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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The rise of English sparkling wineThe Week Recommends As UK-based brands give champagne a run for its money, here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right bottle
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Israel and the Gaza flotillaThe Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
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The moon is rustingUnder the radar The Earth is likely to blame
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The Week Unwrapped: Was life sent to Earth by aliens?Podcast Plus why did Nepali voters use a gaming app to pick their next PM? And will a new national park boost the case for Welsh independence?
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The Week Unwrapped: Why is horse-racing going on strike?Podcast Plus, will the South Korean women who worked in state-run brothels set up for US soldiers succeed? And what’s behind a surge in leg-lengthening surgery?
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The Week Unwrapped: What does Bake Off say about Channel 4?Podcast Plus, why are Scottish drug deaths so stubbornly high? And are women in their 30s too anxious about their eggs?
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The Week Unwrapped: Could robotic dogs help clear landmines?Podcast Plus, what can we learn from a new approach to urban renewal? And how much power rests with political spouses?
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The Week Unwrapped: Is it time for a new world map?Podcast Plus, why is the pope getting flatmates? And why are seagull 'muggings' on the rise?
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The Week Unwrapped: Has Donald Trump secured his Nobel Peace Prize?Podcast Plus, what does the use of North Korean and Indian labour tell us about the Russian war economy? And why have we all gone crazy for pickles?
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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?
