Stories of our times

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, met Sam Bankman-Fried when his crypto exchange was rewriting the rules of global finance and was by his side when the empire imploded. Ahead of his fraud trial which starts today, this is the inside story of the crypto whizz kid at the heart of one of the 21st century's most spectacular financial collapses.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: Luke Jones.Guest: Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, Moneyball, The Blind Side and Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. Clips: CNET, CBS, CNBC, Fox, BBC, Yahoo Finance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe – and last week approved plans for its first drug consumption room to try and reduce deaths. It’s a step closer to the SNP’s goal of decriminalisation – so what can they learn from Portugal, which decriminalised drugs over twenty years ago?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- John Boothman, Political Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.- Dr João Goulão, Portugal's National Coordinator for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the Harmful Use of Alcohol.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukClips: Trainspotting/Miramax, Channel 4 News, STV News, 5 News, Sky News, UK Parliament.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From A-levels to net zero, the prime minister has new plans to bite into Labour’s poll lead. No 10 wants voters to meet the ‘real Rish’ – a decisive PM who focuses on our long-term problems. But, as Conservatives gather for their annual conference this weekend, is that enough to revive the party’s faltering popularity? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, The Guardian, BBC News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the summer of 1979, Ruth Shaw was a student in Bradford, walking alone one night when she encountered Peter Sutcliffe – the serial killer the papers had nicknamed the Yorkshire Ripper. But her encounter wasn’t recorded by police. 44 years later, this is her untold story.This podcast contains scenes of a graphic nature. Ruth’s story was first told to Michael Bilton in his book ‘Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper’ which is now being serialised on ITV on Mondays at 9pm. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Michael Bilton, author and former Sunday Times Northern Correspondent.- Ruth Shaw.Host: Josh Glancy.Clips: Andy’s Archive, ITN, BBC, Granada Television / ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We bring you the story of one Ukrainian command post as a patrol runs into chaos on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, with Anthony Loyd who returned from reporting there last week. Plus, what should we make of the state of the war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: A firefight erupts and soldiers watch on a drone feed as their comrades fall - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-firefight-erupts-and-soldiers-watch-on-a-drone-feed-as-their-comrades-fall-mv9tbnw0cUkraine draft dodgers dream up extreme ways to avoid the front - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-draft-dodgers-dream-up-extreme-ways-to-avoid-the-front-p87kdjxgj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past four years, the former Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands has been entrenched in a battle with the estate of the financier, paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Denise George reveals how she tracked down the moneymen who she says protected Epstein, and explains why she’s taking on one of America’s biggest banks.Article: Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘hell' island — and the woman who exposed its secrets: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeffrey-epstein-island-little-st-james-us-virgin-islands-7775nq58jThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Rosie Kinchen, Deputy News Review Editor and Senior Writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNBC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a diabetic drug that recently became a weight loss diet fad for the rich because of its ability to suppress hunger. Now, Wegovy, a drug similar to Ozempic, has been approved specifically for weight loss for the clinically obese in the UK. But is an injection our best bet at tackling obesity?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer, The Sunday Times. Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and Broadcaster.Host: Manveen Rana. Article: How celebrities’ favourite drug Ozempic made Denmark enormously rich: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-weight-loss-drug-ozempic-made-denmark-enormously-rich-bbv80sz06Clips: Global News Canada, CBS, E News.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the editors of The Times and The Sunday Times wrote to the justice secretary, calling for a crackdown on the misuse of libel laws by the super-rich. Together with more than 60 editors, reporters and lawyers, they called for a specific law to address Slapps – strategic lawsuits against public participation.In this bonus Saturday episode, we’re listening back to a conversation with Times Media’s editorial legal director Pia Sarma, first broadcast in January, in which she argues it's time to restore the balance between rich claimants and journalists pursuing the truth.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director, Times Media.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk Read more: 'Editors call for anti-Slapp law to protect investigative journalism' https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/editors-call-for-anti-slapp-law-to-protect-investigative-journalism-wxhjt0kfcClips: Times Radio, France 24, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high speed railway HS2 has been quietly graded ‘red’ by the government’s infrastructure watchdog, meaning successful delivery appears unachievable. The cost of the line - planned to run between London, and central and northern England - is at £71 billion so far; nearly £2,500 for every UK household. So what went wrong? Who’s got rich off this? And will it ever be finished?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Channel 4, HS2 Ltd, GB News, BBC, Parliament Live, The Guardian, Sky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend The Times and The Sunday Times – together with Channel 4's Dispatches – broke the news of allegations against Russell Brand including rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations.So what happened next? Today we catch up with The Times’ head of investigations to answer listener questions and examine the fallout from the investigation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links: Decca Aitkenhead’s interview with Russell Brand, published in 2019:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-interview-russell-brand-on-his-hedonistic-past-marriages-and-becoming-a-father-wn6gjkwzd Get in touch: If you have any information you want to share with the team behind this investigation, email investigations@news.co.uk.You can contact the Stories of Our Times team on storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Clips: Sky News, ABC News, ABC News Australia, Russell Brand on YouTube, GB News, Times Radio, BBC Radio 2, Radio X, Mindhouse Productions/BBC Two, Love Productions/Channel 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the 1970s onwards, an estimated 5,000 NHS patients were given contaminated blood products, which contained deadly diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Today, half of those infected have died. How did this happen? As her new book is published, we hear from the Sunday Times journalist who unearthed the story, and followed it for 20 years to get answers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Infected Blood Inquiry, World in Action, Lord Mayor of Treloar.Caroline's book, Death in the Blood, is available from the Times Bookshop now: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/death-in-the-blood-the-most-shocking-scandal-in-nhs-history-from-the-journalist-who-has-followed-the-story-for-over-two-decades-9781035405244Have thoughts about this podcast? Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Temu, the world’s biggest bargain bin. Since launching just five months ago, the app has been downloaded more than nine million times in the UK alone. Our correspondent has spent a day shopping on Temu, and delves into the tricks the Chinese retailer uses to ruthlessly undercut its rivals.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Sam Chambers, Chief Business Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNN, BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio 4, GB News, ITV News, YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian women are making fake profiles on dating apps, matching with Putin’s lonely troops and tricking them into revealing information that could help Ukraine win the war. In a rare interview, we speak to one of the women who is dating for victory.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times.- ‘Angelica’, Ukrainian honeytrapper.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault. Following an exclusive investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches we hear how the comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse. Journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace reveal the harrowing stories of two of Brand’s alleged victims. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you have any information you want to share, you can get in touch with the team behind this investigation by emailing investigations@news.co.uk.Guests: Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor, The Sunday Times.Charlotte Wace, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuse - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-rape-sexual-assault-abuse-allegations-investigation-v5hxdlmb6 Comic, film star, YouTube guru: Russell Brand’s many lives - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-youtube-guru-wife-girlfriends-wealth-lrv8r36pnHow The Times and The Sunday Times investigated Russell Brand - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-investigation-sunday-times-video-watch-latest-news-x33ss0kmkVideo: You can watch our investigation on The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfCzB1BOlMClips: BBC, Channel 4, Universal Pictures UK, ITV News, ITV, Endemol, Russell Brand YouTube Channel, CBS.  Helplines: Rape Crisis England & Wales offers confidential support and information to women in England and Wales who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Phone: 0808 802 9999 https://rapecrisis.org.uk/Rape Crisis Scotland provides confidential support for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres.Phone: 0808 801 03 02 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/Rape Crisis Network Ireland supports anyone in Northern Ireland affected by rape and sexual violencehttp://www.rcni.ieSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a list of young British novelists to watch was released in 1983, many of them went on to become household names, thanks to both their talent and their sex appeal. A new list comes out every ten years, but has never recreated the same success as the original – so has it become harder for novelists to break through? And has the literary world lost some of its glamour? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Robbie Millen, Literary Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC Wales, ITV News, BBC News, Blue Monday/New Order/Factory Records, Granta Magazine, Booker Prize, CBS/Late Night with David Letterman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive investigation, The Times and The Sunday Times have revealed that a Tory parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China was the director of an influential policy group on Beijing. Chris Cash says he is “completely innocent”, and that claims that he spied for China are “extravagant” and “against everything I stand for”. Now, for the first time, the Sunday Times journalist who broke the story of Cash's arrest gives her behind-the-scenes account of how the investigation unfolded – and why we're choosing to name the suspected spy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: PoliticsHome, China Research Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriel Gatehouse breaks down the Hunter Biden conspiracy theories, which all centre around his infamous laptop. What’s actually on the laptop? Why might Hunter Biden be heading to trial? And, with the House of Representatives now pursuing impeachment over all this, is the president of the United States really implicated in the mess?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Gabriel Gatehouse, independent journalist and host of the BBC series The Coming Storm.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ABC News, Fox News, Sky News, Inside Edition, CBS, One America Network, CNBC, House Oversight Committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Women’s World Cup final last month, the president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed the national team’s star player - on the lips. She said it was not consensual and it sparked condemnation around the globe. Now that Luis Rubiales has resigned, what does it all mean - not just for football, but women’s rights on and off the pitch?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Clips: BBC, TalkTV, ITV, SKY, ABC News, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, Jenni Hermoso, AFP, Reuters, Shescoresbanger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new investigation for The Sunday Times finds that unnecessary operations happen every year in private hospitals. And when that happens and patients try to get justice, they can find it impossible to get compensation. With NHS waiting lists thrusting more and more patients into the private provision, it begs the question: can we trust private hospitals?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News, 5 News, ITV, BBC.If you've been affected by subjects raised in this podcast, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 0800 689 5652. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The international premiere of Studio Ghibli’s latest film took place last night, after breaking box office records in Japan in July. The Boy and the Heron is the final film from one of cinema’s most influential animators, the reclusive genius Hayao Miyazaki. But does his retirement mark the end of the studio that inspired Disney and Pixar? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Great Ghibli! How one Japanese studio wowed the world: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/studio-ghibli-the-boy-and-the-heron-hayao-miyazaki-film-lzkxdtlzl10 best Studio Ghibli films: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/10-best-studio-ghibli-films-from-spirited-away-to-howls-moving-castle-dtrdpdsfgClips: Konbini, StudioCanal, BFI, Toho co, Ghibli Museum, 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki/NHK WORLD, GKIDS Films. Studio Ghibli clips: Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday the government published a list of over a hundred schools in England which are fully or partially shut because of safety fears over RAAC – a type of concrete that’s started to crumble. Has the government done 'a f***ing good job', as the education secretary put it? Or did it fail to heed the warnings?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Kate McCann, political editor, Times Radio.- Dr John Roberts FREng FIStructE, former president, Institution of Structural Engineers.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News, Sky News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, Parliament Live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago today, Liz Truss stood in Downing Street at the start of her premiership promising “action every day”. Over the tumultuous 49 days that followed, her time as prime minister was derailed by a series of U-turns, market shocks and a pervading sense of chaos. We go behind the scenes with Truss's biographer on the shortest ever stay in No 10.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of the readers of the Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Heale, political correspondent of The Spectator, and co-author of Out of the Blue: The Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss https://timesbookshop.co.uk/out-of-the-blue-9780008605780Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, Talk TV, BBC News, Parliament TV, Sky News, Spectator TV, Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jody Oliver deceived his wife, children and male fiancés while adopting a colourful array of identities, scamming those around him out of millions of pounds. Now that he’s in jail, his story can be told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: The seven lives of the £2m fraudster - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-seven-astonishing-lives-of-the-2m-fraudster-85mdvmxvsGuest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, one question has remained – and may always be – unanswered: why?In this episode we speak to an expert on female serial killers who outlines why we shouldn't be shocked by Letby and her crimes, and how Letby fits the profile of a female serial killer. But also – even more chillingly – how she doesn't.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Book: Just As Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/just-as-deadly/085C912B92AAD29C2B76251C56D91356Guest: Marissa A. Harrison, Professor of Psychology, Penn State Harrisburg.Host: Luke Jones.Helplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7)https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.orgChild Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign leaders’ families have been snapping up some of Britain's most expensive mansions and penthouses, but their identities were hidden from public view – until now. £250m of UK property is owned by the children of notorious autocratic rulers and their allies via offshore companies, an exclusive Times investigation has revealed. Our reporter visits some of London’s most desirable addresses and uncovers who owns what. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Al Jazeera English, Hromadske TV, DW News, BBC News, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, TRT World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vivek Ramaswamy - the rising star of the US Republican Party - wants to send troops to the Mexican border, abolish government departments and push for a deal to let Russia keep parts of Ukraine. Could the man nicknamed “Trump 2.0” beat the former president to be the party’s presidential nominee? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Jacobs, US political journalist. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Fox News, ABC, CBS, The Vivek Show, Lose Yourself/ Eminem, Shady Interscope.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has unmasked a Chinese government spy who’s targeting thousands of British professionals on LinkedIn. This person - and their team - are after military secrets and sensitive intelligence in exchange for money and business opportunities. So who are they? How do they operate? And what’s being done about it? For more on China’s influence in the UK, read Professor Steve Tsang's piece from this weekend's Sunday Times: Xi’s student spy army — and how they can be outsmarted https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/xis-student-spy-army-and-how-they-can-be-outsmarted-g3k6txc82This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Chief Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, ABC, Times Radio, CNA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite this week’s release of Prince Harry’s new series for Netflix, Heart of Invictus, this summer has been a chastening time for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their deal with Spotify was cancelled and a former executive called them “grifters”. Three years after leaving the royal family, can the couple make a success of their new lives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent, The Times. - Keiran Southern, US West Coast Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Netflix, CBS News, BBC News, THR News, NBC News, Nine Network, Spotify, The Ringer, ABC News, TalkTV, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences after a plane crash which is believed to have killed the boss of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Once close to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s relationship with the president had soured in recent months after an attempted mutiny. Is Putin to blame for the crash? And could Wagner retaliate against the Kremlin?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Aliide Naylor, Contributor, The Times, and author of The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front. https://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-shadow-in-the-east-9781788312523Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, X/@QalaatM, X/@christogrozev, Reuters, France 24, CNN, @vchkogpu, Sky News, Sky News Australia, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of the series, the woman who made an allegation against Martyn speaks out about intimidation by some of his supporters. And has Christ Church tried to hide the astronomical cost of the feud?This episode was first broadcast in November, 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martyn’s employer questions the Dean’s mental capacity as the feud shows no sign of abating. And he's in hot water over an article, published on his website, in which he references the Holocaust.This episode was first broadcast in November, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the pandemic a woman makes an allegation against Martyn that changes everything.This episode was first broadcast in October, 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: ITV, BBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years into his tenure as Dean, a student attacks a man at Christ Church. Dealing with the crisis, Martyn Percy questions how the university college is run, but has no idea the chain of events he is about to set in motion.This episdoe was first broadcast in October, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: Walt Disney Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2014 The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy walks into Christ Church as the new Dean of the Oxford college.But in this ‘Alice in Wonderland’ universe has this traditional institution met its match?In this five-part series, The Times' journalist Andrew Billen delves into the most bizarre story he's every covered.This episode was first broadcast in October, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Clips: BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – The Game football podcast.The Lionesses are now just one win away from lifting the World Cup trophy. Molly Hudson and Owen Slot share the latest from the England camp down under, as Sarina Wiegman prepares her squad for the biggest game of their careers.Lauren James is available to play after serving her two match ban – but should she come straight back into the starting line up? The team debates this huge decision with a little help from former Lioness and Times columnist, Casey Stoney.Spain are tough opponents with a lot of quality, but behind the scenes they're a team in turmoil. Molly shares tales of striking players, a coach that doesn't connect with the squad and how the team are looking to write their own history on Sunday.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Molly Hudson, football reporter, The Times.- Owen Slot, chief sports writer, The Times.Host: Tom Clarke, deputy sports editor, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 33-year-old neonatal nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder a further six, during a year-long period between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.Letby was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder.Why did she commit these unimaginably awful crimes? And what now for the hospital? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Ball, Northern Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Who is Lucy Letby? The nurse who became Britain’s most prolific child killer - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/who-is-lucy-letby-nurse-killed-family-babies-background-family-friends-education-s7njrswmcRevealed: the files that show how Lucy Letby was treated as a victim - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-files-nurse-hospital-evidence-rkxchgqh9Lucy Letby found guilty of murdering seven babies at trial - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-guilty-murder-babies-trial-sentence-verdict-bz695chqjHelplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7) https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.orgChild Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When The Crooked House pub near the West Midlands town of Dudley was consumed by fire and then demolished, much more was lost than just a quirky venue for a drink. Could the loss of yet another pub shine a light on something much bigger going on in Britain? And could it be rebuilt, brick by brick?