Sensemaker

A 15-year-old black school girl who was suspected of carrying cannabis was strip searched by police officers at her school. How unusual is this? The Sensemaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the world. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. We also have a daily Sen...

Nigeria’s growing population keeps facing fuel shortages despite it being Africa’s largest oil producer. Why? The Sensemaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the world. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. We also have a daily Sensemaker email delivered to your inb...

The decision to sack 800 staff via Zoom and replace them with cheaper agency workers seemed to surprise many. But there were signs of what was to come. The Sensemaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the world. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. We also have a da...

After Tony Sewell chaired the controversial Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities the University of Nottingham decided to revoke their offer of an honorary degree. Was it justified? The Sensemaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the world. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see t...

Yesterday’s economic update was not a Budget, but with the cost of living soaring Rishi Sunak was facing calls to ease the squeeze. Did the chancellor rise to the challenge? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a 40-year-old debt was settled between Britain and Iran last week, two British hostages were allowed to return home. So why was Morad Tahbaz, also a British hostage, left behind?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kremlin has near total control over the media in Russia, so when one woman demonstrated against the Ukraine war live on air, she disrupted the narrative. What do we know about the protestor and the presenter she interrupted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Western leaders are trying to predict the Russian president's next move. Some believe he has become isolated. What do we know about Vladimir Putin's life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halyna’s parents attempt to escape their hometown in eastern Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has returned home to the UK after being held hostage by Iran for nearly six years. What do we know about why she was finally released? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Xi Jinping has said his friendship with Vladimir Putin has "no limits". So what does he make of Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A 40-mile column of Russian trucks, tanks and armoured vehicles was a symbol of its military might. But then it got stuck. What does it tell us about the invasion of Ukraine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The frozen seascape just off Antarctica, home to a sunken ship for 106 years, is one of the most scientifically important ecosystems on the planet. What can it teach us about climate change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Lviv, Halyna feels quite far from the invasion. But for her parents, who live near the border with Russia, it is very real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the UK has only granted 760 visas to Ukrainian refugees. Why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accused of committing war crimes, Russia is being investigated by the international criminal court. But prosecuting those responsible will not be easy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ousted in 2014, the corrupt former president could be Vladimir Putin’s pick to replace Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian activist Daria Kaleniuk made an impassioned plea to Boris Johnson for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but NATO doesn’t want to risk a direct confrontation with Russia. She tells Tortoise why she thinks it is the wrong decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a few days ago, Halyna was a young woman living a peaceful life in Ukraine's capital. Now she has been forced to flee because of the war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flash flooding in Sydney comes in the same week a major report offered the ‘bleakest warning yet’ on the impacts of climate breakdown, but it's not entirely out of our control yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany has overturned decades-old security and foreign policy doctrines in the face of Russia’s aggression in eastern Europe. How did it happen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been protests and high profile Russians have criticised the invasion of Ukraine. But how do you work out the true extent of opposition to Putin’s war? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky faced criticism at home. Now he is a wartime leader rising to the moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Ukrainian woman describes the day her country was invaded by Russia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last autumn, reports of women being spiked with needles in clubs or at parties began to circulate. But months on, no confirmed cases have been found. So what happened? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.