Stories of our times

Polymarket and Kalshi have become two of the fastest-growing online platforms in the prediction market, hosting bets where people can wager on the outcome of events, including on the conflict in Iran. But some observers have raised concerns that unusually precise, well-timed bets could point to insider dealings. So what exactly are prediction markets? And what does it mean for society when you can bet on almost anything?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: Chris Stokel-Walker, technology journalist and author.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sophie McNulty & Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Dollars and death threats: the dark side of prediction marketsFurther listening: How AI helped Trump attack IranClips: FRENCH 24 English, CNN, 60 Minutes, CBS News, Fox 10 Phoenix, iSpot, The Times, Coinbase. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war with Iran rumbles on, are ceasefire talks back on or is that ‘fake news'? What's in America's 15 point peace plan? Could an Iranian missile reach the UK? And how long can Iran keep fighting? Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones are here to answer your questions, in our monthly Q&A. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Manveen Rana and Luke Jones. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran war latest: US ‘negotiating with itself', Tehran claimsFurther listening: Inside Lebanon as Israel and Hezbollah wage warPhoto: Getty Images and The Times' designer Dana Chan.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of our county lines series, we hear how county lines drug gangs are continuing to shift their business model to avoid detection. Policing minister, Sarah Jones, explains how the government is planning to fight back. Plus, The Times' crime editor David Woode sits down with The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins to discuss what they've learnt about the inner workings of county lines gangs.This is episode five of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.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: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble, Edward Drummond, and Taryn SiegelWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I joined the police on a county lines crackdownPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike started selling drugs for a county lines gang when he was just a teenager. After being arrested and getting stabbed, he left that life behind. But he's been willing to share his experiences with The Times' crime editor David Woode for the first time, explaining how he got caught 'under a spell'. This is episode four of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.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: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel. With thanks to the St Giles TrustWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Inside the case of a 15-year-old caught with a machete and pistolFurther listening: Why I carried a knifePhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves.Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation.This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.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 more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we go inside Operation Titan, as North Yorkshire Police fight back against county lines drugs gangs. But with each line the police shut down, another pops up in its place, sometimes within days. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins investigates how to break the cycle. This is episode two of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.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 more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David Collins.Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part one of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.Today we reveal how police took down the family controlling the drug trade in one British city, creating a power vacuum that was filled by a new breed of violent, criminal operation - county lines.The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins is given unprecedented access to North Yorkshire Police as they fight back against the drug gangs. 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 more: Exposed: how drug gangs deal without fear as the law can't keep up | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble, Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate, Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After years in hiding, The Sunday Times has obtained images of Christy and Daniel Kinahan, leaders of the all-powerful Kinahan cartel, living freely in Dubai. They are some of the most wanted criminals in the world. So why aren't they in custody?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: John Mooney, Investigative reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Taryn Siegel.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The world is looking for the Kinahan drug lords. We found themFurther listening: Gourmet gangster: Could Kinahan be caught by his Google reviews?Clips: 971 FC, Irish Gangland, FM Boxing, Storyful.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What began as an evening out at a nightclub in Kent has rapidly spiralled into a "super-spreader" event that has left doctors stunned and two young people dead. This surge in Meningitis B cases has triggered a public health alert, leaving the UK scrambling as private vaccine supplies run dry. So how can the authorities contain this unprecedented outbreak?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: Eleanor Hayward, Health Editor, The Times. Professor Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, the University of East Anglia.Niamh Curran, reporter, The Times Enterprise Network.Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Julia Webster, Callum Martin, Olivia Case. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Meningitis B outbreak: six cases after Kent superspreader event.Meningitis started with a headache. Then the blinding pain began.What causes meningitis? Symptoms and how the infection spreads.Further listening: Inside the world of "Looksmaxxing"Clips: SkyPhoto: Denise Kelly, Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Israel announced it's preparing a ground offensive into Lebanon. Fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group, has ratcheted up since the death of Iran's supreme leader more than two weeks ago. Over 900 people have been killed in Lebanon and nearly one million are displaced. Will Israel's new campaign bring a quicker end to the fighting? Or prolong a war which is already spiralling out of control?This episode contains graphic descriptions that some listeners may find distressing.