Podcasts about host manveen rana

Britain's new prime minister Andy Burnham revealed his key cabinet picks yesterday; so who's in, who's out and what does it tell us about the direction in which he'll take the country? And as the Iran and Ukraine wars rumble on and the cost of living continues to bite, how will the PM handle the key problems in his in-tray?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: Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Elle Scott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Burnham on football, his father's dementia and preparing for powerFurther listening: The remarkable rise of Andy BurnhamClips: Sky, Goalhanger, BBC, DWS News, Eureka UK, Global News.Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lab-grown stones are booming, threatening to crush the diamond trade. So, how is the industry coping? And what does this mean for Botswana, a country whose schools, hospitals, roads, and economy have been built by the profits from diamond mining? 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: Richard Assheton, foreign features, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time since the war began, a Times journalist has reported from inside Iran. World Affairs editor Catherine Philp travelled there for the week-long funeral of the former ayatollah, leaving just as US strikes resumed. Amid the latest escalation, how united is the country over the war? And what do the continuing hostilities mean for the daily lives of millions of people across Iran?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: Catherine Philp, world affairs editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Jesse Fox.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: US blockade begins in Strait while strikes on Iran enter fifth dayFurther listening: What Iranians really think of Trump's peace dealClips: C-Span, BBC, Fox News, The Times, DRM News. Photo: Times Photographer Jack Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The England football team's manager Thomas Tuchel has led his squad to a World Cup semi-final against old rivals Argentina. A cerebral football obsessive, he has a tendency to self-immolate when things are going well. So is this the fate that awaits the Tuchel-England experiment? Or could the tensions between the manager and his star player Jude Bellingham actually prove the key to victory?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: Manveen Rana.Producers: Jesse Fox, Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Thomas Tuchel's tough love for England not without riskFurther listening: The men who made the World Cup - The Sunday StoryClips: Football Smash / Youtube, Sky News, Talk Sport, Sports Unfiltered / Youtube, BBC.Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Iran war reignites, there's a hidden figure influencing the American side. In an exclusive interview for The Times, Pete Hegseth's pastor Doug Wilson says the conflict in Iran is a righteous battle against Muslims, homosexuality is evil, and women who dress immodestly are sluts. How is this ultraconservative influencing US foreign policy? And could we see his brand of Christianity in the UK?This podcast contains mention of some topics listeners may find offensive.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. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Pete Hegseth's pastor: ‘Women who dress immodestly are sluts'Further listening: Trump v the Supreme Court and Fi and Jane interivew Pastor WilsonClips: PBS, CNN, New Founding Podcast / YouTube, Pulp Fiction / Quentin Tarantino / Mirimax, The Independent, Blog&Mablog / YouTube, Daniel Foucachon / YouTube. Photo: Dominic Gwinn / Zuma Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Murdaugh stands accused of the brutal murders of his wife and son. As shocking evidence, devastating testimony, and disturbing secrets unfold in court, one question still hangs over everything: Did he actually do 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: James Lasdun, author of The Family Man.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Dave Creasey and Jesse Fox.Clips: CNN, CBS, Fox News, CourtRoomTV, WCSC, WIS News, WJCL, NBC, GMA.Image: Getty Images.Times Book Shop: The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Murdaugh family had power, wealth, and influence until two brutal killings exposed a world of stolen millions and deadly secrets. As the lies unravelled, a once-untouchable dynasty collapsed into one of America's darkest true crime cases. But what really happened that night, and who is to blame?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 Lasdun, author of The Family Man.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Dave Creasey and Jesse Fox.Clips: CNN, CBS, Fox News, CourtRoomTV, WCSC, WIS News, WJCL, NBC.Image: Getty Images.Times Book Shop: The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of MurdaughWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer 2026 is another scorcher, with temperature records being broken across Europe. Infrastructure in the UK is creaking; with trains cancelled, schools closed and people sweltering in their homes. Why does Europe seem to be heating up more than other continents? And could outlandish ideas hold the answer to cooling us down long term?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 Whipple, science writer and special correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Heatwave exposes flaws in Britain's ability to supply fresh foodFurther listening: Have we stopped caring about climate change?Clips: Channel 4, BBC, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weeks of protests in Albania show no signs of stopping. Tens of thousands have been taking to the streets to oppose the proposed purchase and development of land by Donald Trump's daughter and son-in-law. As the country's tourist industry booms, there is a divide over the cost of development and the country's sense of self. Our writer went to the island at the centre of a political and national identity 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: Richard Assheton, features writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Taryn Siegel.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Is this the Kushners' $5bn Albania resort? 350 yachts and a water parkClips: David Senra podcast, APT, X/@IsamyzyrajAlb, IG/@thebrickobserversatire, DW News.Photo: Richard Assheton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a Sunday Times investigation revealed Nigel Farage's links to a convicted fraudster, and with the spectre of a parliamentary standards investigation looming over him, Farage will now put his fate in the hands of his constituents in Clacton in a by-election. But will this gambit work? And what does the Sunday Times journalist who led the investigation think about 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: Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday TimesFraser Nelson, columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Harry Stott. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Will risky resignation ploy pay off for Nigel Farage? Further listening: Posh George: the criminal behind FarageClips: Reform UK / Youtube, Sky News, BBC. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NATO is gathering in Turkey for its annual summit, and defence spending, Iran and Ukraine are all on the agenda. But behind the scenes there are warnings that Putin is planning his next attack - on a NATO country. So what might that aggression look like? And is the alliance ready?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.Producers: Olivia Case and Shabnam Grewal.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Putin the agent of chaos revelling in division between US and EuropeFurther listening: Defence spending: too little too late? Clips: France 24, @MaxAfterburnerusa / YouTube, @joeycontinonews / YouTube, TVP Info, BBC, Sky, The Guardian, GB News, Fox News, USA Today, CBC. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the United States marks 250 years of modern America, a country founded on freedom, liberty, and justice, for Native Americans, that history reads very differently. After centuries of oppression, survival, and the ongoing reclamation of culture, what does it mean to be Native American today? And why does the question of who has the right to claim that identity remain so deeply contested?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, senior US correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who still counts as Native American in 2026?Photo: Tailyr Irvine for the Sunday Times Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Supreme Court has finished a momentous term with some ground-breaking rulings on a raft of issues from trans rights to birthright citizenship. And one case has greatly expanded presidential powers. So is this term a win for Trump? And what does it 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: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Supreme Court rules Trump cannot scrap birthright citizenshipFurther listening: Why Trump's attack on the Fed affects us allClips: USA Today, Fox, CBS News, CSPAN, Times Radio, ABC News, CNN, KTLA, The Washington Post. Photo: Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a year of waiting, the defence investment plan was finally released yesterday. The plan will take defence spending to £80 billion a year by 2029, but some have criticised it for still leaving Britain's military under-funded. So will this plan do enough to make the country more secure? And what role should Britain be carving out for itself in the new geopolitical world we find ourselves in?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: Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.General Sir Richard Barrons, co-author of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, David Whitty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What's in Keir Starmer's defence investment plan? Key pointsFurther listening: Will Burnham scrap the most expensive promise in politics?Clips: BBC, Parliament tv, Al Carns - Facebook. Photo: Getty Images, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has announced a ban on some social media platforms for under-16s. It's a move that echoes a similar ban introduced by the Australian government, which came into effect in December. So what are teens actually looking at on social media? And will a ban help? 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: Mark Sellman, technology correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Harry Bligh.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Doomscrolling 708 videos a day: how TikTok turned our teens into addicts Further listening: How infinite scrolling damages our brains - The Saturday StoryClips: The Times, Times Radio, Revealing Reality, BBC News, 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.

