Latest Stories
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50 years since man’s ‘greatest achievement’
Was the Moon landing the greatest scientific achievement of all time? Fifty years ago, humans walked on the Moon for the first time — using less computing power than the average smartphone.
- Science
- Reading Band 14+
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Anger as protests in Hong Kong turn violent
Will China ever be a democracy? This week, thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a controversial new law. “The people’s voices are not being heard,” said one teenager.
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The race to be Britain’s new prime minister
Should Boris run Britain? Today, the UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May will officially resign, triggering the race to replace her. At the front of the pack of contenders is the colourful Boris...
- Politics
- Reading Band 14+
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Too many climbers on Everest, say experts
Should we stop climbing the world’s tallest mountain? This photo of tourists waiting to reach its peak has gone viral. Mountaineers say traffic is not just annoying — it can be deadly.
- Sport
- Reading Band 11
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Eurovision: the ultimate battle of the bands
Is Eurovision silly or serious? Tomorrow, around 200 million people will tune in to watch the grand final of the world’s most outrageous singing competition: the Eurovision Song Contest.
- Culture
- Reading Band 14+
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The very model of a modern royal family
It is the picture that says more than any words. The 93-year-old Queen greets with delight her three-day-old great grandchild, the first part Afro-American baby in the British royal family.
- Society
- Reading Band 14+
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Pressure mounts to speed up action on climate
Could we go carbon-free in just six years? The protest group Extinction Rebellion says that this must happen in order to save the planet. Politicians say it is impossible. Who is right?
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South Africans celebrate 25 years of freedom
Is Nelson Mandela’s work done? Twenty-five years ago, the hero activist was elected president, spelling an end to the racist apartheid era. However, South Africa is still deeply unequal.
- Conflict
- Reading Band 11
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The 16-year-old who politicians queue to meet
Will they listen? Sixteen-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg visited the UK this week. She gave a powerful speech in Parliament, saying that children wanted to “wake the adults up”.
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Emojis have a history going back 5,000 years
Will we all write in emojis soon? A new British Library exhibition looks at the history of writing, starting with hieroglyphs and ending with emojis. They have more in common than you might...
- Technology
- 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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Hundreds arrested in climate protests
Did the protesters go too far? This week, the Extinction Rebellion climate action group brought the city of London to a standstill. They wanted to get as many people arrested as possible.
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America to put first woman on the moon
Would you go to the Moon? The US has announced that the first woman and the next man on the Moon will be American, launching a new space race against China, Russia and India.
- Science
- Reading Band 14+
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Mosque attack prompts clampdown on extremism
Who is to blame for the terror attack which took place in New Zealand last week? The world is still mourning the deaths of 50 Muslims who were killed during Friday Prayer.
- Conflict
- Reading Band 14+
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Happy birthday! World Wide Web turns 30
Should we celebrate? In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee handed in his proposal for a World Wide Web. Thirty years later, his invention has transformed the world, but is it better or worse?
- Technology
- Reading Band 14+