Learner profile: Balanced
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Woman wins pay for five years of housework
Should housework be paid work? A Chinese woman has been granted compensation in her divorce for care work. The ruling has sparked a discussion that echoes a longstanding feminist demand.
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‘Day of hope’ as US rejoins climate agreement
Is there still time to rescue nature? The US is returning to climate talks today, in a turning-point year for the planet. The situation is bleak, but scientists say nature CAN be restored.
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How a troubled tourist became a TV sensation
Is our obsession with true crime unhealthy? A new series about the disappearance of a young traveller has captivated millions. But critics say the genre harms victims and viewers alike.
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‘Schools have failed us on climate crisis’
Should climate change be on every school curriculum? Teen activists say green education is woefully inadequate. Now, they want to change the law before time runs out to save the planet.
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Britain opens its doors to 5m Hongkongers
Do Western democracies need a dose of Hong Kong’s energy? It is a city known for its unique and vibrant spirit. And today a new visa gives 70% of its citizens the right to live in the UK.
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How a room of your own can really shape you
Does your room help form your character? Joe Biden removed a bust of Winston Churchill from his office yesterday and replaced it with Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King.
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Biggest mafia trial for 30 years begins
Are we guilty of glamourising the mafia? The murderous crime families on trial in Italy are accused of unutterable evil – but big-budget films about organised crime remain hugely popular.
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BBC names world’s most inspiring women
Is gender equality ever going to happen? The BBC has announced its annual list of 100 amazing women. But a UN report finds that women everywhere are still treated much worse than men.
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Genes, vaccines, God – and a great debate
Is genetic modification wrong? Some people may refuse to take two new vaccines against Covid-19 because they are genetically engineered – but scientists assure us that the jabs are safe.
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Unfair! I won, I won! Give me another go!
Is losing as important as winning? President Trump’s refusal to concede defeat in the US election has attracted widespread criticism. Here we rank the 10 worst losers of all time.
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America votes: what a Trump victory means
Will Trump make the world a better place? A second term gives a president the chance to consolidate policies which, however bitterly opposed, will shape the country for years to come.
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'Crazy talk’: critics decry Christmas lockdown
Could there be a Christmas rebellion? As Britain faces a cruel winter, some say they will ignore coronavirus restrictions over the festive season, threatening government authority.
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Fear as the Magic Money Tree keeps on giving
Should we be relaxed about government debt? Spending and borrowing have risen astronomically in response to Covid-19, but governments seem less afraid of debt than in the past.
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Boris battles the boffins over lockdown
Should we follow the science? As British politicians clash over whether to impose a corrective two-week lockdown, the role science plays in our decision-making has come under the spotlight.
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Bank warns ‘get ready for negative interest’
Is this the end of money? The Bank of England is considering negative interest rates for the very first time – in theory this means that the banks could pay you interest to take out a loan.