Briefings
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A simple guide to Brexit
This week, Parliament will vote on Brexit. The decision could shape the UK’s future for a long time. What exactly is Brexit and why does everyone keep talking about it?
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Donald Trump: true or false?
Donald Trump has given the annual State of the Union address, in which he boasted of a soaring economy and urged citizens to unite behind him. But how many of his key claims were true?
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The Irish border
Why is everyone talking about the border in Ireland? Could it decide the future of the UK? Why does Ireland have a border anyway? The story starts over 100 years ago…
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Refugees around the world
In his latest restriction on refugee admissions to the US, President Donald Trump is considering introducing a fee for asylum seekers. Who are the world’s refugees? And where do they flee to?
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The hyperloop
Want to be whisked down a tube at near-supersonic speeds — for the price of a train ticket? Enter the hyperloop. Elon Musk says his test track will be completed next month. But can it work?
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The history of clocks
Many schools are dropping analogue clocks in favour of digital clocks as more young people do not know how to read them. Here is a look at how, through history, people have told the time.
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Should I be scared of flying?
There has been a deadly plane crash in Indonesia. When disasters like this happen, going on an aeroplane can seem scary. However, flying really is one of the safest ways to travel.
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Women and science
A woman has won the Nobel Prize in Physics for the first time in 55 years, just days after a prominent physicist said the discipline was “built by men”. Are men really better at science?
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Inside the White House
This week Bob Woodward’s new book, Fear: Trump in the White House, was published. It paints a picture of chaos and division. But hidden in it are some fascinating details.
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How to protect your privacy online
Facebook now faces a £500,000 fine following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which millions of users had their data shared illegally. There are still ways to protect your privacy online.
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Brexit in a nutshell
Theresa May faces a crucial week as Parliament votes on the EU withdrawal bill. It is three years since Britain made the decision to leave. What has happened, what will happen, and why?
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England’s World Cup chances
England manager Gareth Southgate has opted for youth over experience in his 23-man squad for the approaching World Cup. Will it be glory or disappointment for the Three Lions in Russia?
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The House of Lords
There are 800 members of the House of Lords. None are elected by the people, yet they still wield a lot of power. How does the Upper House work — and why do many people want change?
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World’s deadliest poisons
The poisoning of a Russian spy has ignited fascination with lethal toxins. You may know about arsenic and cyanide, but these are tame compared with the world’s most lethal substances…
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The Brexit options
With just over a year to go until Britain leaves the EU, the country is split into three tribes: the hard Brexiteers, the “BINOs“ and those who want to stop it all. Whose vision will win?