far-right parties across Europe hailed her victory, expecting the fiery new leader in Rome to pursue a nationalist agenda and…

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South Africa 2024 election: How it works

South Africans vote in national and provincial elections on May 29 that polls suggest could loosen the African National Congress' 30-year grip on power. After the vote, the new National…

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Palestinian state: What does Spain, Norway and Ireland’s recognition mean?

Spain, Ireland and Norway will officially recognise a Palestinian state on Tuesday, despite an angry reaction from Israel, which has found itself increasingly isolated after seven months of conflict in…

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Antimafia Movement in Sicily: Redefining Social Values

Baris Cayli Messina, University of Lincoln Bearing witness to the profound consequences of violence and injustice for a long period of time can deeply fracture communities, resulting in collective trauma.…

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Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war identity

Richard Youngs, University of Warwick Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to…

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Impact of Euro 2024 on British Politics: Rishi Sunak’s Election Call Amid Soccer Fever

Does British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak risk scoring an own goal by calling an election during the 2024 European Championship soccer tournament in July? Sunak, himself a soccer fan, might…

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Four ways EU laws affect the daily lives of European citizens today

Joseba K. Fernández Gaztea, Universidad de Navarra An Argentinian colleague recently posed a rather blunt question to me: “How, pray tell, does your beloved European Union help you and me?”…

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Dependency on Critical Raw Materials: Implications for the EU’s Green Transition

Michalis Christou, Joint Research Centre and Samuel Carrara, Joint Research Centre The climate transition is a materials transition. Decades of international diplomacy around oil, gas and pipelines are now giving…

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‘No one can act with impunity’: ICC arrest warrants in Israel-Hamas war are a major test for international justice

Amy Maguire, University of Newcastle The request by Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders is a significant step…

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Why is Russia holding nuclear drills and should the West be worried?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons after what Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the United States. Why,…

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Key political moments from 14 years of Conservative rule in UK

Britain will hold a national election on July 4 which opinion polls suggest will end 14 years of Conservative Party-led government, spanning one of the more turbulent periods in the…

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Escalating Political Violence in Germany

Politically motivated crime in Germany last year reached its highest level since the government started tracking it more than 20 years ago, with the greatest threat coming from people with…

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The Road To The Vote: What happens in a UK national election?

Britain will hold a national election on July 4 which opinion polls indicate will end 14 years of Conservative Party-led government, spanning one of the most turbulent periods in the…

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Who is Mohammad Mokhber, the man set to become Iran’s interim president?

Here are some key facts about Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's first vice president who, based on the country's constitution, is expected to become interim president following the death of Ebrahim…

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Who was Iran’s President Raisi

Ebrahim Raisi, who died aged 63, rose through Iran's theocracy from hardline prosecutor to uncompromising president, overseeing a crackdown on protests at home and pushing hard in nuclear talks with…

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What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

Rescuers in Iran have found the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi with indications that all those on board died. Below is brief outline of…

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The Bell 212 helicopter

The Bell 212 helicopter in which Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were travelling when it crashed is the civilian version of the ubiquitous Vietnam War-era…

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Slovakia’s Polarised Politics: Insights into Robert Fico’s Political Controversies

Tomas Sniegon, Lund University Slovak society is in shock after a 71-year-old man fired five shots at the prime minister, Robert Fico, while he was greeting a small crowd after…

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King Charles III Portrait: Decoding the Symbolism and Legacy

Gabriele Neher, University of Nottingham It looks as if many people are “seeing red” when it comes to the first official portrait of King Charles III. Reactions to Jonathan Yeo’s…

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Biden vs Trump: What to expect from presidential debates

U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to two debates ahead of November's election, scheduling televised face-offs that could prove critical in their tight rematch to…

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Why students harmed by addictive social media need more than cellphone bans and surveillance

Ateqah Khaki, The Conversation; Catherine Zhu, The Conversation, and Vinita Srivastava, Recently, five school boards in Ontario filed a lawsuit against the major social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat…

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Top takeaways from Putin’s trip to China

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to China on Thursday where he was greeted by China's Xi Jinping. What are the main takeaways from the visit? Xi and…

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Four of the most consequential political defections in British history

Chris Smith, Coventry University The hitherto Conservative MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, has sensationally defected to the Labour party. This has sent shockwaves through Westminster, as Elphicke was a figure…

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The Tattooist of Auschwitz is controversial, but is historical accuracy more important than awareness?

Jan Lanicek, UNSW Sydney and Rebecca Cordony, UNSW Sydney This month, the much-anticipated television adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz premiered on Australian streaming platform Stan. Before its release, significant…

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What if companies rewarded employees for their failures?

Souad Brinette, EDC Paris Business School; Abdoulkarim Idi Cheffou, ISG International Business School, and Vesselina Tossan, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM) A growing number of companies are encouraging…

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Not all ultra-processed foods are bad for your health, whatever you might have heard

Gary Sacks, Deakin University; Kathryn Backholer, Deakin University; Kathryn Bradbury, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Sally Mackay, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau In recent years, there’s been…

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Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections – but is it playing into the far right’s hands?

Gabriele Abels, University of Tübingen Ahead of the European parliament elections in June, Germany has lowered the age limit on participation to 16. This makes it the largest of just…

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