Emma is a high achieving, middle class girl from west London. She seems destined for a successful career in banking and a comfortable British life. Until she makes a decision that will come to define her. In 2001 Emma marries Bashar al-Assad - the now infamous dictator of Syria. In the early days, people inside and out of Syria dared to hope. Alongside his beautiful, progressive wife, Bashar promised to modernise the country. But when the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, Bashar'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 stands 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 atrocities her husband’s government was carrying out? And what choices did she really have? Some people allege that she actually assisted the regime and cashed in on the war, that she herself is a war criminal. Others say she tried to run away but was trapped, held hostage by a regime who threatened her life and her children. So, who is the real Emma? We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer. To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 for 50% off an annual digital subscription. You'll get access to: This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for access to this series and ad-free listening to Observer podcasts. Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer - Gary Marshall Sound design - Karla Patella Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza Bourner Executive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Documentary
Britain’s top polling expert, Professor Sir John Curtice, and former Downing Street advisor, Rachel Wolf, explore the key political, social and economic trends that help shape what voters think and what politicians do. New episodes drop every Thursday. Follow the feed today to make sure you don't miss an episode. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app for a listening experience curated by our journalists. Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content. Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more. If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3.0 (1)
News
All six episodes of Real Money are available now to listen for free. The world of cryptocurrencies is shaking. It might be just one domino-fall away from a complete crash, and that domino has a name. It’s called Tether. Tether is a crypto coin that holds up the entire cryptocurrency industry. There are over 70 billion Tethers in circulation and for every Tether that exists, a dollar should sit in a bank somewhere. But no one has seen the money it claims to have in the bank and now little-known company that specialises in financial detective work has offered a million dollar bounty to anyone who can find it. The people who might have this information are as hard to pin down as the company’s accounts. But Bafta and Emmy winning reporter Aleks Krotoski is on the hunt for the people, the proof, and, oh yes: the million dollars. The Tether story is not just about crypto. It’s about power, accountability and trust - and how far we’ll go when we want to believe that something is real. From the investigative team at Tortoise who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, this is Real Money: The Hunt for Tether's Billions. To listen and read more of Tortoise's investigative journalism, visit http://tortoisemedia.com/realmoney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Tech News
Daphne Caruana Galizia spent her career uncovering corruption at the highest levels of politics on the Mediterranean island of Malta. As an investigative journalist in this tiny, tightly-knit country her surname became redundant – she was known simply as Daphne. She stood out as a lone voice in an increasingly hostile environment. She endured arson attacks and arrests, until October 2017, when she was murdered in a car bomb attack. In this series, her son Paul Caruana Galizia, returns home to make sense of what led to his mother’s murder. But within a day of returning, events take an unexpected and momentous turn that will change the course of the murder investigation and Malta This mini-series is produced by Tortoise Studios. To learn more, go to https://www.tortoisemedia.com/audio/my-mothers-murder/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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True Crime
The Labour party came to power pledging to fix Britain’s housing crisis. It’s a big promise. And this is a problem that needs to be fixed, quickly. Jeevan Vasagar, Climate Editor, The Observer has spoken to people building homes, those experiencing homelessness and those trying to work out how to get Britain building again. Making Sense of Social Housing, produced by the Observer, together with Lloyds Banking Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Non-Profit
Each week, Tortoise editor and co-founder James Harding shares his perspective on what's driving the news, not breaking the news. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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