Stories of our times

Tilly Norwood, the world's first 'AI actress' has rocked Hollywood, sparking union protests and denounced by actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, George Clooney and Emily Blunt. For some she's a threat to the artform, for others an inevitability. She'll never forget her lines, turn up late or fall drunk out of a bar. Tilly can appear in multiple films at once and even change her appearance at will. But what does her creator say? Is she the future of cinema? Eline Van der Velden tells her side of the story, from the A-list backlash, to developing Tilly's personality.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Tom Whipple, science correspondent, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: I invented the AI actress Tilly Norwood. She's no threat to HollywoodClips: NBC, CBS, Fox News, Particle6.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The findings of the report into the political governance and decision making during the pandemic are damning about Boris Johnson's government's attempts to protect the public from the virus. Who was responsible for a “toxic and sexist culture” and who misled Downing Street?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Covid inquiry: eight key takeaways from the reportClips: UK Covid-19 Inquiry.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump has bowed to pressure from US lawmakers, including those in his own Republican party, to release files related to the investigation into the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. As leading MAGA figures start to rebel, we ask whether Trump has lost control over his base? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. Read more: Marjorie Taylor Greene: Americans won't tolerate Trump's Epstein files ‘bulls***'Further listening: The new Epstein emails about TrumpClips: BBC, Sky, PBS, MS Now / YouTube, Democrats / Facebook, Fox. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an attempt to court the favour of the post-Assad regime in Syria, western countries have recently de-proscribed former terrorist groups. What does that mean for those who were deprived of their citizenship for allegedly associating with those groups, back when the West banned them?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: Rabies, Russians and a return to scene of my kidnap, 11 years ago.Further listening: Palmyra: Syria's past, present and future.Clips: The Guardian, CNN, The Times, France 24.Photo: Anthony Loyd for The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced sweeping changes to the asylum rules yesterday; the largest overhaul since the Second World War. The changes have apparently been inspired by Denmark but will they work or are they - as one Labour MP said - ‘repugnant'?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Ben Clathworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times.Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Micaela Arneson, Harry Stott. Read more: Shabana Mahmood speech: Asylum policy to cope with ‘volatile' worldFurther listening: Doomed to fail? Labour's asylum u-turnClips: Sky, Times Radio, parliamentlive.tv.Photo: Andrew Fox for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From this year, 18 year-old Danish women will have to take part in a conscription lottery and face potentially being called up for an 11 month military service. The country is just one of many in Europe aiming to improve military resilience in response to the growing threat from Russia. But what does it mean to the teenagers caught up on the front line of this debate?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Gatens, commissioning editor of news review, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further Reading: Denmark's drive to conscript teenage girls: "We're pretty scared"Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time, scientists have successfully sequenced Adolf Hitler's DNA, taken from a bloodstain in the bunker where he spent his final days. It's one of the most remarkable scientific studies in modern history, and the results are astonishing. They reveal a previously unknown medical condition, which finally uncovers the truth behind that famous wartime song, raise fascinating questions and resolve long-standing questions: Is Hitler of Jewish ancestry? Was he a schizophrenic? And what does his DNA tell us about evil?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Jack Blackburn, History Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: Times Radio, NBC, Channel 4/Blink Films UK.Read more: - Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals- Sunken port may provide clue to Cleopatra and Mark Antony's lost tombPhoto: Shaun Parkinson/Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Andreia Pawel is co-founder of the Orange River-Karoo Conservation Area, one of the world's most ambitious rewilding projects. Spanning more than a million hectares in Namibia, and with the support of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, it aims to restore lost ecosystems, reintroduce species and work with local Nama communities to build a new model for conservation. She tells Adam Vaughan how, with bold ambitions, we can breathe new life into the natural world.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andreia Pawel, conservationist and co-founder, Orange River-Karoo Conservation AreaHost: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The TimesSeries producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Negotiations at the annual global climate change conference, or COP, are in full swing. But with consensus on the issue collapsing at home and abroad, including the US withdrawing from the landmark Paris agreement, is there even any point in the summit? We ask the UK's special representative for climate.