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: - Lucy Bannerman, News Feature Writer, The Times.- Tom Rees, co-owner, The Carlton Tavern pub. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, The Guardian, 5 News, The Telegraph, Express & Star. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After inconclusive elections last month, today Spain's parliament reconvenes to try to form a government. But as Spanish politicians look to the future, questions from the recent past continue to haunt them. When it comes to the country's bloody civil war, and the repressive regime that followed it, who gets to decide how the past is remembered?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Marta Santiváñez, producer for Times Radio.- Sir Paul Preston, professor of international history at the London School of Economics.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Check out The Times' historic 1937 report on the brutal assault of Guernica here.Clips: British Movietone (AP). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, Times science editor Tom Whipple stood on what used to be a glacier, on rock that used to be below 40 metres of ice. Then, glaciologist Matthias Huss hacked out a chunk of ice to take home. By the end of this summer, that may be the last remnant left. This is the story of the glacier that no longer is – but which 15 years ago weighed a million tonnes – and a climate change milestone which is beyond dispute.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Tom Whipple’s new book is available at the Times Bookshop: The Battle of the Beams: The secret science of radar that turned the tide of the Second World Warhttps://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-battle-of-the-beams-9781787634138 Clips: BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is now Europe’s biggest consumer of cocaine. The drug has been linked to a surge in domestic violence and middle-class users are being warned it’s not a victimless crime. How is so much cocaine getting into the country? And what can the authorities do about it?You can read Dipesh's article (and see an image of charcoal soaked in cocaine) here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, BBC News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not long ago, the tiny nation of El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world. Now, it has the highest incarceration rate. President Nayib Bukele – who has described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator” – has detained 70,000 gang suspects without trial. His supporters point to the homicide rate, which is down 93 per cent. But Bukele’s critics warn that his hardline policies risk sacrificing democracy for security.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: NBC, CBS, Channel 4, Sky News Australia, ITV, Al Jazeera, CFR Education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop superstar Lizzo has said a lawsuit with claims of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment are ‘false’. Three former dancers have brought legal action against the singer, her dance captain and her production company. The allegations threaten to tarnish Lizzo’s brand, built on self-love and positivity – so can she survive the backlash? And is this a parable of modern celebrity and idol worship?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Megan Agnew, Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: TikTok/@bricksmagazine, TikTok/@shellywixted1990, Sky News, Big Boy TV, Twitter/@lizzo, Washington Post, ABC’s Good Morning America, Juice/Lizzo/Atlantic Records, British Vogue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With an election just around the corner, politicians are quitting Westminster in their droves, many of them under 40. Is the job broken – or are they just jumping before they're pushed? We meet the leavers and reluctant remainers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Charlotte Ivers, staff writer and columnist, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, ITV News, Global. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the neighbourhood of Whitby in Cheshire, residents had to grapple with a question that many more of us will have to ask in the coming years: how should we heat our homes if we’re no longer allowed gas boilers? What started as a proposal to test hydrogen heating soon escalated into an explosive argument. As government policies aimed at reaching net zero start to affect our daily lives, is it a sign of the squabbles to come?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Ben Cooke, Times Earth editor.- Kate Grannell, campaigner.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Sky News, The Economist, TED. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niger, in west Africa, has suffered its fifth coup in just over six decades of independence. This one could have repercussions far beyond its borders – not least because Africa, not the Middle East, is now the centre of global jihad. And while there is no sign of Moscow’s hand in the coup, it has been welcomed by the Wagner group and could help Putin get his claws into this uranium-rich country. So what does all this mean for the competition between world powers, not to mention our day-to-day safety?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Assheton, West Africa correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC, CNN, Euronews, DW News, Al Jazeera, France 24, US Africa Command, TV News Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Telegram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Younger people are turning away from alcohol, with Gen Z most likely to be teetotal – including Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. Millennials, too, are drinking less than their parents. What's prompted this generational shift in drinking habits? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Features Writer, The Times. Professor John Holmes, Director of the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group. Host: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times magazine. Clips: Jay Shetty, Dr Alex George, Avalon Comedy/Lee Mack. TikTok (freedietalks, energisewiththem, thelivneedham) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Sunday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – the Red Box politics podcast with Matt Chorley.Very few people have had as many political lunches as Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman. Tim joins Matt for a big lunch at Hawksmoor in Borough Market to discuss wining and dining ministers, the state of politics, and Tim's next book.If you enjoyed this episode, you can subscribe to the Red Box politics podcast for free: https://podfollow.com/the-red-box-politics-podcastThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, for the third time in only a few months, former president Donald Trump was indicted, pleading 'not guilty' to four federal charges that argue he was part of a conspiracy that sought to defraud the United States and overturn the 2020 election. So what exactly is he accused of doing?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: AP, KTLA, PBS, CNBC, NBC, The New Yorker, CBS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, it’s understood that London’s Metropolitan Police agreed a record £2million settlement after admitting that a 35-year long murder investigation was mired in corruption and incompetence. Private detective Daniel Morgan’s body was found with an axe in his head in a pub car park in 1987, but no one has ever been convicted.Articles:Met Police have spent £138m on legal battles since 2016: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/met-police-has-spent-138m-on-legal-battles-since-2016-fzjq6xfpmMet Police pays out £2m over ‘corrupt’ Daniel Morgan murder case: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/met-chief-to-admit-corruption-in-handling-of-daniel-morgan-murder-0mtqt036fThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC, Sky News, ITV News, Independent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Andrew Malkinson’s 2004 conviction for rape was quashed at the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence implicated another man in the crime. The 57-year-old spent 17 years in jail wrongly incarcerated, always protesting his innocence.How did this happen? What now for Malkinson? Can he ever be recompensed?Stories of our times made an award-nominated multi-part series on his case in 2021.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Will Roe.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Crisis England & Wales - https://rapecrisis.org.uk/NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/Criminal Cases Review Commission - https://ccrc.gov.uk/Appeal - Charity and law practice - https://appeal.org.uk/Healing Justice Project - https://healingjusticeproject.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High-calorie, ultra-processed food has taken over the British diet, accounting for 60 per cent of our calorie intake. Now, in an alarming new book, Dr Chris van Tulleken shows what non-natural foods are doing to our bodies – and argues they should be treated like cigarettes.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food... and Why Can't We Stop? https://timesbookshop.co.uk/ultra-processed-people-9781529900057Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Wagner mutiny, it’s been a difficult few weeks for Vladimir Putin. He has detained, interrogated or fired a number of his top soldiers – including generals – as infighting and discontent weakens Russia’s military. So who’s in, who’s out, and what does it mean for the war in Ukraine?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mark Galeotti, historian, journalist and author of Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: India Today, The Buzz, CNN, BBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not often that a parliamentary vote changes the fate and character of a nation. But this week Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition pushed through a vote which did just that – stripping the country’s supreme court of its powers to block government decisions. Could Israel be heading, as one former prime minister believes, for civil war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anshel Pfeffer, Times contributor in Jerusalem and author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Reuters, The Guardian, CBN News, Global News, Channel 4 News, NBC News, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past week, islands in Greece have experienced catastrophic wildfires. Over twenty thousand people have been evacuated - the largest rescue operation in the country's history. It comes amid a punishing heat wave, where temperatures are regularly soaring well over 40 degrees. So is this climate change in action? A new report has some clues.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Daphne Tolis, freelance journalist in Greece.Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, The Guardian, Daphne Tolis/UGC, Reuters, BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last few years, the UK has seen a 44 percent increase in single women seeking fertility treatment on their own. That means they need sperm - and many are looking towards Danish donors for it. So why is single motherhood - by choice - on the rise? And what is Denmark doing differently? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Rachel Sylvester, Chair of the Times Health Commission, Columnist and Interviewer, The Times.Liv Thorne, Author, Liv's Alone: Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CBS News, BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major-General Kyrylo Budanov is the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence - the 37-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become the country's youngest head of the organisation. Russia believes that he is lying in a coma in Germany following a missile strike on his headquarters but he’s actually alive and ready to take ‘direct action’ against his enemies.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, BBC, ABC, CBC, DW, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just a few seconds of your voice, a scammer can create a fake AI version of “you”, call your parents and potentially scam them out of thousands of pounds. The ruse is on the rise in the UK and uses cheap and readily available artificial intelligence. So how does it work and how can you protect yourself when just three seconds of audio is enough to create a fake you?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Katie Tarrant, news reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky / Esfand, fakeyou.com, 12News, NBC, ElevenLabs, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Hollywood’s actors joined its writers in the first industry-wide shutdown in 63 years. The West Wing’s Richard Schiff tells us his fears for new actors and how it feels to know that AI could “clone” him for future projects.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Richard Schiff, actor and director, andConstance Kampfner, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Universal Studios, Guardian News, Sky News, Associated Press, NBC, Theme Park Times, WGA West. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The giant panda has become one of China’s diplomatic tools, after a pair were gifted to President Nixon as an act of friendship in the 1970s. But with US-China relations deteriorating - what can pandas tell us about the two superpowers’ modern relationship?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The National Archives, CNN, France 24, CCTV, NBC News, Richard Nixon Foundation, Action News 5, TikTok/@care2petitions, pandavoices.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a by-election triple whammy tomorrow - and seats up for grabs include Boris Johnson's former constituency of Uxbridge. The votes were triggered after three Conservative MPs resigned - and the Tories are already saying they’re expecting to lose all three. The Times has been finding out how voters feel - and they’re not happy. So what could tomorrow’s results mean for Rishi Sunak’s and Keir Starmer’s chances at the next general election?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen RanaClips: The Times, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s one of the most anticipated movies of the year. After months of bright pink promo ‘Barbie’ - starring Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig - finally hits the big screen this week. Little girls have been playing with the doll for 64 years... but she's not without her controversies. So, is life in plastic really still fantastic? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Hadley Freeman, columnist, The Times. Host: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times magazine.  Clips: Warner Bros. Pictures, Aqua, CNN, BBC, News 12, Barbie Collectors, CBC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Councillors in Orkney have voted to explore ways that the group of Scottish islands could break away from Scotland and the UK. Proposals include becoming a crown dependency or even a self-governing territory of Norway - so how might Orxit work? And how could this debate hurt the SNP at the next election?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mike Wade, Senior Reporter Scotland, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC Radio Scotland, Reuters, DW News, WION, Orkney Islands Council, The Orkney News, STV, LBC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday evening, five days after allegations were first published, Huw Edwards was named by his wife as the BBC presenter accused of paying £35,000 to a young person for sexually explicit photographs. As further allegations emerge, the Metropolitan Police says it has found no evidence of a criminal offence and Edwards is receiving in-patient hospital care for his mental health after a “serious episode.” So how did the week unfold? And where does it leave the debate over public interest, privacy and duty of care?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Manveen Rana.Guests:Alex Farber, Media Correspondent, The Times.Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director, Times Media.Clips: Sky, Channel 4, Reuters, BBC, Andrew Gold, TalkTV, Channel 5, Sky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the Israeli army entered the Jenin refugee camp on the West Bank and carried out a two-day raid where the target - according to Israel - was the headquarters of local militants. During the incursion, journalists were not allowed into the camp. Now that the rubble is being cleared - what really happened? And has it fed the flames of the 'Jenin Brigades' - a new generation of resistance that could be the most dangerous iteration yet?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Editor, The Times.Host. Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera English. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2020, orcas have been carrying out hundreds of attacks on boats near Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal, but last month one of the animals made global headlines when it hit a yacht off the coast of Scotland. Researchers are trying to understand the behaviour - could it be that the killer whales are out for revenge on humanity?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host. Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC’s Good Morning America, PBS NewsHour, Matt Johnston via Storyful, April Boyes via Storyful, Daniel Kriz via Storyful, Reuters, BBC News, Blackfish/Magnolia Pictures, CBS News, CNN.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, men and women are working secretly, behind enemy lines. They're blowing up bridges, identifying targets for bombing raids and killing anyone caught collaborating with the enemy. So who are they? How are they recruited? And how has one man managed to infiltrate the Russian army itself?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Maxim Tucker, assistant foreign editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Ukrainian National Resistance, BBC, CNN, PBS, DW News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest and most controversial issue for the 31 member nations at the Nato summit in Lithuania tomorrow will be whether to offer fast-track membership to Ukraine. Would this be a step too far – or has the invasion by Russia made it inevitable? We speak to a former Nato secretary-general. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Lord George Robertson, Nato secretary-general, 1999-2004. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: NATO History, Woodrow Wilson Centre, AP Archive, Voice of America, PA Media, BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Reuters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists are on a mission to solve the problem of drug-resistant infections. It’s a race against time: millions of lives could be at risk when antibiotics stop working. The answer could be a century-old treatment largely abandoned since the invention of penicillin.Research in this podcast was undertaken with reference to 'The Good Virus' by Tom Ireland. For more information on his book, and on his research into phages see: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-good-viruses-can-save-us-from-our-antibiotics-timebomb-b0gk7crs9This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: ITV News, Sky News, Co-ADD, Euronews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today the third Ashes Test between England and Australia gets underway in Leeds. But while fans enjoy England’s national summer sport, last week a damning report found that racism, sexism, classism and elitism were "widespread" in the game. So how dire is the situation - and can cricket be saved?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: I’ve lost count of times I’m asked, ‘Which player is your husband? - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-ve-lost-count-of-times-i-m-asked-which-player-is-your-husband-pwp0dkntrGuests: - Elizabeth Ammon, Cricket News Reporter, The Times.- Cindy Butts, Chair of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket.Host: Josh Glancy, News Review Editor at The Sunday Times.Clips: Sky Sport Cricket, Times Radio, ITV News, BBC Sport, BBC Test Match Special, Guardian Sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week a 17 year-old was shot dead at a traffic stop in the French town of Nanterre near Paris. In response, the country erupted in rage and riots. Protesters say the killing is evidence of long-standing racism and brutality by the police. So can the relationship between France and some of its most disenfranchised citizens ever be repaired?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4, DW News, France 24, CBS, BBC, NBC, Reuters, ITV, Al Jazeera, @OHANA-FGN, La Haine / Mathieu Kassovitz / c. 1995 Les Productions Lazennec / Le Studio Canal+ / La Sept Cinéma / Kasso Inc. Productions, Sound of da Police / KRS-One / Jive, Police / NTM / Sony Music, Edith Piaf / Non Je Ne Regrette Rien, DJ Cut Killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Security measures at Wimbledon have been ramped up to stop the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil from disrupting play. Meanwhile, controversial new police powers came into effect this week in England and Wales, aimed at curbing their protest methods. The group wants the government to halt new fossil fuel licensing and production, but its tactics have faced criticism. Who exactly are they and who funds them? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, Sky Sports, BBC Radio 5 Live, Daily Mail. The Telegraph, Al Jazeera, Just Stop Oil, TalkTV, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin may have averted an armed rebellion by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin – but if the fall of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991 tells us anything, it's that even a failed coup can still spell ruin for a leader.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, Simon Marks Reporting, Perm Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second of our two-part special on the origins of Covid, drawing from a new Sunday Times investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology.The Insight team has spoken to US investigators who believe the Wuhan Institute ran a covert project of dangerous experiments – and that it was done in collaboration with the Chinese military.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.- George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4 News, CNA 3, NBC News, EWTN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first of our two-part special on the origins of Covid, drawing from a new Sunday Times investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology.Newly declassified US intelligence leaves open the question of where the pandemic really started. But fresh evidence drawn from confidential files reveals Chinese scientists spliced together deadly pathogens shortly before the pandemic.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.- George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, ABC News, PBS, CBC, Sky News Australia, NBC News, South China Morning Post, Fox News, US Institute of Medicine, US National Research Council of the National Academies, C-SPAN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belarus’ dictatorial president Alexander Lukasheko is getting ever closer to the Kremlin - this week he even brokered a truce between the Wagner group and president Putin to prevent a march on Moscow. But most Belarusians don’t want to be an arm of Russia and - outside of this small country’s borders - a group of exiled pro-democracy protesters are taking up arms and training themselves to fight back. So can they overthrow Europe's last dictator? And if they do reclaim their country, could it be pivotal to the war in Ukraine?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Jack Clover, news reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Channel 4, Vice, HBO, BBC, EuroNews, CNN, Ukraine Today, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Belarusian Security Services, ABC, NBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the Bank of England put up interest rates to 5 per cent - a move that has already meant increased mortgage payments for many. So could this lead to a crash in the housing market? What can the government do to alleviate the pain for homeowners - and is inflation here to stay?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Juliet Samuel, columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, BBC News, The Michalaks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin has survived the most serious threat to his authority in two decades of power, following an attempted armed mutiny led by the leader of the Wagner group – and his former ally – Yevgeny Prigozhin. For the time being, Prigozhin has struck a deal to defuse tensions. But what does this mean for Putin’s grip on power and for the war in Ukraine?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: Manveen Rana.  