The Story (The Times)

Alibaba Group founder and billionaire Jack Ma has emerged into the public for the first time since disappearing in October last year. Growing scrutiny of his business plans has fuelled speculation that his absence is part of a broader crackdown by the Chinese government. Where has he been? And what does his disappearance mean for the future of Chinese business? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: Philip Sherwell, Asia correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: CBC, ABC, CNBC, World Economic Forum, Alibaba Group, CBS, ITV, Financial Times, CNA Insider.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the weekend of the 4th July, as Americans celebrated their national holiday, a group of cyber criminals were working hard. Their attack left hundreds of companies scrambling to protect themselves against what may have been the biggest global ransomware attack ever seen. How did they do it and what does it tell us about our global cyber security?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times.

-Emily Taylor, Oxford Information Labs CEO.

-Marc Bennetts, Moscow correspondent for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Global News, France 24, CBS News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow voters in Yorkshire’s Batley and Spen constituency head to the polls for the fourth time in five years. The previously safe Labour seat is under threat and this by-election is seen as a test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. The Conservatives are hoping to win and could get a helping hand from former Labour MP George Galloway who is running for the Workers party and may split Labour's vote. Manveen Rana went to find out what was happening locally.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Tony Earnshaw, Democracy reporter at Yorkshire Live.

-George Galloway, Workers Party for Britain candidate. 

-Julian Heather Liberal Democrat activist.

-Nadeem Raja, general manager of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society.

-Gulam maniyar, former Labour councillor.  

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Sky News, BBC News, Joe.co.uk, ITV News, Conservative Party

The by-election candidates are (listed alphabetically by surname):

Paul Bickerdike - Christian Peoples Alliance

Mike Davies - Alliance For Green Socialism

Jayda Fransen - Independent

George Galloway - Workers Party

Tom Gordon - Liberal Democrats

Thérèse Hirst - English Democrats

Howling Laud Hope - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Susan Laird - Heritage Party

Kim Leadbeater - Labour Party

Oliver Purser - Social Democratic Party

Corey Robinson - Yorkshire Party

Andrew Smith - Rejoin EU

Ryan Stephenson - Conservative Party

Jack Thomson - UK Independence Party

Jonathan Tilt - Freedom Alliance

Anne Marie Waters - The For Britain Movement

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As the government wrestles with how best to help those in need during the pandemic, it's brought to the surface many of the historical divisions within the Conservative party. After years of austerity and cuts, they're now the party offering financial support to millions. But how long are they prepared to do so?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

• Esther Webber, The Times's Red Box reporter.
• Tim Bale, Professor of politics at Queen Mary's University of London.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips from: Euronews, BBC, Telegraph, UK Parliament, Sky News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a turbulent time on university student campuses, with some erupting in protest against Covid-19 measures. Now, a million students will leave the bubbles they've lived in on campus to travel across the country. Can we bring them home safely?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Sian Griffiths, Education and families editor of the Sunday Times.

Izzy Smitheman, Student at the University of Manchester.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: BBC and Channel 4 News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the UK approved its first coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. With the end now clearly in sight, does the government's current plan for a relaxation of restrictions over Christmas still make sense?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Stephen Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Times Radio, BBC Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two-hundred Palestinians, including fifty-nine children have been killed in Israel's bombardment of the Gaza strip over the last week. Despite mounting global pressure on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the exchange of rocket fire between Israel and Hamas looks likely to continue. Today we hear one woman's story as she and her family take shelter in the same home.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Malak Mattar, Palestinian artist and student based in Gaza.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips used: CBC, Global News, BBC, Channel 4, Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, Instagram: @Malak_Mattar_Artist, White House, Instagram: @Tamer.Makalda, Instagram: @theimeu, Al Jazeera English.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the permanent banning of controversial right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins from Twitter say about the current landscape of social media platforms? And will Parler ever take Twitter's place online?

Guests: 

Hugo Rifkind, Times Columnist and leader writer.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: BBC, Telegraph, Wall Street Journal, ABC, Fox News, ITV, Sky New Australia.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The collapse of a financial company, Greensill Capital, has brought to light how former prime minister, David Cameron, had privately lobbied senior figures in government. Emails provide details of how Cameron used his contacts to partner the firm he was working for with the NHS.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

The full series - ‘Cameron and the toxic banker’ - is available to download and listen to all in one place, here.

Guest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall correspondent for The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: Sky News, Channel 4 News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One week ago, South Africa's Constitutional Court found former President Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt for defying its order to appear at an inquiry into his alleged corruption. Who is the man behind the turmoil and what does this conviction mean for South Africa?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent for The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: BBC, SABC, Sky News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supreme Court judges are now deliberating on whether Begum should be allowed back to Britain to fight for her citizenship. But would happen if she did return? How does deradicalisation work and when can it go wrong?

All this week, Stories of our Times brings you a special series on Shamima Begum, and her fight to come home to Britain.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

Tania Joya, former jihadist, former wife of senior Islamic State leader. 

Usama Hasan, research consultant, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. 

