March 2021 issue
As Britain’s death toll from Covid-19 passes 100,000, there is one burning question: why did so many have to die? Tom Clark, Gaby Hinsliff and Philip Ball chart the persistent failures—from both the chief scientists and the politicians. Former hea...
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Politics
Covid-19: The unofficial UK inquiry—why did so many have to die?
From the early mess on test, track and trace to dangerous immunity theories, there’s plenty of blame to go round. But a lot of drift and delay seeped down from the top
Illegal content on some sites abounds, but platforms have very limited liability for user-uploaded content. Illustration: Ian Morris
Society
How to fix the porn industry
Adult sites host abusive and illegal content. It’s time to start making them responsible for it
Illustration by Spencer Wilson
World
How to save aid
Catastrophic cuts have come at a moment of humanitarian crisis. But aid won’t be saved until we rethink what it is for
Illustration: Adam Howling
Internet
The rise of the internet novel
Patricia Lockwood and Lauren Oyler’s new novels grapple with the pathologies and pleasures of the internet—and remind us of the profound importance of life away from the screen
Nigel Biggar cites Jeremy Bentham, Edmund Burke and Onora O'Neill to contest the merits of natural rights. © North Wind Picture Archives/Granger Historical Picture Archive/politics/Alamy Stock Photo
Culture
My rights, your wrongs: Nigel Biggar’s flawed attack on ‘human rights fundamentalism’
A new book’s attempt to critique the philosophy of human rights—and the “progressive zeal” of the judges who uphold them—ultimately fails to convince, says the former president of the Supreme Court
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