The billionaire David Sullivan has been accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour by several women dating back to the 1980s. In a joint investigation with the BBC, The Times has spoken to seven women about their experiences. In his statement on 4 June, Sullivan announced his immediate resignation as joint-chair and director of West Ham, saying the “false allegations” had been “sensationalised” and none related to his time in football. He added: “After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims.” Before publication, Sullivan said that he reserved his legal rights in relation to “false or defamatory allegations” and would not be commenting further at this stage.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: Charlotte Wace, investigations correspondent, The Times. Shanti Das, senior investigations reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Micaela Arneson. Additional thanks to: James Beal, investigations editor, The Times. Charlotte Alt, news reporter, The Times. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: David Sullivan was ‘untouchable'. Now seven women are speaking outPhoto: 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 Sunday 10 May, the Nigerian military bombed a crowded market in the north of the country. It claimed terrorists were the target, but in reality, more than 100 civilians were killed and dozens more injured. The Sunday Times has gone to northern Nigeria to speak to survivors and investigate the attack. 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, foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Nigeria says it bombs terrorists. Children are collateral damageClips: Radio 95.3FM, News Central TV, BBC, Arise News. Photo: The Sunday Times. 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 December 2025, 18 year-old Henry Nowak was stabbed in the street. This week, his murderer Vickrum Digwa was given a life sentence. The case has ignited a debate about whether so-called 'two-tier policing' exists in the UK. So where does this leave our police forces?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:Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times.Chris Hobbs, retired police officer.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Colette Fountain, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What happened to Henry Nowak? How the Southampton case unfoldedFurther listening: Makerfield: the by-election which could decide the next election.Clips: BT, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Sky, Daily Express, The Financial Express, Parliamentlive.tv,Photo: Adobe stock.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 alleged expletive-filled phone call between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has laid bare deep tensions over the war in Lebanon. As the conflict escalates, could it derail Trump's hopes of securing a deal with Iran?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: Dr Lina Khatib, Associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. George Grylls, Washington Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Dave Creasey and Colette Fountain.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘Everybody hates Israel', Trump allegedly tells Netanyahu in angry callFurther listening: Is Lebanon the key to peace in the Middle East?Clips: CNN.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 more than a thousand documents related to Peter Mandelson's controversial appointment as ambassador to the US. It's one of the largest publications of secret documents to parliament in UK history. The files contain insights into how Mandelson operated and what he, and ministers, really thought of the prime minister. So what does all this mean for the embattled Keir Starmer? 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: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Sophie McNulty. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Mandelson files release: ministers prepare for day of humiliation Further listening: When Andrew met MandelsonClips: Parliament.tv.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 January last year, a 14 year old girl we're calling Olivia, was attacked by three boys in Fordingbridge in Hampshire. Two were aged 14 and one just 13 years old. One of the boys raped her while the other two filmed the attack. Just two months earlier, the older boys had attacked another girl in an underpass in the same town. The three boys were convicted of ten rape charges related to the two attacks. But they were given rehabilitation orders rather than jail time. It's a decision which has sparked outrage. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced their sentence will now be reviewed. Now, Olivia and her family have spoken to The Times about the trauma they've experienced and what they hope will happen next. 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: Jessica Sharkey, crime correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Fordingbridge rape victim: I feel like I'm the one being punishedFurther listening: She convicted her rapist years after her deathClips: Channel 5 News, ITN, 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.

