The US and Israel's strikes on Iran have triggered a conflict which is rapidly spreading across the Middle East.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

America and other Nato allies have stopped ghost ships carrying £60bn of Russian crude oil a year, but the UK has failed to keep its promise

The case of the Austrian climber who was found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on Austria's highest mountain, has captivated the world's media.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

Today, four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the war shows no sign of ending.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Amalie Sortland Producer: Poppy Bullard Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell  

Some areas of the UK have faced their wettest winters on record.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barumé    Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

The recent sentencing of activist Jimmy Lai and the conviction of the father of activist Anna Kwok in the same week marks a new phase in China's crackdown on activists. How far is Beijing prepared to go to silence dissent?   Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Jess Swinburne Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Matt Russell

Should the government consider implementing a graduate tax to make the tuition repayment system fairer? What did Jim Ratcliffe get wrong about immigration in the UK? And do we need to get serious about carbon capturing?    Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Andrew Butler, Ada Barumé and James Tapper as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news.  

Michelle de Swarte joins Liv and Miranda to speak about her career and the changing UK comedy scene. Will SNL UK be the new vehicle for introducing up-and-coming talent to the mainstream?  Bad Bunny made history at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday and new super fans out of Miranda and Liv. For many, this was their introduction to the Puerto Rican star - but how did he get so big?  Get tickets to Michelle de Swarte's comedy tour - The Afters → HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: How to Mend: Motherhood and Its Ghosts by Iman Mersal Between the Covers live Miranda:  The Muppet Show!  Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email     

Top social media companies are facing allegations of designing their websites to be addictive. As the first case goes to trial, what is at stake? Host: Ada Barumé  Writer & Producer: Madeleine Parr Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell    

The fallout from Peter Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein is putting Prime Minister Keir Starmer under increasing pressure. Host: Ada Barumé  Writer & Producer: Matt Russell Episode Photography: Joe Mee  

Keir Starmer has apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson to his cabinet, but will that be enough to keep him in Downing Street? With an internet blackout impacting the flow of information out of Iran, how can journalists report on the ongoing atrocities? And as soldiers in Ukraine face an unrelenting winter, is a turning point in the conflict around the corner?    Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporters Serena Cesareo and Jon Ungoed Thomas, and International Editor Steve Bloomfield to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news.  

There are over a thousand oil tankers at sea that are helping finance Russia's war in Ukraine in plain sight. And they're not just trading in sanctioned oil, they're sabotaging the very infrastructure we all rely on. The UK and EU know about them, they pass right by our coasts, but so far have been unable to stop them at any sort of scale. This is the story of a shadow ship, sailing its way through sanctions, sabotage and subterfuge.

Does Keir Starmer need to rethink the UK's approach to America? What does the Brooklyn Beckham bombshell tell us about the relationship between celebrities and the press? And will China put a man on Mars?    Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer's Jon Ungoed Thomas, Cat Neilan and Andrew Butler, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.    Buy tickets to the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January HERE    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk   

On the 8th of January, the Metropolitan Police released a report into failures in vetting and recruitment of officers involved in misconduct or criminal offences.   

The Salt Path was the supposed bestseller debut book by Raynor Winn, selling millions worldwide. So when two more sequels came along with increasingly bold claims on reversing a terminal illness, why did the publisher Penguin not question it more?  Chloe also goes on the hunt for Raynor Winn's fourth  book…her true debut written years before The Salt Path. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision - Karla Patella Sound design - Tom Burchell Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett

In the aftermath of her initial investigation, Chloe hears from a close family member of Moth's. The story is one of deep divides…and another theft. But it takes her one step closer to understanding who Moth and Raynor Winn really are. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision - Karla Patella Sound design - Rowan Bishop Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett

With question marks now raised over how The Salt Path began, Chloe Hadjimatheou starts to track down other characters from the book. Did Raynor Winn and Moth ever walk the path the way they claimed? Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett  

When the television cameras come to a heritage cider farm in Devon, Moth and Raynor Winn take centre stage. Within weeks, they vanish. The farm's owner, their friend, is left to piece together the disparity between what he'd witnessed…and what Raynor Winn had written about. Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett

At a motorway service station, Chloe meets someone close to Raynor Winn who's nervous about coming forward. It turns out she's another character from The Salt Path…and she's Raynor Winn's niece. And she's not turned up empty handed…   Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision  and sound design - Karla Patella Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett

In a small town in north Wales, an alleged theft at a local estate agents plants the seeds for a global blockbuster.   Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Artwork: Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Narrative editor - Gary Marshall Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett

Moth is suffering from a rare and terminal illness: corticobasal degeneration. Life expectancy rarely extends beyond eight years. But almost two decades after his diagnosis, Moth is still defying the odds. Has he discovered the secret to a medical miracle? Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Matt Russell Sound design - Rowan Bishop Fact checking - Madeleine Parr Music supervision - Karla Patella Artwork - Observer design with acknowledgements to Angela Harding Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett