Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Leaf Arbuthnot, Abdulwahab Tahhan and Cindy Yu.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Life expectancy
Figures released this week revealed that where a child is born can make a difference of up to 12 years in how long he or she can expect to live. Glaswegians are the most likely to die young, while those born in Hampstead, north London, live the longest. Even taken as a whole, Britain’s mortality data gives pause: another set of statistics, published last week, showed the UK slipping to 29th in the world life expectancy chart.
Palestinian identity
Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli national security minister, claimed this week that “there are no Palestinians, because there isn’t a Palestinian people”. His comments provoked a fierce response in the Palestinian territories, and the rest of the Middle East. They also divided opinion within Israel, which is embroiled in a political and constitutional crisis.
Sturgeon’s legacy
Nicola Sturgeon chaired her final cabinet meeting as first minister of Scotland this week, as the SNP prepares to announce the winner of the race to succeed her on Monday. While the hard-fought leadership contest has attracted plenty of attention, Sturgeon’s domestic legacy has been less widely discussed. How will she be remembered in the long run?
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History-making moments of Super Bowl halftime shows pastin depth From Prince to Gloria Estefan, the shows have been filled with memorable events
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The Washington Post is reshaping its newsroom by laying off hundredsIn the Spotlight More than 300 journalists were reportedly let go
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Quiet divorces are sneaking up on older couplesThe explainer Checking out; not blowing up
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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?
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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?
