Latest Stories
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Coronavirus catastrophe closes in on Africa
Could Africa see the worst outbreak yet? As the virus begins to spread across the world’s poorest continent, experts warn the impact could be much more severe than in Europe and Asia.
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Markets panic as virus drags down oil price
Does oil run the world? It looks that way to investors watching the value of shares plummet in response to a shock drop in the price of oil. But why does “black gold” have so much power?
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Save forests to stop pandemics, expert warns
Is conservation the long-term answer? As the coronavirus sweeps the world, science is highlighting the link between the rising numbers of new diseases and our treatment of the environment.
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Turkey threatens Europe with refugee crisis
Should Europe welcome more refugees? Turkey has “opened the human floodgates” in retaliation for lack of support in Syria. Rich, Western nations are trapped in an agonising, moral dilemma.
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Perfect storm for plague of locusts in Africa
Is climate change to blame for the swarms of locusts? The UN warns of famine in east Africa as wet weather and civil war contribute to the largest infestation of locusts in decades.
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Adieu, EU – it was a fascinating 47 years
What is Europe? Today, history will be made as the UK leaves the European Union. Boris Johnson has hailed it as “a new era”. But Britain will still be part of a wonderfully varied continent.
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All Africa’s women poorer than 22 richest men
Is this progress? Is 22 better than two? Oxfam released shocking statistics, yesterday, on world inequality and told leaders to tax the rich. But some experts say that this is too pessimistic.
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Mystery illness causes panic in Wuhan, China
How worried should we be? Over 50 people in China have been struck down by a mystery virus. Scientists are racing against time to pinpoint the cause before more become dangerously ill.
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Fears of WW3 after US drone kills Iranian hero
Are we on the brink of WW3? The USA has killed a powerful Iranian general. Iran has threatened revenge and Donald Trump has promised to “hit them harder than they have ever been hit before”.
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500 million animals dead in Australian fires
Is the crisis in Australia due to climate change? Some claim the bushfires are part of natural cycles that have occurred for millennia; others say they are caused by man-made global warming.
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Protest sweeps India over ‘anti-Muslim law’
Is India becoming a racist state? A new citizenship law has sparked protest across India. The government says it protects persecuted minorities; opponents say it is racist and anti-Muslim.
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The saint who turned into a monster (for many)
Is it always a mistake to make idols of politicians? After decades opposing the military regime in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi is now defending the army in court against charges of genocide.
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Grief and rage in Delhi after factory deaths
Who is to blame for sweatshops? Another disaster has thrown a spotlight onto fast fashion brands that exploit cheap labour. But some argue that the blame falls on appalling local management.
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Curtain to fall on the ‘best decade in history’
Were the 2010s really the best decade ever? Swedish historian Johan Norberg says the statistics prove that the world is happier, healthier, freer and richer than ever.
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Seal with Starbucks spotlights ocean plight
Are we killing our sea life? A seal clutches a glass bottle in a photo that’s gone viral. Baby porpoises are poisoned by chemical pollutants. Then, a whale washes up with 100kg of litter in its...