Christopher Dean, psychologist; Senior Fellow, Global Centre for Cooperative Security.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around the country, girls who have suffered in silence for years at some of England's top schools are finally speaking out about the sexual abuse they've encountered. A stream of hundreds of harrowing stories has emerged. How was this ever allowed to happen? And what can be done to stop it?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

-Sian Griffiths, Education and families editor at The Sunday Times.

-Ben Ellery, News reporter at The Times.

-Additional reporting from Isabelle Stanley.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China has cracked down in Hong Kong, Britain has banned the Chinese technology giant Huawei from its 5G network, and there’s growing disquiet about human rights abuses against China’s Uighur minority. Are we heading for a cold war with China?

Guest: 

Lucy Fisher, Defense Editor for The Times

Host: 

David Aaronovitch

Clips: BBC, Talkradio, UK parliament.

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It's just a tiny collection of houses and a church. But could Steart in Somerset have found a pioneering solution for carbon capture? In partnership with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the village has flooded neighbouring land to help protect against future flooding caused by climate change - with surprising environmental benefits.

More information on the The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal can be found here: https://thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

-Kaya Burgess, science reporter and religious affairs correspondent, The Times.

-Dr Hannah Mossman, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Manchester Metropolitan University.

-Dr Rachel Dunk, Principal Lecturer Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Channel 4 News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Aaronovitch talks to the editor-in-chief of the Lancet, Dr Richard Horton, and Times science editor, Tom Whipple, about the global response to the crisis. Which country has got the right approach?

Guests: 

Dr Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the Lancet

Tom Whipple, The Times science editor

Host: David Aaronovitch

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Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, is fighting extradition to the US, after seven years holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy. This week it was revealed that he secretly started a family during his time in hiding. Is it in the public interest for Julian Assange to be sent to the States?

Guests: 

John Simpson, crime correspondent for The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her two years as Home Secretary, Priti Patel has cultivated an image as a hardliner on immigration. Despite all her tough talk, the extent to which she's achieved anything concrete is debatable, and this summer has seen record numbers of migrants crossing the channel. With the Nationality and Borders Bill -- a radical overhaul of asylum laws -- making its way through parliament, will Patel finally get the crackdown she's been gunning for?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times

Host: Calum Macdonald.

Clips: ITV News, Sky News, Channel 4, London Business School, The Guardian, Telegraph, GB News, Channel 5.

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Cameron Wellington, a teenager from Walsall, died on November 19th after catching coronavirus. He left a devastated family behind, but could lives like his have been saved if the UK’s second national lockdown had taken place earlier? The Sunday Times Insight team have published a major investigation into the government’s handling of the second wave, and the false dichotomy between saving the economy and saving lives. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Read the Insight team's investigation here.

Guests:

Jane and Norman Wellington, parents of Cameron Wellington.

George Arbuthnott, Deputy Editor, Sunday Times Insight. 

Jonathan Calvert, Editor, Sunday Times Insight. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2016, 80 percent of white Evangelicals voted for President Trump. How has he repaid them? And four years on, can one of the largest denominations of any religion in the US help him stay in the White House? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: David Charter, US editor of the Times. 

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: AP, Fox News, First Baptist Dallas YouTube, Ronald Reagan Library, CNN, Cuyagoha Community College, Joe Biden YouTube.

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Living the British dream – as dozens of TV shows testify – has always meant owning your own home. But today, if you’re a millennial in a city, a dream is quite possibly what it will remain. What's stopping millennials from getting on the housing ladder?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Charlie Gowans-Eglinton, Acting Fashion Editor, The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a number of existing therapies are being re-purposed to help patients with the most severe Covid-19 symptoms, we speak to a UK-based bioscience company about a drug they've developed and explore how it is being used in Italy. 

Guests: 

Tom Whipple, The Times science editor

Someit Sidhu, CEO and Co-founder of Izana Bioscience

Host: Manveen Rana

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As teenage murders reach a 13-year high in London and growing numbers of grieving families seek some kind of justice, The Times's crime correspondent John Simpson heads back to east London looking for answers on one particular case.

In 2017, 14-year-old CJ Davis was shot dead in broad daylight. No one has ever been charged with his murder.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Host: John Simpson, crime correspondent at The Times.

The original series was first broadcast in August 2020. You can find it all in one place by searching for 'Who killed CJ Davis?' on the Reporter podcast feed.

If you have any information on the case you can contact John directly and confidentially on Twitter @thejohnsimpson or by email: john.simpson@thetimes.co.uk

Anyone with information can also contact the police on the dedicated incident room number of 020 8345 3775, or 101. You can also make contact via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. The Metropolitan Police Service offers a £20,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for CJ's murder.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this podcast you find information at the below sites and numbers:

https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/bereavement/ or 01708 765200

https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/ or 08 08 16 89 111

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Policing in the US is under the spotlight more than ever. A city in New Jersey has cut crime and won the support of its citizens by scrapping its police force and rebuilding from scratch. Could it be a blueprint to heal an angry nation?

Guests: 

Josh Glancy is Washington Bureau Chief for The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Fox, CNN, Comedy Central, MSNBC

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fifty-five years ago, Barbados gained independence from Britain. Despite independence, Queen Elizabeth has remained head of state. Today, that's come to an end. Barbados has formally cut ties with the British monarchy and declared itself a republic. Will other realms in the Commonwealth follow? And what does the move mean for the royal family?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Host: Manveen Rana

Guests: 

-Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Sunday Times.

-Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times.

Clips: ITV News, Channel 4 News, The Guardian.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each Monday this August, we're looking back at some of the stories from the past year that stuck with us.

In June 2020, with the world's attention on the pandemic, Hong Kong’s freedoms were under threat as the Chinese government imposed a draconian new security law. Now, the city is experiencing its largest exodus since records began. 

We revisit our interviews with two of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy activists, and find out what they did next.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent, The Times.

- Emily Lau, former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

- Nathan Law, pro-democracy activist.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: CNBC, BBC News, Sky News, CNN, CBS.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norman and Jorge are flatmates. But Norman happens to be 92 and Jorge is 26. In the time of coronavirus, this makes their friendship hard to navigate. What does the future hold for our intergenerational relationships? And how can we best keep our loved ones safe? 

Guests: 

Norman, 92, Jorge, 26. 

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director for Age UK.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Special thanks to Two Generations for putting us in touch with the duo.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New variants of COVID-19 have caused spikes in infections around the world and rang alarm bells about vaccine resistance. We speak to two scientists tracking mutant strains of the virus. How are these variants discovered? And just how dangerous are they?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reader of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes

Guests:

-Sharon Peacock, Professor of public health and microbiology at The University of Cambridge and Director of the COVID 19 Genomics UK consortium.

-Dr Jeffrey Barrett, Director of COVID-19 Genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. 

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: BBC News, UK Government, Sky News, UK Parliament, ITV News, DW News, KTLA, Bloomberg, ABC

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The United States is now at the centre of the global coronavirus crisis and New York is the worst hit city in the country. What’s it like for regular New Yorkers at the centre of the pandemic?

Guests:

‏Laura Pullman, The Sunday Times New York correspondent.

The audio diaries from nine New Yorkers.

Host: Manveen Rana.

NB: Caurice Wynters, one of the New Yorkers who spoke with us, is raising money to cover medical and living expenses for her family, after they all got sick with covid-19. You can contribute here: https://bit.ly/3aOBRWp

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Last month Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau called a snap election, hoping to capitalise on support for his pandemic response. With the election just days away, and polls showing a neck and neck race, could the move become one of Canada's biggest political miscalculations?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Charlie Mitchell, Canada correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times.

Host: Calum Macdonald.

Clips: Ruptly, CBC, Soheil Koushan, Sun News, Global News, The Canadian Press, Reuters.

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Who is the Congresswoman who has split the Republican party with her toxic views?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Josh Glancy, The Sunday Times Washington Bureau Chief.

-Lisa Hagen, WABE Radio reporter.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: Vice, AP, 11Alive, Stop the Steal, WABE, Bloomberg, CGTN,

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday the prime minister will unveil a roadmap for how we exit lockdown. Today we look to two countries which might show us a glimpse of the future: Australia and Israel.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Tom Whipple, Science editor at The Times.

-Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent at The Times.

-Anshel Pfeffer, Freelance journalist for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Sunday Times investigation revealed this weekend that every chief Conservative Party treasurer in the past seven years gave the party £3m – and every one was offered a peerage. Manveen Rana speaks to the Insight team, renowned for carrying out some of the most groundbreaking investigations on Fleet Street.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.

-George Arbuthnott, Insight Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Parliament TV, BBC.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest scandal from the Vatican - between two warring Cardinals - has shone a spotlight on the infighting and internal affairs that Pope Francis has been trying to clear up for the last seven years as he aims to modernise the Catholic Church. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Tom Kington, Rome correspondent for The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

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Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors’ treatment rooms. 

In this third episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent speaks to survivors and campaigners about the extremely secretive practice.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123

Guests: 

Justin Beck, conversion therapy survivor.

Maya, conversion therapy survivor.

Matt Mahmood-Ogston, founder, Naz and Matt Foundation.

Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.

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Last month the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke on US television urging voters to come out for the November presidential election. For some, they were getting involved in politics and overstepping the mark. For others, the couple were just expressing themselves in their new roles. So, who's right?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: BBC, ITV, Evening Standard, Time Magazine, Fortune.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once hailed as a pain obliterating wonder drug, OxyContin helped give birth to one of the most devastating public health crises in the developed world.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker staff writer and author of Empire of Pain.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: CBS News, CNN, C-Span, France 24, Kentucky Attorney General, KSBY, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, MSNBC, NBC News, Newsy, PBS, Purdue Pharma, Reuters, Tylenol, Vice, WAVY TV, WMUR TV.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 20 years of war, is the difficult truth that Nato has lost to the Taliban?