Iranian officials remain in Qatar, negotiating the details of a possible peace plan for the region. Discussions continue even after American strikes hit targets in southern Iran late on Monday. So, is peace actually within reach? What's really on the table? And after months of escalation and bluster, could President Trump end up the biggest loser in all of this?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: Michael Stephens, senior associate fellow, RAND Europe and RUSI. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Sophie McNulty, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump's Iran peace deal will come with strings attachedFurther listening: How did Pakistan become the peacemakers?Clips: The White House, CNN, Channel 4 News, NBC News, Fox 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.

A new Ebola outbreak, driven by a rare strain of the virus, has struck the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The rapid rise in cases and deaths suggests that the virus had been circulating for some time before the alarm was raised. So why wasn't it detected sooner? And have recent international aid cuts made us more vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases? 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: Paul Hunter, professor in medicine, University of East Anglia. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘There are bodies everywhere': ghost of ebola returns to haunt CongoFurther listening: How the hantavirus cruise ship nightmare unfolded - The Saturday StoryClips: PBS, AFP.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 Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is home to a Russian settlement where signs are in cyrillic and inhabitants pay for their groceries in rubles. It's also at the heart of the scramble between global powers for resources, so as the Arctic sea ice melts opening up the region, could Svalbard become the next geopolitical flashpoint?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 Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott and Edward Drummond.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Polar bears, spy stations and Lenin: life on the Norwegian island in Putin's sightsClips: Forces News, Russia 1.Photo: Jack Hill/The Times.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.

This year's Sunday Times Rich List offers a revealing snapshot of modern Britain's fortunes, from the Gallagher brothers returning after their sell-out comeback shows, to David and Victoria Beckham officially joining the billionaire club. But beyond the celebrity headlines lies a much bigger story: Britain's accelerating wealth exodus, as billionaires, investors and entrepreneurs increasingly move overseas. What's driving the rich out of Britain and what could it 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: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Robert Watts, Rich List compiler, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 revealedIllustration: Emanuel Santos for The Sunday Times MagazineThis 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.

