Society
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‘Self-partnered’ Watson leads single revolution
Are traditional relationships dying? Emma Watson has described herself as “self-partnered” rather than single, as millions of people around the globe embrace life without romantic love.
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‘Garden of Eden’ discovered in Botswana
Are we all Africans? New research suggests that all humans alive today are descended from people living in southern Africa, 200,000 years ago. But are they right? And does it matter?
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‘Nightmare before Christmas’ election is ON
Who will win Britain’s most crucial vote in 50 years? Leave or Remain? Capitalism or socialism? People or Parliament? The choices facing voters have scarcely ever been more sharply divided.
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Death of Molly Russell leads to major reform
Will the new rules help? Social media sites will do more to keep young people safe from graphic images, after figures showed that teenage suicides in England have risen sharply.
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1880 was Britain’s happiest year, says study
Is the research right? Test cricket was a fresh, young sport; Queen Victoria was approaching 50 years on the throne and, apparently, we were the happiest we have ever been.
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The Polish village where only girls are born
If Earth was populated entirely by women, would it be a better place? After no boys are born for nearly 10 years, the Polish village of Miejsce Odrzanskie is providing a unique case study.
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Abortion no longer illegal in Northern Ireland
Is abortion about women’s rights? As of yesterday, women in Northern Ireland can end their pregnancies without fear of prosecution. It marks an end to one of the world’s strictest abortion laws.
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#Nemesis: ‘better than a friend or a lover’
Everyone needs a nemesis. Or do they? Social media is abuzz with the idea. And history is full of arch rivals who pushed each other to be better — or drove each other to death.
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William’s fears for troubled Prince Harry
Were they right to speak out? After Harry and Meghan revealed their feelings in a candid TV interview, the Duke of Cambridge said he was “concerned” and hopes that his brother is all right.
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Ants — not humans — rule world, says study
Could it be that ants are more powerful than humans? With their mega-cities, transport networks, ventilation, childcare systems and waste collection, they put us to shame, says a new book.
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Black-spot tourism ‘feeds ghoulish fascination’
Is it tasteless to turn a disaster site into a tourist attraction? Since the release of HBO’s Chernobyl series earlier this year, bookings to the site of the catastrophe have soared by 40%.
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‘We have a deal.’ (Now for the hard part)
Is it 13 days to Brexit? Yes, if you believe the Prime Minister. No, if you listen to the pundits. Now, it’s a numbers game and the focus is on a historic sitting of the Commons tomorrow.
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The picture that gave Instagram a meltdown
What is it about Friends? It took one selfie of the show’s main cast to spark such delirium yesterday that Instagram crashed. Yet for many the comedy is sexist, offensive and outdated.
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Margaret Atwood joint winner of Booker Prize
Is Margaret Atwood a prophet? She seems to have foretold #MeToo, seen the climate crisis coming and predicted the rise of Trump. Yet she insists she sees only the present, not the future.
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Harry risks monarchy with anti-press crusade
Is this a bridge too far? The battle lines have been drawn between #TeamMeghan and Britain’s media. Commentators fear Prince Harry is attacking the very thing that keeps the monarchy alive.