The Slow Newscast

Caesar and Sami risked everything to show the world what was truly going on in Syria after the 2011 revolution. The Caesar files are a collection of tens of thousands of photos documenting human rights abuses and torture in Syria under the dictator Bashar al-Assad. They have become the cornerstone of Syrian war crime prosecutions around the world. This is the story of the one of the most remarkabl...

When the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar al-Assad's regime showed itself for what it really was: a brutal force, willing to capture and kill ordinary Syrians demanding change. And in all the years that a war raged on, Asma stood by her husband. She seemingly ignored the desperate pleas to stop her husband from killing his own people.  But what did she really know about the atrocitie...

The US celebrates 250 years of independence from the British Crown on 4th July. Accusations have flown that Trump has used the anniversary to celebrate himself, not the country. So what does it tell us about Trump’s place within America…and is it really that unusual? Ada Barumé is joined by the Observer’s Americans, Erica Wagner and Evan Moffitt to discuss this moment in US history. Hosted on Acas...

Criminal gangs have turned Britain's waste system into a goldmine and transformed pockets of the countryside into toxic wastelands. But how do you hide an 11,000 tonne illegal dump in plain sight? Reporters: Jeevan Vasagar and Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Executive producer: Matt Russell Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See ac...

 Each year new temperature records are threatened to be broken. But the UK seems to respond not with innovative adaptation, but with shock. Why? Ada Barumé is joined by academic meteorologist Rob Thomson and Dimple Rana, who is the Heat Resilience Leader at Arup, to discuss how we got here and where we go next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following Keir Starmer's resignation, Andy Burnham is now in prime position to become the UK's next prime minister. So what does he stand for? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re speaking to Frank Cottrell Boyce, the children’s laureate, who has spent two years visiting schools, libraries, and communities to discover what it means to grow up in Britain today.  He’s written about it in a new book ‘A British Childhood: How our children live now’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ordinary people are turning to illegally produced peptides in the hopes of a beauty quick fix. How are these shady black market drugs slipping through the regulatory gaps?  Reporters: Stephen Armstrong and Madeleine Parr Producers: Madeleine Parr, Matt Russell and Amalie Sortland  Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Harmony Blaise Editor: Jasper Corbett Clips: ITV News, Channel 4 News...

A Sherpa was left for dead on Everest at the end of the climbing season. Stranded for almost a week thousands of metres up in extreme conditions, he survived. But his story is not a new story, and it raises questions about the mountaineering industry that has risen around the industry of summiting the world's most dangerous episodes. We've been here before, so can lessons be learned? Hosted on Aca...

Children are being caught in a global grooming pandemic. This is the story of a mother whose daughter was one such victim. Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Matt Russell Illustrator: Sara Andreasson Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The death of student Henry Nowak has shocked the country and sparked riots in Southampton. Ada Barume is joined by the Observer’s Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan and Home Affairs Editor John Simpson to discuss the implications for the government, and the police.  Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Poppy Bullard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior executives of Swedish firm Lundin Oil stand accused of complicity in war crimes. The case against them took more than a decade to come to trial, and the trial was the longest in Swedish history. If they are found guilty it could change how the rich and powerful operate around the world, but will it deliver justice for the Sudanese victims of war? Reporter: Francisco Garcia Producer: Ada Bar...

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark joins The Observer to reveal why he believes there is a chance we will see human-level AI by 2028. From how AI is already changing the job market to a historic meeting at the Vatican, he explains why we must prepare for a future where technology forces us to rethink what it means to be human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year in the UK, a fifth of people arrested for terrorism offences were under 18. Counter-terrorism experts warn that outlawing social media for children is a matter of national security. So what are children really watching online? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a leadership election on the horizon, there are discussions among the backbenches about how potential contenders might look to reshape and re-energise the UK's growth. The Observer's political editor Rachel Sylvester speaks with economics editor Ben Zaranko about what the various approaches might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, doping has hid in the shadows of elite sports. Now, for the first time, it’s out in the open. The Enhanced Games promises a new era of ‘superhumanity’ – is this the future of sport? Reporters: Jeremy Whittle and Chris Marshall-Bell Producer: Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Executive Producer: Matt Russell Editor: Jasper Corbett Clips: ABC N...

It was recently revealed by The Guardian that before he stood to be an MP in 2024, Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne. But is there anything wrong with that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blake Lively’s legal action against Justin Baldoni was settled just two weeks before it was due to go to trial. But the legal documents filed by both sides reveal something darker than a celebrity feud; a new troubling PR playbook. Reporting: Stephen Armstrong and Casey Magloire. Producers: Casey Magloire and Katie Gunning. Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Editor: Jasper Corbe...

The elections look set to create ominous headlines for Labour. In the locals they could see massive losses across the country. But in Wales and Scotland voters go to the polls to determine who will run the Senedd and Holyrood. It means the results might not just determine Keir Starmer’s future, but the future of the United Kingdom. Observer editor-in-chief James Harding sits down with political ed...

Novak Djokovic has long been Serbia’s most successful athlete, and perhaps most famous citizen. But as political conflicts such as youth protests have fractured the country, the tennis superstar has found himself on the outside of a regime and a country who once heralded him. Reporters: Francisco Garcia and Camilla Bell - Davies Producer: Madeleine Parr Artwork: Harmony Closs Sound design: Dominic...

Alexi is joined by the Observer's national news editor, Claudia Williams to discuss the case of Tarryn Baird. Last week, her husband, Christopher Trybus was cleared of driving her to kill herself. Where does a grieving mother who spent 10 years searching for answers go from here? Host: Alexi Mostrous Guest: Claudia Williams Producer: Ada Barumé Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

In 1988, a painting by Lucian Freud of his one-time friend Francis Bacon was stolen from a Berlin art gallery. It’s now worth £20 million. This week, Steve Smith goes in search of the lost art. Reporter: Steve Smith Producer: Ada Barumé Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, there’s one story dominating the headlines: the Peter Mandelson scandal and whether it spells the end for Keir Starmer’s troubled premiership. What does this episode tell us about Starmer himself and why has the Epstein scandal had so much political impact in the UK? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to United States and Israel, there's 460 kilograms of enriched uranium that Iran are just ten days away from turning into weapons grade nuclear bomb material. The story of Iran's nuclear arms race is less clear than they make it appear though. It's a tale of espionage, assassinations, and a high-stakes game of bluff. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Sound De...

After sixteen years of rule in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has been voted out of office. But in that time, he’s built a deep-rooted network of soft power through think-tanks, universities and media organisations. As the new Prime Minister Péter Magyar seeks to assert his own identity and vision for Hungary, will Orbanism’s influence cause him problems? Slow Newscast Extra:  Host: Ada Barumé Produce...