Election Results and Public Trust

Election results determine winners and losers in electoral contests, and are the basis for allocating seats in many electoral systems. They also provide the evidence that supports or undermines citizens’ trust in the fairness of the electoral process. For this reason, it is essential that elections be held in a way that can be trusted and verified by the public, including by election observers and the media.

Achieving this goal requires that election officials be transparent in their communications with the public about when election results will be final and certified. This includes announcing unofficial results on election night, and providing information to the public about the various steps that must take place before that happens (e.g., counting of ballots, canvassing, a recount, and certification). It is also important that the media and other sources be factual and balanced in their reporting on the election, rather than exaggerating or sensationalizing headlines.

Previous research has shown that electoral expectations are influenced by partisan biases, and that disconfirmation is jointly influenced by one’s expectation or forecast (link 1.a) and the outcome of the election (link 1.b). A disappointing outcome will lead to lower satisfaction with democracy, but the exact nature of this response will depend on the magnitude of the surprise and voters’ perceptions of how well their expectations were met. For example, if an unexpected result leads to greater satisfaction with democracy than expected, it may reduce perceived electoral integrity but not the desire for electoral reform.

What is a UN Resolution?

A UN resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of a UN body. Resolutions are written and approved through a lengthy, complicated process in which multiple countries participate; they must be adopted by a majority of the members of a particular body. Resolutions follow a very specific format and are usually published online.

This resolution spelled out the boundaries for the two states of Israel and Palestine: the Jewish state would contain 56% of Mandate Palestine and the Arab state 40%, with Jerusalem being protected as a holy site in both states. The resolution also set out requirements for both states, including respect for minorities and free access to holy sites.

General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, but they can create a framework that helps guide future negotiations on issues involving the Security Council or other UN bodies. A resolution can be passed by a simple majority (more yes votes than no votes) or, if the Assembly determines that it is an “important question,” it requires a two-thirds majority of the full membership.

A similar type of formal action is a decision, which deals with procedural matters such as elections, appointments and the time and place of meetings, and the taking of note of reports. Decisions and resolutions of subsidiary bodies are normally incorporated in the report of the body to its parent organ.

Understanding Public Policy

Public policy affects every aspect of our lives, which is why it is often the subject of controversy and debate. It is a broad domain that encompasses government laws, rules, and regulations, as well as the way governments spend money and regulate the economy. The affirmative team will typically present a specific plan that fits within the resolution in question, and then argue why it is the best option for the future of the country or world. The negative team will question whether the alleged harms from the status quo are really serious, or suggest alternatives to the plan that might work better in this context.

The first step to understanding public policy is to understand the process through which they are formulated. This is a complicated process involving many different stakeholders and is influenced by social and economic conditions, the prevailing political values, and the structure of government.

There are five pathologies that are particular to complex public policy, and these are what make them so difficult to manage. These pathologies are why even policies that have the best intentions and the best experts, and do not suffer from corruption or incompetence, tend to fail.

To combat these pathologies, it is important to understand what the research says about the problem and how it might be solved. Implications are the effects that the research suggests might occur, and recommendations are the next steps that the research recommends. It is important to draw a clear line between your implications and your recommendations, because you want to be sure that your audience can see the link between your research and the action that you recommend they take.

What is the Stock Market?

The stock market distributes ownership of some of the world’s largest companies among hundreds of millions of individual investors, whose buying and selling decisions determine their value. It is also the place where funding for technological advances like smartphones and medications flows, largely from investors who expect to profit from them.

In this massive network of trading, shares of publicly-owned companies are bought and sold, often via brokers who facilitate transactions almost instantly. People looking to buy a share find matches with sellers, and prices are constantly negotiated (and renegotiated) in response to new information and to supply and demand. These processes, involving buyers and sellers who are all making their own unique and rational decisions, produce a wildly complex system of trading that’s monitored by global agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S. and FINRA in Canada, which are charged with protecting retail investors.

While we may think of the “stock market” as a single entity, it’s actually composed of two distinct parts: exchanges where shares are traded and indexes that track and report on their performance. We typically refer to the Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500 when we talk about the broader market, but there are many others that are country- or region-specific. Some indexes are even sector-specific, reporting on a particular industry like technology or health care. Understanding these different components of the market is essential to knowing how it works, and why its movements matter to us.

What Is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

GDP measures the monetary value of all the goods and services produced in a country during a certain period of time, typically a year. It includes both market and nonmarket production, such as government spending on defense or education. GDP is an important metric for countries, businesses and individuals. Economists use it to assess a country’s economic health and understand the economy’s cycles. It is also used to compare economies and predict future growth.

The official definition of GDP is determined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It defines production as the sum of gross domestic product by final consumption, investment, and net exports at market prices. The consumption method of calculating GDP does not account for business-to-business transactions, and therefore it is less sensitive to economic fluctuations than metrics that include all transactions.

One criticism of GDP is that it focuses on material output, without considering the impact to citizens’ well-being. For example, an increase in GDP may come at the cost of air pollution or inequality. It also does not fully take into account quality improvements or new products, as they are only reflected in GDP in their monetary value.

However, most economists agree that GDP is a good indicator of overall economic progress. It is closely followed by analysts, investors, and policymakers. The advance release of GDP is often anticipated and can move markets, although the impact is usually limited since GDP data is backward-looking.

