The real reason for falling birth rates
Stephen J. Shaw for The Spectator
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Mired in trivia, British political discourse is utterly unfit for times of war
Rafael Behr for The Guardian
"I need no persuasion that 'terrorists' is a correct label for Hamas," writes Rafael Behr in The Guardian. "Nor do I need to hear from any more politicians or commentators who think the BBC calling them 'militants' is a national disgrace." There is debate to be had "on editorial language and moral equivalence, but on the periphery of the bigger story, not the front page", he continues. "Swathes of what passes for debate about the Middle East has the character of displacement activity. It is the spectacle of people, left and right, grasping for agency."
Cracking the Lock
The Times editorial board
It is "increasingly clear" that the triple lock pension mechanism is "ultimately unsustainable", said The Times in today's editorial. "Under the existing formula, pensioners' incomes have risen faster than average wages and they seem likely to continue to do so," said the paper. "While that is good news for the older generation", it is "arguably fast becoming an unfair burden on younger people struggling with spiralling bills".
Handwriting will soon be the preserve of a sophisticated few
Jemima Lewis for The Telegraph
Handwriting is the latest "ancient skill" at risk of being "made defunct by computers", says Jemima Lewis in The Telegraph. "I am writing this on my laptop; you are reading it in print, perhaps on a screen. When was the last time you wrote anything longer than a shopping list by hand?" she asks. Even texting is "starting to look old hat", with her children preferring to "send voice messages".
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How the War Department became the Department of Defense – and back againIn Depth In 1947 President Harry Truman restructured the US military establishment, breaking with naming tradition
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Codeword: December 8, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
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