Donald Trump is in Beijing for his much-anticipated trip to see President Xi - the leaders meet today. But with the US seemingly stuck in a frozen conflict in the Middle East, does Xi see Trump as a lame duck? Will he help Trump persuade Iran to end the war or could the conflict embolden Xi's pursuit of Taiwan? And how could the trip affect the Asian pivot away from the USA and towards China?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:Professor Rana Mitter, S.T. Lee Professor of U.S.-Asia Relations, Harvard.Richard Spencer, China correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Summit of the superpowers: what's on the agenda for Trump and Xi?Further listening: The end of the ceasefire in Iran…..or notClips: CNA, Fox, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Richard Nixon Foundation / 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.

Amanda Knox was at the centre of one of the most gruesome murders and sensationalised trials of the 21st century. Accused of killing her flatmate, she transformed into a global media obsession almost overnight. Now, nearly two decades later, she's turning that experience into an Edinburgh Fringe comedy show. Is it brave, morally questionable, or both?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: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Amanda Knox: Why I've turned my life into an Edinburgh comedy showClips: ABC, CNN, BBC News, 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.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has been poured over by the press – but what about their relationship with one another? New Times reporting reveals they met for the first time in 1999 at an NSPCC charity event, and continued a mutually advantageous relationship for a decade. So how do the people who brought them together feel about it now? And what can it tell us about how power works in the upper echelons of British society?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: Hugo Daniel, general news reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Revealed: When Andrew first met Peter MandelsonFurther listening: Starmer strikes back over Mandelson vetting scandalClips: Getty, The Lost Media Archive / Youtube, ITN.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.

This episode was recorded before the latest announcement from President Trump pausing 'Project Freedom'.Earlier this week President Trump launched his latest move in the Iran war... 'Project Freedom' was designed to get ships through the Strait of Hormuz under US military escort. But Iran said the plan meant the US was breaking the ceasefire and the two countries began trading missiles again. The UAE's been hit too, at a time when it's increasingly turning to Israel for help. So how will the new allegiances being formed in fire reshape the region? Where are negotiations up to? And is there any hope of peace?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: Michael Stephens, consultant and senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and fellow at RAND Europe. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Olivia Case and Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran war latest: Hegseth says ceasefire holds but US ‘locked and loaded'Further listening: Is political violence America's new normal?Clips: Fox, Hugh Hewitt / 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.

South Wales has been a Labour heartland since the party formed over a century ago, but speak to people there today and you'll find support leaving in droves. So can Labour avoid an electoral car crash? Could the other main parties capitalise? Ahead of the Welsh Senedd elections next week, we travelled to Swansea to take the political temperature.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: Professor Matthew Wall, professor of politics, philosophy and international relations at Swansea University and principal investigator of the 2026 Welsh election study.Grant Berni, head of the Osprey's supporters club.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: A walk round Pembroke Dock shows why Labour will lose Welsh electionFurther listening: Get ready for a pub brawl, it's local election timePhoto: 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 economic ripples caused by the Iran war are beginning to have an impact across the globe, from fuel rationing across South-East Asia, to fuel protests in Ireland. The IMF's recent report on the global economy makes for grim reading – and the UK comes out as one of the worst affected of the G7. So could food and fuel shortages be coming to the UK? And how will the government try to mitigate the worst effects?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:Rob Doran, director of Black Dog Crisis Management.Jack Barnett, economics correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Britain preparing for food shortages as Iran war bites UK economy faces hardest hit from Iran war of G7, says IMFFurther listening: Trump's ceasefire with Iran - what's in it and what nextClips: BBC, ABC NEWS (Australia), RTE, 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.

Behind the scenes of Iran's war, China's been forging alliances, stockpiling oil and building resilience in the form of renewable energy. So how could all of this help it attack Taiwan? When might it happen? And can anyone 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/thestoryGuest: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran war latest: Ceasefire with US ‘to be extended by two weeks'Further listening: The Pope v TrumpClips: Fox, Bloomberg, Times of India, Hoover Institution.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.

Over the weekend, Donald Trump posted an image of himself as a Jesus Christ like figure, which was subsequently deleted. It came after the President and the Pope exchanged a war of words over the conflict in Iran. What's behind this latest spat, and how could it affect Trump's standing among American's Christians?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: Kaya Burgess, science and religious affairs correspondent, The Times, and Christopher Hale, Democratic operative and author of Letters from Leo substack.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump's row with Pope Leo could cost him dearly among Catholic votersClips: Times Radio, Fox News, Vatican News, 9News, BBC, Forbes, USA Today, CBS 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.