The first of two episodes this week with Times war correspondent Anthony Loyd, as he looks back at Afghanistan's past – and forward to its uncertain future.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Anthony Loyd, foreign correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, AP.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the announcement of the divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates, a fuller picture of the Microsoft billionaire’s life is emerging. What could it mean for the world's biggest private charitable foundation – and what role might Jeffrey Epstein have played in the rift?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

Josh Glancy, special correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Emily Glazer, business reporter, Wall Street Journal.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips from: CBS ABC, NBC, MSNBC, UN, Channel 4 News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An investigation by The Sunday Times has uncovered a dangerous network of pickup artists who profess to know how to coach other men to improve their sexual prowess. How does this website operate and what does it offer its users?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Shanti Das, News and features journalist for The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

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In episode four of this investigative series, reporter Emily Dugan hears how new DNA testing techniques reveal a different man may have been at the crime scene. Dugan also examines a dilemma that prisoners, who don't admit guilt, face. Andrew Malkinson was sentenced to life in jail in 2004 for rape. No forensics linked him to the scene and he’s always maintained his innocence.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Host: Emily Dugan, reporter at The Sunday Times.

You can listen to the full series in one place on The Reporter podcast feed.

If you have any information that you want to share on Andy's case or remember anything from the time, you can contact Emily Dugan directly on email: emily.dugan@sundaytimes.co.uk or by direct message on twitter: @emilydugan

Audio from HMP North Sea Camp courtesy of Two Step Films.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Appeal - Charity and law practice

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The longest serving royal consort has passed away after seven decades of steadfast support of our monarch. Today we take you to the moment his wife, Queen Elizabeth the second, learnt she would take over as Great Britain's Head of State. 

Guests:

Kate Williams, royal historian.

Matthew Parris, columnist for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips used: Pathé and Thames TV.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Care home deaths in England and Wales now account for forty percent of all deaths from coronavirus - and one result has been a political row. Why have things gone wrong for our most vulnerable citizens and the people who care for them?  

Guests:

Greg Hurst, social affairs editor at The Times.

Irene Owen, a 91-year-old resident of Devonshire Court in Leicestershire.

Sonja Bell, daughter of a elderly resident at The Heights in Buckinghamshire.

Kimberly Ross, care assistant at Connaught Court in York.

Karen Casey, activity co-ordinator at Zetland Court in Bournemouth.

Additional support: Michael Clarke, Times Video Team.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Additional music: Chris Zabriskie (licenced under Creative Commons).

Clips: BBC, TalkRadio, TalkSport.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The so-called 'pingdemic' paralysed businesses, public services, and even the cabinet. But it was an inevitable side effect of lifting restrictions and letting the virus spread. As the world watches, will the decision to lift restrictions help or hinder business? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Helen Heraty, owner of the Grays Court Hotel in York.

- Sabah Meddings, senior business reporter, The Sunday Times.

- Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, ZOE.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit’s back. Trade talks resume today following two bombshells: a leak that Downing Street is preparing to tear up parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the prime minister’s statement that no deal would be a "good outcome" for the UK. Is Britain headed for no deal?

Guest: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Sky, BBC, Euronews, DW News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today: from Nazi bureaucrat to the architect of modern Germany. In the second episode of this two-part investigation, we look at the power Hans Globke held during the rebuilding of modern Germany and the extent to which he was protected.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Dr. Gunnar Take, historian at the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich.

-Dr. Tim Naftali, New York University.

-Prof. Klaus-Dietmar Henke, historian.

-Gaby Weber, investigative journalist.

-Susan Neiman, moral philosopher.

-Manfred Lahnstein, former politician for the SDP in Germany. 

Host: Oliver Moody, the Berlin correspondent at The Times.

Times' written pieces based on this podcast:

Hans Globke, Hitler’s former henchman, was true architect of modern Germany

Clips used: AP, ARD, The Eichmann TrialEN.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, statues have fallen like dominoes around the world, and a new discussion about the people commemorated in our public spaces has begun. We go back to Bristol where the week's events started, and learn why Colston's legacy is still so pervasive in the city. We also hear of a campaign to replace Colston with a statue of some very different figures from the city's past.

Guests: 

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol

Will Humphries, Southwest correspondent for The Times

Keri Andriana, granddaughter of civil rights campaigner Roy Hackett

Host: 

Manveen Rana

Clips:

CBS, BBC, ITV, The Sun, BFI, WVCB

Additional music: Jordan Powell, Chris Zabriskie (licenced under Creative Commons).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cannabis is far stronger than it used to be, and psychosis rates are soaring. What's causing some cannabis users to develop mental health issues, and how can they be treated? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes

Guest: Megan Agnew, commissioning editor, The Sunday Times Magazine

Host: Calum Macdonald.

Clips: Howard Stern show, ITV, Channel 4 News.

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We drank our way through lockdown and now we’re back on the razz – doing what we’ve done to let our hair down since ancient times. But why is booze such an intrinsic part of British life? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Josh Glancy, special correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, Asda, C-SPAN, RT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a looming crisis in the cemeteries of Britain: many of them are running out of space. How have we got here and what can we do about it?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

-John Waite, volunteer, Highgate Cemetery.

-Ian Dungavell, Chief Executive, Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust.

-Dr Julie Rugg, Cemetery Research Group, University of York.

-Mohamed Omer, Board Member, Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery.

Host: Leona Hameed.