Host: Manveen RanaGuest: Maxim Tucker, assistant foreign editor, The Times. Clips: BBC News, DW News, MSNBC, Reuters, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mass migration is transforming our continent just as significantly as wars did in the past. For a book he’s written on this very issue, author and journalist Ben Judah followed the path of Hannibal and Napoleon, crossing the Alps with a group of migrants trying to enter France.This Is Europe: The Way We Live Now by Ben Judah is available now - https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ben-judah/this-is-europe/9781447276265This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Judah, writer and journalist.Host: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent at The Sunday Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex - the ship that brought some of the first post-war migrants to the UK from the Caribbean to fill labour shortages. But years later, many were deemed illegal immigrants and were detained - or deported. The government launched a process to issue them with official documents alongside a compensation scheme. So why are so many still waiting for money? And will the victims of the Windrush scandal ever get justice?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times. Janet McKay-Williams, Windrush activist.Sairah Javed, solicitor at The Joint Council for The Welfare Of Immigrants.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: London Is The Place For Me, Trinidadian Calypso In London, 1950-1956, Honest Jon's Records, 2003; ITV; Better Health Families; Channel 4; 5 News; The Guardian; BBC; CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A woman has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after using abortion pills to end her pregnancy after the legal time limit, sparking protests and calls for abortion to be decriminalised. But could law reform risk abortion rights becoming more restrictive?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hannah Al-Othman, News Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Parliament Live TV, Talk TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The launch of the LIV golf tour by Saudi divided the world of professional golf between those who joined, enjoying large payouts to promote it, and others who took a principled stand against what they said was naked sportswashing. So, after the surprise announcement of a merger between LIV Golf and the more traditional American and European tours who's in, who's out and what will it ultimately mean for the sport?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Walsh, chief sports writer, the Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, LIV Golf, CNBC, Sky Sports, Sky Sports News, TNT Sports, NBC, CBS., BBC, MSNBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful has announced he's stepping down. But why? In the world of high fashion, was his downfall the result of style over substance, rumours of diva-like behaviour or was he simply ahead of his time? And how did the rumoured power struggle between new-blood Enninful and old-guard Anna Wintour play out?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: John Arlidge, senior business writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Vogue, Conde Nast; HBO; BBC; The Devil Wears Prada, David Frankel, © 20th Century Fox 2006; NBC; CBS; Washington Post; CNN; Variety; iHeartMedia, The Breakfast Club; Wall Street Millennial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Donald Trump became the first US president to be charged with a federal crime. This came less than three months after he was indicted in New York on separate state charges. Why is this time more serious?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Joel Franco, NBC, Telegraph, Fox News, CNBC, WPTV, CNN, MSNBC, Breitbart News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ‘Ndrangheta mafia got their start kidnapping for money but now import billions of pounds worth of cocaine into Europe every year. A pan-European raid earlier this month led to the arrest of 155 people and the seizure of 23 tons of drugs. So could this finally break a crime organisation whose roots go back hundreds of years? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Kington, Italy correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ABC News, Al Jazeera, DW News, Reuters, NBC News, Euronews, AP, VIC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Murmurs are emerging from the secretive state that the force behind the dictatorship is female. Could supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, be next in line for the throne?Subscribers can read Richard's article on Kim Yo-jong on the Times website.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Reuters, Arirang News, CNA, AP, Formosa TV News, USA Today, Al Jazeera, NBC News, DW News, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The immediate events that led to Boris Johnson’s resignation as an MP last week began with a phone call from The Times. A total of three Tory MPs have now quit parliament. So with three challenging by-elections round the corner, what does it all mean for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives as the next election creeps ever closer?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Lara Spirit, Red Box reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: TalkTV, ITV News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, GB News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

33-year-old neonatal nurse Lucy Letby has been on trial since October, 2022 over the alleged murder of seven babies and attempted murder of 10 more at the Countess of Chester Hospital.She denies all the charges.Her trial is now nearing its end with the jury expected to begin their deliberations in the coming weeks.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: 'Lucy Letby denies romance with doctor': https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-denies-romance-with-doctor-after-go-commando-comment-v623lxwxtGuest: Tom Ball, Northern Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC, 5 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.In 2022 Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano, erupted on Hawaii's Big Island. Fortunately this event didn't result in any fatalities - but the same can't be said for other recent eruptions in places like Indonesia, Tonga and the Philippines. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by volcanologist and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Andrew McGonigle to learn more about the handheld technology he has developed to predict early warning signs of volcanic eruptions, enabling people living in some of the poorest countries to survive deadly disasters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s already been the subject of controversy – causing a row over access to Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages – and it hasn’t even begun. On Tuesday the main hearings for one of the biggest public inquiries in British history will finally kick off. We examine the key questions being asked at the Covid inquiry that could keep the government awake at night.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.- George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times, and co-author of Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle with Coronavirus.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, ITV News, LBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to put a stop to small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel and says that his plans to prevent the dangerous journeys are working. But are they? And as his government drums up support for the controversial Illegal Immigration Bill, is the issue a crisis or a political weapon?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Manveen Rana.Host: Matt Dathan, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Times. Clips: BBC, Sky, Channel 4, ITV, GB News, 10 Downing Street. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The housing crisis is emerging as one of the key battlegrounds ahead of the general election, especially for millennial voters. But as Labour turns up the heat announcing policy, the issue is exposing divides and flaring up accusations of NIMBYism within the Conservative party.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC Radio 4, Parliament Live TV, Times Radio, Daily Mail, Conservatives, LBC, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Sunday Times investigation has found that drivers for Deliveroo, UberEats and other takeaway apps, are selling access to their accounts to people who do not have the right to work in the UK. Many of these buyers are undocumented migrants. And since all earnings go to the account holder – not the drivers renting the account – nothing prevents these workers from being exploited. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Venetia Menzies, Digital and Data Journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Taryn Siegel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine shows no signs of coming to an end, Vladimir Putin is betting on a new generation of Russians to march in step with the regime. Russia's Youth Army now has more than a million members and – through TikTok dances and influencers – is indoctrinating children as young as six years old.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Ian Garner, author of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/z-generation-9781787389281Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Tiktok, International Film Foundation, SBS, AFP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.As the world population continues to surge, conflicts between people and wildlife over food, resources and space for living are heightening.  Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by conservationist and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Krithi Karanth to explore how she is using technology to help local communities in India mitigate animal attacks and lessen animosity between wildlife and humans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a story of covert archives and freezing wastelands, of concentration camps and gulags. In a new book, Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein reveals how his family took a journey that ended happily in Hendon – but took a detour through hell.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and author of Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad: A Family Memoir of Miraculous Survival: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/hitler-stalin-mum-and-dad-9780008483845 Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC Radio 4, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast, a taxi driver turned evangelist pastor told his followers that the “rapture” was coming. Four years and more than 200 deaths later, Kenyan police are investigating what they suspect was a death cult. What could possibly have compelled hundreds of people to abandon their homes and families to join it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: BBC News, WION, DW News, KTN News, Reuters, Global News, NTV Kenya.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the 2023 Isle of Man TT race - often dubbed the ‘most dangerous’ race in the world - begins.Six riders died last year at the motorcycle racing event. So why do the competitors keep coming back for more?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Articles - Dispatch: Inside the Isle of Man TT, the course that has killed 266 people https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/inside-the-isle-of-man-tt-the-course-that-has-killed-266-people-9nb8hdn5kGuests:- Phoebe Luckhurst, Senior Commissioning Editor at the Sunday Times Magazine.- Richard “Milky” Quayle, ex-motorbike racer and former Isle of Man TT champion. Host: Will Roe. Clips: TT Closer to the edge/Isle of Man Film & CinemaNX, Isleofmanttofficial, Obsession Engineering/Dave Hewson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s Wagner group – already dominant in the conflict in Ukraine – has become the de facto boss in the diamond-rich Central African Republic, where the mercenary force influences not just politics but the economy and culture. So how did this happen? And which country might be next in Wagner's sights?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anthony Loyd, senior foreign correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: France 24, Al Jazerra, CNN, TRT World, BBC, WION, Tourist © 2021 3xMedia and Vesta, Director: Andrey Batov. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re away for the bank holiday, so in the meantime we're bringing you a highlight from another Times podcast, Red Box, in which Matt Chorley presents the best interviews, analysis and panel discussions from his Times Radio show.For more than a decade Andrew Parsons was the official Downing Street photographer - chronicling life at No 10 with every prime minister from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak. He talks to Matt about capturing everything from David Cameron pre-emptively writing his resignation letter in 2015, to THAT lock down breaking birthday party in the Cabinet room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.The Earth’s climate has been known to change in the past, but it’s only since the industrial revolution that there have been changes to our climate which have been driven by humans. Environmental Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan joins climate scientist and National Geographic Explorer Tom Matthews to investigate how his work, mapping the planet’s most extreme climates, can help us to better understand how our climate is changing and most importantly, evaluate whether we can change the course that we’re on.Through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, Rolex supports Tom Matthews as part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Mount Everest Expedition and the Amazon Expedition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week water companies pledged to spend £10bn over the next five years to drastically reduce the number of sewage spills going into the country’s waterways and seas. Over 30 years on since privatisation have our beaches and rivers got cleaner?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News Al Jazeera Times Radio, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It took less than an hour on the Telegram messaging app for an undercover Times reporter to infiltrate a network of fraudsters based in the UK. They openly traded bank details for thousands of victims – and boasted that the police would do nothing to stop them. We hear how the gang were exposed and speak to one of their targets.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft has found itself in a bitter war of words with both its gaming rival Sony and the UK authorities, over a multi-billion dollar takeover bid of games developer Activision Blizzard. So what is the future of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty franchise on Xbox or Playstation? And after the UK’s competition watchdog blocked the deal, what does it say for Britain’s post-Brexit business strategy? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: CBS News, BBC Radio 5 Live, CNBC, Windows XP/Microsoft, ChatGPT/OpenAI, Xbox Series X/Microsoft, YouTube/@SpawnWave, BBC Newsnight.Video game clips: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2/ Infinity Ward/Activision, World of Warcraft/Blizzard, Spyro Reignited Trilogy/Toys For Bob/Activision, Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy/Vicarious Visions/Activision, Candy Crush Saga/King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a new report from the Children’s Commissioner points to the impact of violent pornography on British children, are the waters around consensual sex being muddied? And should there be greater regulation of the porn industry?This episode contains discussions about sex and some explicit descriptions of violent porn.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Articles: I’m watching what the kids are watching: porn. It’s disturbing - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-m-watching-what-the-kids-are-watching-porn-most-of-it-is-disturbing-pqb99zbnqSex lessons for boys: what young men need to be taught - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sex-lessons-for-boys-what-young-men-need-to-be-taught-pltqpxfbdGuest: Helen Rumbelow, Features Writer, The Times.Host: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia's deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, was sanctioned by the EU last October. Forty days before that happened, his wife, the socialite Svetlana Maniovich, divorced him. The Anti-Corruption Foundation, a Russian non-profit organisation, received a trove of emails that seem to suggest this 'pre-emptive' divorce might have been an evasion strategy. So what was really going on?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Maria Pevchikh, investigator for the Anti-Corruption Foundation.- Tom Keatinge, Director for the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at RUSI.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNN, ABC News, European Council. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.With estimates suggesting that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of micro and macro plastics in our seas and continued reports stating that a truckload of plastic enters our oceans every minute, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the life cycle of plastic products once they are thrown in the bin. Environmental Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by scientist, tech entrepreneur and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Miranda Wang to learn how her innovative upcycling technology is paving the way for plastic to have a second, third… maybe even evergreen life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hinduja family leads the Sunday Times Rich List again, having topped it four times before. But who is the man at the head of the family and how have they achieved such wealth? And aside from the Hindujas, who’s up, who’s down and what does the rich list tell about the way the UK is changing?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: John Arlidge, co-writer, The Sunday Times Rich List.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The Sunday Times, BBC, CBS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whilst the government's controversial illegal migration bill moves through parliament, an untraceable and ancient banking system is being used to finance people smuggling across Europe and the Channel. So how does it work? And should the authorities crack down on 'hawala'?Additional reporting by Priyanka Shankar, Andrea Giambartolemei, Andres Mourenza, Elena Ledda and Iliana Papangeli. This investigation is supported by a grant from the IJ4EU fund and by Journalismfund.eu. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Emma Yeomans, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: 10 Downing Street, Parliament Live, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a difficult fortnight for Vladimir Putin. Russia has been losing ground in the key city of Bakhmut, the man in charge of the Wagner group of mercenaries seems to be publicly criticising him in expletive-strewn videos, and now there are even suggestions of betrayal…This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mark Galeotti, author of Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Reuters, CNN, MSNBC, Times Radio, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last decade, ketamine has become one of the most popular drugs among students. Part of its appeal seems to be a false reputation for being comparatively safe. But the Times has uncovered never-before-seen data that paints a very dark picture of the dangers of ketamine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Wigan council, Sky News.If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, there are resources to help:FRANK provides a confidential service to anyone wanting information, advice or support about any aspect of drugs.Phone: 0300 123 6600 Online chat facility (2-6pm weekdays)Visit the Talk to Frank siteDrug Addicts AnonymousPhone: 0300 030 3000 Visit the Drug Addicts Anonymous website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India will soon surpass China as the most populous country in the world. As China’s population slumps, could India’s population rise spell a new chapter in the country’s economic growth, and could it help make it a global superpower? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Amrit Dhillon, freelance journalist. Host: Manveen Rana Clips: First Post, ANI, BBC, CNA, AP Archive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.Medical inequity jeopardises the safety of everyone and contributes to growing inequalities in and between countries. Take vaccinations for example, we know how important they are for ensuring a longer and healthier life, yet during the Covid-19 pandemic statistics have shown that of the more than 10 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine distributed worldwide, only one percent have been administered in low-income countries.Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan talks with biomedical engineer and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Mark Kendall to investigate how his medical innovations are revolutionising modern medicine and allowing for more accessible health care worldwide- from vaccinations in the form of a patch, to micro-wearables that can show early warning signs of a heart attack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is holding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine which won last year but can’t fulfil its hosting duties because of the war. So what can we expect? What role is Eurovision playing in the war effort? And why have cyber security experts been drafted in?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Tom Ball, northern correspondent, The Times. Tina Karol, Ukrainian celebrity, singer and philanthropist.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Eurovision Song Contest; BBC; SKY; Crossroads news; Tyler Rumple; Channel 4; Mojo; Russia Today; Vice; WiWibloggs; Kyivstar; European Broadcasting Union; Eurovision Network; Charity Concerts for Ukraine; Voice of Peace; Kyivstar TV / The Voice Ukraine / Namalyuyu tobi zori / Dimash Daulyetov.Music clips:Show Me Your Love / Mikhail Nekrasov, Tina Karol, Pavlo Shylko / Lavina Music.Hard Rock Hallelujah / Miss Awa, Mr. Amen, Mr. Kalma, Mr Kita, Mr Lordi / Sony BMG Music Entertainment.Oi u luzi chervona kalyna / Andriy Khlivnyuk / Volodymyr Antonovych, Mykhailo Drahomanov.Waterloo / ABBA / Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson / Polar / Epic / Polydor / Atlantic.Ukrainian national anthem (State Anthem Of Ukraine) / Ukrainian opera singers / Mykhailo Verbytsky, Pavlo Chubynsky.Baila El Chiki Chiki / Rodolfo Chikilicuatre and friends / ARD Entertainment.Stefania / Kalush Orchestra / Ihor Didenchuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, Ivan Klymenko / Sony.Heart of Steel / TVORCHI / Jimoh Augustus Kehinde, Andrii Hutsuliak / Independent. Refrain / Lys Assia / Géo Voumard, Émile Gardaz / Decca. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As polling suggests the public are losing faith in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian rule, what does this weekend’s election mean for Turkey - and the wider world? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Articles: Profile - Is President Erdogan about to lose his 20-year grip on power? - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-president-erdogan-about-to-lose-his-20-year-grip-on-power-333lvtnsl The Turkish election is on a knife edge. Is Erdogan’s time up? - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-turkish-election-is-on-a-knife-edge-is-erdogans-time-up-dlwznwwjwGuest: Beril Eski, freelance journalist.Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Clips: Euronews, France 24, Al Jazeera, CNN, CNBC, Sky News BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A British man was recruited by MI5 and MI6 to infiltrate al-Qaeda training camps – but then brought the horror back home.This episode contains descriptions of strong violence and might not be suitable for all listeners.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s part thriller, part farce, starring a glamorous Greek MEP, an Italian toyboy and bundles of euros stuffed in suitcases and hidden under beds. So did Qatar buy its way into the European parliament? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: France 24, DW News, Euronews, BBC News, European Parliament, VOA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're away for the bank holiday, but in the meantime we thought we'd introduce you to one of the newer hit podcasts from the Times stable: Off Air, hosted by Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. Every afternoon from Monday to Thursday, Jane and Fi bring you a fresh look at the news and lively conversation with fascinating people. In this episode from last week, they speak to the author of a new book about how Britain prepared for nuclear armageddon at home during the Cold War. As Julie McDowall reveals in this frightening but also rather funny book, the British, when contemplating devastation, took refuge in pointless planning. Hosts: Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. Guest: Julie McDowall, author of Attack Warning Red!: How Britain Prepared for Nuclear War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.The balance between wilderness areas and the species that depend on them are fragile and are being threatened. Environmental Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan joins conservationist and National Geographic Explorer Steve Boyes in Zimbabwe to investigate why Africa’s greatest water sources - the rivers that run through the heart of the continent - are crucial to a prosperous future environment in Africa and beyond. Through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, Rolex supports the Great Spine of Africa expeditions that traverse and document thousands of kilometres of rivers never scientifically documented before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, Charles will be crowned King at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony marked with hundreds of years of tradition. Just how will the coronation represent our more modern country, and what might we expect from his reign? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Valentine Low, writer, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, BBC News, Sky News, CBS News, CBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide. On Tuesday night, police in Canada announced the arrest and charge of a 57-year-old man on two counts of aiding or counselling suicide.In this update to our three-part series, Poison, we learn more about the alleged extent of his activities. If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia since the war began. But why? Where are the children being sent? And who’s trying to find them and bring them home?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Christina Lamb, chief foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: SKY, CNN, BBC, International Criminal Court, UATV English, DW News, Ambient City, nathanolson, The infographics show, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, MSNBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What began as a Sunday Times investigation into Boris Johnson’s finances soon snowballed into a months-long scandal, which led to the resignation of the BBC chairman on Friday. With top civil servant Simon Case now facing calls to quit, could more resignations follow? And will we ever find out who offered to loan Johnson £800,000?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times.- Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With President Biden finally declaring last week that he's running for re-election, and Donald Trump still the leader of the Republican Party, America is finding itself in a state of déjà vu.... It's the rematch contest that nobody seems to want. So why is it happening? And could Biden win a second round?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Alistair Dawber, Washington Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Global News, Fox News, NBC News, NBC Today, JoeBiden.com, Marianne Williamson, Telegraph, MSNBC, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re away for the bank holiday, but in the meantime we thought we'd introduce you to another fascinating podcast from the Times stable.The Sunday Times' West Coast correspondent, Danny Fortson, presents Danny in the Valley – conversations with the people trying to change the world through technology, and make loads of money doing it. This week: how AI could completely change medicine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Danny Fortson, West Coast correspondent, The Sunday Times.Guest: Vijay Pande, head of Andreessen Horowitz’s $1.5bn bio fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide. Why does suicide occur? Why is there still a stigma around it? And how can we work to prevent people from taking their own lives? If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Professor Rory O'Connor, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow. Author of 'When It Is Darkest: Why People Die by Suicide and What We Can Do to Prevent It' - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442218/when-it-is-darkest-by-professor-rory-oconnor/9781785043437#Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times. james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide. In the final episode of Poison, James goes to Canada to track down Kenneth Law and confront him over his operation.    If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times. james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide. In the second of this three-part series we learn of a man called Kenneth Law who’s based in Canada. Law appears to be selling a substance to young, vulnerable, adults in the UK, some of whom are using it to take their own lives. If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times. james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this episode contains discussions about suicide. In October, 2021 David Parfett’s 22-year-old son, Tom, took his own life. In the first of a three-part podcast we hear from David about the events that led up to the university student’s death.If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The Times.james.beal@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning, this series contains discussions about suicide. A new three-part investigation begins on Stories of our times this Wednesday, 26 April.James Beal, Social Affairs Editor at The Times looks into the suicide of a 22-year-old British student and soon links it to a man in Canada selling a lethal substance.How many more deaths could the man be connected to? What is being done to regulate this? And can he be stopped?  If you or someone you know has been affected by suicide or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next week millions of voters will go to the polls as more than 8,000 council seats in England are contested in the local elections – the most significant gauge of public opinion before Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at a general election. And behind the scenes, politicians and pollsters are desperately trying to figure out exactly who they need to win over, and how they can do it without losing their core supporters.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Lara Spirit, Red Box reporter, The Times.- Peter Kellner, former president of YouGov.Links:- Find out whether there are elections in your area: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information- New photo ID requirements to vote: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-idClips: Sky News, GB News, The New Statesman, LBC, BBC News, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, he has brought about sweeping changes – but how successful have they been? And what impact has his purchase of the social media platform had on his many other businesses?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: BBC News, CBS News, Space X, NBC News, NBC, Fox News, Channel 4 News, Yahoo! Finance, Neuralink, MIT. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the seventh day of violence in Sudan. Hundreds are reported dead and while civilians flee the capital, two generals - one a former warlord - are fighting for control of the country. So who are these men? And what does a hoard of gold and Putin’s private army have to do with the conflict?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Dallia Abdelmoniem, baker and Sudanese political commentator; Dr Samuel Ramani, politics and international relations tutor, university of Oxford and author of Russia in Africa.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, France 24, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, Sky, Global news, African Biographies, CNN, Democracy Now, MiddleEastEye, CBC News, CNA, WION, NTVUganda, EWTN, Reuters, Africa News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years since their country signed up to join the EU, people from Poland are returning home in the thousands. But why are so many leaving? What does it mean for the UK? And could Brits looking for a better life soon follow them too?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: 5 News, The Independent, DW News, Financial Times, Sky News, AP Archive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US government is scrambling to assess the damage from a mass leak of defence documents seen as the most harmful intelligence disaster for a decade. We trace how the documents spread from a small chat room to global attention, and examine the key information from the leaks. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.- Michael Evans, specialist defence writer for The Times, and former defence editor and Pentagon correspondent.Clips: BBC News, CNN, NBC, CBS, Washington Post, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China says its army should increase its preparedness for “real combat” after recent military drills around the island of Taiwan. What’s led to this latest round of posturing and how is Taiwan responding to the prospect of a potential invasion?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: AP, CBS, CNA, Channel 4 News, Reuters, CNN, DW News, CGTN, Shanghai Eye, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent months pressure on TikTok has escalated over fears about how the app and its Chinese parent company ByteDance handle users’ data. The US has threatened to ban the app and two weeks ago the company was fined over £12m for misusing children’s data in the UK. So is the app a national security concern? And is time running out for TikTok?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Chris Stokel-Walker, journalist, Times contributor and author of TikTok Boom: China's Dynamite App and the Superpower Race for Social Media.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, Parliament TV, 7News Australia, BBC News, C-SPAN, AFP, TikTok, NBC News, TikTok/@bellapoarch, Old Town Road/Lil Nas X/Columbia Records, Blinding Lights/The Weeknd/XO/Republic Records, TikTok/@kazzledazzlesteponme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Donald Trump became the first US president -- past or present -- to be charged with a crime. But is this historic indictment turning off voters, or drawing them in?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Hugh Tomlinson, Washington Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Josh Glancy.Clips: ABC News, Fox News, Guardian News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wall Street Journal reporter has been charged by Russia with spying on behalf of the US government and Gershkovich’s detention has been described by the Society of Editors as “deeply concerning”. Meanwhile, the US Government has declared that he has been wrongfully detained. What will be the impact of his arrest?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest:Emma Tucker, editor in chief, The Wall Street Journal. Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: WSJ, BBC, Channel 4, PBS, CNN, NBC. Write a message to Evan Gershkovich and his family: https://www.wsj.com/articles/show-your-support-for-evan-gershkovich-73b77140?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Known in his lifetime as the ‘Picasso of the North’, Norval Morrisseau was one of Canada’s most revered indigenous artists. But now, police have charged eight people who they believe produced more than a thousand fake artworks under the artist's name, making millions of Canadian dollars and perhaps making history in the world's biggest case of suspected art fraud.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.- Jamie Kastner, producer and director of There Are No Fakes. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Ontario Provincial Police, CBC News, There Are No Fakes (2019), Stardreamer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven months ago, three men - two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut - arrived on the International Space Station. But shortly after, a meteoroid hit the ISS and their ride home was damaged. So with no way back to earth and tensions between Russian and America ramping up, will all three make it home?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Jacqui Goddard, US Correspondent, The Times.Host: Sean O'Neill, Senior Writer, The Times.Clips: NASA, CBS, Global News, BBC, no1 FACTS News, Astro Alexandra, ABC, WFAA, Space Centre Houston, Newsy World, Ariel View, ABC News, Raw Story TV, ALPHA TECH, Oleg Artemiiev, BBC, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This bank holiday weekend, we're taking a step back from the news to bring you an update on a story we covered earlier in the year.One of Britain's most important paintings of a non-white subject has now been saved for the nation following a public campaign to raise £50 million to buy it from its private owner. This is the story of the Portrait of Omai. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Bendor Grosvenor, British art historian.  Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: Oxford University Press, TRT.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They were supposed to be the ‘ceasefire babies’ – a new generation that grew up in peace – but young people south of the border seem to be forgetting the conflict. We hear about new research from The Sunday Times, and speak to a friend of the young journalist Lyra McKee, whose shooting on the streets of Derry in 2019 was a reminder not to take peace for granted.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Alison Millar, documentary director. - Rachel Lavin, senior data and digital graphics journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, RTE, DW News, Sinn Fein, AP, Erica Starling productions, 5News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An exclusive undercover Times investigation has found that a Tory MP was prepared to lobby ministers and leak confidential policy documents on behalf of gambling industry investors in return for payment, despite rules banning MPs from doing so.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Billy Kenber, Senior Investigations Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Led By Donkeys, Parliament TV, Channel 4, Sky News, @BetGameCouncil/Twitter, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that Jeremy Corbyn would not be allowed to run as a Labour MP at the next general election. But Corbyn has resolved after months of deliberation to run against the Labour Party. Could Starmer's stance on the Labour left backfire?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Articles: Read Caroline Wheeler’s exclusive interview with Sir Keir Starmer:  ‘Keir Starmer: Trans rights can’t override women’s rights’: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/keir-starmer-trans-rights-cant-override-womens-rights-m70dw55dpRead Patrick Maguire on ‘Jeremy Corbyn could start a new party. Does he have the friends or funds?’: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeremy-corbyn-could-start-a-new-party-does-he-have-the-friends-or-funds-zk7m0b7jsGuest: Patrick Maguire, Red Box Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Times Radio, Sky News, TalkTV, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets over the past three months to demonstrate against a judicial overhaul planned by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. We look at what the protests tell us about the current state of politics in Israel, and whether this could spell the end of Netanyahu’s political career. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Anshel Pfeffer, Times contributor and author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu. Host: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Clips: CBS, BBC, CNN, Reuters, France24, AFP, Al Jazeera, TalkTV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just after her 14th birthday, Hadley Freeman became achingly aware of her body – specifically, just how ‘normal’ it was compared to a thin classmate. Just four months later, she was hospitalised with anorexia. Her latest book, Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia, tells the story of her many hospitalisations as a teenager, and her recovery.If you've been affected by issues in this podcast, you can find support at www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk where you can also find the number for one of their national helplines.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hadley Freeman, Columnist and Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clip: Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The driving force behind protests against President Macron’s pension plans are young people defending their inheritance: retirement at 62. But for many, it’s also about something much bigger than pensions.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Sean O’Neill.Clips: Dr Patrick Preston, AP, BFMTV, Global News, BBC News, France 24. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Hollywood’s not-so-secret weapon for getting rid of wrinkles, but as the ‘pretty poison’ turns 21, Sarah Ditum asks: Should I or shouldn’t I?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sarah Ditum, writer for The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ITV, TMZ, ABC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s Metropolitan Police has accepted findings from a landmark report that found racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour inside the UK’s largest police force. Baroness Louise Casey, who led the review, has been speaking with The Times about how she investigated New Scotland Yard. But does she think the Met Police can be fixed?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, Sky News, 5 News, Metropolitan Police, The Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a regional bank in California collapsed, it sent shock waves through the financial system. A few weeks later, and we're still feeling the ripples of Silicon Valley Bank's demise. It's triggered a sense of déjà vu – only 15 years on from the global financial crisis that was brought on by banking mismanagement. Have we learned any lessons from the 2008 crisis? And is it finally time for a banking rethink?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, Sky News, NBC News, Al Jazeera, Fox News, CNBC, WION, BBC News, Channel 4 News, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though gender equality has come a long way at work, when it comes to parenting the mother is still viewed as the primary caregiver. But does it have to be this way? Paul Morgan-Bentley talks about his new book The Equal Parent in which he draws on his own experience as a father, and asks what can be done to share the load.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week police said a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder of Corey Junior Davis.The 14-year-old was shot dead in broad daylight on 4th September, 2017, in Newham, East London. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: John Simpson, former Crime Correspondent, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After swearing an oath on the King James Bible, Boris Johnson spent nearly three and a half hours being quizzed by fellow MPs on the privileges committee about gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown. The same afternoon, only 22 Tories followed him through the lobbies, defying a three-line whip to vote against the government’s Brexit deal. So is his appeal – and his argument – fading away? And where does it all leave the Conservatives?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Parliament TV, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s three years since the then prime minister Boris Johnson announced the first national lockdown in an attempt to halt the spread of covid. So, as we move on from the last pandemic, what might cause the next one? And have we learned enough this time round to stop it before it gets out of hand?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Sean O'Neill. Clips: BBC News, Al Jazeera, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years on, the invasion of Iraq is widely seen as a fiasco. But still today the conflict has ongoing consequences for Iraq and Iraqis. Times correspondent Catherine Philp is back in Baghdad to meet people and hear how they were affected then - and now.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Dr Saad Eskander, historian and director of the Iraq National Library and Archives.Bader Katr, translator.Iraqi family in Sadr city.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, CBS, AP, Al Jazeera, Journeyman Pictures, CNN, The Washington Post. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Sturgeon’s surprise resignation last month triggered the first election for the leadership of the Scottish National Party in a decade. So, what are the priorities of the three candidates? And - with a row over membership numbers leading the party’s chief executive to resign after giving misleading figures to the press - what impact will the leadership election have on the party?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: STV, ITV, Sky News, Channel 4, The Scottish Sun.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 2003, Britain, the US and others invaded the cradle of civilisation, promising to end the perceived threat from Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. But where did the evidence come from and how did it lead us to war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Michael Evans, Defence Writer, The Times.Robert E Kelly, nuclear engineer and weapons inspector.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: AP, BBC, Al Jazeera, 60 Minutes, Parliament Live, UK Parliament, BBC, CBS C-SPAN, WSJ, Tim Collins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Friday episode comes courtesy of our sister podcast: Off Air ... with Jane and Fi, who are joined by historian Dan Snow to talk about his latest documentary on the Black Death.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Assistant Producer: Kea Browning.Times Radio Producer: Rosie Cutler.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the Iranian morality police for allegedly dressing inappropriately, sparking protests across the country and beyond. But six months on, there are two opposing narratives of what happened to the 22-year-old: the official account and what her family says. Our correspondent has been investigating to provide the most comprehensive account yet of her final days.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: BBC News, France 24, CNN Espanol, Al Jazeera, Times Radio, Channel 4 News, Euronews, Sky News Australia, Middle East Matters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHS has had a tough few years: Covid, huge winter demand and now strikes have disrupted services. But even on an average day, the pressure in one of the country's biggest hospitals is palpable.A few weeks ago Stories of Our Times visited Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for a rare glimpse inside the NHS, and to see the pioneering solutions that could ease the situation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Rachel Sylvester, Times columnist and chairwoman of the Times Health Commission.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC Radio 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow the chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand up in the House of Commons to deliver his first full budget. With the UK economy at its most stagnant point in two years, is there anything Hunt can do to ease the pain?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: Sky News, Bloomberg, ITV, Telegraph, BBC, Al Jazeera, CBS, NBC, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They are supposed to help adults quit smoking – so why is a Willy Wonka array of disposable vapes being mass marketed to children? The Chartered Trading Standards Institute wants tougher penalties for those selling to under-18s. Just how did vaping get so big in Britain?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A small pro-Russian political party is leading anti-government protests in the former Soviet state amid warnings from Ukraine and Moldovan security services that Russia is plotting to overthrow the country’s pro-EU government. Could this be part of Vladimir Putin’s grand plan? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, WION, Telesur.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race for the Republican nominee for the 2024 US presidential race is already underway – with former White House resident Donald Trump throwing his hat in the ring a full two years ahead of time. One man who seems poised to be Trump's biggest threat is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. So who is Ron DeSantis? And could he really beat Trump to the nomination? Our man in Washington, David Charter, sat down with him for an interview.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Fox News, CNN, CBS News, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, one woman is determined that the world doesn't lose interest. To mark International Women's Day we meet Lesia Vasylenko, the Ukrainian MP who travels the globe drumming up military support for Ukraine, using every media platform available to fight Putin.