Conflict
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Death threats for thinkers who deny free will
Is free will an illusion? This week it was reported that a growing chorus of scientists now agrees that humans have no real choice. But outraged critics feel it robs their lives of meaning.
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‘Apartheid in death’ for Black and Asian troops
Is it too late to apologise for World War One racism? Yesterday, the British government said it deeply regrets the failure to properly commemorate thousands of Black and Asian conscripts.
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‘This case is a turning point in history’
Will the George Floyd verdict end racist policing? A jury has found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder, offering hope to many that America can heal its divisions.
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Police killing sparks protests in Minneapolis
Is policing broken? Yesterday saw a second wave of protests after yet another Black person was killed by a police officer in the USA. Now some people are asking if policing is beyond reform.
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‘Cherry-picking facts and selective quotation’
Is Seaspiracy right about fishing? A shocking new Netflix documentary about the horrors of the fishing industry is causing controversy – and kicking up a new debate over facts.
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Russian troops mass on Ukrainian border
Could Vladimir Putin start World War Three? Yesterday, Ukraine’s president asked Nato for help as hostile forces continued to gather to the north and east of Ukraine and in occupied Crimea.
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Lost masterpiece reveals truth about Nazis
Can novels teach us more than history? Reviewers claim a rediscovered novel from Nazi Germany captures the truth of its time better than almost any other work. Can fiction be “truth”?
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Easter film shows Jesus as African refugee
If Jesus returned today, would he be a migrant? In a highly imaginative film being shown over Easter, a reinterpretation of the life of Jesus plays out in a disturbing 21st-Century context.
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America on trial in police murder case
Will it be a turning point for America? The trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd has prompted discussion about whether the US can start to heal its racial divisions.
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New pandemic treaty prompts WW2 comparisons
Like World War Two, could Covid-19 create a new world order? Yesterday, 24 world leaders signed an open letter calling upon all countries to work together to fight future pandemics.
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The poet who walked a political tightrope
Is poetry more important than politics? Four hundred years after his birth, Andrew Marvell remains a rare example of someone who established a reputation in both spheres.
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The world’s biggest traffic jam is unblocked
Is trade what keeps the peace? The worldwide fallout from the blocking of the Suez Canal is a reminder of the vital part commerce plays in knitting different nations together.
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Billions of fish living in misery, says report
Should we stop eating fish? Experts recommend seafood as a healthier alternative to meat, but animal welfare campaigners say fish farming is cruel and damages wild ecosystems.
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The asylum seekers who reshaped the world
Does the world need a new approach to refugees? The UK has announced changes to its asylum law, hoping to discourage displaced people from reaching the country illegally.
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Coming soon – the truth about flying saucers
Are UFOs a sign of growing alien interest? The former head of American intelligence has said that sightings are far more common than we thought, and promised dramatic revelations to come.