Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Jessica Hullinger
In this week's episode, we discuss:
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Taiwan
Taiwan's presidential elections will shape the region's geo-political landscape until 2028, making it one of the most pivotal polls in 2024, the so-called "year of elections". China has long claimed sovereignty over the island and has vowed to reunify it with the rest of the mainland by 2027. The threat of annexation has grown in recent years, with China carrying out a number of aggressive military exercises close to the island, heightening tensions between Washington, a staunch ally of Taiwan, and Beijing. How will China respond to the results of the election?
Solar engineering
British scientists are heading to the Arctic on a bold mission to explore whether engineering can be used to preserve the region's rapidly disappearing sea ice. Engineers are looking into "refreezing" Arctic waters as just one innovative solution which could halt the so-called "great melt". The experiment involves pumping seawater onto the ice to make it thicker and long-lasting. But how feasible is such a plan?
Secret TikTok
TikTok recently made changes to one of its features designed to track the popularity of trends of the app. The tool, known as Creative Centre, was designed to help advertisers track the popular hashtags and trends on the social media site. But it appears to have been removed after researchers and lawmakers used the results to analyse content related to geopolitics and the Israel-Hamas war. What is the significance of the change? And why is TikTok hiding its data?
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Political cartoons for December 13Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include saving healthcare, the affordability crisis, and more
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Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
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The issue dividing Israel: ultra-Orthodox draft dodgersIn the Spotlight A new bill has solidified the community’s ‘draft evasion’ stance, with this issue becoming the country’s ‘greatest internal security threat’
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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?
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The Week Unwrapped: Have pedigree dogs had their day?Podcast Plus what can we learn from Slovenia’s rejection of assisted dying? And can politicians admit their weaknesses?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
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The Week Unwrapped: Can musicians challenge Putin?Podcast Plus who were the ‘human hunters’ of the Bosnian war? And what should happen to captive penguins?
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The Week Unwrapped: Are British rappers the world’s best?Podcast Plus can the Maldives quit smoking? And can whales lead us to immortality?
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The Week Unwrapped: Should we be eating less fat – or more?Podcast Plus who will benefit from the surprise Dutch election result? And how can art improve our health?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will Grace Wales Bonner change Hermès for the better?Podcast Plus will nuclear fusion deliver us from climate change? Is humour the best way to take on Trump?
