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?  

Organised crime gangs are exploiting the lenient penalties and rich rewards of dumping and burning waste on rural land. There are now 700 such sites around the country

Hong Kong activists call on the government to investigate Hong Kong trade office after the Old Bailey jailed two men connected to the organisation

The UK has seen far-right riots in the wake of two attacks in recent weeks - in Southampton and Belfast.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett  

Last week Pope Leo chose to focus on the dangers of artificial intelligence during his first major teaching. Why did he decide to concentrate on AI?

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.

Critics think it will tempt young people into using performance enhancing drugs

Meta sold seven million smart glasses in 2025, triple that of the previous two years combined. As smart glasses become cheaper and more widespread, do they present a threat to our privacy? Clips: Project TV, Mint  

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?

New data suggests that stalking offences have increased fiftyfold in England and Wales in the last decade. What explains the rise?

Until Sunday, no one in history had run a sub-2 hour marathon. So how did Sabastian Sawe do it?  

Climate change and pollutants are making your allergies worse. But could the health consequences of warming weather be even more serious in the future?  

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has announced that his successor will be the company's current head of hardware, John Ternus. But what does his appointment tell us about Apple's strategy for the future in an industry increasingly invested in AI? Clip Credit: CBS

A public clash between Donald Trump and the Pope has exposed tensions inside America's Christian right. Why does this matter? 

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 Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Matt Russell   Illiberal land: Hungary's empire of ideas Reporter: David Aaronovitch Producer: Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Lola Williams Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

Viktor Orbán built one of Europe's most entrenched political systems and still lost. What does Hungary's election result tell us about how populists can be beaten? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Madeleine Parr  Host: Casey Magloire  Clip Credit: Sky News   

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has placed emperor penguins in the endangered species list with some predicting they could be extinct by the end of the century. Can anything be done to halt their decline?   Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Jonathan Lewis Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Matt Russell Clips: CBS News

Tomorrow morning Artemis II will splash down off the coast of San Diego. What's next for the $90 billion space programme's plan to put a human back on the moon? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Madeleine Parr  Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Clips: CNN  

Barely an hour before President Donald Trump's Tuesday deadline to obliterate Iran and its infrastructure, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

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.     Further listening:  China's shadow war: The dissidents | Episode One China's shadow war: The Americans | Episode Two