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In the first of a special series on Stories of Our Times, The Times' crime correspondent John Simpson attempts to work out who killed a 14-year-old boy in broad daylight back in September 2017 in Newham, east London. CJ Davis' murder has never been solved but the case remains active.

Content warning: Description of suicidal ideation.  

Host: John Simpson, The Times' crime correspondent. 

Support numbers: If you’ve been affected by anything in this programme contact Samaritans for free on 116 123. 

Investigation: If you have something you’d like to tell us you can reach the podcast team by phone, WhatsApp, email and Instagram: 07535-785-774, wkcjd.tips@gmail.com and @wkcjdtips.

Anyone with information can also contact the police on the dedicated incident room number of 020 8345 3775, or 101. You can also make contact via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. The Metropolitan Police Service offers a £20,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for CJ's murder.

Original Music by Cam Shuck - satellitestudios.co.uk.

Additional music by Jordan Powell, Daniel Birch and Breakmaster Cylinder.

Actors: Praise Aguda, Tione Chance.

Clips used: BBC, ITV, UK Drill YouTube channel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As most of England eases lockdown, we ask: is the government making the right move?

Guest: 

Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser, chair of the Independent SAGE.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: Independent SAGE, ITV News, BBC, PBS.

Additional music: Komiku, Monplaisir, Scott Holmes (licensed under Creative Commons).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks the world’s two biggest superpowers have been playing a blame game around the global pandemic. What do the Chinese communists and the American Republicans stand to gain from the spread of myths, fake news and propaganda?

Guest: 

Catherine Philp, the Times Diplomatic Correspondent.

Henry Zeffman, the Times Washington Correspondent.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Archive: Newsweek

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Domestic violence programmes have traditionally been tailored for the victims. Now, there’s a push to work with the perpetrators to stop their abusive behaviour. How do these programmes work? Can abusive men ever change?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Respect

For perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse; respectphoneline.org.uk, 0808 802 4040

Refuge

For women and children affected by domestic abuse; refuge.org.uk, 0808 200 0247

Host: Manveen Rana.

Guests:

- Rosie Kinchen, features writer, The Sunday Times.

- Lorraine, Drive case manager.

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In 2019, Coleen Rooney, wife of former England football captain Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah Vardy— also the wife of a prominent footballer or "Wag"— of leaking false stories about her private life. Rooney claimed to have discovered this after a “sting operation” on Instagram. Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, sued for libel. As their case is dragged through the courts, what can we learn about modern celebrity from the battle of the Wags?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Rebecca Twomey, showbiz and entertainment journalist.

- Jonathan Ames, legal editor at The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: This Morning, Loose Women, Channel 4 News, Sky News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inside story of how the WallStreetBets forum on Reddit took on Wall Street, sending shares in the struggling retailer GameStop skyrocketing… until they crashed back to earth.

Content warning: strong language and mentions of suicide.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

• Caitlin McCabe, financial markets and retail trading reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
• Richard Fletcher, business editor, The Times.
• Simon Dixon, co-founder of Banktothefuture.com and an investment banker.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips used: WSJ, CNBC, CBS, Sky News, CNN, Bloomberg, Twitter, YouTube, Hollywood Life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Stories of our times team has been up all night watching the results roll in. A special episode will be dropping in your feeds very soon. Here is a taster of what's to come.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something a bit different on Stories of our times today.

Today's show consists of a recording that was thought to have been lost, of an electric performance at the 2014 Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival - one of the most memorable in the festival's history - by husband and wife Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory of love poems from the poetry collection The Love Book edited by Allie Esiri.

Earlier this summer, Damian rediscovered a recording of the event, which he offers here now to listeners as a tribute to his wife, who died in April this year at the age of 52. 

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While you and I were locked down in the middle of this year, the UK's National Crime Agency was frantically carrying out an unprecedented operation. By the time it was made public in July, Operation Venetic was the biggest crackdown on organised crime in UK history. What was it like to be an undercover detective working on one of the most high-tech, fast moving and risky investigations ever carried out in Britain?  

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Ross Kempsell, Special Correspondent, Times Radio.

Peter Stevens,  Branch Commander at the National Crime Agency.  

Matt Horne, Deputy Director of Investigations at the National Crime Agency.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors' treatment rooms. In this first episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent goes undercover to explore the extremely secretive practice. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123

Guests: 

- Jayne Ozanne, director and founder, Ozanne Foundation; chair, Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition.

- Dr Qazi Rahman, senior lecturer, King's College London.

- Michael King, Emeritus Professor, University College London.

Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.

Clips: ITV News, Instagram: @xoutloudeuropeofficial, X-OUT-LOUD Europe, Core Issues Trust, BFI, BBC.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the USA and Australia announced diplomatic boycotts of next year's Winter Olympics which are to be held in China. The announcements come at a time when the disappearance of China's top tennis player Peng Shuai last month after accusing a top politician of sexual assault further raised questions about China's human rights record.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Host: David Aaronovitch

Guests:

-Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent, The Times

-Matthew Syed, columnist, The Times and Sunday Times

Clips from: ABC, BBC, CNN, France 24, Global News, ITV News, NBC, Reuters, Sky News, Sky Sports News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both President Trump and Joe Biden say they are on course for victory. So, what happens now?

