NASA scientific research aims to study the solar system and protect earth through unmanned probes. developing space telescopes, orbiting satellites. It focuses understanding the universe, earth and its environment, and biology through robotic missions and data analysis.

NASA human space flights sends humans to space to conduct research and develop new technology with the goal to enable humans to live in and explore space

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A multi-polar international monetary system is a global financial structure where multiple currencies (such as the dollar, euro, yuan, etc.) share dominance in trade, finance, and reserve assets, rather than relying on a single dominant currency like the U.S. dollar.

Dual circulation is an economic strategy introduced by China in 2020 that prioritizes domestic consumption, self-reliance in key sectors, and reducing dependence on foreign markets while still being open to foreign trade and investment.

A currency swap is an agreement between two central banks to exchange their currencies, providing foreign currency liquidity to local banks without depleting their own foreign reserves. Temporary emergency lines are given during times of crisis, lasting 6 months to a year, and must be renewed if the crisis continues. 

Since 2021 the ASEAN has implemented diplomatic restrictions on Myanmar following the military coup and the junta's failure to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) peace plan. 

Restrictions include barring the military junta leaders from attending ASEAN summits, Foreign Ministers' meetings, and taking the rotating ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

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Taiwan's special defense budget is a $40 billion spending plan proposed by President Lai Ching-te's administration that is designed to run for over 8 years. The budget covers acquisition of US-made strike systems, air defense, aerial drones, and kamikaze sea boats. The defense budget aims to deter potential invasion from China. 

The opposition coalition led by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) has blocked the budget several times. The U.S. has been pressuring Taiwan to resolve the deadlock, especially before their scheduled May 2026 summit

Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan is a clause that renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces with war potential.

The Japanese government has reinterpreted Article 9 to classify the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) as a defensive organization rather than prohibited "war potential". 

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is now pushing for formal amendments, including a hardline proposal to delete Paragraph 2, which currently prohibits maintaining armed forces and denies the state’s right of belligerency.

In the NBA Draft Lottery, the 14 teams that miss the playoffs enter into a "lottery" to decide their draft pick order for the upcoming draft. Generally, teams with worse records have better chances at selecting a high draft pick compared to teams with better records. Since 2019, the three worst-performing teams have each had a 14% chance to get the first overall pick.

In a playoff format, teams qualify into a playoff elimination-style bracket after the regular season, and the champion of the league is decided by whichever team wins the post-season tournament.

In a table-based format, the champion of the league is decided by whichever team has the most points at the end of the season.

INFOSLIDE: The 1973 War Powers Resolution limits the ability of a US President from waging war for extended periods of time, forbidding armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days without congressional approval.

Currently, Trump has until May 1 to obtain congressional approval for his war in Iran.

Private debt refers to financing companies outside of traditional bank lending. Companies can obtain private debt from non-bank lenders, including specialized private debt funds, asset management firms, and business development companies.

While private equity refers to a financing model where a company sells an ownership stake (shares) in its business to a private investment firm in exchange for capital. Companies typically secure private equity from specialized investment firms, venture capital funds, and angel investors.

Impact investing is an investment approach that aims to contribute to the achievement of measured positive social and environmental impacts.

Since 1983, the Vatican has held these requirements for one to be officially canonized as a saint:

Firstly, a candidate must be nominated by a bishop in order to investigate the life and works of an individual, no earlier than five years after the candidate's death. The bishop then transfers the investigation to a postulator, who transmits this to the Vatican.

The Pope must then determine whether the candidate lived a life of heroic virtue.

Once this is done, the candidate must then receive beatification. Martyrs only require a declaration of martyrdom to be declared beatified, while non-martyrs require a miracle to be attributed to their intercession. Most miracles tend to be medical miracles, e.g., a sick patient was spontaneously and enduringly cured after prayers were directed to the candidate, and no natural explanation for the cure can be determined.

Finally, canonization generally occurs after at least two miracles can be attributed to a candidate's intercession.

Excommunication is the most severe medicinal penalty in the Catholic Church.