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: Lousie Callaghan, foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times. Tom Ball, reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: IDF prepares for Lebanon offensive: ‘We don't know how this ends'Further listening: The Gulf's moment of truth - reshaping the Middle EastClips: IDF via @NationalDefence Youtube. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in the Middle East has now entered its third week and shows no sign of ending any time soon. Oil prices have soared and transatlantic relations between the US and its allies are strained. So what are President Trump's options now? And will the Europeans support him in policing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz?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: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Starmer resists Trump's call to send warships to Strait of HormuzFurther listening: Is Cuba next?Clips: Fox, The White House, STV, The Times, Euronews, Keir Starmer / YouTube, WSJ, C-SPAN, DRM News International / YouTube. Photo: Getty Images, The Times' Senior Digtal Designer Shaun Parkinson.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout Cuba, fuel shortages, blackouts, and food scarcity have become the norm. Since the US intervention in Venezuela in January, the oil lifeline into Cuba has all but dried up. Trump is now claiming that Cuba is on the brink of collapse. As the war in Iran rages on unabated – is this American neighbour his next target?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: Matthew Campbell, foreign features editor, The Sunday TimesCatherine Philp, world affairs editor, The TimesHost: Rosie Wright.Producers: Sophie McNulty & Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther reading: Cubans await Trump's next move: ‘Would the Americans bomb us?'Further listening: Drugs, oil and power: what Trump is doing with VenezuelaClips: AP, DRM News, News Nation, Onyx Media, Archivo DiFilm, APT.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the shadowy corners of incel forums, a new obsession was quietly emerging. To succeed, financially, socially and sexually, you need to level up your face and frame. Enter “Looksmaxxing”, the idea that how you look can be engineered to perfection to maximise your full aesthetic potential. It's a TikTok-fuelled culture of mogging, "bone-smashing", and glow-ups - and a way for young men to measure beauty, status, and self-worth. How far will some go to “max” their looks? Is it vanity, or a survival strategy in a hyper-visual world? And what does it reveal about the state of men's mental health today?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Rosie WrightGuest: Jack Burke, times contributor.Producer: Dave CreaseyRead more: Looksmaxxing: the worrying new extreme teenage trendImage: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1938, Catherine Duleep Singh, goddaughter of Queen Victoria and daughter of the last Maharajah of Punjab, personally secured the escape of Jewish families to Britain, saving them from the Holocaust. Her story didn't end there, she became a prominent suffragette, fighting for women's rights while navigating life in exile. We explore her remarkable courage, activism, and the lives she forever changed.Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Jack Blackburn, history correspondent for The Times.Producer: Dave CreaseyRead more: Last princess of Punjab who saved families from the HolocaustImage: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story host Manveen Rana and her Times colleague Anthony Loyd continue their search for what happened to the British photojournalist John Cantlie, after he was kidnapped by ISIS in Syria. In this thrilling denouement to the series, Manveen and Anthony travel to a maximum security prison in Iraq to meet a man who could hold the answer. But will this ISIS prisoner reveal all? Or will Cantlie's death remain a mystery?Listen to the full Last Man Standing series here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive producer: Will Roe.Further reading: Anthony Loyd: my hunt for the forgotten Isis hostage John CantlieWatch: Hostage on BBC iPlayer. Clips: BBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Mandelson's disastrous few months continue apace, after the government released a tranche of documents that tell us a lot about his hiring - and firing - as ambassador to the US. So what's in the files? And what does it all say about the judgment of the Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryOur listener survey is live - find it here.Guest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times. Host: Rosie Wright. Producers: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Peter Mandelson files: flawed vetting, ‘risk' and other revelationsMandelson files expose Keir Starmer — and it's just the beginningFurther listening: Mandelson, Epstein and the fight for survival at No 10Clips: Guardian News, AFP News Agency, Sky News, Diario AS. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Iran continues to attack its Gulf neighbours could the strikes turn into a wider war? Who might be drawn in? And with Iran hitting friends as well as foes, how will this war reshape the Middle East and its relationship with the US?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Michael Stephens, consultant and senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Hofit Golan, influencer and content creator.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran latest: Trump says war could end soon as ‘nothing left to target'Further listening: Iran has a new leader - how long will he last?Clips: Al Jazeera. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War in the Middle East has caused oil and gas prices to soar and sent the markets into turmoil. But why does oil still have such a powerful influence over the cost of household goods? And what has history taught us about how wars are waged when oil holds such sway?