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Lesia Vasylenko, Ukrainian MP.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Radio Free Europe, Hromadske, CNN, CBS, India Ahead, Sky Australia, News Nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost six years after a suicide bomber killed 22 and injured hundreds more at the Manchester Arena, the inquiry into the attack has published its final report. Did the security services have the intelligence that could have prevented it from happening?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.  Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Manchester Arena Inquiry, Reuters, BBC News, Times Radio, AP.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25-year-old Rishi Sharma sleeps in a rental car and eats one meal a day. But it’s worth it, he says – as he travels around the world to interview every surviving Second World War veteran. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times. Rishi Sharma. You can watch Rishi’s interviews on his YouTube channel, ‘Remember WWII with Rishi Sharma’: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRikw4uCjS8ck3O9Mj-N35Q Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: YouTube, CBS, Participant.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Aaronovitch has left The Times after nearly 18 years at the paper, and after three years on Stories of Our Times. As well as presenting this podcast, every week David discussed the news with friend and fellow columnist Danny Finkelstein on Matt Chorley's Times Radio show. On Tuesday, Matt and Danny said goodbye to David with an hour-long special in which they discuss the Brexit deal, trust in politicians, and listener questions for the 'Cerberus of Columnists'.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the strictly isolated Hasidic community of North London, thousands of boys reach the age of 16 without being able to read or speak much English. The education for boys in the community includes only minimal secular teaching at most places of learning. Many schools are unregistered, and in some cases, as a Times investigation finds, are not even supposed to exist. And - in a rare glimpse into this hidden world - we speak with the head teacher of a registered Hasidic school, who explains that any discussion around improving the institutions must start with one basic question: what do these schools do right?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Andrew Norfolk, Chief Investigative Reporter, The TimesEli Spitzer, head teacher at a Hasidic schoolHost: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Britain's most important paintings of a non-white subject could leave the UK forever next week as the deadline approaches to submit an offer to buy the Portrait of Omai from its private owner. It's valued at £50 million. So what's the painting's story - and can a museum raise that much money in time?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Bendor Grosvenor, British art historian.  Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: Oxford University Press, TRT  Find out more about the public campaign by The National Portrait Gallery and the Art Fund here: https://www.artfund.org/get-involved/campaigns/omai-portrait-appeal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday the prime minister revealed his big Brexit deal with the European Union, which aims to avoid a hard border across the island of Ireland and in the Irish Sea, as well as preserve sovereignty for people in Northern Ireland. But will it be enough to bring the DUP back to Stormont? And what exactly is the Stormont brake? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC Radio 4, BBC Newsnight, GB News, UK Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the first day of the war in Ukraine, a story emerged of a David and Goliath face-off in the Black Sea, when the Ukrainian soldiers on a small, desolate island responded to a Russian warship’s call to surrender by telling it to go f*** itself. The Ukranians were thought to have been killed and the story became one of the great founding myths of the war - but what really happened to the men on the island and who uttered that fateful phrase?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Louise Callaghan, foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Telegraph, Reuters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the final round of voting opens for the 95th Academy Awards – and the Oscars are embroiled in a row about diversity again. The latest controversy centres around a shock nomination for best actress, raising questions about the fairness of the system. Just how significant are race, power and celebrity friends in the campaign to win an Oscar?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: ITV, ABC, Good Morning America, BBC, NBC, Nine Network.Film credits: Gladiator - Dreamworks Pictures/Universal Pictures; Till - MGM Studios/Orion Pictures; The Woman King - Sony Pictures/Entertainment One; To Leslie - Momentum Pictures; Shakespeare In Love - Miramax Films/Universal Pictures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the days before he invaded Ukraine, President Putin used a televised address to attack the country’s sense of nationhood and deny its right to exist. A year on from the outbreak of war, ordinary Ukrainians are still using small acts of cultural resistance to re-enforce the Ukrainian identity. But what does the complete removal of Russian influence mean for the country's future? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Catherine Philp, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4, Sky News, BBC News, Andriy Khlyvnyuk, Office of the President of Ukraine, NBC News, Times Radio, The Kremlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kidnap, rape, riots and murder have become a part of everyday life in Haiti. Still reeling from successive natural disasters, a cholera epidemic and starvation, the people of the Caribbean nation are witnessing civil society collapse as dangerous gangs fight for dominance.The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 opened up a political vacuum and today sixty per cent of the capital Port Au Prince is under gang control. Is there any hope for Haiti or is it already a failed state?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.GuestsMario Delatour, Documentary filmmaker.Stephen Gibbs, Latin America Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, PBS, CBS, NBC, France 24, ABC, Voice of America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have entered what many experts are now describing as a golden age of AI. If machines could be our surgeons, our judges and our artists, what would it then mean to be human? Meet the philosophers trying to save humanity from the matrix.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Parliament Live TV, Global News, TED, McKinsey & Company, Open AI, Greylock, Oxford University, Lex Fridman podcast, Plenilune Pictures, DeepMind, Google, SciNews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a six-month trial, the results of the world’s biggest four-day working week pilot have been published. It found there was no hit to productivity, while staff wellbeing was improved. But could a shorter working week really work across the whole economy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Joe Ryle, Director of the Four Day Week Campaign. - Carly Goodman-Smith, Operations Director, Tyler Grange. Host: Luke Jones. Clip: ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race is now on to find a replacement for Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned as first minister of Scotland last week. A formidable force in Scottish politics, we trace the triumphs and controversies of her eight years in power, and look ahead to what’s next for the SNP, the independence movement and UK politics.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Channel 4 News, Edinburgh International Book Festival, BBC News, STV News, Sky News, The National, TalkTV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lancashire Police is facing a backlash this week for sharing personal details about missing mum Nicola Bulley to the general public. The case has received huge public interest since the 45-year-old went missing three weeks ago today. Online sleuths who have cast doubt on the police effort – determined to crack the case themselves – have been a growing distraction. Who are the TikTok detectives sharing theories online, and are they motivated by anything bigger than clicks and followers?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Darryl Morris, Times Radio presenter.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: TikTok, Sky News, GB News, 5 News, BBC News, Telegraph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children conceived through rape will be recognised as victims of crime under new government plans. England and Wales will be among the first countries in the world to make this change to the law, ensuring that children in this situation are entitled to support from criminal justice agencies such as the police and courts. We speak to the campaigner at the centre of this landmark legal change. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: The campaigner, Daisy, who has just helped change the law for children born from rape.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News, Sky News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Nord Stream pipelines - that pump gas from Russia to Germany - were damaged in September it didn’t take long for investigators to determine they had been sabotaged. Almost six months on, and despite three different investigations, are we any closer to knowing who carried out the attack and why?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Marc Bennetts, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, DW News, Reuters, Sky News, Euronews, C-Span, The Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 30 years on the run, Italy's most-wanted mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, was finally caught in January. A prolific murderer, Denaro once boasted he’d ‘filled a cemetery’. His organisation inspired Hollywood films, but who was Italy's last godfather and how was he finally found? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: La Repubblica, SKY, NBC, Channel 4, CBS, BBC, The Guardian, MOBFAX, Mob News, France 24, Speak Softly Love (Rota Nino), Scarface (Brian De Palma / Universal Pictures). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turmoil has once again surged in the Middle East. With at least 40 Palestinian deaths and nine Israeli deaths, it's the deadliest start to a year since 2008. For children growing up in a world of endless conflict, what kind of future awaits them?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Reuters, PBS Newshour, France 24, Global News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tens of thousands of people have died in Turkey and Syria after two earthquakes on Monday, but time has almost run out to find survivors. In Turkey, criticism is growing over the speed of rescue efforts and earthquake preparedness. Whilst complications in war-torn Syria have hampered humanitarian assistance. But was it possible to prevent the scale of the disaster?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.An appeal has been launched by The Disasters Emergency Committee, made up of 15 UK charities. To donate go to: https://donation.dec.org.uk/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal Guests: Sara Tor, Columnist, The Times.Gabriel Gavin, Istanbul-based journalist.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ABC News, Times Radio, Reuters, White Helmets, Channel 4 News, Sky News, France 24, Global News, BBC News, URFA TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Times journalist went undercover to show that British Gas obtained court warrants to break into customers’ homes to force fit prepayment meters. The investigation led to immediate responses from the company, the regulator and from government. So how did the investigation unfold?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, BBC, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2021, New Zealand announced it would become the first country in the world to outlaw cigarettes for the younger generation, by raising the age of sale year-on-year. How has the country adapted to these radical changes - and could the UK follow suit?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Bridie Witton, political reporter at Stuff.co.nzRobert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies at University College London. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Bluelotusfilms, Stuff.co.nz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When two actors decided to buy non-league football club Wrexham AFC, they brought the cameras with them to document every moment. With the Hollywood lights came a large injection of cash and mass media interest, but what has it meant for the club, the community - and for football more widely?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Gregor Robertson, former professional footballer and columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Welcome to Wrexham/FX, Sky News, Wrexham AFC, Beanyman Sports2, The Emirates FA Cup, BBC Sport, Times Radio, Deadpool/20th Century Fox/Marvel Entertainment, CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC Good Morning America, talkSPORT, ESPN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years ago today, a public inquiry concluded that patients were subject to shocking levels of neglect at Stafford Hospital, putting it among the worst care scandals in NHS history. A young local reporter, Shaun Lintern – now The Sunday Times' health editor – helped expose the scandal. With the NHS again under huge pressure, can we be sure the same failings won't happen again? Shaun speaks to the barrister who chaired the inquiry.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Labour Party, Mid Staffs Inquiry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2021, we released a series on Stories of our times called Seventeen Years with journalist Emily Dugan about a man who was convicted in 2004 of a brutal rape in Greater Manchester. Andrew Malkinson always maintained his innocence whilst spending almost two decades behind bars.Now we have an update on his case.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: Will Roe.You can listen to the full series first released in September 2021 here: https://podfollow.com/1669210977If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Crisis England & WalesNHS - Help after rape and sexual assaultCriminal Cases Review CommissionAppeal - Charity and law practice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak’s been in Number 10 for 100 days. So how’s he doing? What’s he been doing? And with Labour leading in the polls, can the UK’s third prime minister in six and a half months turn his and his party’s fortunes around?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Steven Swinford, Political Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, NBC, Sky News, France 24, ITV News, 5 News, Parliament TV, The Guardian, On Demand News, Rishi Sunak MP on Instagram, Al Jazeera, Encyclopedia Britannica Films.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across England and Wales today, many schools are closed and pupils are at home as the UK’s biggest teaching union goes on strike - the first of seven days of planned action. So, after negotiations broke down, what is the Government's response to the demand for above-inflation pay rises? And what could the impact be on students?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Sian Griffiths, Education Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Guardian, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Germany confirmed it would send tanks to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russia. The announcement came after weeks of foot-dragging on the issue. So why was the decision apparently so difficult - and what made Germany change its mind?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, Bundeswehr, BBC News, Al Jazeera, France 24, DW News, CNN, VOA, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a nightmarish scene unfolded on the beaches of northeast England in the last few months of 2021, fishermen raised the alarm. The mass die-off of thousands of crabs has led to two government reports, with the latest out earlier this month. But have they raised more questions than answers?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: James Cole, chair of the Whitby Fishing Association.Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, UK Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 9 January a story broke that classified documents had been found at a Washington DC office used by President Biden. In the weeks since, four more discoveries have followed. This has been a boon to the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, who were already chomping at the bit to investigate Biden. So how bad could this get for the President? And how does this compare to former president Trump's classified trove in Mar-a-Lago?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Alistair Dawber, Washington Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: CNN, CBS News, ABC News, Late Show with Seth Meyers, The Guardian News, Fox News, MSNBC, 60 Minutes, Forbes, CNBC, WCNC, BBC, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the country’s worst sex offenders plead guilty to 48 rapes of 12 women committed over almost 20 years while he was a police officer for the Metropolitan Police. Meanwhile, the force's commissioner revealed that two or three Metropolitan Police officers are facing criminal court appearances every week, warning that lifting the lid on abusive predators would be “necessary and painful”. So how did David Carrick go unpunished for so long and can the Met restore its reputation?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, ITV News, CBS News, PA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Until recently the term Slapp – strategic lawsuit against public participation – meant very little. But yesterday in parliament, an MP introduced a bill to ban what he called "legal gangsterism" – attempts by the rich and powerful to use the legal system to stifle journalistic investigations. The Times and Sunday Times' editorial legal director Pia Sarma argues it's time to restore the balance between rich claimants and journalists pursuing the truth.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director, Times Media.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, France 24, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protests - sparked by the death of a young woman in the custody of Iranian morality police - have continued for over four months, evolving to incorporate women’s rights, economic concerns and regime change. The authorities have fought back with a severe, violent crackdown, but how long can protesters continue? And could it lead to a revolution?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ramita Navai, foreign affairs investigative journalist, and former Tehran correspondent for The Times. Host: Manveen RanaClips: BBC Persian, 1500 Tasvir, CBS News, Deutsche Welle, BBC News, Sky News, PBS, WION, UK Parliament, Babak Taghvaee, via Twitter, Holly Dagres, via Twitter, Jonathan Swain, via Twitter.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government has blocked Scottish gender recognition reforms, which would allow anyone over the age of 16 to self-declare their gender and be recognised as such by the Scottish government. The Scottish government argues its legislation would merely update and improve the legal situation in Scotland for transgender people. But the UK government says this is not true, and that the Scottish legislation would have a profound impact on UK-wide equalities law. We examine the debate and the constitutional row that has ensued. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Mark McLaughlin, Political Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, The Scottish Sun, Guardian, Channel 4 News, 5 News, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2021, Sunday Times writer Megan Agnew experienced a strange sort of heartbreak after a relationship that began on a dating app. It got her thinking: are they healthy for us? And does the data now suggest we may be turning against them? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.'Total swipe out: Why dating is better in real life' by Megan Agnew - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/total-swipe-out-why-dating-is-better-in-real-life-t7pkbjtjdGuest: Megan Agnew, Features Writer at The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC, CBS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year, Taylor Swift is set to embark on her biggest and most expensive world tour. Fans flew into a frenzy when tickets went on sale after several thousand couldn’t get hold of them following technical difficulties. What is it about the pop princess that has the power to influence an entire generation and their politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Charlotte Ivers, Sunday Times columnist and Times Radio political correspondent. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: NBC, PBS, BBC, ABC, Billboard, Fox, ET, SVT, CNBC, TikTok. Music excerpts: Love Story/Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records, LLC. Blank Space/New Romantics - Max Martin, Taylor Swift, Shellback, Big Machine Records, LLC. Outta the Woods - Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records, LLC. Betty/Delicate/Man/You Need to Calm Down/Only the Young - Taylor Swift, Universal Music Group.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine continues to deny Russia’s claims of victory in Soledar, where the Wagner Group – a private army – has been fighting. Why is Russia fighting for such a small town? And who are the mercenaries leading the assault?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Marc Bennetts, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS News, CBC, NBC News, Times Radio, Reuters, Sky News, Channel 4 News, CNN, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At an experimental nuclear reactor in the south of France, 35 countries are trying to build a star on earth. It's just one of several facilities around the world where scientists are trying to create the future of energy. If they pull it off, thermonuclear fusion could solve the world’s energy crisis, efficiently creating almost limitless clean energy.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Constance Kampfner, Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The B1M, DW News, BBC, Vox, PBS, NBC, ShadowZone, Real Engineering, Tokamak Energy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six months since his resignation, Boris Johnson has been keeping busy. Leadership chatter won’t go away, but he is happy to let his old friends do the talking. Meanwhile, his influence looms over Rishi Sunak's Brexit talks. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, Talk TV, RTÉ, GB News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the controversial influencer Andrew Tate’s appeal against his detainment on charges of rape and human trafficking in Romania was rejected. Tate gained notoriety through his often violent and misogynistic rhetoric online. Who is he and how did he gain his huge online following - and what’s he like in person?Some people might find some of the content in this podcast offensive. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.- Hugo Rifkind, Columnist and Leader Writer, The Times and Times Radio presenter. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Andrew Tate, Channel 5, Channel 4, GB News, Sky News, Discovery, Info Wars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the disgraced boss of crypto firm FTX pleaded not guilty to fraud-related charges. Just months before, billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried had been rubbing shoulders with supermodels and world leaders, and was known for his multi-million dollar charitable and political donations. So how did he end up on the wrong side of the law? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CBS, New York Times, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, BBC, NAS Daily, FOX News, Good Morning America International, CNET, Bloomberg, SALT, FTX. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the publication yesterday of Prince Harry's hotly anticipated memoir – Spare – it's been another explosive week for the royal family. So what's in the book? And, as the dust starts to settle, how will this latest drama end?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: talkRADIO, CNN, Novara Media, Times Radio, Bethenny Frankel, Channel 4 News, Penguin Audio, CBS 60 Minutes, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After fraught crisis talks, the government announced its plans to fix the NHS. So what's really going on behind hospital doors? How did we get here? And what are the solutions?