Month: September 2025

In practice, election results are determined by a complex system of laws and rules that vary from country to country. This means that polling data is only a partial picture of what actually happened. In order to be accurate, it is necessary to combine information from different sources. The use of these data requires a degree of expertise, and the results can be difficult to interpret.

In addition, the process of determining a winner includes a step known as a canvass, in which elections officials examine all of the ballots to ensure they have counted every vote and that there are no clerical errors. This can take days, and is the only way to know who really won.

These factors mean that the results reported on election night are never final and certified. But many voters look to elections officials for trusted information about results, and how they communicate those results can play a role in establishing public confidence in the process.

In the United States, the result of a tight race can have significant ramifications for the economy and global geopolitics. Johns Hopkins Carey Business School scholars have analyzed the impact of a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump presidency on seven key policy areas.

A news flash is a short piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or TV broadcasts and keeps audiences updated on current events. It can be local, national or international and may include a mix of hard and soft news. Newsflashes are not the place to bring opinion or give in-depth reports; they simply relay facts about a specific topic that is important for listeners at that moment.

A good newsflash starts with a strong headline that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about. Then, it should feature a compelling lead as an introductory scene-setter. The lead should use a narrative hook or anecdote that simultaneously captures readers’ attention and entices them to delve deeper into the article – for example, “Eight California high school students who share the same name pull off a witty stunt.” The lead should also provide any additional details needed and cite its sources. Finally, the newsflash should contain a nut graph that ties the main points you introduced in your lead into a bigger picture to show their significance and direction.

Because of its briefness, a newsflash often skates over some of the details; only major stories belong in this type of article. However, that doesn’t mean that it should lack in substance. A well-written newsflash should start with a compelling headline, follow the inverted pyramid style of reporting by putting the most crucial information first and then adding more details later, and include a nut graph to add context and explain why the subject matter matters.

News coverage is information disseminated through media such as newspapers, radio, and television. It plays an important role in society by raising awareness of emerging issues, influencing individuals’ perceptions and opinions, and motivating their behaviors. This is particularly true during critical events, such as natural disasters.

While some people are able to tune out news or avoid it entirely, for others, the constant exposure can exacerbate anxiety about everyday things. It can also contribute to feelings of hopelessness, causing someone to feel they are powerless to help or change something.

When a disaster occurs, reporters and news staff collect photos or videos from the scene. Then, they write their stories based on this information. They may then submit their work to the news desk, where it gets heavily edited by editors, called copy-editors (U.S.) and sub-editors (Europe). In addition to news, some journalists offer opinions or analysis of the latest happenings. These are called commentators or columnists.

Some research suggests that local journalists are viewed as more trustworthy than national ones. This may be because they are perceived as being part of the community and understand the local issues. People also tend to feel more empathy towards those who are homeless, for example, when they see local journalists cover the issue compared to national outlets that focus on the homelessness epidemic in general.

Critics argue that major sources of news are often biased and fail to present an honest presentation of political positions and policies. They may also provide partisan and ideological commentary designed to influence voters’ preferences.

In the United States, political asylum is a form of protection granted by the government to people who have been persecuted for their ideas or beliefs. Asylum is a discretionary form of protection, meaning that not everyone who seeks it will be granted it. Typically, individuals seeking asylum must prove that they fit one of the five protected categories (race or ethnicity, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group) and that they fear persecution for those reasons if they return to their country of origin.

Those who receive asylum are granted permission to live and work in the United States, but they cannot travel back to their country of origin without risk of being deported. Asylum is not the same as the refugee status granted by the UNHCR, which offers a full set of rights to refugees, including travel and employment authorization.

Asylum seekers must complete Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, submit a personal statement, and provide proof of their eligibility to claim asylum. In addition, they must pay a $100 filing fee to USCIS and include a payment receipt or Payment Tracking ID with their application.

Asylum applicants who do not have a lawyer can apply for asylum at a port of entry or at a US embassy in their country of origin, or at any point in the United States if they meet certain conditions. However, they must be in the United States for one year to apply, and they must have a reasonable fear of persecution if they return to their home country. If they don’t, they may be denied asylum and backstop forms of relief like withholding of removal.

The stock market is a place where anyone can buy or sell fractional ownership of publicly traded companies. Hundreds of millions of people participate in the market each day, negotiating prices with each other and influencing the value of shares based on their buying and selling decisions. In the long run, demand for a particular company’s stock is typically driven by its profitability and the goods or services it provides to customers.

Each trading session, the stock market pairs stock sellers with interested buyers. These sellers may be companies that have just gone public through an initial public offering (IPO), or they could be current stockholders looking to resell their shares in exchange for cash. Whether on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange or through an online trading platform, all trading takes place through intermediaries who match a buyer’s bid price with a seller’s ask price. When a match is made, the sale goes through.

For many investors, the goal is to grow their wealth over time. This is why it’s important to have a well-diversified investment portfolio, including stocks and mutual funds. Many investors choose to track a particular index, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the S&P 500, which reflects the performance of the largest U.S. companies.

The stock market is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). These agencies create rules to protect investors, prevent fraudulent activities and ensure fairness for all market participants.

Developing story is the process of taking an idea and expanding it into a well-rounded story that is ready to write. The more you understand about this step, the better positioned you are to avoid the pitfalls that often lead to writer’s block.