The Stories of our times production team has been up all night following one of the most closely fought and historic elections in recent memory.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

Josh Glancy, Washington Bureau Chief, The Sunday Times.

Laura Pullman, New York Correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Michael Gerhardt, Professor of Constitutional Law.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips used: CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, BBC Radio 4, BBC News, Times Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we get used to our new lives in isolation, there’s a question on everyone’s lips: how long will this last? And perhaps even more importantly: what needs to happen for life to return to normal? 

Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times

Host: David Aaronovitch

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Shamima Begum will not be allowed to return to the UK to fight her citizenship case. Begum, who was a teenager when she left Britain to join ISIS, has been fighting a legal battle to return home from the camp in northern Syria where she's currently detained. Today we revisit the first in our five part mini-series providing background on the case. To listen to the rest of the series search 'Bring Me Home' on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

It was a chance meeting in a Syrian camp. A veteran war reporter, a young mother, and an interview that polarised a nation. Shamima Begum was just 15 years old when she and two of her school friends from Bethnal Green left Britain to join Islamic State. Five years later, with her fate still hanging in the balance, the Supreme Court will this week decide whether she can return to the UK to challenge the deprivation of her citizenship. This episode of the Stories of our Times podcast will form part of a week-long series. We'll explore: what should happen to British nationals who left to join Islamic State, and do we have a responsibility to bring them back?

The rest of the Bring Me Home series:

Episode 2, Life in the Camps

Episode 3, Deradicalising Shamima Begu‪m‬

Episode 4, Lessons from Europe

Episode 5, A legal battle over Shamima Begum's future

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Anthony Loyd, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories about the persecution of China’s Muslim Uighur minority have been in the news in recent weeks. We hear the story of one man living in Turkey: Abdurehim Parac, a Uighur poet in exile.

Guests: 

Hannah Lucinda Smith, Times Istanbul correspondent.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: France 24, Sky News Australia, BBC, Channel 4 News, South China Morning Post, Al, Jazeera, PBS, CNBC.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus edition we are bringing you an episode from another Times podcast - Past Imperfect.

Nadiya Hussain MBE rose to fame after winning The Great British Bake Off back in 2015. She talks to Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson about the way her life has changed since then and how the abuse that she faced as a child inspired her to be a force for change.

Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/pastimperfect

Samaritans: www.samaritans.org

Blueprint for All: www.blueprintforall.org

The Survivors Trust: www.thesurvivorstrust.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former USA Gymnastics team doctor is now a convicted child sex offender, behind bars for 175 years. You might think that was where the story ended. But for many survivors, his sentencing was just the beginning of a long fight for justice in the sport they love. 

Guests: 

Rebecca Myers, reporter and feature writer for The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Additional music: Meydän (licenced under Creative Commons).

Clips: CBS New York, CBS, WXYZ-TV Detroit, NBC, Inside Edition, MLive, Click on Detroit - Local 4 - WDIV.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As election day approaches, the campaigning in key battleground states has intensified. Florida and Pennsylvania are just two of a handful of states that could play a major role in deciding who will lead for the next four years. From the Cuban-American anti-socialists, to the pro-fracking white working classes: who are the target voters who will influence the outcome on election night?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Sarah Baxter, American Diary, The Sunday Times.

Josh Glancy, Washington Bureau Chief, The Sunday Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy's Five Star Movement, a political party co-founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009, promised radical change by putting citizens back in control of politics. Today the party is facing problems. Will this populist force change course or will it continue with its anti-establishment agenda?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Tom Kington, Italy correspondent for The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As people return to work and school, and Covid numbers continue to rise, just how normal might this autumn be?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

-Jill Treanor, City Editor, The Sunday Times.

-Tom Calver, senior data journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Presenter: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Number 10.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across Britain, we are emerging from lockdown. But not everything is back to normal. As shops and pubs reopen their doors, we spend some time with three iconic businesses in London's East End. 

Guests: 

Anna Sereno, E. Pellicci's Cafe

Reggie Adams, Marquis of Cornwallis pub

Mohsin Hassan, Ali's Barber Shop

Host:

Manveen Rana, Asya Fouks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It looks like the US will be badly hit by coronavirus. Could President Trump's approach be his downfall?

Guests:

Henry Zeffman, the Washington Correspondent for The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a week to go before Christmas, Stories of our times hosts Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch are joined by journalist and wine expert Jane Macquitty, to guide you through five of the best festive wine pairings for Christmas day. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

Jane Macquitty, The Times and The Sunday Times Journalist and wine critic. 

Hosts: Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch.

The wines:

Champagne

Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne

White

2018 Domaine Henri Bourgeois Cuvée Le Prieuré des Hublots Sauvignon

Red for goose and game

2017 Villa Antinori Red

Red for turkey

2017 Brazin Old Vine Zinfandel

Port

Kopke Reserve Tawny Port

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China has recently changed its two-child policy and is now allowing families to have up to three children legally. It's a move aimed to combat the country's plunging birth rate, but what does this major shift in policy mean for China?

