Latest Stories
-
Nazi aide, 95, charged over teenage crimes
Should Irmgard F stand trial? At a Nazi death camp in 1944 a secretary helped send 10,000 Jews to their death. Because she was under 21 at the time she will now be tried in a juvenile court.
-
‘China locked us up like animals…’
Is China guilty of genocide? Despite growing calls for it to be held accountable for seeking to eradicate Uighur Muslims, some countries are unwilling to accuse the nation outright.
-
Jewish leaders stand up for Uighur Muslims
Is hope made stronger through tragedy? On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the plight of the Uighurs and a new musical both remind us that genocide is more than a historical threat.
-
Manchester’s Mother Teresa set for sainthood
Does religious faith give you special moral courage? Few argue with Elizabeth Prout’s incredible, selfless commitment. But some say that it would be impossible without a deep faith in God.
-
The raven and the tower: an omen returns
Are omens useful? As the queen of the ravens vanishes, a prophecy foretells the end of the United Kingdom. Some call this fantasy, but others say there is wisdom in listening to the birds.
-
Shakespeare caught up in antisemitism row
Was Shakespeare antisemitic? His play The Merchant of Venice has long attracted accusations of racism – and now a new book by Michael Morpurgo has reignited the controversy.
-
The woman who died and lived to tell the tale
Is there life after death? For centuries, people have believed that consciousness continues long after our hearts stop beating. Now a new Netflix series searches for scientific proof.
-
Taking Christmas advice from ancient Rome
Is giving really better than receiving? As people across the world spend billions on Christmas presents, a leading Roman philosopher’s thoughts on the subject have never been more relevant.
-
Chinese cotton ‘tainted’ by slave labour
Does the west have the moral right to condemn China? Some think we have a duty to stand up for Uighurs who are being enslaved, but others think the west doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
-
Reboot Santa! Christmas rebels call for change
Is it time to rethink Christmas? The festival evolves gradually every year as new traditions are adopted – and now some argue it has changed so much that it needs to be reinvented.
-
Christmas saved but many ask if it’s worth it
Do people really want a lockdown break? The UK is to announce a five-day Christmas amnesty tomorrow. Many other governments plan similar moves. But will they live to regret the consequences?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
The judge who could change the face of the US
Is it right to call Monday “one of the darkest days in Senate history”? In the USA, the appointment of a right-wing Supreme Court judge days before a presidential election has sparked rage.