Latest Stories
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All I want for Christmas is a number one hit
Why are Christmas songs so popular? They drive some people mad, yet they come back year after year and achieve huge sales – and one musicologist argues that some possess real merit.
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The genius who revelled in deception
Was John le Carré really a “giant of literature”? The spy novelist’s death has prompted a host of reverential tributes – but some critics believe that they overstate his achievements.
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Britain’s future on knife edge in deal talks
Is the nation state doomed? As the UK hovers on the brink of a no-deal Brexit, some fear it is staking its hopes on an outdated ideal – but others say an independent nation can still thrive.
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Snow mania descends as cold weather bites
Is it a form of madness to love snow? Britain is set to be colder than Moscow this week as the country dives into the chilliest December ever. Snow! Why is it a source of such joy for many?
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Dicing with death on the Grand Prix circuit
Are Formula One drivers the gladiators of our day? Roman Grosjean’s great escape has been hailed as a triumph for safety technology. But horrific accidents may also be a crowd-puller.
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Lockdown could be destroying your memory
Is memory a muscle? Lockdown could be causing forgetfulness, but humans have developed a number of ingenious methods to counter it, from memory palaces to mystical theatres to “chunking”.
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The people seeking the company of wolves
Is it time for the return of the wolf? For centuries, these fierce animals have been seen as a menace. But some now believe they have a vital part to play in rebalancing the environment.
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Historians launch encyclopaedia of smells
Are smells the key to history? The EU is to spend £2.5m capturing ancient aromas. They hope this will help bring the past alive. Others say we will never know what it felt like at the time.
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Prince Charles blistering attack on The Crown
Has Netflix gone too far? The new series of The Crown, depicting the Prince of Wales’s troubled first marriage, has been widely criticised, and he himself is said to be furious about it.
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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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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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‘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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The dark night when terror came to Vienna
Is ISIS back? Monday night’s murderous attacks in the Austrian capital have increased fears that the Islamic terror group is starting to regroup after the crushing defeat of its caliphate.
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Threats and anger as US election day looms
Should the world be ready for a contested US election? Tomorrow, the most powerful nation on Earth will vote for its next president – but both candidates may end up claiming they have won.
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The stubborn roots of modern anti-Semitism
Will the world ever be free of it? A new report into anti-Semitism in the British Labour Party has led to the suspension of its former leader – but some see a much more intractable problem.