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Sky, Times Radio, LBC, Channel 4, 10 Downing Street, DW News, NBC, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A month after the Chinese government announced an abrupt end to its “zero-Covid” policy, lifting virtually all the restrictions its citizens had been living under for three years, the country is now experiencing a huge wave of infections. With Chinese New Year approaching, can the country’s already stretched health system cope? And what will the coming weeks hold for the Chinese people?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Global National, CBS News, 9 News Australia, CNA, Reuters, NBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like increasing numbers of Brits, columnist Robert Crampton had a guilty secret: he was drinking more, the older he got. Way more. In a brutally honest account, he reveals what finally led him to quit.Websites and numbers for concerns regarding alcohol addiction: Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)NHS support: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Drinkaware: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/ or 0800 9177650This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Robert Crampton, Columnist at The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Details have emerged in court about how an undercover MI5 agent managed to infiltrate and gather evidence on the political wing of the ‘New IRA’. Dennis McFadden’s work led to the arrest of a number of the organisation's top people, who all deny the charges against them. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sean O’Neill, Senior Writer, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: 7News, Channel 4 News, Sky News, BBC, DW News, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should we eat? What should we eat?Author and epidemiologist Tim Spector says it’s time to ban the D word – ‘dieting’ – lose the calorie counting and enjoy food in a more integrated way. Tim Spector’s latest book, ‘Food for Life, The New Science of Eating Well’: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/435986/food-for-life-by-spector-tim/9781787330498This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Professor Tim Spector, author and epidemiologist, King’s College London.Host: David Aaronovitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a period of global upheaval unlike any other in living memory, we look back at the year war came to Ukraine, and how its fallout has changed Europe and the world. We ask two of our most experienced foreign correspondents for their views on the people and events likely to shape global events in 2023, as the world adjusts to the “new normal” of conflict and economic turbulence.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: NBC News; The Guardian; Sky News; France 24; BBC News; New York Times; DW; ABC News (US); CBS News; Euronews; Telegraph; Evening Standard; The Sun; AFP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the festive period, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.Google engineer Blake Lemoine brought an unusual concern to his company: he feared the AI language program he was working with had gained sentience. Even if he's wrong – and Google certainly thinks he is – is the fact that an AI bot can imitate sentience so convincingly reason enough to be worried?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.In April 1982, Captain Christopher Craig set sail with his crew on the frigate HMS Alacrity to the Falkland Islands after Argentina had invaded the British overseas territory. Four decades on, Chris and his son Duncan - then a six-year-old schoolboy in Bournemouth - reflect on that war.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Captain Christopher Craig, CB, DSC, Royal Navy.- Duncan Craig, Travel Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Call for Fire: Sea Combat in the Falklands and the Gulf War - A book by Christopher Craig.Clips: ABC News, The Telegraph, BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.It promised a financial revolution - a liberation from money middlemen. But then the $3 trillion industry of cryptocurrency lost two thirds of its value in six months. So was it all a cult of personality? Or is the revolution still to come?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, BBC News, CNBC, Danny in the Valley, CoinDesk, CBS, Crypto Mason, CryptoJack, Blake O'Neal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.It's a legend many of us have grown up with: a plucky group of British officers, finding themselves trapped in a heavily guarded POW camp during the Second World War, try every trick they can think of to break out. But, in a new book by Ben Macintyre, we hear for the first time the real story of Colditz. A story that's not just more complicated, but far more interesting than the one we were told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Macintyre, Associate Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC/Universal Studios, The Imperial War Museum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.As the Ukraine war progressed, journalists, activists and critics were forced to flee the country. But as Putin’s grip on the media tightened, what was it like for the people who were left? And when does it become too dangerous to stay? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, BBC Newsnight, France 24, CBS News, Sky News, The Telegraph, BBC News, NBC News, Times Radio, PBS Newshour, NEXTA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.From Squid Game to K-pop to kimchi, South Korea has taken the planet by storm. How did a once-impoverished country turn its fortunes around? And what has it done for South Korea's standing abroad?'Hallyu! The Korean Wave' is on at the V&A in South Kensington until June 2023: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/hallyu-the-korean-wave This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: BBC News, Deutsche Welle, Oscars, ABC News, Blackpink, The White House.Film and music excerpts:Crash Landing on You, dir. Lee Jeong-hyo, NetflixI Know, Seo Taiji and Boys, Genie MusicInto the New World, Girls Generation, SM EntertainmentGangnam Style, Psy, YG EntertainmentButter, BTS, Hybe Corporation/Big Hit MusicBoombayah, BLACKPINK, YG EntertainmentParasite, dir. Bong Joon Ho, CJ EntertainmentSquid Game, dir. Hwang Dong-hyuk, Netflix Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022. We begin with one of the most riveting stories of the year, from The Times’ war correspondent Anthony Loyd. In their podcast series Last Man Standing, Anthony and Manveen investigated the kidnap of the British photojournalist John Cantlie. Cantlie had been taken hostage by Islamic State in 2012. His fate is still unknown. For Anthony, this brought back memories of his own narrow escape…This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: BBC and CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Christmas Eve bonus episode comes courtesy of our sister podcast: Wine Times.Discussing and decanting with Suzi Ruffell and Will Lyons on a live special of Wine Times are Times Radio broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. As well as four great wines to taste, Fi explains why she refuses to feel stressed about Christmas this year, Jane discusses her love for Cava, Will shares why Brits are big wine drinkers and Suzi delights in the idea of hosting her first Christmas lunch.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Wines:Villa Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2021Purple Owl Pinot Noir 2021Saracosa Governo Rosso IGT 2021L’Epiphanie de Sauternes 2018All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every day, hundreds of readers write into The Times and The Sunday Times. In a year when the news didn’t seem to stop, the letters editors of the two papers pick out their highlights.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests:- Andrew Riley, Letters Editor, The Times.- Stephen Bleach, Letters Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Afghanistan. Foreign financial government support has run dry, and aid agencies are left to plug the gaps amid drought and famine. Our correspondent has been to visit projects run by Afghanaid, one of the organisations being supported by this year’s Christmas Appeal. For more information and to donate to the Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal visit: https://times.ctdonate.orgThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, France 24, BBC News, CBS News, United Nations, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strike action on a scale not seen since the 1980s is set to continue into January as workers demand pay rises to match spiralling inflation. Today, as ambulance crews in England and Wales begin a strike, why are so many joining the picket line and how is the government responding to the industrial action?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.   Guest: Patrick Maguire, Red Box Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC, 5News, Thames Television, ITN, NBC News, GMB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has an august history of recording the lives of significant people, and has been doing so in the obituaries pages since the 19th century. Today, we remember some of the people who may not be household names but are no less fascinating.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Hosts:- Anna Temkin, Deputy Obituaries Editor, The Times. - Mariella Frostrup, Times Radio. Guests: - Tom Dart, obituaries writer, The Times. - Shirley Malcom, director of the SEA Change initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. - Emily Maitlis, broadcaster and journalist. - Professor Mary Beard, classicist. Remembering the lives of:- Colonel Gail Halvorsen, pilot.  - Dr Shirley McBay, mathematician. - Professor Peter Maitlis, chemist. - Joyce Reynolds, classicist. Clips: BBC, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British volunteer Dave Young has rescued over 800 Ukrainians from the war's frontline, as well as losing his right eye to shrapnel. Anthony Loyd and filmmaker Federica De Caria join Dave in the city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of the bloodiest attritional battle of winter, as he embarks on dangerous rescue work – and considers what drives him to keep going.Watch Anthony Loyd and Federica De Caria's film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X32e2YF9phEThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one of the most controversial World Cups in living memory heads towards its final climax this weekend -- what was it actually like being there? And for the host nation -- after scandals, condemnation and $200 billion -- was it worth it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: talkSPORT, US Department of State. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day but, for increasing numbers of children, it’s a meal they miss, affecting their concentration and learning at school. So, as the cost of living crisis affects so many this winter, what can be done? We learn of the work of one of the charities being supported by this year’s Christmas Appeal, Magic Breakfast, which provides food for breakfast clubs, allowing children to start their days properly.For more information and to donate to the Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal visit: https://times.ctdonate.orgThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: Joanna Bates, deputy headteacher, Blue Gate Fields Junior SchoolSian Acreman, headteacher, Blue Gate Fields Junior SchoolPupils of Blue Gate Fields Junior SchoolNicola Woolcock, Education Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Jamie Oliver, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been 10 years since America’s deadliest mass shooting in an elementary (primary) school. In the years since, the weapon used - the AR-15 - has also been deployed in some of the decade’s most horrifying shootings. So how did the AR-15 rifle become the weapon of choice for mass shooters? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: ABC News, 60 Minutes, CNBC, Independent, CNN, NBC, Reuters, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we hear from two Ukrainian journalists who we spoke to back in March, at the beginning of Russia's invasion. At that time, Kateryna Malofieieva was in the Donbas, following the ever-shifting front line of the war. Natalia Gryvnyak was in Kyiv, trying to decide whether or not to leave the country. What has happened to them in the tumultuous ten months since?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: Kateryna Malofieieva and Natalia Gryvnyak.Host: Manveen Rana.You can find all of the work by Natalia Gryvnyak's production company here: http://infeatures.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we living in a world where there is pressure on those in the public eye to exude virtue above all else? Where has this sensibility come from and is it leading to a blandness in our arts and culture?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: James Marriott, Times columnist.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: The Late Show with James Corden, Thames TV, Rock Star Interviews on YouTube.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last few weeks, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for private schools in the UK to have their charitable status scrapped, but why?Also today, The Sunday Times launches its annual Parent Power Schools Guide. School league tables: the best UK primary and secondary schools revealedFind the best primary and secondary schools in your area with our guide to academic performance.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sian Griffiths, Education Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament TV, BBC Archive, BBC, Bloomberg, London Review of Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Rishi Sunak outlasts his predecessor in the top job, just how is he doing? With polls suggesting a heavy Conservative loss at the next election, a cost of living crisis and strikes across numerous sectors, what can we make of the prime minister’s first few weeks in power?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, Times Radio, Telegraph, Channel 4, UK Parliament, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seventy-five percent of all lives lost to suicide in the UK are male. And one charity is leading a campaign to do something about it. For this year, The Times and The Sunday Times is supporting the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) who help people in crisis.  To donate to The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal visit thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal or call 0151 284 2336.For help and support:CALM Helpline: 0800 58 58 58. Samaritans Helpline: 116 123This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Harry Corin, mental health campaigner. - Ashley Hargreaves, CALM campaigner.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putin’s invasion has ushered in a new era of industrial warfare. As the winter freeze sets in, the pace of the war has not yet abated. Weapon stocks are running low and Russia is rearming. The West now faces a choice: either summon the political will (and the money) to become an arsenal for democracy, or put pressure on Ukraine to make compromises. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Roger Boyes, diplomatic editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, CNN, DW News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the weekend, reports emerged that the chair of the British Museum, ex-chancellor George Osborne, has been holding ‘secret’ talks with the Greek prime minister over the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece. Also known as the Elgin Marbles, the pieces have become symbolic of a wider debate about colonial legacy and restitution in the cultural world. Supporters of the marbles staying put argue they were obtained legally, but Greece says they were stolen – so should they be returned?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. With thanks to The British Museum.Guests: - Dame Mary Beard, classicist.- David Sanderson, arts correspondent, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, Times Radio, Reuters, CBC News, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, ITV Good Morning Britain, LBC, UK Parliament, LSE, BBC Radio 4.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese cities have seen days of extraordinary protests calling for an end to the country’s zero-Covid measures, and for President Xi to step down. So what is it about this generation of students that’s motivated them to come out en masse on the streets for the first time since Tiananmen Square? And what does it mean for President Xi? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, Channel 4, The Telegraph, Reuters, CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox News.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a stinging rebuke from the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom - which ruled that the devolved Scottish parliament cannot authorise an independence referendum - SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has doubled down saying democracy itself is now at stake, and vowing to turn the next general election into a 'de facto' referendum. Could that work? And what does that even mean?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Sky News, BBC News, The Guardian, Scottish National Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hundred years ago, when the tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered in Egypt, the world learnt of the treasures via The Times which had secured the exclusive rights and photographs. So just how did the newspaper get the scoop?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Nick Mays, archivist, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every prime minister's last act in office is to choose a final list of people to elevate to the House of Lords, parliament's second chamber. And Boris Johnson's resignation honours are already kicking up a storm…This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Lara Spirit, Red Box reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Parliament TV, Times Radio, Al Jazeera English, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2020, retired Gwent police officer Ricky Jones took his own life. Jones’s family - who he’d subjected to years of abuse - looked through his old iPhone to try to understand more about their husband and father. But it revealed things even they were not prepared for.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.   Domestic abuse helpline and support:England - Refuge - The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247Wales - Live Fear Free - Helpline 0808 80 10 800Scotland - Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline 0800 027 1234Northern Ireland - Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline 0808 802 1414Articles: How a dead officer’s iPhone exposes misogyny, corruption and racism in a police forceGwent police officers joked about Jimmy Savile and ‘sex pests’ in the forceMy life as a female firearms officer in the misogynistic police boys’ clubGuests: David Collins, Northern Editor, The Sunday Times.Hannah Al-Othman, News Reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romeo agents have infiltrated the West German Government by wooing secretaries of high-up officials. In the second part of this two-part series, a new agent reveals information about corruption at the very top.You can read Oliver Moody's article here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Gunnar Take, historian at the University of Stuttgart.Katja Hoyer, historian and author of 'Beyond the wall'.Host: Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times.Clips from: Timeline, Tele Studio West, Operation Romeo: The Love Commandos of the Stasi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the best way to spy on your enemies? Sleep with their secretaries. In part one of this two-part series, new evidence is unearthed of East Germany‘s ruthless blueprint for Cold War sexpionage, revealing for the first time stories of the agents sent to seduce young women working for West Germany’s top politicians.You can read Oliver Moody's article here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Gunnar Take, historian at the University of Stuttgart.Katja Hoyer, historian and Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London.Host: Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fast fashion clothing company Boohoo has exploded in popularity since the pandemic. After reports of appalling working conditions in 2020, the company had made a big show of trying to do better. So has it? A Times reporter goes undercover at one of their warehouses to find out.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Ball, Northern Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, E!, Reuters, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid staff shortages, Covid backlogs and potentially the first national nursing strike in the NHS’s history, the health service is facing a challenging winter ahead. How did we get here? And just how bad could things get?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, WION, CBC News, 5 News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was the worst-kept secret in US politics: that former President Trump would be running again in 2024. After a disappointing midterm election for Republicans, where Trump candidates under-performed, the announcement last week was met with a groan by many of Trump's own party. Now that he's in the ring, though, he's immediately the frontrunner. So can he win?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Hoyle, Assistant Foreign News Editor, The Sunday Times. Presenter: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: CBS, Fox News, Candace Owens podcast, CNN, Washington Post, Newsnation, ABC News, Forbes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian troops forced Putin’s war machine into a chaotic exit from the city of Kherson last Friday. After eight months of Russian occupation, it was free.But as the Russians fled, stories of brutality and torture poured out. What scars has the occupation left on its remaining inhabitants, what poison has it left behind – and how can a devastated city return to something like normal life? This episode contains descriptions of torture. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Presenter: David Aaronovitch.Clips: NBC News, Times Radio, BBC News, ITV News, CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the 27th UN Climate Change Conference draws to a close, The Times’ environment editor Adam Vaughan has travelled deep into the Amazon rainforest talking to British-backed scientists at their base camp to find out whether the Amazon is at tipping point.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Adam Vaughan, The Times’ environment editor.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4, The Guardian, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, our newest Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will announce his Autumn Statement. In previews, he's prepared the country for 'some pain' to fill a £50 billion 'black hole' in the public finances. If this means Austerity 2.0, what have we learned from the first one?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Fox News, CNBC, Sky News, Parliament TV, Times Radio, Telegraph, The Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team behind one of the most successful Covid-19 vaccines have returned to their original mission: making cancer vaccines. The BioNTech professors say the jab will be with us before 2030. What will it mean for the future of cancer treatment? Who will get them? And if cancer isn't killing us, what will? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times. Clips: BBC, ITV, CNBC, Sky News. Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the twelve years since Qatar was awarded the World Cup, a number of questions have been raised about the appropriateness of hosting the tournament there. For one Times sports writer preparing to cover the tournament, it’s taken him through the five stages of grief.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matt Dickinson, senior sports writer, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: TalkSport, Sky Sports News, RTE, Sky News, FA TV, ABC News, Euronews, DW News, Channel 4 News, ITN, CGTN, Sky Sports, Visit Qatar, Times Radio, Reuters, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Draconian Covid rules and crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters turned the global business hub into a walled city. As it slowly reopens, expats are curiously divided on the power of Beijing - so what’s going on inside fortress Hong Kong?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Oliver Shah, Sunday Times associate editor. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: travelfilmarchive, izzitEDU, Real World Economics, ABC, SKY, WION, CNBC, SWCC lectures, Reuters, France 24, NBC, CNA, Bloomberg, Parliament TV, AFP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of the series, the woman who made an allegation against Martyn Percy speaks out about intimidation by some of the Dean’s supporters. And has Christ Church tried to hide the astronomical cost of the feud?