This episode describes the loss of a child. Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day. Phone: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent at The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips from: BBC, CNN.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the eyes of British news crews are trained on migrants crossing the Channel in boats, Lampedusa on Europe’s southern border is seeing far greater numbers of migrants coming from a new country of origin: Tunisia. What brings these families to Italy?

Guest:

Tom Kington, the Times Italy correspondent.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: Euronews, Tele Studio 98, TRIS, La Republica, BBC News, Home Office.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today: the story of one French athlete with dreams of attending the Olympics. Her hopes were put in jeopardy when she was accused of doping, but everything is not as it seems. 

Host: David Aaronovitch. 

Guest: Adam Sage, Paris correspondent for The Times. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it time to rethink the way British democracy works and reform the upper chamber of parliament?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall correspondent for The Sunday Times.

Tom Calver, Senior data journalist at The Sunday Times.

Lord Salisbury, member of the House of Lords.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we examine the gang culture of east London to look for clues as to what happened to the schoolboy, who was apparently caught up in this murky world.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  

This episode was first released on 21st August, 2020.

Host: John Simpson, the Times' crime correspondent.

Investigation: If you have something you’d like to tell us you can reach the podcast team by phone, WhatsApp, and Instagram: 07535 785774, and @wkcjdtips.

Anyone with information can also contact the police on the dedicated incident room number of 020 8345 3775, or 101. You can also make contact via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. The Metropolitan Police Service offers a £20,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for CJ's murder.

Anyone concerned they may know of a child being the victim of grooming can contact the police on 101 or the NSPCC.

Clips: UK Drill YouTube channel, Olympic YouTube channel, BBC Three.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a tumultuous week, the Vote Leave contingent that brought the PM to power was expunged from No 10. But what does the undignified power struggle mean for the future of Johnson's government?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: 

Tim Shipman, political editor of The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: BBC and ITV.

Contact us on: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Britain went into lockdown fears about health infection rates and the catastrophic impact on the economy set in, but something else was taking hold. We've been speaking to the anti-racism charity, The Monitoring Group, and they've noticed an alarming trend: a rise in racist hate crime. 

Guests:

Suresh Grover, The Monitoring Group.

Dorothea Jones, The Monitoring Group.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The annual Sunday Times Rich List has identified a record-breaking 24 new billionaires this year. For many of us, it's been a bleak year with recurring lockdowns, businesses closed and workers furloughed. So how have these individuals managed to generate so much wealth, and what happens after the boom?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Robert Watts, compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NRA is one of America's most powerful lobby groups. Now it has become the target of a lawsuit brought by New York's attorney-general. The organisation stands accused of "years of self-dealing and illegal conduct" by its top executives. The lawsuit could spell the end of the NRA, but could it change minds about the role of guns in American society?  

Guests: 

Henry Zeffman, Washington correspondent for The Times. 

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: History Channel, C-SPAN, ABC7NY, Bloomberg, CNN, NRA, Reagan Library, Global News, CNBC, ABC News, Jared Law.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What goes on inside one of the most secure, secretive and at times controversial British institutions? The Times is the first newspaper to be allowed into some of the most secure laboratories at Porton Down.

Plus: an exclusive interview with defence secretary Ben Wallace, who warns of a growing threat of chemical and biological attacks.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Larisa Brown, defence editor at The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Times stories mentioned in this episode:

• Inside Porton Down, Britain’s biological threats laboratory: anthrax in the fridge and vials of plague
• Fake finger will test how long coronavirus can survive
• Growing risk of attacks as world order crumbles

Clips used: BBC, ITV News, ITN.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday at the High Court, a judgement was passed that could have major implications for the treatment of children at gender identity clinics.

We speak to two people with very different perspectives: Keira Bell, the 23-year-old who detransitioned and is at the centre of the case; and the mother of a young transgender man, who thinks the court made the wrong decision.

Guests:

• Sian Griffiths, education and families editor, The Sunday Times.
• Keira Bell, one of the people at the centre of the High Court decision.
• Jo, the parent of a young transgender man who was also treated at the Tavistock clinic.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Sky News.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If one day, you saw your newborn baby with a little bruise you couldn't explain, what would you do? Many people like Holly Kobayashi would ask a professional for advice and reassurance. Instead Holly set in motion a process which led to her son being taken away and a four-month long fight to win him back and prove that she could care for him.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Emily Dugan, Social affairs correspondent for The Sunday Times.

-Holly Kobayashi, mother of Adventure. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tensions have erupted in Northern Ireland once again, as leaders attempt to preserve a long-standing peace deal in the region. Twenty-three years after the Good Friday Agreement, why does peace in Northern Ireland seem so precarious and what happens next? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Henry McDonald, Author, journalist and contributor to The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: Ruptly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While ministers delayed lockdown, soaring cases were putting immense pressure on hospitals. An Insight investigation shows officials devised a brutal ‘triage tool’ to keep the elderly and frail away.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

Jonathan Calvert, Sunday Times Insight editor.

George Arbuthnott, Sunday Times Insight deputy editor.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: BBC, Sky.

