After disastrous election results, the Prime Minister is fighting to save his political career.   Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

There are council elections in England and votes for the Welsh Senned and Scottish Parliament today. What could the results mean for Keir Starmer, Labour and for the future of politics in the UK? Where did the mysterious hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship come from, and what happens next? And has there been a coverup of Britain's nuclear weapons testing programme in Australia and the Pacific during the 1950s?   Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer's Jon Ungoed-Thomas, Poppy Bullard and Jess Hayden as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Jeevan Vasagar   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Gary Marshall   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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

A  law will make it illegal for people born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the UK   Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Casey Magloire   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett  

What do the latest revelations about Peter Mandelson's appointment tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership? What are the long term implications of Iran and the US blocking the Strait of Hormuz? And is climate change's impact on pollen the source of our hay fever problems?  Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporter James Tapper, producer and reporter Poppy Bullard and sports reporter Jessy Parker Humphreys, to decide the top story of the day.        

Keir Starmer finds himself in hot water once again over the appointment of Peter Mandelson. How much danger is he in?   

Two lawsuits allege that artificial intelligence chatbots, like ChatGPT, have encouraged people to commit harm not just to themselves, but to others.    Reporter: Patricia Clarke   Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barumé   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

On the 9th March, five members of the Iranian national women's football team were granted asylum by the Australian government, but only two of them want to accept the offer.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard and Matt Russell   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

BrewDog was once the craft beer industry's loudest voice. But last week it was sold to a US company, leaving nearly 500 people out of work.  Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Host: Ada Barumé Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

How and why is the war in Iran impacting oil prices? What do we know about the new supreme leader of Iran? And how damaging will Keir Starmer's fracturing relationship with President Donald Trump prove to be?   To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Poppy Bullard, Stephen Armstrong and Serena Cesareo.   Listen to ‘Stephen Miller's America' episode on the Slow Newscast HERE.   **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Jasper Corbett   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Casey Magloire   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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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  

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  

In a new podcast, The Observer takes a closer look at one of the Trump administration’s most divisive figures

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  

In a new podcast, Ada Barumé and Poppy Bullard investigate how close the former US ambassador truly was to the billionaire sex offender

Stephen Miller is the United States Homeland Security Advisor. But the vague sounding title belies his immense influence with Donald Trump behind the scenes. He's better understood as the architect of some of the US's most audacious recent policies - the capturing of Venezuelan President Maduro, the rollout of ICE enforcement through communities, and a threat to capture Greenland. So what can he tell us about what America will do next?   Credits:  Reporter: Stephen Armstrong Reporter/Producers: Madeleine Parr, Poppy Bullard, Jonathan Lewis Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Executive Producer: Matt Russell Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today 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.  

What does a bomb explosion in the Ukrainian city of Lviv tell us about where Russia's war in Ukraine might be going? How will the UK be affected by President Donald Trump's new 15% global tariff? And what might be behind the killing of El Mencho, the most-wanted cartel boss in Mexico?   Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer's Poppy Bullard, Elaine McCallig and Bex Sander as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news.   Please come and see us this Thursday, the 26th of February, for the next The News Meeting Live: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-8    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Jasper Corbett   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Casey Magloire   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  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

After the deadly mass shooting at a school in British Columbia last week, gun control in Canada is under scrutiny.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Amalie Sortland Producer: Jess Swinburne Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Poppy Bullard

Today on the Sensemaker podcast, Poppy Bullard asks why it won’t stop raining

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 Epstein Files are wreaking havoc across British institutions; first the Royal family and now, the government. Peter Mandelson was sacked as US Ambassador in September over his links to the billionaire paedophile, but the latest tranche of documents show the pair were closer than anyone previously knew. What did their relationship look like? And did it give Jeffrey Epstein access to the heart of the British government?   Reporters: Ada Barume and Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Sound design: Dominic Delargy   Editor: Jasper Corbett