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The Observer

The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.

Who are the people biohacking themselves in a quest for immortality? Or the man taking on an entire nation in the high seas to protect whales? And what happened when humanity's most distant messenger fell silent? From a newsroom with a different approach to journalism these are the stories we tell.

Subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription: 

 • Early access, bonus content and ad-free listening to our podcasts
 • A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week
 • Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
 • Recipes for every occasion
 • Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Slow Newscast

A businessman from Tunbridge Wells is accused of leading a double life. He’s secretly recorded planning a brutal attack with ice picks on behalf of the Chinese state. His story takes a dramatic turn with a high-stakes escape. 

To enjoy the Slow Newscast ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You’ll get access to:

This series and all our podcasts before anyone else

Ad-free listening

Premium newsletters

Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword

Exclusive offers from our partners

Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporters - Alexi Mostrous and Frankie Vetch

Producer - Jonathan Lewis

Additional production - Amalie Sortland

Sound design - Dominic Delargy

Podcast illustration - Shonagh Rae

Editor - Jasper Corbett

Credits - Voice of America, CBS

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s shadow war: Ice picks in suburbia | Episode Three

American citizens are recruited to carry out Beijing’s dirty work on home soil. A Florida correctional officer poses as an art dealer, exposing the murky world of transnational repression and China’s shadow war.

This is part two of a three part series. To listen to all episodes today, and enjoy the Slow Newscast ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You’ll get access to:

This series and all our podcasts before anyone else

Ad-free listening

Premium newsletters

Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword

Exclusive offers from our partners

Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporters - Alexi Mostrous and Frankie Vetch

Producer - Jonathan Lewis

Additional production - Amalie Sortland

Sound design - Dominic Delargy

Podcast illustration - Shonagh Rae

Editor - Jasper Corbett

Credits - CNBC

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s shadow war: The Americans | Episode Two

Alexi goes in search of the “long arm” of the Chinese state following a series of attacks and bounties on British soil. He uncovers a coordinated campaign of fear that has left dissidents feeling unsafe in the UK – and asks what British authorities are doing to protect them. 

This is Part One of a three part series. To listen to all episodes today, and enjoy the Slow Newscast ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.

You’ll get access to:

 • This series and all our podcasts before anyone else
 • Ad-free listening
 • Premium newsletters
 • Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword
 • Exclusive offers from our partners
 • Tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.

Reporters - Alexi Mostrous and Frankie Vetch

Producer - Jonathan Lewis

Additional production - Amalie Sortland

Sound design - Dominic Delargy

Podcast illustration - Shonagh Rae

Editor - Jasper Corbett

Credits - Channel 4, Sky News, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s shadow war: The dissidents | Episode One

Every year babies are abandoned by their parents. Following a long reporting project exploring the story of one foundling on a search for her biological parents, Alexi Mostrous asks, 'why do mothers abandon babies?'. To try and make sense of these complicated, often hidden stories, he's joined by the series reporter Lucy Greenwell and the series' producer Katie Gunning.

Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to all 6 episodes.

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content. 

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do mothers abandon babies?

Foundling is a six-part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer. This is episode 1 - On the verge

Journalist Lucy Greenwell goes in search of Jess following rumours and unanswered questions about where she was born and who gave birth to her. 

To listen to the rest of the series, just search for Tortoise Investigates wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to all 6 episodes.

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content. 

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Credits: 

Reporter - Lucy Greenwell

Producer - Katie Gunning

Original theme music - Tom Kinsella

Sound design and additional music - Rowan Bishop

Podcast artwork - Blythe Walker Sibthorp

Narrative editor - Gary Marshall 

Editor - Jasper Corbett

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foundling

Last week, the New York Times ran an experiment that has far-reaching implications, especially for book lovers. It asked readers to compare five pairs of writing samples — one written by AI, the other by a well-known author — and choose which they preferred. AI was chosen much of the time. So, can AI actually write good literature? Book Prize judge Erica Wagner, The Observer's book editor Tom Gatti, and author Ada Barumé discuss.
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can AI write good literature?

America's war against Iran has revealed plenty of gunslinging, provocative rhetoric from the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth. But is there much to learn about America's aims in Iran from Trump's self-described 'secretary of war'?

Reporter/Producer: Alexi Mostrous and Ada Barumé

Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Editor: Jasper Corbett

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kill talk: Pete Hegseth and the language of war

Genetic testing start ups are a booming industry in America. Behind the headlines of 'designer babies' are companies tapping into disputed science, facing accusations that this is a pathway to eugenics. So what does the story of one company in particular tell us about this new field of fertility and science?

Reporters: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell

Producers: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell

Additional production: Gary Marshall

Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Editor: Jasper Corbett

Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 

And get access to:

Our podcasts before anyone else

A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week

Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword

Recipes for every occasion

Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online

Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your best baby

Alexi sits down with the reporter of this week’s Slow Newscast, Francisco Garcia, to talk about one stop in particular on the road to Putin’s frontline, the Orthodox Church. How did a young man from Dunblane end up converting to this ancient form of Christianity? And why are so many young men converting to the Orthodox Church?

Producer: Ada Barumé

Executive Producer: Matt Russell

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rogue Brits: The Orthobros

Jay Fraser was born and raised in Dunblane. Then, after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he signed up to fight...for Russia, not Ukraine. Now he and others who have followed similar paths tell their story of how they ended up on the frontline for Putin.

Reporter: Francisco Garcia

Producers: Gary Marshall and Matt Russell

Artwork: Lucy Stevenson

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Editor: Jasper Corbett

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s shadow war: Ice picks in suburbia | Episode Three

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