Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Arion McNicoll.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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European turns right
Greece’s former governing party Syriza found itself a distant second in elections this week, a result that is being replicated across Europe. Once-ascendant parties of the radical left face an existential crisis amid internal divisions and the rise of the far right. Even the green parties that have grown large enough that they have joined governing coalitions are now facing a backlash, accused of making too many compromises once they reach office.
Abortion and infanticide
Two recent, and unconnected, trials have drawn attention to the sharp divergence in public attitudes towards the way the law attempts to deal with abortion and infanticide. In one, a woman received widespread sympathy after she was sent to prison for aborting her baby in her eighth month of pregnancy. In another, a 15-year-old girl was vilified by many after killing her newborn child. How should society deal with these rare and disturbing cases?
Snakes on the loose
The RSPCA has said that increasingly warm weather is causing pet snakes in the UK to become more active and “escape a lot more”. The charity said calls to its snake hotline are at an all-time high. Should we be worried about more exotic pets colonising the British landscape?
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Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
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How coupling up became cringeTalking Point For some younger women, going out with a man – or worse, marrying one – is distinctly uncool
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The rapid-fire brilliance of Tom StoppardIn the Spotlight The 88-year-old was a playwright of dazzling wit and complex ideas
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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?
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The Week Unwrapped: Can bullfighting win over young SpaniardsPodcast Plus, is online fandom inherently unhealthy? And is Putin’s economy running out of gas?
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The Week Unwrapped: Who had the last laugh in Riyadh?Podcast Plus are imported eggs undermining animal welfare? And what can we do about AI deepfakes?
