TOK: Emotion
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Thunberg, Trump and the battle for the truth
Is emotion stronger than science? Appealing to the most powerful people in the world at the World Economic Forum this week, Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg directly opposed each other.
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Controversial film Joker set for bumper Baftas
Is Joker immoral? Now poised for ample awards, the deeply troubling 2019 film immediately inflamed debate over its depiction of extreme violence and worries about copycat behaviour.
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Science shows resolutions NOT a waste of time
Are New Year resolutions worth it? Around one-quarter of people give up their resolutions after just one week, while fewer than one in 10 will maintain their goal to the end of the year.
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Record as five black women win beauty crowns
Is this progress? Five black women now hold all the world’s top beauty titles, a development which is being hailed despite the troubled histories and controversial values of pageants.
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‘Women make better leaders than men’
Are women better leaders than men? Finland is about to have a new female prime minister — the world’s youngest. Around the globe, female leaders are being praised for their inspiring work.
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Trapped by a whale tusk and fire extinguisher
Is anyone to blame? Usman Khan killed two brilliant, young people who believed in helping criminals, then was cornered by members of the public — before the political accusations started.
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‘The American festival we all should celebrate’
Should Thanksgiving go global? It seems like a holiday that’s as American as pumpkin pie. But there are variants of this day all around the world, revolving around the concept of gratitude.
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The oldest hatred: anti-Semitism on the rise
Is anti-Semitism different from other forms of hate? The British Labour Party and the American Right have both been hit by allegations of Jew-hatred. It has a unique and terrible history.
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Global epidemic of violence against women
Can gender-based violence ever be stopped? Latest figures show that one in three women and girls experience physical or sexual attacks in their lifetime, most often committed by an intimate...
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A football pitch of rainforest lost each minute
Who owns the rainforest? Deforestation in the Amazon has increased by 30% in the past year, with many blaming Brazil’s president. Activists say the precious ecosystem is not his to destroy.
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Britain faces international war crimes trial
Is Britain’s military a force for good or evil in the world? A year-long probe has uncovered evidence that the British Government covered up atrocities by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Hong Kong ‘on the brink of collapse’
Does it matter? The streets of Hong Kong are a battlefield between riot police and pro-democracy activists. And the fate of this small tax haven could have implications across the world.
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Two cannabis-based medicines approved for NHS
Does this go far enough? Charities have welcomed the move, although campaigners who have been fighting for access to the drugs said the new guidelines were a “massive missed opportunity”.
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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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Stunning England become World Cup favourites
Do you agree that these six points make rugby better than football? England may win glory on Saturday, but many are saying the real winners are the ethos and excitement of the game itself.