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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:Dr Ellen R. Wald, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center and author of Saudi, Inc..Harry Wallop, consumer journalist and Times Radio contributor.Host: Rosie WrightProducer: Julia Webster and Harry StottWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Does Trump really have a plan for what he is doing in Iran?Further listening: Could Trump lose MAGA over Iran?Clips: Blue Georgia on X, The White House, The Economic Times, CNN, GB News, APPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He's the son of the late Ali Khamenei and a shadowy figure with a history of orchestrating brutal crackdowns on dissenters. President Donald Trump is also not a fan. So what does his appointment mean for the conflict raging in the Middle East? Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Catherine Philp, world affairs editor, The Times.Negah Angha, former US State Department and National Security Council advisor. Host: Darryl Morris.Producer: Micaela Arneson, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comOur listener survey is live - find it here.Read more: Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader?Further listening: How AI helped Trump attack IranClips: Sky News, Al Jazeera, NBC, Fox News, The Times, ABC NewsPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The use of Artificial Intelligence by militaries used to be talked about in the abstract, but during the US and Israel's strikes on Iran we've seen it used in real time. So what happens when you have robots who can make battlefield decisions quicker than the speed of thought? And what made the Trump administration fall out with one of the world's leading AI companies?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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 Leslie, Professor of ethics, technology and society in the Digital Environment Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London.Host: Rosie Wright.Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How AI helps 20 US troops do the work of 2,000 in Iran warFurther listening: Anthropic vs Pentagon: How AI is changing warClips: Fox, CBS News, Reuters.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty years after her death, Frida Kahlo went from relative obscurity to one of the most famous female artists on the planet. Now, her image has been used on everything from watches, scented candles, clothes, sanitary pads, and even Barbie dolls. But how did the communist icon become the face of a million dollar enterprise? At the centre of the story is a Kahlo family divided. Should her image reflect her artistic treasures or a global brand?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Blanca Schofield, assistant culture and books editor for both The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Artist — or brand? How Frida Kahlo's family lost controlPhoto: FridaMoji/Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Iran has left its people divided. Some openly welcome the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others mourn, steadfast in their loyalty to the Islamic Republic. The divisions run deep, cutting across generations. Majid Parsa grew up in one such household. He tells his story.Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Majid Parsa, author of The Ayatollah's Gaze.Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in the Middle East enters its seventh day, prominent supporters of President Trump have criticised his decision to attack Iran. The political stakes are high for a president who pledged no new wars on the campaign trail. So can he keep the MAGA crowd on his side?Our listener survey is live - find it here.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: Katy Balls, Washington editor for The Times and The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Julia WebsterWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran is Trump's biggest bet yet. It could define his presidencyFurther listening: Iran after the AyatollahClips: Sky, CBS, CNN, ABC, WAAY 31, BBC, Fox, Tucker Carlson, Channel 4, C-SPAN, Associated Press, Boston GlobePhoto: Graphic by Denise Kelly. Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An unusual podcast listener gets in touch.Four years on from our series exploring the circumstances behind the kidnap and disappearance of British photojournalist John Cantlie by ISIS in Syria, Last Man Standing returns. As the BBC TV releases a three-part documentary series Hostage, based on reporting from our original series, we bring you the latest for our own podcast.Find the full Last Man Standing series here. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive Producer: Will Roe.Further reading: Anthony Loyd: my hunt for the forgotten Isis hostage John CantlieWatch: Hostage on BBC iPlayer. Clips: BBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Mexican government took down a drug lord last week, the Sunday Times was there to document the aftermath. Does this mark a turning point in the war on drugs? Or are things about to get much worse? A warning that this episode contains descriptions of graphic violence. 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: Louise Callaghan, Americas correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Rosie Wright. Producer: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: A cartel boss is dead, but normal Mexicans always pay the priceFurther listening: The town ripped apart by Mexico's new narcos Clips: BBC, WMTW, Configo FN, Fox News, Al Jazeera, Noticias Telemundo, Reuters. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer made it clear that the US would not be permitted to use UK bases to launch strikes against Iran. On Sunday, that position shifted. Not only has the UK now allowed the use of joint bases, it is also intercepting Iranian drones, and sources have told The Times that a British warship may be deployed to Cyprus. As tensions in the Middle East escalate, is Britain being drawn ever deeper into the conflict? And how might this end?Our listener survey is live - find it here. 