Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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The man of the hole
The last member of an indigenous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon, known as “the man of the hole”, has died. His story, and his resistance to being contacted, is fascinating in its own right, but his death has also drawn attention to the threats faced by tribal groups in Brazil. Illegal miners, loggers and farmers are encroaching on their territory, and President Jair Bolsonaro is explicitly unsympathetic to their cause. Now, though, there seems to be a chance for change: a record 181 indigenous candidates are standing in Brazil’s forthcoming election.
The Celebration police
When Arsenal beat Fulham last weekend, their players and fans reacted with relief and joy – prompting criticism from commentators, who suggested that they had not earned their celebrations. The resulting argument divided fans between those who thought Arsenal should have set their sights higher, and those who were cheering them on – a division that plays out daily on social media, as commentators attempt to police each other’s joy. Where does that instinct come from, and is it a healthy one?
Edinburgh on a shoestring
This year’s Edinburgh Festival recorded a significant drop in ticket sales, which were 25% lower than at the last pre-pandemic event? The rising cost of accommodation is one factor, but rail strikes, post-Covid caution about live events and the broader cost-of-living crisis may all have played a part. What does this tell us about how culture will fare over the next year?
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How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
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In the Spotlight Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been at odds with US forces
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Music reviews: Ethel Cain, Amaarae, and The Black KeysFeature "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You," "Black Star," and "No Rain, No Flowers"
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The Week Unwrapped: Korean succession, terror by algorithm and German disquietpodcast Could a 10-year-old girl rule North Korea? Will an Isis victim upend web law? And why is Germany upset with its Oscars contender?
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The Week Unwrapped: Chinese chips, the Pope in Africa and podcastingpodcast Is China losing the microchip war? What is the Vatican doing in South Sudan? And has the podcast tide turned?
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The Week Unwrapped: Sex and health, the Earth’s core and another new yearpodcast Is the NHS failing British women? What’s going on at the centre of our planet? And what’s in a date?
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The Week Unwrapped: Antisocial Saudis, hormone therapy and retro techpodcast Why is Saudi Arabia investing in – and banning – social networks? Will new research make life easier for trans women? And is the future of technology dumb?
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The Week Unwrapped: AI in court, Germans in Taiwan and ghostwriterspodcast Could artificial intelligence replace lawyers? What does Taiwan want from Germany? And are ghostwriters becoming less ghostly?
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The Year Unwrapped: White refugees, Aegean islands and celebrity gossippodcast Was 2022 the year of the white refugees? What’s really going on in the Aegean sea? And why are we so obsessed with showbiz scandals?
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The Week Unwrapped: Tracking apps, BTS and stay-at-home girlfriendspodcast Does China’s U-turn mark the end of Covid-tracking apps? Has South Korean pop passed its peak? And are we really seeing the rise of the stay-at-home girlfriend?
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The Week Unwrapped: Africa alert, ticket touts and the words of the yearpodcast Is South Africa at risk of terrorist attacks? Why are ticket touts in such high demand? And are we really in a ‘permacrisis’?