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Artist Tracey Emin has always shared her most intimate pain through her work. But now she reveals to Decca Aitkenhead how her body has been ravaged by cancer surgery.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Decca Aitkenhead Chief Interviewer, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, the former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. What does the verdict mean for racial equality and policing in the United States?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Andra Gillespie, Associate Professor at Emory University.

-Josh Glancy, Washington bureau chief at The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips used: Reuters, AP, Sky News, NBC, BBC 5Live and Times Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has uncovered that spies are creating fake business profiles on the professional networking site so that they can identify targets and obtain classified information. Under fake profiles, agents offer money and lucrative business opportunities in exchange for sensitive information. What does this tell us about how China operates?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Fiona Hamilton, Crime and security editor at The Times.

-Isabel Hilton OBE, Broadcast journalist and long term China watcher.

-Philip Ingram, Former senior British intelligence officer.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cartoonist Peter Brookes looks back on some of the more memorable images of his almost 30 years at The Times, and walks us through his creative process.

Click here to see the cartoons discussed in this episode.

Guest: Peter Brookes, Times cartoonist.

Host: Manveen Rana.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Clips used: AP, BBC, CGTN.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism – those born without pigmentation in their skin, hair and eyes – have long been discriminated against and even hunted for their body parts, which are thought to hold magical healing powers. And during the pandemic, fear and misinformation have led some to embrace superstition over science, blaming people with albinism for the virus.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Robert Shivambu, South Africa media manager at Amnesty International.

- Irene George, a woman living with albinism.

- Cosmas Maduhu, lawyer and activist living with albinism.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips used: Channel 4, ABC News, BBC, Click on Detroit, United Nations, Al Jazeera, Amnesty International.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an outbreak of conflict back in November last year between the Ethiopian military and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, thousands have been killed, and millions are now displaced. Soldiers from neighbouring Eritrea are also involved and suspected of carrying out some of the most brutal violence on civilians. Now, the UN has warned of an imminent famine, which is endangering the lives of millions in the region. Despite this, the Ethiopian government rejects reports of mass atrocities as politically motivated. In today's Stories of our times podcast, we ask: what's happening in Tigray?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Support helplines:

• the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247.
• the Rape Crisis national freephone helpline on 0808 802 9999 (12-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm every day of the year).

Guest: Fred Harter, reporter for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips from: BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, France 24, MSF.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors' treatment rooms. 

In this fourth episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent goes undercover again, to explore the extremely secretive practice. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123

Guests: 

-Suzi Ruffell, stand-up comedian; host, Out with Suzi Ruffell.

-Pamela Gawler-Wright, UKCP Accredited Contemporary Psychotherapist; independent consultant to the MoU on conversion therapy in the UK.

Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

75 years ago this week, a devastating atomic bomb changed world history. What can we learn from these events? 

Guest:

Koko Kondo, Hiroshima bomb survivor and peace campaigner.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips used: NBC, Imperial War Museum, US Army.

You can hear more first-hand memories of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of the Second World War by listening to Voices of War at Imperial War Museums’ website iwm.org.uk/victory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the UK, there is no clear consensus about how trans athletes should be included in competitive sport. Last month, a major review by the Sports Council Equality Group (SCEG) found that trans female athletes retain some competitive advantages and that inclusion cannot always coexist with fairness and safety. While the new guidance has been welcomed by some, it's also faced criticism from LGBT+ groups. But what impact has the controversy around the topic had on trans athletes themselves?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

-Amelia Cox, journalist at TalkSport.

-Verity Smith, trans rugby player, Trans Inclusion in Sports Youth Worker, Mermaids. 

-Sammy Walker, trans football player and writer.

-Madeleine Pape, Olympian, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne.

Host: Calum Macdonald.

Clips: eNCA, The Guardian, ITV, CBS.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federico Umberto D’Amato, the former spy who created the country’s culinary bible, is accused of being behind the 1980 Bologna atrocity. Could this decades old mystery finally be solved?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Tom Kington, Italy correspondent for The Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Grossman is one of America's most prolific and controversial police trainers. His courses on 'kill-ology' put violence and the act of killing at the heart of law enforcement. In the aftermath of Black Lives Matter, Grossman's methods have come under question. 

Host:

David Aaronovitch

Guest:

Laura Pullman

Clips:

ABC, CBS, Warner Bros., Cannon Air Force Base

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks a year since the Covid lockdown began. Every aspect of our daily life has been affected and more than 146,000 people have died of the virus in the UK.  In today's episode, we check in with old friends we've featured on the podcast last spring to see how their lives have changed.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

- Lee Solomon, co-Director of Lilie's Funeral Home.

- Spencer Craig, co-founder of Pure, a food-to-go business.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can the jubiatilion and uncertainty of VE day teach us about what 'victory' over coronavirus might look like?

Guest:

Ben Macintyre, associate editor, columnist and a writer-at-large for The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Imperial War Museum.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Northern Ireland's first minister, DUP leader Arlene Foster, has stepped down. Who will take over the top job? And what could it mean for the future of Northern Ireland?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Henry McDonald, contributing writer, The Sunday Times. 

- Sam McBride, political editor, Belfast News Letter.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC, Belfast Telegraph, DUP, Channel 4, Euronews.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.