Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Julia O’Driscoll and Suchandrika Chakrabarti.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Press freedom in Central and South America
This week El Salvador's leading media organisation El Faro announced it was moving its legal operations to Costa Rica in order to avoid a crackdown on its reporting by President Nayib Bukele. Central American countries have long punched above their weight when it comes to independent media investigations but with a series of strongmen coming to power from Guatemala to Guadalajara press freedoms have not been protected. In an age of social media and citizen journalism do we care as much about the freedom of the press any longer and if not, why not?
Insta links
Social media companies are in flux at the moment, as Twitter continues to shed staff and change the rules for users. Now, Instagram is also making some changes. Its new functionality seems relatively trivial – allowing more than one link in a user’s bio – but the change is likely to have significant consequences for how people use the platform. It could even put some companies out of business.
True crime
The UK was gripped by a week-long manhunt for the violent killer Raoul Moat in July 2010. An ITV dramatisation of the events released this week has been welcomed by one of the victim’s families, while others have warned that the miniseries will bring more trauma. It has re-ignited a debate over whether true crime can ever be ethical.
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‘My donation felt like a rejection of the day’s politics’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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Trump wants a weaker dollar but economists aren’t so sureTalking Points A weaker dollar can make imports more expensive but also boost gold
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Political cartoons for February 3Cartoons Tuesday’s political cartoons include empty seats, the worst of the worst of bunnies, and more
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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?
