Society
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Time to fire up the engines, says Johnson
Should we believe a natural orator? The UK’s PM marked his return to work with a metaphor-packed address aiming to hearten the nation and allay public fears over the end of the lockdown.
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A millennial love story for ‘Normal People’
Do ‘normal people’ exist? The 2018 literary sensation by Irish author Sally Rooney has been turned into a 12-part TV drama. What’s all the fuss about and what does it mean to be normal anyway?
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As lockdown eases, ‘better future is possible’
Could life after lockdown be better than before? Many thinkers are saying the world has a chance to reinvent itself. Health, the environment, and inequality can become political priorities.
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We were never meant to be on our own
Is loneliness the real pandemic? As the virus forces us to keep our distance from others, those who live by themselves are exposed to a host of ailments. A new dog might not be enough.
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The great escape: reading booms in lockdown
Is reading fiction escapist? With half of the world’s population under lockdown, sales of novels have rocketed. People are turning to stories to keep themselves company and pass the time.
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Trump announces ban on immigrants to USA
Was yesterday the day America died? Founded by immigrants and a beacon of hope and freedom to the rest of the world, the United States is closing its borders and cutting off its aid.
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‘Lives pulled apart for no good reason’
Who is more out of touch: the tabloids or Meghan and Harry? Exactly 100 days after Megxit, the couple are under vicious fire for announcing a boycott of four popular British newspapers.
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What you need in a crisis: a woman in charge
In a crisis, is a woman leader more effective? It is certainly one of the most striking factors that seems to be shared by the countries that are responding best to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Denmark, Norway, and Taiwan reopen schools
Should schools reopen on 1 June? Some believe that keeping them closed is essential to controlling the coronavirus pandemic. Others, however, think it is doing more harm than good.
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Forecasters see a new world after the pandemic
After Covid-19, will the world be reborn as a better place? Though the crisis is taking a terrible toll, some predict it will bring about far-reaching changes that will benefit humanity.
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‘Nobody deserves such bad luck as Boris’
Does luck really exist? Three months ago, Boris Johnson was riding high. Now, he is in intensive care and his government at bay, as Britain is battered by its worst crisis since World War Two.
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Queen invokes Blitz spirit in message of hope
Can war metaphors be a mixed blessing? The Queen, last night, movingly evoked memories of World War Two. But many politicians worldwide have been less subtle in their choice of words.
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Keep us safe – we don’t mind how you do it
Is herd mentality creating police states? Governments have been allowed to tackle the pandemic with measures which stifle personal freedom. Many worry that these could become permanent.
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Cash use halves in one week over virus fears
Will the virus be the death of cash? Last week, the use of notes and coins in the UK halved due to fears of contamination, and a new banking app was launched – for seven-year-olds.
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Brexit, Athens, and a lesson from history
Can an ancient Greek general shine a light on Britain’s future? Coronavirus has suddenly made Boris Johnson’s career look uncannily similar to that of his hero, the Athenian leader Pericles.