A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: Biden’s new China doctrine, a jailed ex-president won’t go quietly in South Africa (8:44), and carbon border taxes (14:32).
Audio
Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London
The weekend’s top discussion topics with Georgina Godwin. Featuring Charles Hecker with the newspapers, Monocle editor in chief Andrew Tuck’s column and what we’ve learned this week.
Science: Race-Based Medicine, Space Tourism & Western U.S. Heatwave
Race-based medical practises are being challenged more and more, as it becomes increasingly clear they have little basis in science.
The team finds out why adjustments for race and ethnicity are still being made in medicine, despite the potential harm and healthcare implications they cause. It’s been a massive week for the future of space tourism – the team shares a clip of a very excited Richard Branson who’s recent journey into microgravity has set the stage for the launch of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flights. The team gives an update on the dramatic heatwave ravaging the US, as more record high temperatures are set, continuing to leave destruction in its wake. They also explain what ‘impact gardening’ is and why it might help us find alien life on Jupiter’s moon Europa, and they share important news on the state of the cosmetics industry in Neolithic times. On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Chelsea Whyte, and Layal Liverpool.
Morning News: Poland & The EU, Spain’s Illegal Lockdown & Afghanistan
Could Poland crash out of the EU? Plus: Spanish citizens sue the government over “illegal” lockdown laws and what we learned this week.
Morning News: Violence In South Africa, Booster Shots, Decline Of Baseball
Widespread looting and the worst violence since apartheid continue, exposing ethnic divisions and the persistent influence of Jacob Zuma, a former president. How to quell the tensions?
As some countries administer third covid-19 “booster shots” we ask about the epidemiological and moral cases for and against them. And the bids to reverse the decline of America’s national pastime.
Science: Heat Waves In U.S. Impacting Minorities, Graphene Layers, Twitter
Why heat waves disproportionately impact minorities in US cities, and the researcher that critiqued his whole career on Twitter.
In this episode:
00:45 How heat waves kill unequally
Researchers are beginning to unpick how historic discrimination in city planning is making the recent heat waves in North America more deadly for some than others.
News Feature: Racism is magnifying the deadly impact of rising city heat
11:59 Research Highlights
A graphene layer can protect paintings from age, and a new and endangered species of ‘fairy lantern’.
Research Highlight: A graphene cloak keeps artworks’ colours ageles
Research Highlight: Newfound ‘fairy lantern’ could soon be snuffed out forever
14:25 Self-criticism
When researcher Nick Holmes decided to criticise his past papers, in 57 tweets, he found the reflection enlightening. Now he’s encouraging other researchers to self-criticise, to help speed scientific progress.
World View: I critiqued my past papers on social media — here’s what I learnt
20:53 Briefing Chat
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, Richard Branson’s commercial space flight, and the Maori perspective on Antarctic conservation.
The Washington Post: Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic crew are safely back from space, ushering in a new era
The New York Times: The Maori Vision of Antarctica’s Future (intermittent paywall)
Morning News: U.S.-Russia Climate Meeting, Moldova & Aviation Sustainability
What could US climate envoy John Kerry hope to achieve in his visit to Moscow? Plus: we unpack the fallout from Moldova’s election and discuss the aviation sector’s sustainability goals.
Morning News: Global Corporate Tax Hurdle, Virgin Galactic In Space
A.M. Edition for July 12. WSJ’s Paul Hannon on how the international plan for a corporate minimum tax may face hurdles with U.S. lawmakers. Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flight.
Big U.S. bank earnings are expected this week. Companies see business opportunities in stressed-out Americans. Keith Collins hosts.
Sunday Morning: Latest Headlines From Zurich, London & The Balkans
Monocle’s Emma Nelson, Latika Bourke and Rob Cox cover the weekend’s biggest news. Also in the programme: a check-in with our correspondent in the Balkans and what’s on the pages of Austria’s ‘Profil’ magazine.
Saturday Morning: News Headlines From London
Emma Nelson sets the tone for the weekend with newspaper reviewer Vincent McAviney. Also in the programme: the biggest news from the Cannes Film Festival and what we learned this week.
Boomers Daily 