Latest Stories
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‘Truth decay’ ripping us apart warns Obama
Is truth REALLY decaying? Barack Obama argues that without a universal idea of truth, society cannot function. Others argue that truth is simply getting more complex – and more interesting!
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Nature bites back as killer whales attack
Is nature angry? Wildfires, plagues, hurricanes and now marauding orcas… experts warn that humanity’s treatment of the natural world has awoken a wrathful beast seeking revenge.
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The bully, the doubter and a question of power
Do power and bullying go hand in hand? From Dominic Cummings to Vlad the Impaler it seems they do. But a memoir by Barack Obama, out tomorrow, overflows with modesty and self-criticism.
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In the shadow of terror: France still on edge
Is the freedom to offend essential? In France, the fifth anniversary of its deadliest terror attack sees renewed tensions over questions of blasphemy, terrorism and religious tolerance.
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Bitter row over naked statue of feminist icon
Is the new statue for Mary Wollstonecraft offensive? The women’s rights activist is finally being recognised more than 200 years after she died. Now critics are asking: why is she naked?
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Satire on trial as Spitting Image returns
Is satire good for us? For centuries satirical art has provided an outlet for our dissatisfactions with politics and society. But in these torrid times, does it cause more harm than good?
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Dark rumours of Trump coup plot grip USA
Is Donald Trump staging a coup? Many believe the outgoing president is attempting an illegal power grab. Others, such as Joe Biden, think his refusal to admit defeat is just “embarrassing”.
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‘We’re going to the stars’ says jetpack pilot
Are jetpacks the future of commuting? As a maverick inventor’s homemade jet suit is tested by mountain rescue teams, some wonder if the world is entering a new era of personal flight.
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The miracle that promises a return to normal
Will life ever return to normal? After a breakthrough in the hunt for a vaccine to Covid-19, many newspapers predict the world will go “back to normal” – but what will “normal” look like?
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Collins declares word of the year: ‘Lockdown’
Can a single word sum up a year? Collins Dictionary has declared that “lockdown” is the most significant word of 2020 – beating ”TikToker”, “Megxit“, “mukbang” and “BLM” to top the rankings.
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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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Playing for laughs: how humour made us human
Is laughter a matter of survival? A new theory suggests that a good sense of humour might be a sign of intelligence, making us more desirable mates and giving us an evolutionary advantage.
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‘Historically she is more important than Joe’
Will Kamala Harris become president? She is set to be the first female vice-president and first black person in the post. And at 56, she is number two to a man who is 78 in just eleven days.
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Biden promises era of light after darkness
Is this a new chapter in our history? Donald Trump has often been likened to the ruthless populist leader Julius Caesar. Now many see Joe Biden as a new Cicero – defender of civic ideals.
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The unknown soldier remembered 100 years on
Should we embrace the unknown? Memorials to unnamed soldiers affect us on a deep psychological level, but there are also philosophical reasons to accept the unknown and welcome uncertainty.