Black livesExplorationInterviewDwayne Fields, the first black Briton to reach the north pole: ‘I spotted this polar bear stalking us’Sasha MistlinA familiar face on Countryfile and other TV shows, Fields escaped being shot when he was barely out of his teens. Now 37, he’s determined to keep exploring the world – and open it up for young people In 2005, Dwayne Fields found himself staring down the barrel of a gun in east London.

Marilyn MonroeHoward Hawks’ eye-catching comedy sees the actor at the height of her talents in a tale with more depth and intellect than even its director knew Last year’s Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde broke up its parade of visceral suffering heaped upon the woman born Norma Jeane Mortenson with an acknowledgement of one injustice not of the physically invasive persuasion. Some like it overheated: how Marilyn Monroe is betrayed by BlondeRead moreWe learn that while working on Howard Hawks’ superlative Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (which turns 70 years old this weekend), she received a paltry rate of $500 a week, while her comparatively better-known co-45star Jane Russell raked in a sum-total fee in the amount of $200,000.

Slavery Photograph: Rafael Ben-Ari/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Stock PhotoSlavery affects more than 40 million people worldwide – more than at any other time in history by Kate HodalHow many slaves are there today, and who are they?The word “slavery” conjures up images of shackles and transatlantic ships – depictions that seem relegated firmly to the past. But more people are enslaved today than at any other time in history. Experts have calculated that roughly 13 million people were captured and sold as slaves between the 15th and 19th centuries; today, an estimated 40.

US policing This article is more than 1 month oldUS family of 11-year-old shot by police vows to seek justice after officer gets no chargesThis article is more than 1 month oldAderrien Murry, who is Black, was wounded by police after calling 911, and authorities declined to charge the officer involved The family of an 11-year-old boy who was shot by police after he called 911 and asked for their help have vowed to continue to fight for justice after authorities declined to charge the officer involved.

SEMANTIC ENIGMASWhy is the indentation in a house brick called a frog? Ben Chaston, Hong Kong, China In the 1930s the bricks were made by hand in slop moulds and the indent required a wooden former in the bottom of the mould box. This looked like a crouching frog and the name stuck despite its reference to the indent. Jack Hill, St Albans, UK Add your answer ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaKafqbK0rc2dqK6dop6ytHvQrpyrsV9leXaDlGxjZm5nboF1eI9pZaGsnaE%3D