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: Michael Evans, defence contributor, The TimesGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders, former Chief of the General Staff and co-host of The General & the Journalist, one of our sister podcasts Host: Rosie WrightProducers: Sophie McNulty & Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Special relationship ‘not what it once was', as Trump rebukes PM on IranFurther listening: Iran after the AyatollahClips: The Times, AP, BBC, CNN, The White House, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of protests against Ayatollah Khamenei's regime earlier this year, the Iranian people cried out for American help as they were massacred in their thousands. Over the weekend, the Americans and Israelis did finally intervene in Iran, killing the Ayatollah, but leaving a flood of questions in their wake. Who will now fill the political vacuum? Will there be regime change? And what next for the Iranian people?Our listener survey is live - find it here. 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:Rana Rahimpour, Iranian journalist.Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian history, the University of St. Andrews. Host: Rosie Wright.Producers: Harry Stott, Julia Webster. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who will replace Ayatollah Khamenei — a moderate or an ‘Iranian Putin'?Further listening: Iran's supreme leader killed - is the Middle East in all out war?Clips: BBC, AP, EuroNews, State Department / Instagram, 60 Minutes.Photo: Getty Images, The Times, Dana Chan.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, a chilling rumour has haunted Sarajevo: that foreign tourists paid to visit the besieged city in the early 1990s to shoot at its residents. Today, Italian authorities are investigating several cases of alleged ‘tourist snipers,' thrusting these accusations back into the headlines. Now, an eyewitness to these so-called ‘human safaris' has spoken to The Times about what he saw more than 30 years ago.Our listener survey is live - find it here. 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: Tom Kington, the Italy correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyTranslator: Aleksa AnticWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Sarajevo sniper tourists ‘killed children by day, then partied at night'Clips: BBC, ITN, FRENCH 24 English. Photo: Getty Images, Tom Kington.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early on Saturday morning, the US and Israel launched a wave of attacks on Iran, killing the supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran has retaliated, with strikes reported in the UAE, Qatar and across the region. But will Trump get his regime change or could Iran become just another failed state? And is the middle east on the brink of all-out war?Our listener survey is live - find it here. 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:Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza correspondent, The Times.Sir Peter Westmacott, formerly Britain's Ambassador to the United States of America, and Britain's political secretary, Tehran.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran latest: UK plans mass Middle East evacuation as Tehran strikes backFurther listening: Four years of war: can Ukraine continue to deny Putin?Clips: The White House / YouTube, CBS, Truth Social, ABC, BBC, The Times. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next week, the BBC launches a new three part documentary, Hostage, based on our award winning Times podcast series Last Man Standing. It's the story of British photojournalist John Cantlie who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State in 2012. While his fellow hostages were released or murdered, he remained captive. Then, a series of Isis propaganda videos emerged, fronted by Cantlie. He hasn't been seen since. So what happened to him? In this episode, The Times War Correspondent, Anthony Lloyd, begins his investigation.This episode was first published on 24 June 2022.Listen to the whole series: Last Man Standing Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Lloyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: BBC, 5Live, CNN, NBC, BBC.Further reading: The murky truth about Britain's forgotten hostage John CantlieWe've launched The Story's first ever listener survey! If you can, please take a few minutes to fill it in. You can find it here: The Story surveyThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From men wanting to buy her breast milk, to going undercover in the IVF wild west, investigative journalist and author Alev Scott has immersed herself in the murky, and often unregulated world of fertility. What she found was a trillion dollar industry, where the maternal body is a hot commodity. It also raised some serious ethical questions: How much, if anything, should breastmilk cost? Who should be allowed to buy it? And is it right that you can pay more for ‘VIP' egg donors?We've launched The Story's first ever listener survey! If you can, please take a few minutes to fill it in. You can find it here: The Story surveyThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Alev Scott, investigative journalist and author of Cash Cow.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Undercover in Europe's infertility and surrogacy industryPhoto: Getty Images & Mark Harrison for the Times magazine.You can buy Cash Cow: How the maternal body became a global commodity – and the hidden costs for women at the Times Bookshop.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The end of Britain's political duopoly now looks complete, as Labour suffers a catastrophic by-election defeat to the Greens in Gorton and Denton. Reform comes second, while the Tories lose their deposit with just 2% of the vote. Keir Starmer is now a prisoner of the left, and Britain is undergoing a tectonic realignment of its electoral politics.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan Dawtrey.Executive Producer: Molly Guinness.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're launching The Story's first ever listener survey!Find it here: The Story surveyAnd thank you!This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a six-month-long investigation into maternity care in England, the government has published its initial findings. The report reveals a catalog of failures at 12 NHS trusts – from inadequate staffing and poor facilities to racial discrimination. So what do bereaved families make of the findings? And can this broken system be fixed?