How to Write Headlines That Get Readers’ Attention

A headline is a chance to grab attention and give readers a reason to click through. It’s also one of the first things a reader will see on search engines and social media. While many long-time newspaper people have their methods and rituals, it’s worth taking a look at the top headlines of your competition to see what works.

A good headline is short and snappy. Use capital letters for the first word and proper nouns, but drop helping words like articles (a, an, the) and conjunctions (and, but, or). Write in present tense and avoid past-tense phrases. A headline that makes people do a double-take is another way to catch the eye, but it must be true.

Consider using interrogatives in headlines, like why or how. Just be careful to balance this with the need for clear explanations.

A good headline is short and snappy — but it needs to be clear enough for your readers, who have shorter attention spans than ever. Headlines aren’t just for display; they’re also source material for search engines, so try to pack in keywords that your audience is likely to type into a search. These will appear in bold and will help readers find the story when they’re searching.

Reporting on Breaking News

Breaking news is a story that is developing rapidly, often with immediate impact. It may be a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or a major accident. It may require immediate attention to protect people or property, and requires reporters to interrupt regular programming to provide updates as they become available. The urgency of breaking news makes it more difficult to verify facts and avoid sensationalism. It also poses ethical dilemmas for journalists, including the need to keep audiences informed versus respecting the privacy of victims and witnesses.

If a television or radio station is reporting on a breaking news event, its usual non-news program will be interrupted with a special graphic and countdown sequence, alerting viewers to the impending interruption. A news anchor will then appear to explain what is happening, and the network feed may be briefly replaced by a “Newsflash” or “Special report” ticker.

The world faces many challenges that threaten the well-being of its people, including climate change, conflict and the need for greater global cooperation in tackling terrorism. The United Nations, through its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is leading efforts to ensure that no one is left behind as a result of these challenges.

When reporting on breaking news, be careful to avoid speculating based on inconclusive information or speculation from sources that may not be fully verified. Private citizens can rely on their own observations, but reporters must be cautious about making assumptions about what is happening, and remember that Murphy’s Law applies: the one time you assume something will happen is usually the one time it doesn’t.

The Basics of Interest

Interest rates are a vital part of your financial life, shaping the total cost of debt and growth potential for savings and investments. Understanding the basics of what interest is and how it works may help you save on loans and maximize returns on savings. A variety of factors can affect interest rates, including compounding frequency, loan terms and whether a rate is fixed or variable.

The most common type of interest is simple interest, expressed as a percentage of the principal over a period of time, such as a year. More complicated is compound interest, which takes the principal and calculates an additional amount each month based on the previous amount and current amount.

A variable interest rate means the lender adjusts the rate to reflect market conditions. A fixed interest rate, on the other hand, remains unchanged for the entire term of the loan. This consistency can be helpful for borrowers as it allows them to know how much they will pay or earn each month and make budgeting easier.

When interest rates are high, borrowing becomes more expensive, potentially slowing economic activity. Conversely, when interest rates are low, it can be more advantageous for borrowers to take on debt and for savers to invest in assets. The factors that influence interest rates are complex, but a key factor is the monetary policy of a country’s central bank. Other key influences include inflation and global investment flows.

The Benefits of Market Trend Analysis

A market trend is the perceived tendency of financial markets to move in a particular direction over time. Investors use market trend analysis to predict future prices, and to assess the risk of investing in a given security. Market trends can be long-term, upward, sideways, or downward. They may also follow seasonal patterns or other cyclical fluctuations.

When companies identify and understand market trends, they can shape those trends and take advantage of opportunities for growth. The right tools and repeatable processes for analyzing market trends can help businesses uncover new customer needs and insights to guide product development, marketing messaging, and strategic planning.

The ability to spot and act on market trends can put a business ahead of the competition. This can help companies develop innovative products that meet customer demands and stay competitive. It can also help them avoid wasting time and money on marketing strategies that don’t resonate with their audience.

A major benefit of conducting market trend analysis is that it can help you estimate future demand. Understanding historical consumer interest can help you plan for the launch of a new product or service, as well as determine how much to order from suppliers.

Minor trends usually last a few days or less, and are influenced by current news and trading volumes. They can be spotted using technical analysis tools like trend lines, which are straight lines that connect price points (highs and lows) and extend into the future.

What is a State of Emergency?

A state of emergency is a situation where the normal functioning of a government is suspended due to some crisis. It gives the government derogations and exceptions from normal laws and allows it to act more quickly, e.g. in times of extreme weather events, natural disasters and public order situations. States of emergency are typically accompanied by the imposition of martial law and can also suspend regular civil rights.

Many states have a general statute that permits the governor to declare a state of emergency. These can be defined broadly to include natural disasters, terrorism or public health emergencies such as pandemics. The Virginia governor recently declared a state of emergency to address the expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and counteract the impacts of the federal shutdown.

States of emergency are often used by dictatorships to manage political opposition or social unrest, but they can be applied to a variety of situations. Nicole Questiaux and Leandro Despouy, two consecutive United Nations Special Rapporteurs, have recommended a set of principles for States to follow in declaring states of emergency (etat d’exception). These include proclamation, notification, time limitation, exceptionality, proportionality, non-discrimination and compatibility with international humanitarian law.

States of emergency can be short-term or long-term, and they can be declared by the president or the parliament or both. During a state of emergency, the parliament cannot be dissolved, elections for local councils or referendums cannot be held and the constitution, electoral code and extrajudicial measures law cannot be changed. The state of emergency can suspend many civil rights, but the freedom of speech and religion and the right to a fair trial are protected by the constitution.