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Professor Rachel Kyte, UK special representative for climate.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.Read more: Ed Miliband: Cop30 will prove net zero doubters wrongFurther listening: Have we stopped caring about climate change?Clips: United Nations / YouTube, TRT World, DW News / YouTube, Yahoo / YouTube, ITV, SABC News, News X World.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US House Oversight Committee. One email alleges Donald Trump 'knew about the girls'. While the White House argues a selective leaking of this correspondence has created a fake narrative, what does this release tell us about the relationship between the US President and the convicted paedophile? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Clips: NBC News, Fox News.Further Reading: What Epstein said about Trump in newly released emailsFurther Listening: Can Trump shake his Epstein problem?Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, The Times broke the news that the International Olympic Committee is a step closer to banning transgender women from competing in all female events. So why is the IOC acting now? And could President Trump have anything to do with it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson.Read more: Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic eventsFurther listening: New rules for trans athletes: fairness or exclusion?Clips: Sky News, Bloomberg, Sports Insider by DRM / YouTube, CBS Evening News, Sky News Australia, Associated Press, Sky News Sports. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the resignations of two of its most senior members of staff, the BBC is being questioned over allegations of institutional bias. Donald Trump has threatened to sue the organisation, and with negotiations about the continuation of the BBC's funding model underway, where does it leave our national broadcaster?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Rosamund Urwin, media editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond, Shabnam Grewal, Harry Stott.Clips: News.com.Au, Reuters, TalkTV, NBC News, Bloomberg News, GBNews, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, tech billionaire Mike Lynch was given a second chance at life when he was acquitted of criminal fraud charges. But while celebrating with friends and family aboard his yacht, a freak storm arose. Lynch, his daughter, and five others were tragically killed. This week, deliberations begin over how much compensation his estate owes to the company he defrauded. Payments which could lead to bankruptcy.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Prescott, technology business editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Further listening: The tragedy of Mike Lynch and the sunken yacht Clips: Danny in the Valley, BBC, LeadersIn, Black Thunder / YouTube, Charlie Rose. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the most watched TV show of the year, but The Traitors is much more than just entertainment: it's a psychological experiment. How did a game, born out of Cold War Soviet roots, become a mirror of modern power, politics, and trust? Why do we value charm over logic? And can you ever really trust anyone? Not according to Times feature writer Helen Rumbelow.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestorySpoiler alert: Reveals the winner of the Celebrity Traitors from the start. Guest: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer and columnist, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The Traitors is rigged, just not how you think it isThe Celebrity Traitors final review — epic duplicity and backstabbingWho should be in series two of The Celebrity Traitors?Clips: BBC, Network 10.Photo: Cody Burridge/Studio Lambert/BBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Explorer and Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative partner Steve Boyes has spent decades navigating Africa's wild rivers. He tells Adam Vaughan how illness and resilience has reshaped his outlook and why protecting rivers, landscapes and communities has become his life's mission.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Steve Boyes, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer.Host: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The TimesSeries Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year's attack on a dance class in Southport killed three young girls and injured a further eight, as well as two adults. The teenager responsible, Axel Rudakubana, has since been sentenced to a minimum 52 years. But a public inquiry is still trying to understand whether it would have been possible to prevent the horrific event.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Constance Kampfner, northern correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edward Drummond.Read more: Axel Rudakubana's father ‘was too scared to challenge him'Southport killer's brother ‘feared he would kill a family member'Clips: Southport Inquiry, Times Radio, The Times.Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost 700,000 people are waiting to book their driving test in the UK, a record backlog which is being exploited by scammers. Our reporter Emma Kirwan found victims across the UK have already paid out more than £134,000 this year trying to book slots which don't exist. So, she tracked down a scammer and got him on the phone.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Emma Kirwan, reporter, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Times Radio.