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: Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times. Poppy Koronka, health reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: NHS ‘incentivised' to record baby deaths as stillbornFurther listening: Inside England's maternity scandal, part onePhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, then Peter Mandelson. The fallout has been swift, dramatic, and is still unfolding. Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones answer your biggest questions about the two men and what comes next. Neither men have been changed and they both deny any wrongdoing. We don't know what evidence was used in their arrests. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHosts: Manveen Rana & Luke Jones.Producers: Sophie McNulty & Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Commons Speaker reported Peter Mandelson as flight risk to Met PoliceFurther listening: Andrew is arrestedClips: The Times, Parliament TV, Newsweek.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, the government released its plan to reform SEND, the system that supports children with special educational needs and disabilities, in England. It's used by around one in five children and Keir Starmer is promising £4 billion over 3 years to overhaul it. But what's changed, who's affected and how will the government pay for 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/thestoryGuests:Georgia Lambert, education and news reporter, The Times.Hayley Harding, SEND campaigner. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Keir Starmer: I'll ensure no child with special needs is left behindFurther listening: Broken trust: Inside England's maternity scandalPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine is still fighting – but the strain is visible. How has the conflict changed since those first days of war? Why would a free and fair election in Ukraine be so difficult? And is peace even conceivable?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: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent for The Times.Neo, Ukrainian drone unit commander.Anastasiia Romaniuk, researcher based in Kyiv.With thanks to our Ukrainian voices from the ground: Iryna Bortniuk, Pavlo Tkachenko, Natalia Zubar, Logan & Ostap.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott and Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: War diary: love and desperation on Ukraine's front lineFurther listening: A new peace plan, and a critical moment for ZelenskyClips: BBCPhoto: Photo: Paul Brookbanks, Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past decade, thousands of families say they have been failed by England's maternity services. With a review into 12 NHS trusts due to publish its interim findings this week, we hear from some of those affected. What went wrong? And can future tragedies can be prevented?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: Poppy Koronka, health correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Shabnam Grewal. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comIf you've been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations may be able to help:Sands is a UK charity that provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby. Please visit www.sands.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 164 3332The Birth Trauma Association is a charity that supports women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. Visit www.birthtraumaassociation.org or call the helpline on 0203 621 6338Tommy's is a charity focused on pregnancy research in the UK. Visit their website www.tommys.org or call 0800 0147 800Read more: NHS maternity failings leave women feeling blamed for poor careClips: Parliament TV, Channel 4 News, Ockenden Maternity Review, Sky News,Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesse Jackson, the civil rights firebrand, preacher, and two-time presidential candidate rose from segregated South Carolina to the front lines of America's fight for justice. Marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson transformed protest into political power, inspiring generations and paved the way to the first black president. We take a look at his influential, and controversial life.Guest: Anna Temkin, deputy obituary editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey and Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Rev Jesse Jackson obituary: civil rights campaignerClips: CBS, NPR, ITV, WCNC, BBC, The Obama White House, ThamesTV.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After her horrific rape ordeal, Gisèle Pelicot did not want a public trial. But, in an exclusive extract from her new book, she reveals why she changed her mind.This episode is from the audiobook A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot, read by Emma Thompson.Read by: Emma Thompson.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘I saw him rape me. My body tortured, cast unconscious into the pit of men'Photo: Getty Images.Further information: Published in hardback by Bodley Head on Feb 17 at £22.To order a copy of A Hymn to Life go to timesbookshop.co.uk.Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25.Special discount available for Times+ members World Europe.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied all wrongdoing. This is the first time a member of the royal family has been arrested since the English Civil War in the 1600s. What does this mean for the future of the British monarchy?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:Valentine Low, former royal correspondent, The Times.Dr. Tom Frost, senior lecturer, Loughborough University.Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Taryn Siegel and Olivia Case. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public officeClips: ABC News, Talk TV, Sky News, CNBC.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just after 8am this morning, patrol cars arrived at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. What do we know? What happens next? And what does this mean for the palace? Our sister podcast, The Royals, brings you the latest.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: Harry Yorke, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesCharlotte Alt, news reporter, The TimesHost: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Robert WallaceWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: The Royals with Roya and KateRead more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public officePhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.