Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Jamie Timson and Julia O’Driscoll.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Russian spying
Claims emerged this week that an alleged Russian intelligence agent took advantage of the Homes for Ukraine refugee scheme to bring his family to the UK. The report sparked fears that other spies might also have come to Britain under the scheme. At the time, some ministers suggested that security checks on applicants from Ukraine were inadequate. Could more have been done to weed out Russian agents?
Climate lawsuit
A court trial is currently underway in the US state of Montana, with 16 young plaintiffs alleging that the state has failed to protect their constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment”. As one of the country’s biggest coal exporters, the local economy depends on fossil fuels – but extreme weather events are threatening the state’s prosperous outdoor recreation industry too. This is the first climate case of its kind to reach the courtroom in America, but how significant will its outcome be?
Literary warfare
The novelist Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote “Eat, Pray, Love”, has decided to cancel the release of her latest book, set in Siberia in the 1980s, after a Ukrainian campaign against its Russian setting. What are their objections, and should Gibert have agreed to their requests? Or are we in danger of a counterproductive cancellation of all things Russian?
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Savages: a tragi-comedy set in a 'quirky handcrafted world'The Week Recommends This new animated film by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Claude Barras is undeniably political, but it has a hopeful message
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Why 'faceless bots' are interviewing job huntersIn The Spotlight Artificial intelligence is taking over a crucial part of recruitment
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Who will win the battle for the soul of the Green Party?An ideological divide is taking root among the environmentalists
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The Week Unwrapped: Why are we watching the ocean floor?Podcast Plus, what can we learn from a football club on the brink? And which jobs will fall to AI first?
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The Week Unwrapped: Could AI replace catwalk models?Podcast Plus, should countries sue each other for climate damage? And what does Grand Theft Auto 6 tell us about the video game industry?
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The Week Unwrapped: Are electric bikes 'invading' London?Podcast Plus, why is Volodymyr Zelenskyy opposing anti-corruption laws? And how will US withdrawal affect Unesco?
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The Week Unwrapped: Should women be conscripted?Podcast Plus, are digital ID cards inevitable? And why do women get more ACL injuries?
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The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?
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The Week Unwrapped: Could the Greens ape Reform UK?Podcast Plus, are more people opting out of public services?
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The Week Unwrapped: How did South Korea become a cultural powerhouse?Podcast Plus, what does a vote on citizenship tell us about Italy? And is the future of football six-a-side?
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The Week Unwrapped: How did Japan become a space superpower?Podcast Plus, why on earth are Labubu dolls so popular? Will buy-now-pay-later cause a new financial crisis?