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves has paved the way for potential tax rises. In a speech three weeks before the budget, the chancellor refused to commit to Labour's manifesto promise to not raise National Insurance, income tax or VAT. With Nigel Farage also back-pedalling on tax cuts, is it time for the politicians to be more honest about the state of the economy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The TimesHost: Manveen Rana.Producers: Shabnam Grewal, Alula Hart.Read more: Reeves: We must all do our bit to secure Britain's futureFurther listening: Do bond markets rule the world?Clips: Sky News, The Guardian, Parliament TV, ITV Politics.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, passengers on a train from Doncaster to London King's Cross suddenly found themselves in the path of a man wielding a large kitchen knife. In the terrifying minutes that followed, there were scenes of horror and acts of bravery. So what happened, could the attack have been prevented, and can passenger safety be improved? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Izzy Lyons, reporter, The Sunday Times, Theo Usherwood, political reporter, Times Radio Host: Manveen RanaProducers: Micaela Arneson, Shabnam Grewal. Read more: What happened on the train in Huntingdon? How stabbing attack unfoldedClips: BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Channel 4 News, Parliament TV, Sky News, RTE News, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow is election day for the mayor of New York and the frontrunner is 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. But are his plans to remake America's biggest city achievable - or a pipe dream? And how might he face off against President Trump?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Olivia Case, Sophie McNulty, Alula Hart.Clips: nnmaddox / YouTube, @amberyeet / TikTok, NBC, C-SPAN, zohran_k_mamdani / TikTok, Fox, Mr Cardamom / YouTube, Bernie Sanders / YouTube, @subwaytakes / TikTok, Forbes.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gail Rice had given up on dating apps and was dreading old age. Then the psychologist had an idea — book a hotel room for a landmark birthday and pay a stranger to turn her on. Would it work?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Olivia Case. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: My 70th birthday treat? I hired a male escortClips: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Searchlight Pictures.Photo: Isabella Moore for The Times Magazine. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. In Lausanne, Switzerland, neuroscientist and Rolex Awards Laureate Grégoire Courtine and neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch have pioneered a “digital bridge” that translates brain signals into spinal stimulation, giving people with paralysis new ways to regain movement. They tell Tom Whipple about the science behind the technology, the patients leading the way and their hopes for the future of movement recovery after paralysis.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Grégoire Courtine, Neuroscientist and co-founder of NeuroRestore. Jocelyne Bloch, Neurosurgeon and co-founder of NeuroRestore. Suzanne Edwards, Patient at NeuroRestore. Host: Tom Whipple, Science Writer, The Times.Series Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is from The Story's sister podcast The Royals.He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The man formerly known as Prince Andrew is being stripped of his titles and removed from his mansion, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate. Last month The Times obtained a copy of the leasehold agreement for Royal Lodge which showed that while the prince paid £1 million for the lease plus at least £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, he has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent per year, since 2003. Andrew's links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, brought increasing public and political demands for action. It is a seismic moment in royal history – but is it enough? Presenter: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times.Contributors: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent,The Times and,George Greenwood, investigations reporter, The Times.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Priyanka Deladia, Robert Wallace, Stephen Titherington.Photo: Getty Images.Subscribe to The Royals podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since January, one clinic in the UK has started prescribing the weight-loss medication Wegovy to 12-17 year-olds. For some, the results have been life-changing. But without evidence about the long-term impacts, is it safe?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Roisin Kelly, commissioning editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: The children taking Wegovy to turn their lives aroundFurther listening: Why weight loss drugs will change even more than you thinkPhoto: Times Media.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, while Xi Jinping hit back with export limits on rare earth minerals. As the two leaders come face to face in South Korea to make a deal, the stakes are high.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edith Rousselot and Alula Hart. Clips: CBS News, CNBC, AP News, Bloomberg TV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has announced plans to move migrants out of hotels and into accommodation on military barracks. The same plan Labour opposed when put forward by the Conservatives in 2023. What's behind the move and could it work? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Asylum seekers to be housed in military sites instead of hotelsBillions ‘squandered on migrant hotels due to incompetence'Clips: Parliament, BBC, Times Radio, ITV, Getty Images. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years ago, French bloggers began to claim the President's wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man. As the false allegations spread internationally, the Macrons decided to take legal action. Yesterday, ten people appeared in a Paris court charged with cyberbullying and in the US, the right wing influencer Candace Owens faces a defamation suit. So where did this come from? And in a world of fake news, is there value in fighting for the truth?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Charles Bremner, Paris contributor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case and Micalea Arneson.Clips: De de / YouTube, NBC, CNN, France24, Engineering Science, Theo Von Clips, Candace Owens / YouTube, Daily Wire Plus, BFMTV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cyberattack which shut down Jaguar Land Rover for five weeks this summer, cost Britain nearly £2bn. It was just one of a series of attacks on big British businesses by teenage hackers who co-ordinate via the dark web. So who are they and how do we stop them? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Matilda Davies, data journalist at The Times and The Sunday Times andChris Stokel Walker, technology journalist. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Who are the hackers behind the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack? , Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack nears £2bn in UK's costliest hackClips: BBC News, 5 News, ITV News, TALK TV, CHANNEL 4 News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been described as the 'crime of the decade'. In just seven minutes, masked thieves stole the French crown jewels in broad daylight, from the most visited museum in the world: the Louvre. How did they pull off their audacious plan and will they get away with it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Chazan, Paris correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: How the Louvre Heist UnfoldedClips: ITV News, Fox News, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Over a billion people live with preventable vision loss. Eye surgeon and Rolex Awards Laureate Andrew Bastawrous has created a smartphone app that is transforming eyecare, facilitating sight restoration for millions and changing lives. He tells Tom Whipple, how glasses – a 700-year-old invention – have transformed his own life, and why he's determined no one should lose their sight for lack of access.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andrew Bastawrous, eye surgeon and founder, Peek Vision.Host: Tom Whipple, science writer, The Times.Series Producer: Priyanka Deladia.Sound Designer: David Crackles.This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump announced sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil companies, saying he hoped it may push Putin to be ‘reasonable' over ending the Ukraine war. The EU swiftly followed suit, and discussed using seized Russian assets to help fund Ukraine. Could the financial pressure bring Russia's economy– and Putin's war ambitions– to its knees? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson, Edith Rousselot. Read more: What do Trump's sanctions on Russian oil mean for Ukraine war?Trump announces ‘tremendous' new raft of sanctions against RussiaClips: Forbes, Associated Press, Times News. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is promising to give Argentina $20 billion to save its struggling economy but only if incumbent President Javier Milei holds onto power in the midterm elections this weekend. So why does Trump care about a country 5,000 miles away? And is this part of a broader swing to the right across South America?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Stephen Gibbs, contributor, Latin America and the Caribbean, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Read more: Trump to Argentina voters: Back Javier Milei to get US billionsMaría Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize — to fury of Trump's teamFurther listening: Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil? Clips: AP, Forbes, ABC, PBS, Vivo / YouTube, New York Post, The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the night of September 9, sirens sounded across eastern Poland. Around 20 Russian drones had crossed the border, and NATO aircraft were scrambled to shoot them down. The incident became a wake-up call for Europe and the US, where further sightings of drones over airports and military facilities have since been reported. This week, defence secretary John Healey announced a plan to allow British troops to bring down drones over military bases. But the UK isn't the only country taking this growing threat more seriously. So what's Europe's plan to fight Putin's drones? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Drones and balloons cause wave of panic in Nato countriesHow ‘state-sponsored' drone activity is pushing Nato to brinkSoldiers will be given power to shoot down threatening dronesFurther listening: Putin's drones, Nato's fightback, and when is it war? https://pod.fo/e/3352cd Clips: NPR, 7 News, Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last week, after new revelations about the relationship between the Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew was forced to relinquish his titles. His meeting with the King also followed the publication of extracts from the autobiography of Virginia Giuffre, which is released today. Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, something he has always strongly denied. In recent days, there have been further questions about the prince's judgement and financial arrangements. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Katie Gatens, Commissioning Editor of News Review, The Sunday Times. George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edith Rousselot and Shabnam Grewal. Read more: ‘Tell us everything you saw, Andrew, for Virginia's sake'Clips: BBC, Times Radio.Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you the first episode from The Times' new investigative series, The Poppy Day Bomb.On Remembrance Sunday in 1987, an IRA bomb went off in Mario Ledwith's hometown of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, which ultimately killed 12 people. A lifetime later, Mario returns to investigate the silence surrounding that terror attack.To make sure you don't miss the rest of the series, subscribe to the Poppy Day Bomb.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence that you may find upsetting.Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter, The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwidth@thetimes.co.ukpodcasts.investigates@thetimes.comConnect your Times subscription with Apple Podcasts and get episodes ad free and early. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The small Irish town of Tuam is home to one of Ireland's most shocking secrets. During the 20th century, thousands of children born out of wedlock were taken from their mothers, branded the 'children of sin' and sent to institutions run by nuns. At St Mary's, it's claimed 800 died of preventable causes, their remains discarded. Now, following a decade-long campaign for justice, an excavation has begun. Will it finally uncover the truth? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWARNING: This episode contains references to rape, and the deaths and mistreatment of babies and infants.Guest: Sean O'Neill, senior writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: BBC, Sky News, The Journal, RTE, ABC, France24.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Marine scientist Ben Fitzpatrick is fighting to protect the Ningaloo Coast and Exmouth Gulf – one of Earth's last wild marine frontiers, home to whale sharks, dugongs, manta rays and vibrant coral reefs. Speaking with Adam Vaughan, he reflects on growing up in Western Australia and why safeguarding this rare ocean wilderness matters for future generations.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Ben Fitzpatrick, Marine Scientist and Mission Blue Hope Spot ChampionHost: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The TimesSeries Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In politically unstable times, the whims and worries of the global bond market are having a huge impact on what action governments around the world can take. So who are these people trading in government debt? And how did they get the power to leave so many governments so shaken and stirred?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Shabnam Grewal.Read more: IMF warns soaring debt levels threaten financial stabilityWhy bond markets rule the world (and give Rachel Reeves a lifeline)UK to have highest inflation rate of major economies, IMF saysClips: Bloombergtv, Eurodollar University, Stone X, Bloomberg Podcasts, Al Jazeera English, CNBC International Live.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the case against two British men accused of spying for China suddenly collapsed, the Government and the Crown Prosecution Service have been playing the blame game, each accusing the other of being responsible. So who's really at fault? And did China get a free pass in order to secure a better trade deal?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case, Micaela Arneson. Read more: The inside story of China spy case collapse: ‘It came from the very top'Keir Starmer's security adviser ‘too close to China', ministers warnFurther listening: The Westminster aide suspected of spying for China Clips: Sky, WION, BBC, ITV, Parliament TV, Channel 4.Photo: Alamy, Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright, Faculty AI, Adobe Stock, Denise Kelly. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With increasing numbers of people crossing the Channel in small boats, emergency call logs lay bare the fears faced by those trying to reach Britain. These calls highlight the risks taken every day by those at the centre of this growing crisis. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Emma Yeomans, News reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edward Drummond. Read more: Bigger, deadlier crossings: distress calls show migrant crisis has changedFurther listening: The human cost of the migrant crisisClips: ITV News, The Times, GB News.Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a sense of euphoria in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, yesterday, as all of the living hostages held by Hamas since the October 7th attacks were released. But while Trump told the Israeli parliament the peace plan he brokered was a miracle, cracks have already begun to emerge. So is this really the beginning of long term peace in the Middle East?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edith Rousselot, Olivia Case.Clips: The Times, Fox News, GB NewsPhoto: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has uncovered cases of parents accused of killing their babies, based in part on testimony from a forensic expert who claimed to find evidence of harm. But serious concerns have now been raised about his conclusions by judges and other specialist pathologists. What happens if the expert gets it wrong?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: James Beal, Deputy Investigations Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. Read more: Miscarriage of justice fears over expert's evidence in baby death trials‘Two nightmares at once': the mothers accused over their babies' deathsPhoto: The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.