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Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the news that net immigration hit 606,000 last year and explains why the UK is proving such a magnet for incomers. He looks at the call from the Covid inquiry for Boris Johnson to hand over his WhatsApp messages and the controversy over Suella Braverman and her speeding offence. And he looks across the Atlantic at the malfunctioning Twitter interview with Ron DeSantis and considers how unlikely it is that he can unseat Donald Trump as the Republican Presidential candidate.

An ebullulient James Cameron-Wilson guides Simon Rose through the UK box office chart, welcoming FastX, the 10th in the franchise, to the #1 spot. He found it has plenty of laughs, shocks, surprises & thrills, though its opening of £5.9m is well down on previous iterations. He also recommends Are You There, God? It's Margaret, which opened at #4. Based on the Judy Plume novel, he thought it a touching and charming gem. His DVD of the month is the Belgian Oscar-nominated drama Close, which won last year's Grand Prix at Cannes. James thought it one of the most remarkable films he has seen for some time.

Russ Mould of A J Bell looks at the rise of the Japanese stock market, which has hit a 33-year-high. He points out that it is still a quarter below its all-time high, hit on the last day of 1989. After debt-fuelled craziness saw the land of the Imperial Palace worth more than all of California before a collapse, and with decades of QE since, foreign investors have long neglected the market. Japanese companies have become more shareholder-friendly than they used to be. Russ explains that it could be wisest for UK investors, if considering Japan, to use active or passive collective investments, rather than relying on individual shares.

Steve Caplin enlightens Simon Rose on the latest tech. Which? says that facial recognition on cheap smartphones can be unlocked by photos. Disney is shutting its Star Wars hotel, K9 Jets will let you travel with your dog – for a price, Tesla's bot Optimus is upgraded, AI can now create 3D-models, even from text, Google's AI is having trouble creating music, free WiFi on trains may disappear and the Spanish government want to develop an app to ensure that husbands do their fair share of housework.

If you're anxious about your ongoing health after Covid or any other illness, this could be for you. Many people, particularly worried about the impact of 'Long Covid', harbour a fear of impending doom: potential breathing difficulties or worries about sense of taste or smell. Adam Cox takes you through suggestions about how to be more optimistic about health and future vitality, pointing out that the immune system is better prepared to deal with future challenges as a result of experiencing viruses.

Join Adam Cox as he speaks with Hugo Griffiths, an automotive expert from carwow, to delve into groundbreaking research exploring the sentiments of the British public regarding Clean Air Zones and their functionality. Together, they examine the financial implications of driving a non-compliant vehicle within these zones and explore whether it's more economically viable to replace your current vehicle or opt for regular journeys within these restricted areas. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that uncovers the true costs and considerations associated with Clean Air Zones. www.carwow.co.uk

An artificial intelligence program could soon create a digital version of yourself. So, what are the implications when that’s possible? Rob LoCascio is the founder and CEO of LivePerson, a company that develops conversational commerce and AI software. Ricky Mulvey caught up with LoCascio to discuss how artificial intelligence will change how you interact with brands, Starboard Value’s campaign to change LivePerson’s board and CEO, the unlocks that quantum computing could provide tech companies, and what natural language processing programs are revealing about interspecies communication. Companies mentioned: LPSN, GOOG, GOOGL. Host - Ricky Mulvey, Guest - Rob LoCascio

Tech is leading the market higher in 2023, but a few giants are doing the heavy lifting. Matt Argersinger and Jason Moser discuss Nvidia's AI-fueled earnings report and the company's historic pop, Intuit's latest results and how proposed IRS free-file software could affect the company, Zoom's post-pandemic slump, and the signs retailers are fixing inventory problems, but high-end merchandise still isn't selling. The, 19 minutes in, Motley Fool contributor Lou Whiteman talks with former United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz about his approach to turning the airline around, dealing with personal setbacks, and the lessons in leadership from his book “Turnaround Time.” Plus, 34 minutes in, Matt and Jason discuss Netflix's $7.99/month solution to password sharing and two stocks on their radar: Salesforce and Invitation Homes. Stocks discussed: NVDA, INTU, ZM, WSM, ULTA, COST, SPG, URBN, GPS, CRM, INVH. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Jason Moser, Matt Argersinger, Oscar Munoz, Lou Whiteman

We had some good news this week about our energy bills - or did we? Ofgem's price cap is coming down - saving households around £400 a year on average. The last 18 months have been horrendous for households, so bad the Government had to step in in October and introduce a price freeze - but that was still double what the typical bill payer would have had to fork out a year previously. And although the cap is coming down, the removal of Government grants means most people will actually only be saving about £19 per month, or £225 per year. So what will we have to pay when the new cap starts in July, will bills keep going down, and when will energy companies start under-cutting the price cap with fixed tariffs again? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert discuss when energy bills might go back to 'normal', and whether we should jump on fixed deals when they return, or treat them with caution. We also got the latest UK inflation figures this week. Despite a not insignificant drop from 10.1% to 8.7% in April, experts are pricing in another interest rate rise - and that is down to a surprise jump in something called core inflation. We explain what that is, and discuss just how high the base rate might go. We look at why that is happening, and take in some advice from brokers on what those with a remortgage deadline coming up should do. But with bad news for mortgage holders comes good news for savers, with easy-access rates edging ever closer to 4%. We list the best buys. The US debt ceiling has also been in the news this week, with the two main parties engaged in a stand-off about whether it should be raised. If it isn't, the world's biggest economy could default on its debts - but what exactly would that mean, and how big is the risk? Finally, with warmer weather on the way we discuss the new phenomenon of 'campervanflation', and why the younger generation can't seem to get enough of the classic VW Camper.

Andrew Griffith MP, Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, wants to see a greater appetite for risk to encourage investment in British business. It's good to hear such a positive approach, but let's make it quoted-equity focused; debt and private equity are not the way forward for long-term success. Background music: 'The Nexus Riddim' by Konrad OldMoney