Viktor Orban, the far-right prime minister of Hungary who led the country for 16 years, was ousted in a landslide electoral defeat on Sunday. He lost to his former ally turned critic, Péter Magyar, despite a strong show of support from the Trump administration. So what does Orban's defeat mean for Trump? And for the far-right in Europe? 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. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Julia Webster. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Why Peter Magyar's victory is a warning to TrumpFurther listening: The election that could change HungaryClips: Al Jazeera, APT News, CSPAN, Fox, Associated Press, United 24 Media, The White House via 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.

For decades UK sofas have contained chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and infertility because of uniquely strict fire rules. Up to a fifth of their foam consists of a chemical not used in any other country's sofas, but is now classed “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organisation. So how deadly is your sofa, why is the UK an outlier and are things set to improve?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: Martina Lees, senior property reporter, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Edward DrummondWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Sitting comfortably? Your sofa is among the most toxic on Earth 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 mounting hostilities and Trump's threats that ‘a whole civilization will die' unless Iran backs down, Tehran and Washington have agreed to a two week ceasefire. Now, they're discussing a ten-point plan to permanently end the war. But is this the end of the fighting or just a pause? What's in the peace plan? And has this conflict taught Iran that it can hold the world to ransom?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: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case and Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What's in Iran's ten-point ceasefire plan? Trump's stumbling blocks examinedFurther listening: The West Bank land grab no one's watchingClips: BBC, CNN, AP, CSPAN, NDTV, The Mary Trump Podcast. 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.

Thousands of pensioners invested their life savings into London Capital and Finance before it was revealed to be the UK's biggest ever Ponzi scheme. Now, new Times reporting shows how the millions in investments were lavishly spent by LCF's founders. So how was a scheme on this scale allowed to take root in the first place?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: Jim Armitage, contributing editor, The Sunday Times.Antonia Summer, investor in LCF.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott, Callum Martin.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Inside Britain's biggest Ponzi scheme: where did £237m go?Clips: Rehman Chisti MP / Facebook.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.

When The Times foreign correspondent Marc Bennetts moved to Russia in 1997, there was hope for a new future for the country. But over the next 25 years, he witnessed the rise of Vladimir Putin and the erosion of civil liberties. In his new book, The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin, Marc charts how one man remade Russia in his own paranoid image.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: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Lies and fear: my life under the Kremlin's propaganda machineFurther listening: ‘I took a grenade blast to escape': Russian deserters speak to The TimesClips: Channel One Russia, Educational Video Group, NBC News, ITN, Times Now World, Dot's Eye. 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.

A Sunday Times investigation has found that, in Scotland, there are claims that the SNP has, in effect, shut down criticism from the charity and voluntary sectors because of a system that leaves them umbilically tied to its political objectives and fearing grave consequences if they step out of line.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: Dan Sanderson, Scottish political editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How the SNP spends billions ‘to buy loyalty from charities'Clips: 5 News, Parliament TV.Illustration: Tony Bell.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.

Donald Trump has threatened that the US would “obliterate Kharg Island” if a deal with Tehran was not reached. The US president has suggested he'd put boots on the ground to seize control of Iran's key oil export terminal. So why does the island matter so much? How would a ground invasion work? And just how risky is it to the US troops involved?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: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.Sir Simon Mayall, ex-Lieutenant General in the British army and author.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Can the US take Kharg Island? How an invasion could play outFurther listening: Q&A: What we know (and don't know) about Trump's Iran talksClips: CBC, FOX, BBC, C-SPAN.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Board of Peace began with the grand ambition of reconstructing Gaza and securing a lasting end to one of the world's most intractable conflicts. But with Donald Trump as chairman for life, its ambitions have grown: it wants to become a wider international peacekeeping organisation. As members meet for the first time in Washington DC, will their lofty ambitions translate into action on the ground? Or is it all just a vanity project?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.Producer: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Tony Blair to attend Trump's inaugural Board of Peace meetingFurther listening: Trump's Greenland play and the future of transatlantic relationsClips: OneIndia News / Youtube, AP / Youtube, CTV, BBC, Channel 4, ABC 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.