Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

Ganges river dolphin

The Observer

|

August 24, 2025

The dark is my delight.

- As told to Simon Barnes

In the gloom of the river I perceive the world around me as plainly as those that live in the superficial world see in the flashbulb light of the sun. Their obscurity is my clarity. In the murk I can see for miles.

Monday

Though to be accurate I actually see very little: and that would still be true if my eyes were as powerful as an eagle's. Here in the Koshi river there's nothing to see. That's if you're narrow enough to think that seeing is something to do with eyes. I don't see the world: I hear it. For me the world is a soundscape that has depth, perspective, size and relative speed. And it's all in the rebound of my echoing voice.

Tuesday

MORE STORIES FROM The Observer

The Observer

Can a biopic of the Boss be anything other than blinded by his light?

Heavens above, not another biopic. I'm still in recovery from A Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s attempted unveiling of The Mysterious Soul of Bob Dylan starring Timothy Someone-or-other.

time to read

2 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Reeves is still only getting part of the Brexit message

The financial markets, and much of the media, seem obsessed by the level of public sector debt and borrowing.

time to read

3 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

The anonymous Twitter troll account set up to discredit Virginia Giuffre

The online attacks came thick and fast, all 479 of them designed to discredit the accuser of Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew.

time to read

5 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Badenoch and Farage should stop playground politics of making rules they can't keep

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That's the golden rule I remember being taught as a child in primary school. Not a bad guiding principle.

time to read

3 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Museums are in the pink while corporate sponsors remain shy

By embracing private philanthropy, the sector has received record sums, however businesses are feeling burnt by protests, write Nicole Fan and Stephen Armstrong

time to read

3 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

'Democrat saviour' or 'commie bastard': Mamdani, would-be king of New York

The 34-year-old socialist set to become the Big Apple's first Muslim mayor may be the left's greatest hope - and biggest threat. Hugh Tomlinson joins the new star of US politics on the campaign trail

time to read

8 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

Use Russia's money

Europe has missed its chance to hit Putin's finances

time to read

2 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

Struggling 'clean food' brands dig in for long haul

Autumn, season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, wrote Keats. Not if you're in the plant-based food industry. Sales at major brands, including Oatly and Beyond Meat, are stalling.

time to read

2 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

Reeves mission: to build a European Silicon Valley centred on 'golden triangle'

Brexit is costing the UK 80bn a year in lost taxes, hitting output by up to 8% and investment by more than twice as much. The chancellor has her work cut out

time to read

5 mins

October 26, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Academics sign letter of support after ‘vile’ abuse of Israeli professor

Tom Watson, Margaret Hodge, Michael Grade, Prof Andrew Roberts and hundreds of academics are among more than 1,600 signatories of an open letter condemning a “targeted harassment campaign” against an Israeli professor at a London university.

time to read

1 mins

October 26, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size