Latest Stories
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Boomerang and bubble tea in new emoji release
Are emojis better than words? After a new update this month, there are now more than 3,300 emojis. Some people argue that the little icons help us express ourselves better than words do.
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Cliffs, caves and monsters in Minecraft update
Is Minecraft good for us? Last week, fans tuned in to learn about its exciting new plans for next year. Now there is a fierce debate about how much time we should spend glued to our screens.
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Cave painting could be ‘oldest-recorded story’
Is this picture the world’s oldest recorded story? Dating of a painting on the wall of a cave in Indonesia has revealed it to be 44,000 years old. Does it tell the story of a buffalo hunt?
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Priceless oil painting ‘ruined’ by repairs
One of the world’s most famous paintings has been carefully restored by experts to look as it would have looked when it was new, 600 years ago. But many experts think it has been spoilt.
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Secrets of England’s greatest treasure trove
A new exhibition of 600 objects valued at £3.28m is to highlight the dazzling artistic creations of the Anglo-Saxons and the lessons we can learn from their way of life, 1,400 years on.
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The bike that rides on water!
Imagine pedalling down a river. If you got hot, you could just fall off! This is just one of the many great inventions on show, last week, at the world’s biggest exhibition of new gadgets.
- Technology
- Reading Band 14+
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Photo project inspires 76,000 young artists
Can anyone be an artist? Famous film-maker Steve McQueen has photographed 76,000 Year 3 children across London. He hopes the project will inspire them to become the artists of the future.
- Culture
- Reading Band 11
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Kaboom! Calls for a ban on noisy fireworks
Should fireworks be silent? You may have heard lots of noisy explosions this week. They can be scary for animals. Luckily, we have invented fireworks that do not make any noise at all.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Animal rights victory as fur bans sweep USA
Should fur products be banned? After California became the first US state to ban the sales of fur, US department store Macy’s has announced it will no longer sell fur clothing.
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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‘It’s MY car now and I live here!’
Do we love humans more than animals? Every year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award shows us the very best pictures of the animal kingdom, from chasing cheetahs to curious raccoons.
- Culture
- Reading Band 5
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Scottish museum to stop calling ships ‘she’
Is this a good idea? For hundreds of years, sailors have called their ships “she”. Now, the Scottish Maritime Museum has decided to “move with the times” and call them “it” instead.
- Culture
- Reading Band 8
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Hope rises from the ashes of Notre Dame
Can France recover? For 855 years, Notre Dame Cathedral has watched over the city of Paris. The worst fire in its history has triggered an outpouring of shock and grief.
- Culture
- Reading Band 14+
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An amazing new Van Gogh exhibition just opened
Is Vincent Van Gogh the greatest artist in history? A major new exhibition of his work has opened at the Tate Britain in London. Who is Van Gogh and why is he so popular?
- Culture
- Reading Band 11
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Fashion world mourns ‘giant’ Karl Lagerfeld
Can clothes change the world? Fashion lovers are mourning Karl Lagerfeld: a designer with a sharp wit and cutting-edge style. The world has lost “a giant among men,” says the editor...
- Culture
- Reading Band 5
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MPs investigate fast fashion climate crisis
Should we own fewer clothes? The government is investigating the environmental impact of Britain’s “fast fashion” culture. Currently, millions of items of clothing are wasted every year.