Latest Stories
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America enters ‘new phase’ in Covid-19 crisis
Has the US really been “defeated”? A virus a thousand times smaller than a dust mote has humiliated the planet’s most powerful nation, claims a new essay – and a furious debate has begun.
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Modern slavery at heart of new virus outbreak
Will the world ever eliminate slavery for good? Nearly 200 years since the UK outlawed the abhorrent practice, modern-day slaves are revealed to be the source of a new coronavirus outbreak.
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Kanye West declares bid for US presidency
Should we take Kanye seriously? He says he is running to be president of the USA. Elon Musk supports him. Politically, it seems unlikely. But this year has been anything but predictable.
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Equality: the big idea and the harsh reality
Is equality just a dream? Boris Johnson pledged to “level up” society in a big speech yesterday – like hundreds of politicians before him. But why is such a simple idea so hard to achieve?
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Virus death toll reaches 500,000 worldwide
Will we prevent a second wave? Britain is on a “knife edge”, warns a government adviser this morning. And US test sites were overwhelmed, yesterday, as global infections passed 10 million.
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Virtual Pride keeps flame alive despite virus
Is Pride more important than ever this year? As evidence emerges showing LGBTQ+ people suffer disproportionately during the lockdown, the event tomorrow will keep celebrations alive.
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Grief and questions over senseless killings
Is lack of mental health care the key problem? A midsummer day in a Reading park was ripped apart by a knifeman. Three victims are dead. Today, a nation in shock must ask why it happened.
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Two images…and a crisis of masculinity
What does it mean to be masculine? Two moments frozen in time – one an epitome of humane kindness; the other an image of mindless crudity – sum up what many see as a societal catastrophe.
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Eureka! Bees talk with ‘toots’ and ‘quacks’
Should bees run the world? Bee colonies are highly organised and hugely successful societies built on cooperation and hard work. Some say we have a lot to learn from these social insects.
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Striker fights on for free school meals
Is Marcus Rashford an exception or an inspiration? The Premier League striker grew up poor and hungry, but is now using his fame to fight for children going hungry during the lockdown.
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Trump and Johnson struggle as protests grow
Are Trump and Johnson failing? As Covid “cabin fever” and division tears peaceful societies apart, Johnson has published an article about statues, calling for a “more cheerful approach”.
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US city blazes trail for a police-free future
Do we need the police? After the killing of George Floyd, the Minneapolis police department is to be abolished – and the world is debating whether society can function without police at all.
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Jobocalypse now: the race to lift lockdown
Is it time to end the lockdown? As the government rushes to re-open businesses in time for summer, scientists warn that lifting lockdown too quickly could lead to a second wave of the virus.
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Thousands join march as protests spread to UK
Could the virus help kill racism? The high number of black victims of Covid-19, together with the murder of George Floyd, has focused people’s minds on a history of shameful injustice.
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Protest, plague, and the year the world changed
Is this 1968 all over again? America is living through the worst civil unrest since the assassination of Martin Luther King. But the similarities with that momentous year don’t end there.