Start with a clear concept. Grand ideas can feel intimidating, so it’s best to start small and build complexity as your story grows. This way, you can focus on the core of your narrative and ensure that every twist and turn contributes to the overall arc.

Establish your protagonist’s goal and the internal obstacles that will stand in their way. By exploring their quirks, fears, and desires, you can develop character arcs that are both compelling and believable. These arcs will help you create the outer conflicts that will drive your plot forward.

Exposition: Introduce your setting and characters. Establish their background and give your reader a crash course on the world they will be entering.

Rising action: Raise the stakes and build anticipation by presenting your protagonist with series of increasingly difficult challenges. Establish and escalate conflict in your supporting cast while deepening your protagonist’s relationships.

Climax: Reach the pinnacle of tension and resolve your hero’s struggle. Show how their journey has changed them and what they’ve learned from their trials.

Falling action: Explore the consequences of the climax and tie up any loose ends that remain. It’s important that your plot feels cohesive, resonant, and engaging, so be sure to consider all aspects of the story when planning it out.

A business merger is the legal consolidation of two or more entities to create a single company. This is often done to gain market share, expand into new territories, unite common products, reduce operating costs, increase revenues, or boost profits. The resulting company typically distributes shares of the combined entity to existing shareholders of both companies. Mergers are most commonly seen in the technology, healthcare, retail and financial industries.

The most common types of business mergers are horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. Horizontal mergers are those between companies in the same industry. The companies may have some overlapping products, but no other common factors. Vertical mergers are those between companies in different industries. The companies may have some overlapping products, such as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. A conglomerate merger occurs between firms engaged in unrelated business activities.

Mergers are usually negotiated by representatives of both parties involved. It is common for negotiations to take some time, even after both sides have agreed to terms. This is particularly true if the acquiring company is attempting to retain a certain level of leverage in the process. For example, the acquiring company might insist on keeping a minority stake in the acquired firm.

During the negotiation process, it is important to develop clear goals and strategies. The most common goal of a business merger is to improve company performance and profits. However, it is also important to have a plan in place for dealing with any issues that might arise during the integration process. This might include establishing a transition team, integrating IT systems and harmonizing corporate cultures.

An exclusive report is a piece of news that does not appear in any other media outlet or publication. It can be embargoed, meaning that it will not be available to anyone until a certain date, or un-embargoed, which means that it is available for everyone to publish as soon as it is released. It can be a great way to get your message out and create excitement around your announcement.

However, this strategy is not without its pitfalls. Joseph cautions that PR professionals should only use this tactic for genuinely newsworthy moments and be transparent with journalists about the nature of the exclusivity. If a journalist feels that they are being denied the opportunity to share their own angle on an announcement, they may decide not to run it at all or sour your relationship in the future.

The last section of your report should include a summary of key findings and recommendations that are based on your analysis and interpretation of the data. This is your chance to highlight the most important aspects of your report and inspire your audience to take action. You should also include acknowledgements to anyone who contributed to your research or analysis, including advisors, collaborators, and funders. Finally, you should include a list of any additional resources or materials (e.g. surveys, detailed methodology, additional data) that were used to prepare your report. These appendices should be clearly labelled and arranged in the same format as your main report, so that readers can easily locate them.

A market trend is a pattern in data that points to growth in a particular area, such as sales or consumer behavior. It can be upward, suggesting growth; downward, suggesting decline; or horizontal, suggesting stability. It can be long-term, such as a growing preference for sustainable products; seasonal, such as a spike in gym memberships every January; or short-term, such as a new hiring trend. Trend analysis allows organizations to turn trends into strategy so they’re not just keeping up but staying a few steps ahead.

Identifying the right trends requires an understanding of what kind of data to collect and what techniques to use for analysis. It also involves recognizing that data trends don’t happen alone and can be influenced by external forces. For example, a boost in sales for a technology company could be interrupted by global geopolitical events that limit device availability. For this reason, it’s important to look at the bigger picture when analyzing data, like reviewing wider market signs and news that might impact the lasting nature of a rising trend.

In addition to looking at data, it’s also helpful to pay attention to how people feel about a particular trend. This can be a good sign that a rising trend has the potential to last, such as when customers write positive reviews about a new product or service. It can also be a good indicator that a growing trend isn’t just a fad that will fade, such as when venture capitalists invest heavily in a particular industry.

The study of global interactions between states, societies and people. Originally referring to relationships between countries, the term has expanded to include many other interactions that have global impact. International relations scholars are interested in the world as a whole and explore issues such as globalisation, conflict and cooperation. IR is also concerned with the nature of power, war and peace.

International relations research is rooted in the idea of sovereignty as formulated by Jean Bodin in 1676, and it has shaped much of what we know about the world today. While this has provided a solid foundation for the field, it has also allowed many other schools of thought to emerge, some of which have garnered significant praise (e.g. constructivist theory) and others that have been highly criticised, such as Marxism, dependency theory and feminism.

A belief that the ‘Great Powers’ carry greater influence in the world than small states and that their behaviour shapes that of the rest. This approach was articulated by Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points following the conclusion of World War I and was a key factor in making foreign policy a discipline for university departments to pursue research on and teach.

A view that explains variation in what states want by looking at the complex nature of their domestic politics. Liberals do not believe that a country wants to maximise national security narrowly defined or its economic interests alone; rather, they seek to promote human rights, free trade and democratisation in other countries.