Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Mariana Vieira, Rebekah Evans and Harriet Marsden.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Russian rights
Russia is seeking to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) after it was expelled last April following its invasion of Ukraine. In a position paper circulated at the United Nations, Russia claims it aims to prevent the HRC from becoming "an instrument which serves the political will of one group of countries". Diplomats, however, argue Russia is trying to clean up its global image after being accused of human rights abuses in Ukraine and within its border. Why is Russia pursuing council membership now, and what will it mean if it succeeds?
British class
A new British Social Attitudes survey has shown more people are identifying as working class than 40 years ago. While class boundaries in the UK seem to have become more fluid than in years gone by, class has never gone away. What does it actually mean to be working class, and can a person's social class really change?
World expos
The next World Exposition Fair, a six-month showcase of technological and cultural exhibitions by more than 150 countries, held every five years, was due to take place in Japan in 2025. But organisers now say the price of constructing the venue, on a man-made island in Osaka Bay, has risen to ¥230 billion ($1.5 billion) – almost double the initial estimate – due to high inflation and chronic labour shortages. World fairs attract millions of visitors, strengthen bilateral relationships and have, in the past, turbocharged economies. But is the price still worth paying?
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Minnesota's legal system buckles under Trump's ICE surgeIN THE SPOTLIGHT Mass arrests and chaotic administration have pushed Twin Cities courts to the brink as lawyers and judges alike struggle to keep pace with ICE’s activity
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Big-time money squabbles: the conflict over California’s proposed billionaire taxTalking Points Californians worth more than $1.1 billion would pay a one-time 5% tax
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‘The West needs people’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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The Week Unwrapped: Why are there so many Russian ships in the Channel?Podcast Plus, what does a ‘feminist’ approach to cancer involve? And who is Mickey’s new boss?
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The Week Unwrapped: Why is China clearing out its generals?Podcast Plus, can the Conservatives win back the centre? And what’s gone wrong with Britain’s hearing aids?
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The Week Unwrapped: What can we learn from a tool-wielding cow?Podcast Plus, have we reached ‘peak billionaire’? When should troops disobey their superiors?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will Uganda’s pop-star politician prevail?Podcast Plus, is dodgy data undermining medical research? And what does a new app reveal about Chinese society?
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The Week Unwrapped: Is Elon Musk’s AI tool a platform for abuse?Podcast Plus can Mumsnet predict who will be the next PM? And who is still watching Avatar sequels?
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The Week Unwrapped: What’s the cost of PFAs?Podcast Plus why is George Osborne joining OpenAI? And has universal basic income finally come of age?
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The Week Unwrapped: what’s scuppering Bulgaria’s Euro dream?Podcast Plus has Syria changed, a year on from its revolution? And why are humans (mostly) monogamous?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will drought fuel global violence?Podcast Plus why did Trump pardon a drug-trafficking president? And are romantic comedies in terminal decline?