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Andrew Billen, journalist at The Times.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Home Secretary Suella Braverman is at the centre of a migration crisis after the Manston immigration centre was reported as unsafe, understaffed and 'wretched' by the borders watchdog. So, how did the situation unfold, what are the politics behind it and what do we know about the people risking their lives crossing the Channel to come to the UK?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matt Dathan, Home Affairs Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, ITV News, BBC News, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over 5.5 million farm birds have been culled to stem the largest outbreak of avian influenza ever recorded in the UK. The virus has spread to Britain’s seabirds causing a huge environmental impact and killing tens of thousands. From this week, all poultry and captive birds in England must be kept indoors. So what does it mean for the meat and eggs we eat? And how bad could the outbreak get?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, CBS News, AP, TVB News, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow, for the first time since the election that many Americans still believe was 'stolen', voters in the US head back to the polls. Almost everything except the presidency is up for grabs – and for many Americans on both sides, the fate of the nation itself hangs in the balance. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: BBC News, TV Ontario, MSNBC, News 19 WLTX, NBC, CNN, CBS, ABC News, PAHomepage.com, Dr Oz, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brazil’s left-wing former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has achieved a historic victory over his far-right rival, the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro. With many seeing this election as the last chance to save the Amazon rainforest, will Lula be able to reverse Bolsonaro’s destructive policies?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, CBC News, Deutsche Welle, Channel 4 News, Reuters, France 24, Al Jazeera.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martyn Percy’s employer questions the Dean’s mental capacity as the feud shows no sign of abating. And he's in hot water over an article, published on his website, in which he references the Holocaust.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Andrew Billen, journalist at The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent years the once dominant social media platform has been hit by problem after problem. Fewer people use it, and revenues and profits are down. So just what has taken a bite out of Mark Zuckerberg’s empire?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: CNBC, Vator, NBC News, Queen City News, CBS News, France 24, Spotify, Comedy Central, Meta, Sky News, ITV News, CNN, Yahoo Finance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former US president Donald Trump is facing a host of legal issues. So which could prove the most problematic for him and what could be the consequences? Could any of them stop him becoming president a second time – or send him to jail? And if he is indicted or convicted, could America tear itself apart?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hugh Tomlinson, Washington Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: MSNBC, BBC, GBH News, C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC News, CBS News, ABC, Newsy, WCNC, Salem Media, San Francisco Police Department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A royal correspondent’s best sources are often the unseen aides, advisors and staff, working behind the scenes. Who are these advisors? What do they really do? And what can they tell us not just about how past stories unfolded – like Harry and Meghan's exit from the household – but the future of the royals? Book: Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent, The Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: Apple, CBS, ITV, Sky News, Entertainment Tonight, TalkTV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of his first week in power, Rishi Sunak already faces a backlash over his choice for home secretary. And more importantly, what can he possibly do to avert a recession? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Tim Shipman, chief political commentator, The Sunday Times. - Arthi Nachiappan, economics correspondent, The Times. Presenter: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, Times Radio, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the pandemic a woman makes an allegation against Martyn Percy that changes everything. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Andrew Billen, journalist at The Times.Clips: ITV, BBC, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Labour riding high in the polls, Keir Starmer is calling for an early general election. But after 12 years in the shadows, few members of Labour's top team, including Starmer himself, have had experience of government. So what are they doing to get ready? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Manveen Rana. Guest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times. Clips: BBC, UK Parliament, GB News, ITV, Channel 4 News, Times Radio, Sky News, The Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mortgage rates have risen sharply, hitting their highest levels in 14 years. We trace the ripple effect across the economy, as higher rates threaten to lay the foundations for another crash in the housing market.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Hannah Al-Othman, news reporter, The Sunday Times.- George Nixon, money reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: ITV, BBC News, Channel 4, Guardian, Sky News, Bloomberg.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 2012, cyclist Lance Armstrong was banned from the sport for life and stripped of his record seven Tour de France titles after anti-doping authorities branded him a drug cheat. 10 years on we look back at one of the biggest sporting falls from grace with the journalist who spent years questioning Armstrong’s integrity.Article - Lance Armstrong: a decade on from disgraceThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Walsh, Chief Sports Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Will Roe.Clips: BBC, ABC News, WEDU Media, Channel 4, TalkSPORT, Oprah Winfrey Network, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She’s the shortest serving prime minister in British history.As the Conservative party embarks on the process of finding another new leader, Tim Shipman guides us through the process, the contenders (including the possible return of Boris Johnson) and what it all means for the country.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years into Martyn Percy's tenure as Dean, a student attacks a man at Christ Church. Dealing with the crisis, Percy questions how the university college is run, but has no idea the chain of events he is about to set in motion.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: Andrew Billen, journalist at The Times.Clips: Walt Disney Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years ago, the Jimmy Savile affair shocked the nation, sparking a moral panic about child abuse and institutional cover ups. In response, the government launched a national inquiry in 2014. This week, after eight years and over £180m spent, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse will release its final report. So what have we learned - and what has the inquiry achieved?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you've been affected by issues raised in this episode, you can call Victim Support's 24/7 support line on 0808 168 9111. Guest: Sean O’Neill, senior writer, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, 5 News, BBC News, ITV News, UK Parliament, IICSA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has announced plans to scrap “almost all” the tax cuts in last month’s mini-budget and curtail support for households with energy bills after April. After weeks of economic uncertainty, will this be enough to steady the markets? And where does it leave prime minister Liz Truss?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Arthi Nachiappan, Economics Correspondent, The Times. Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC News, Sky News, Times Radio, Channel 4 News, CNBC, GB News, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second stage of the inquiry into the Post Office scandal begins this week, focusing on the computer system at the centre of the story. How much did the Post Office know about problems with its IT system while it prosecuted its staff?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sabah Meddings, Chief Business Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips:  5News, Sky News, UCL Law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s ruling Communist Party’s Congress begins on Sunday where Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third term - effectively allowing him to stay in power for life. It comes at a time of heightened tension with the US over Taiwan. So what are Xi’s intentions?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Didi Tang, The Times' Beijing Correspondent.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: Bloomberg, BBC News, BBC World Service, South China Morning Post, CCTV, New China TV, WION, Reuters, DW News, Richard Nixon Foundation, Associated Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2014 The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy walks into Christ Church as the new Dean of the Oxford college.But in this ‘Alice in Wonderland’ universe has this traditional institution met its match?This is the first of a five-part series released every Thursday.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Andrew Billen, journalist at The Times. Clips: BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month the Sunday Times turns 200 years old. To mark the occasion, Times Radio’s John Pienaar has been speaking to the editors: Emma Tucker, who's edited the paper since 2020, and John Witherow, the former Sunday Times editor who's just finished nine years at the helm of The Times. The conversation took place in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday. It’s a packed discussion covering the news industry, Emma and John's favourite stories, war reporting, and a little bit about a young Boris Johnson's rather brief stint as The Times reporter in Brussels. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Emma Tucker, Editor, The Sunday Times. - John Witherow, Chairman of Times Newspapers. Host: John Pienaar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a long and twisting road: six months of ‘on again off again’, after Elon Musk made an offer to buy Twitter, only to back out a few months later. Two weeks before Musk and the social media company were set to face off in court to decide this, the world’s richest man changed his mind again and agreed to go ahead with his original offer after all. So, is this the end of the saga? Or just the first step of a much bigger plan?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Callum Jones, US Business Correspondent, The Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: CNBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, BBC News, NBC News, Yahoo Finance, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new five-part investigation from The Times begins here on Stories of our times on Thursday 13 October. It follows the story of the Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, who left Christ Church, Oxford, as its Dean with a £1.25 million settlement earlier this year.But big questions remain. The Times’ journalist Andrew Billen returns to his old university to try and understand why Percy and his employer got into a four year long battle, which left the priest close to suicide and cost the Oxford college millions in charitable funds.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a legend many of us have grown up with: a plucky group of British officers, finding themselves trapped in a heavily guarded POW camp during the Second World War, try every trick they can think of to break out. But, in a new book by Ben Macintyre, we hear for the first time the real story of Colditz. A story that's not just more complicated, but far more interesting than the one we were told. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Macintyre, Associate Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: BBC/Universal Studios, The Imperial War Museum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin turns 70 today. In recent weeks, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen territorial losses, a shambolic partial mobilisation, sham referendums and threats of nuclear attacks. So what possible outcomes are there for President Putin’s plan?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The TimesHost: David AaronovitchClips from: Sky News, ABC News, NBC News, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look at a popular Sunday Times feature about the National Scrabble Championships in the UK and uncover a hidden community of word nerds. Plus, tile by tile, we trace the evolution of the popular game - from going online during the pandemic to banning offensive words following the Black Lives Matter protests.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ralph Jones, writer and Sunday Times contributor. Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: Sky News, YouTube channel Dweebovision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini whilst in police custody has sparked nationwide protests in Iran. The authorities have responded with a heavy crackdown, and it’s estimated over 130 people have died so far. As protests continue, could the death of one young woman lead to regime change?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months for just £1: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ramita Navai, journalist, Sunday Times contributor, author of 'City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death, and the Search for Truth in Tehran', and host of 'The Line of Fire' podcast.Host: Manveen RanaClips: CBS News, WION, BBC News, France 24, Radio Farda, Sky News, NBC, ITN archive, TRT World, BBC Farsi, Middle East Matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After nine days of political pressure, chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has u-turned on the government’s plan to abolish the top rate of income tax, saying he felt ‘humility and contrition’. So, what was the mood at the Conservative party conference as Kwarteng addressed his party? Plus, we learn more about the chancellor driving the policy formerly known as ‘Operation Rolling Thunder’.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times. - Rachel Sylvester, Columnist, The Times.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, DW News, STV, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an international manhunt, the FBI and Interpol say they have found a man wanted on multiple charges in four US states, who faked his death before fleeing America for Scotland. But the Glasgow resident at the centre of the case insists he is the victim of a "monstrous" miscarriage of justice – that he is not Nicholas Rossi, but is Arthur Knight, an Irish-born orphan who has never visited the United States. Our reporter investigates.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marc Horne, news reporter, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the World Wide Web was launched in 1991, hopes for it were high. But three decades later, the internet seems to be defined not by interconnectivity and liberation, but by scandal, abuse and polarisation. Political journalist Marie Le Conte remembers a different internet -- from those early days. An internet that was fun, freeing and joyful. The 'good' internet.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marie Le Conte, political journalistHost: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBSN, BBC, Sky News, Parliament TV, "Panic Attack " (C), The Paddingtons / Mercury Records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Christmas Day three years ago British businessman Marc Bennett was found dead in his four star hotel room in Qatar. He'd been successfully working on the country’s tourism industry but died in unexplained circumstances after being arrested and allegedly tortured by the country’s police. A British coroner ruled there was no evidence of suicidal intent. So what happened?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Sean O’Neill, Senior Writer, The Times.Nancy Bennett, Marc's widow.Tony Bennett & Micki Bennett Marc’s parents.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Breaking Travel News, Visit Qatar, BeIN SPORTS USA, Doha News Official, BBC, CNBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leicester has always been held up as a beacon of multicultural Britain. But for more than two weeks, the city has witnessed religious clashes between young men from the Hindu and Muslim communities. The violence flared up after a cricket match, but is there more to this story than meets the eye? Has fake news stoked tensions? And could the Hindu nationalist ideology of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have had an influence?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Barnie Choudhury, Editor-at-large, Eastern Eye newspaper. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Leicestershire Police, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, One India News, Reuters, DW News, NDTV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Squid Game to K-pop to kimchi, South Korea has taken the planet by storm. How did a once-impoverished country turn its fortunes around? And what has it done for South Korea's standing abroad?'Hallyu! The Korean Wave' is on at the V&A in South Kensington until June 2023: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/hallyu-the-korean-wave This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: BBC News, Deutsche Welle, Oscars, ABC News, Blackpink, The White House.Film and music excerpts:Crash Landing on You, dir. Lee Jeong-hyo, NetflixI Know, Seo Taiji and Boys, Genie MusicInto the New World, Girls Generation, SM EntertainmentGangnam Style, Psy, YG EntertainmentButter, BTS, Hybe Corporation/Big Hit MusicBoombayah, BLACKPINK, YG EntertainmentParasite, dir. Bong Joon Ho, CJ EntertainmentSquid Game, dir. Hwang Dong-hyuk, Netflix Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Labour Party meets in Liverpool for its annual conference, the dividing lines between the two biggest parties have rarely been more stark. Ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech tomorrow, what might we learn about his plans for the party and the country?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, Parliament, The Labour Party, BBC News, Channel 4 News, ITV News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hard right is on the rise in Italy. Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party is tipped to win Sunday’s general election. If it does, she’ll become Italy’s first female prime minister - and the first hard right leader since the Second World War. So who is she? And what does her popularity tell us about the legacy of Italy’s fascist past?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaClips: Al Jazeera, CNBC, France 24, Fox news, Pepper Pig, PBS Newshour, Channel 4, CNN, Goffredo Mameli and Michele Novaro, Euronews, CriticalPast, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newly-appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss has inherited an economy in turmoil. With the nation on the verge of recession and significant challenges ahead, what might we expect to hear from tomorrow's “Fiscal Event”?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4, ITV, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Sky News, BBC News, The Independent, Thames TV, GB News, BBC Radio 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Women’s Super League kicked off this weekend, following the euphoria of the Lionesses' win at Euro 2022 this summer. How was that success won? We trace the little-known history of women’s football from struggle to the success - including a time when the Football Association banned the women's game completely. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Professor Jean Williams, author and sport historian.Molly Hudson, The Times Sport Reporter. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: talkSPORT, BBC Sport, ITV News, Sky News, Sky Sport News, Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, BBC Archive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz Truss will make her first foreign trip as prime minister this week to the UN general assembly in New York. She already has plenty of experience in global diplomacy, but has sometimes ruffled feathers with her approach. How is she viewed by the world’s media and governments and will she be able to win over her critics abroad?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Sarah Baxter, director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, Stony Brook University, New YorkMarc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday TimesDidi Tang, Beijing correspondent, The TimesPeter Conradi, Europe editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: 10 News First, 7News, The Mirror, Newshub, The Hill, Centre for Policy Studies, The Guardian, Russia-1, CCTV, Times Radio, Talk TV, Bloomberg, Reuters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a lifetime of preparation the former Prince of Wales became King Charles III. What kind of monarch will he be? What challenges will he face? And should the new King apologise for Britain's role in slavery and colonialism?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.Lester Holloway, Editor, The Voice.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Novara Media, KernowDamo; CNN, Newsnation, The Telegraph, MyWorldNewsNetwork, COP 26, ITV, The Guardian, ET Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian forces have retaken over 3000 sq miles of Russian-occupied territories in the northeast of the country. Could these developments signal a change in fortunes for Ukraine? And how might Russia respond?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Richard Spencer, The Times' correspondent in Ukraine. General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command in the UK. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNBC, DW News, Reuters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over her reign, Queen Elizabeth II saw more prime ministers than any previous monarch. What relationship did she have with them and what happens behind closed doors at the private weekly audience?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sir Anthony Seldon, contemporary historian and author 'The Impossible Office?: The History of the British Prime Minister.'Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, AP Archive, Netflix, ITV, National Theatre, Times Radio, UK Parliament, United Nations, BBC Radio 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the course of her life the Queen visited every inhabited continent and met hundreds of world leaders, helping the UK forge relations across the globe. We hear from former Foreign Secretary Lord William Hague who joined her on a number of state visits and saw first hand the effect she had as a royal diplomat, on everyone from Prime Ministers and Presidents to the bowing goats of Oman.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Lord William Hague, former Foreign Secretary.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CTV, BBC, DW News, ABC Australia, Sky News, Sultanate of Oman TV, On Demand News, RTE, CBS, Euronews, Wild Film India, NBC, ABC News, AP, The Sun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the course of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II sustained Britain's monarchy for seven decades, between the eras of steam and Zoom. She departed possessing the gratitude and respect of the overwhelming majority of her subjects who today find it hard to come to terms with a world from which she is absent. So what characterised the second Elizabethan Age?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Sir Max Hastings, historian, journalist and columnist for The Times.Alwyn Turner, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Chichester.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC Archive, NBC News, CBS News, AP Archive, Iconic, Times Radio, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country now enters a time of national mourning for a nation to pay its respects to Her Majesty the Queen. Years of planning and centuries of tradition will be drawn upon as Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest. So what do the next 10 days hold?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, ITN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a Monday evening last month, 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead in Liverpool by a stranger. It’s the latest in a spate of deadly gun and knife attacks in the city. So what’s going on in Liverpool’s underworld? Why is it seemingly so easy to get guns in the city? And why are so many dying at the hands of those they’ve never met? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Dr Robert Hesketh, Chartered Psychologist and Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Merseyside Police, Sky, Liverpool Echo, ITV, The Sun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six months ago, The Times’ Africa correspondent Jane Flanagan spoke to us about her search for the cause of her long Covid symptoms. We catch up with her to find out how her treatment is going, and we look at the state of long Covid treatment.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent, The Times.- Dr Melissa Heightman, National Specialty Advisor for Long Covid, NHS England.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: UK Parliament, 5 News, BBC News, Sky News, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Liz Truss takes over as the new Conservative Prime Minister. So what do we know about her and how she will address the urgent challenges we face?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Charlotte Ivers, Political Correspondent, Times Radio.Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC News, Times Radio, LBC, The Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new prime minister will be announced today, and Boris Johnson will exit Downing Street tomorrow after just over three years in the job. What legacy will he leave behind? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Patrick Maguire, Red Box Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, UK Parliament, The Conservative Party, PA, STV News, Times Radio, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re sitting in your hands, in your house and maybe even in your heart. But a global shortage of semiconductors means this tiny object has become a big problem – just as a British chipmaker has been sold to a Chinese-owned company. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS News, CNBC, Sky News, BBC News, European Commission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this Times investigation, our correspondent tracks down the man running one of the most racist YouTube channels in the country and reflects on what this means for the current state of fascism in the UK in 2022.Link to article: Neo-Nazi uses code words to spread hate on YouTube. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Father and Son by Yusuf / Cat Stevens, 2020 Universal Music Operations Limited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Times investigation into Patriotic Alternative, the brainchild of the former youth leader of the BNP, has found they’ve been making the most of the pandemic to try to gain supporters.Meanwhile, as our correspondent discovers a particularly virulent racist aligned to the group, he asks: is YouTube doing enough to stop hate speech?Link to article: At the gym, in the hills, the far-right fight clubs where men train to make Britain white. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Sky News, ITN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The traditional summer blockbuster season is drawing to a close but in a world of prequels, sequels and remakes, independent films are finding it increasingly hard to break through. So why are we deluged by all these spin-offs?Guest: Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips:Thor: Love and Thunder. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Taika Waititi.Suicide Squad. © 2016  Warner Brothers Pictures. Director: David Ayer.Minions: The Rise of Gru. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Kyle BaldaNope. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Jordan PeeleSpider-Man: Far From Home. © 2019 Sony Pictures. Director: Jon Watts.Nomadland. © 2021 Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Company Nordic. © Director: Chloe Zhao.Kramer vs. Kramer. © 1979 Columbia Pictures. Director: Robert Benton.Hit the Road. © 2021 Director: Panah Panahi.The Matrix. © 1999 Warner Bros. Pictures, Roadshow Entertainment Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski.Thirteen Lives. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Bron Creative; Imagine Entertainment; Magnolia Mae; Storyteller Productions. Director: Ron Howard.The Matrix Resurrections. © 2021 Warner Bros. pictures. Director: Lana Wachowski.Black Widow. © 2021 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Cate Shortland.Elvis. © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures; Bazmark Films; The Jackal Group. Director: Baz Lurhman.The Godfather. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Director: Francis Ford Coppola.Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. © 1980 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment Director: Irvin Kershner.Ghostbusters: Afterlife. © 2021 Columbia Pictures; Bron Creative; Ghost Corps; The Montecito Picture Company; Right of Way Films. Director: Jason Reitman.Iron Man. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Director: Jon Favreau.Everything Everywhere All At Once. © 2022 Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel ScheinertBullet train. © 2022 Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing. Director: David LeitchBande à part. © 1964 Columbia Pictures. Director: Jean Luc-Godard.Captain Marvel. © 2009 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan FleckDoctor Strange main theme.  © 2019 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composer:  Michael GiacchinoTop Gun theme - Danger Zone. 1986 ©Paramount Pictures. Composer: Giorgio Moroder. Lyricist Tom Whitlock.The Matrix Awakens - Main Theme.  © 2021 Warner Bros Pictures. Composer: Don DavisJaws theme tune. © 1975 Universal Pictures. Composer: John Williams.Ghostbusters theme tune. © 1984 Columbia Pictures, Fórum Home Entertainment Hungary. Composer: Ray Parker Jr.Jurassic Park theme tune. © 1993 Universal Pictures, FilmFlex. Composer: John WilliamsLeague of DC Super Pets theme tune (Superman theme tune). © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures © Composer: John WilliamsStar Wars: The Phantom Menace theme tune. © 1999 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Composer: John WilliamsIron Man theme tune. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Composer: Ramin DjawadiSweet Child of Mine, Thor: Love and Thunder film trailer version. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composers: Steven Adler Saul Hudson, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose.Marvel opening theme. © 2016 Marvel Entertainment. Composer: Michael Giacchino.Godfather theme tune. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Composer: Nino Rota.Reviews: Mojo.com; Clipped Coin; Looper; Karsten Runquist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This August, we're revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past year.Dolly Alderton - award-winning author, podcaster, screenwriter and Sunday Times Style's resident agony aunt - on love, friendship, sex, and being comfortable with yourself ahead of the release of the BBC adaptation of her memoir. Everything I Know About Love is available on BBC iPlayer.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dolly Alderton, author, podcaster, screenwriter, and columnist for Sunday Times Style.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week criminal barristers in England and Wales voted to go on an ongoing, uninterrupted strike arguing they’re not paid enough for legal aid cases. The strike will delay thousands of trials including rapes, murders and serious assaults. So how did we get here? And what happens when justice is put on hold?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Jonathan Ames, legal editor, The Times and Emma Fielding, barrister at Foundry Chambers. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips:  Sky; ITV; GB News; Rumpole of the Bailey: BBC / Thames Television / Sir John Mortimer.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It promised a financial revolution - a liberation from money middlemen. But then the $3 trillion industry of cryptocurrency lost two thirds of its value in six months. So was it all a cult of personality? Or is the revolution still to come?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, BBC News, CNBC, Danny in the Valley, CoinDesk, CBS, Crypto Mason, CryptoJack, Blake O'Neal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of the 24th February, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the country marks its Independence Day - and with little end to the conflict in sight - our correspondent takes stock and shares his thoughts about the people he’s met and the stories he’s heard.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, ITV News, NBC, TODAY, BBC, Times Radio, CBS, Reuters, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In two weeks, Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will become prime minister - a decision that will be made by members of the Conservative Party. So how does the rest of the country feel about the new PM? The Times spoke to focus groups of swing voters to find out - but just who is the roadrunner and who the wily coyote?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Charlotte Ivers, political correspondent, Times Radio and columnist, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This August, we're revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past year.In the summer of 1944, some of Adolf Hitler's most trusted senior officers narrowly failed in their attempt to assassinate him. But was that the whole story? A recently unearthed file reveals Britain had a man at the heart of Operation Valkyrie.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Josh Glancy, special correspondent, The Sunday Times, andPrince Frederick Solms-Baruth V.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This August, we're revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past year. What happens when one half of a couple becomes a parent against their will?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: Jenny Kleeman, Times Radio presenter and investigative journalist.Host: David Aaronovitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Failed by everyone supposed to protect them, steelworkers were misled into moving £2.8bn out of their final salary pensions. Five years on they are still fighting for compensation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Imogen Tew, senior money reporter for The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: Channel 4 News, GMB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Energy prices have become a national crisis. But for the energy companies, things have never been better. Surely something has to give?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Jamie Nimmo, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, CBS News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a year since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, during the chaotic withdrawal of western allied forces. Images of thousands of people desperate to leave the country were broadcast across the world. What happened to the Afghan people who were left behind? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Charlie Faulkner, correspondent for The Times in Afghanistan.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Times Radio, BBC News, NBC Today, Sky News, Deutsche Welle, CBS News, CNN, Wall Street Journal, TRT World, Al Jazeera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This August, we're revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past year.Xi Jinping is consolidating his position as the all-powerful president of China. But who is the man at the top of the sharpest pyramid in the world of politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Host: David Aaronovitch.Guest: Michael Sheridan, former foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times and author of The Gate to China: A New History of the People's Republic & Hong Kong.Clips: ABC, South China Morning Post, No Comment TV, BBC, CCTV Video News Agency, Periscope Film, Al Jazeera, CBS, VICE News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a British minister tells reporters that John Cantlie is still alive in February 2019, the search is on again. What does the British government know? Anthony Loyd shares his conclusions.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: CNN, Sky, Voice of America, Channel 4, ABC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of this four part series, we meet those who remain loyal to Adnan Oktar and hear from a British lawyer who was at his trial. In January last year, the leader of Turkey's most powerful cult was sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison. But what happened?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. This episode was first published on 18th, February, 2022.Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the website below has a summary of all available support services:https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/If you can’t find the information or support you’re looking for above, you can contact Victim Support’s 24/7 support line on 08 08 16 89 111.Clips: Al-Jazeera, CNBC, Sky News, CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: This episode includes explicit sexual references from the start. In the third episode of this four part series, a former male member of the cult threatens legal action over his interview. Also, we relive the moment the organisation was finally brought down.In January last year, the leader of Turkey's most powerful cult was sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison. But what happened?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. This episode was first published on 11th February, 2022. Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the website below has a summary of all available support services:https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/If you can’t find the information or support you’re looking for above, you can contact Victim Support’s 24/7 support line on 08 08 16 89 111.Clips: Ulusal Kanal, A9TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of this four part series, we hear the testimony of a woman who says she was sexually abused by Adnan Oktar. Plus, a former male member of the cult rethinks his own crimes.In January last year, the leader of Turkey's most powerful cult was sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison. But what happened?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. This episode was first published on 4th February, 2022. Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the website below has a summary of all available support services:https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/If you can’t find the information or support you’re looking for above, you can contact Victim Support’s 24/7 support line on 08 08 16 89 111.Clips: A9TV, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of a four-part series, The Sunday Times's award-winning Middle East Correspondent, Louise Callaghan, tries to get to grips with one of the most bizarre stories she's ever covered.In January last year, the leader of Turkey's most powerful cult was sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison. But what happened?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. This episode was first published on 28th January, 2022. Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the website below has a summary of all available support services:https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/If you can’t find the information or support you’re looking for above, you can contact Victim Support’s 24/7 support line on 08 08 16 89 111.Clips: CNN TÜRK, TV100, Anadolu Agency, CBS News, Sky News, A9TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony retraces John Cantlie’s steps on the streets of Mosul, the Iraqi city where John was last seen alive.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: CNN and BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains discussions of violence and suicide.It's 20 years since the murder of 10-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman horrified the nation. Times crime writer Sean O'Neill, who as a young reporter covered the story, talks to the detective who brought the killer to justice and reflects on the profound impact the case had on all those involved in it – including himself.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sean O’Neill, Senior Writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have got just five weeks left in the Conservative leadership contest. But with ballot papers already going out to party members, how much do we really know about the UK’s next prime minister? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Charlotte Ivers, Times Radio political correspondent and Sunday Times columnist. Host: Jenny Kleeman.Clips: Sky News, Guardian, AP, BBC News, The Mirror, GB News, UK Parliament, BBC Political Thinking with Nick Robinson.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is levelling up over? Boris Johnson's big promise – to fix the country's regional inequalities – might have ended with his government. We visit Wolverhampton, aka levelling up HQ, to see what the programme has done so far – and what is at risk of being lost.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Steve Chatha, Wolverhampton resident.- Jane Stevenson, Conservative MP for Wolverhampton North East.- Mark Andrews, Senior Feature Writer for the Express & Star.Host: Sathnam Sanghera, columnist and feature writer, The Times.Clips: Euro News, BBC News, Sky News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January, Sunday Times correspondent Louise Callaghan met 26-year-old dolphin trainer Vladyslav Litnievskyi while reporting in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. She wondered what would happen to him and his animals if Russia invaded. Last month, Callaghan returned to the dolphinarium not sure what to expect.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Louise Callaghan, Foreign Correspondent for The Sunday Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: BBC, 7News Australia.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, Stories of our times won the award for interview of the year at the British Podcast Awards. The judges said: "This standout interview was a well-executed and compelling listen, which didn't shy away from challenging its subject."So today we're listening back to that interview with the then Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, about the changing face of war and Britain's place in the world.This episode was first published on 23 March 2021.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff, 2018-2021. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: British Podcast Awards, BBC, AP, ITV, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one by one the British and American hostages are killed by their captors, John Cantlie emerges in a series of Islamic State propaganda films, ‘Lend Me Your Ears’. His new role keeps him alive. It also attracts questions. Is the hostage becoming a willing messenger? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times. Clips: CNN, CBS, EWTN, USA Today, NBC, ABC, EuroNews, eNCA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In eight slick, highly produced sessions that played out like a Netflix series, the House Select Committee for investigating the Capitol riots of January 6th, 2021, made a compelling case against former president Donald Trump. But beyond good ratings, what impact did they actually have, particularly on their main target?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hugh Tomlinson, Washington Reporter, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Denver 7, PBS NewsHour, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBC News, ABC News, WDIV Local 4, Yahoo! Finance, Democracy Now!, The Hill, CNN, The Lincoln Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years ago today, 900 million people watched London’s Olympic opening ceremony, marking the start of a games which, it was hoped, would help regenerate a corner of East London. Looking at the site now, how have those hopes held up? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Jonathan Morrison, architecture correspondent, The Times. - Mike Brooke, senior reporter, Archant press. Host: Edward Drummond. Clips: BBC, CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Ukraine war progressed, journalists, activists and critics were forced to flee the country. But as Putin’s grip on the media tightened, what was it like for the people who were left? And when does it become too dangerous to stay? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, BBC Newsnight, France 24, CBS News, Sky News, The Telegraph, BBC News, NBC News, Times Radio, PBS Newshour, NEXTA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight, the two contenders for prime minister take part in their first head-to-head TV debate. Meanwhile, unnoticed by the general public, one former diplomat has played a key role in the contest, as part of his mission to create a new ideological faction. The Frost story – and various sliding doors moments along the way – could explain how the Conservative Party got to this point, and where it’s heading…This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC News, Sky News, TalkTV, Times Radio, GB News, Policy Exchange, Food and Drink Federation, Centre for Policy Studies, BBC Radio 4, Unherd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the hostages who were held with John Cantlie describe what life was like inside their prison cell, under the watch of brutal Isis guards. Their captors had a special role in mind for John… but why did Isis pick him?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: Acceleration TV, Bikes Aloud, Enduro Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The heads of MI5 and the FBI recently warned about the growing threat from China’s efforts to spy on the world as it attempts to stay ahead of rivals in technology, industry, politics and power. But has Britain been slow to grasp the scale of the issue?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ian Williams, author, 'The Fire of the Dragon: China’s New Cold War' and contributor to The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Sky News, France24, IB Times, Sky News Australia, VOA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation has hit a new 40-year high – just living life is expensive at the moment, and it’s getting worse. But to fight rising prices, politicians will first have to understand what’s causing them. The war in Ukraine and the pandemic are two factors, but is that the full picture?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC, LBC, PBS Newshour, ITV, Channel 4 News, C-SPAN, Reuters, Sky News, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bank of England, GB News, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, CNBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for the first time ever, as temperatures could hit a record-breaking 43C today. With train delays, school disruption, and the NHS declaring critical incidents already, is our infrastructure ready for a life at 35C… and hotter?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, Sky News, 5 News, Global News, Times Radio, ITV News, Evening Standard, BBC Radio 4 The World at One, WION, CNN, RTVE, TF1 Info, Channel 4, National Parks Singapore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The east coast of Australia has been pummelled with disastrous flooding for the fourth time in less than 18 months. It's the first test for prime minister Anthony Albanese, who swept to power on a climate change platform. But can the tide turn with better climate policy, or is coastal Australia becoming uninhabitable? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Bernard Lagan, Australia Correspondent, The Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: ABC, ABC Australia, AP, A Current Affair, The Guardian, 7News Australia, Storyful, SBS, Reuters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Anthony Loyd this story is personal. Anthony reveals that he himself was captured while reporting on the Syrian conflict. What is it like to be a journalist covering war? And what does his experience tell us about John Cantlie's kidnap?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: BBC and CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just six candidates are left in the race to be the next Conservative Party leader and prime minister. They're now battling to make it to the final two. But the eventual winner will be chosen not by MPs or by the public, but by the party’s members. So what are the dividing lines? And just who are the people with the future of the country in their hands?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London.- Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist and Conservative member of the House of Lords.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Sky News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, LBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.