Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Abdulwahab Tahhan and Suchandrika Chakrabarti.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Chinese marriage incentives
The county of Changshan in eastern China is offering an incentive of 1,000 yuan, or just over £100, to women aged under 25 who get married. The “reward” is intended to promote “age-appropriate marriage and childbearing”, according to the local government – and fits into a pattern of Chinese attempts to raise its fertility rate. Will this relatively small incentive make any difference, and if not how else might China deal with falling birth rates?
Nanotech energy
When Novak Djokovic steps on court at the US Open next week, he’s likely to be wearing a small metal disc strapped to his chest. According to the Italian company that makes it, the Taopatch uses nanotechnology to convert heat from the body into performance-enhancing light. Not everyone is convinced… but Djokovic himself insists that he benefits from wearing it. So how should sporting authorities react to these and other devices intended to give athletes an edge over their rivals.
Laughter as medicine
A new scientific study has lent weight to the idea that laughter is the best medicine – or at least a good health supplement. Researchers found that a course of laughter therapy had a positive effect on patients with coronary artery disease, increasing oxygen flow around their bodies and reducing inflammation. How reliable is the evidence for this claim – and what can we learn from it?
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Who owns Gaza? Israel's occupation plansThe Explainer Egypt, Israel and Britain have ruled the beleaguered territory
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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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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?
