The Story

As demand for fashionable pets soars, vets and animal welfare charities say we're creating breeds that are destined to suffer. So, why are we prioritising cuteness over welfare? And what would it take to change the way we breed and buy our pets? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read by:...

Donald Trump has announced that a deal has been reached to disarm Hamas in Gaza, while also forcing Israel to withdraw its troops from the strip. The President is hailing it as a ‘monumental step towards lasting PEACE and SECURITY’. But can it succeed where so many other attempts have failed? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscr...

After a scandal-ridden tournament, there’s a new crisis brewing for the World Cup. As exclusively revealed by the Times, FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to monetise and Americanise football by selling off the tournament. But the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, has threatened to boycott the tournament if that goes ahead. So what is Infantino thinking? And what does Donald...

Why are transport links in the north of England so poor, and what could Andy Burnham do about it? Should women be worried about Meta’s AI glasses? And what is Trump planning – in Iran and beyond? You asked, so we answered, in this edition of our monthly Q&A series.  If you have a question, send it to us at thestory@thetimes.com , and we’ll try to answer it in a future Q&A episode! Thi...

Tom Clarke speaks to The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler, following his exclusive story on Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plans to offer 'stakes' in the World Cup. So, what are these plans? Why does it matter 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: http://thetimes.com/thestory G...

Andy Burnham’s plans to shift power out of London are already taking shape, with No 10 North open for business in Manchester. The city sees yet more political action tomorrow, with Labour expected to win Britain’s biggest ever by-election and usher in a new mayor. But what will Burnham’s plans for devolution really mean for the country?   This podcast was brought to you thanks to the sup...

In France and Spain wildfires have been ripping through communities, forcing 325,000 to flee. And it’s not just mainland Europe feeling the heat. In Britain, wildfires have broken out across the country. So what does the future hold? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guests:  Katie...

We’re publishing our monthly Q&A episode this Thursday. Send us your questions by Wednesday 12pm BST! We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Further listening: Q&A: Departures, diplomacy, and an unused motorhome 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&nbs...

In Germany the radical right is on the rise. The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has gone from the fringes to the second largest party in federal government. And it is expected to win more state elections this autumn. So how did the AfD become so popular in a country that's worked so hard to distance itself from its fascist history? And could it be stopped? This podcast was brought to you thanks...

Alex Baber is a self-taught investigator from rural West Virginia who claims to have solved a case that’s defeated the world’s best cryptographers for half a century: the identity of the Zodiac killer. Baber used AI to interpret the coded notes the serial killer left behind and, in the process, made another startling discovery. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of Th...

After months of trying to hide her true circumstances, Stacey Duguid decided to go public about her economic situation. The response from fellow midlife women was huge. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read by: Claire Cohen, contributor, The Times.  Producers: Emily Webb. We want t...

Sir Keir Starmer is out. Andy Burnham is in. And after just days in Downing Street, the new prime minister has torn up his predecessor's playbook — swapping warnings of a hard inheritance for a blitz of cost of living giveaways. Is this smart repositioning after Starmer's early missteps, or a sugar rush that can't survive contact with the budget? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the suppo...

Riot police in Delhi have fired tear gas and baton charged the biggest protest the city has seen in years; tens of thousands of young Indians, marching under the banner of the "Cockroach Janta Party", calling for an end to corruption and educational reform. But what exactly triggered this uprising? And could this be the biggest threat Modi has faced in 12 years of power? This podcast was brought t...

A gas platform in the North Sea is at the centre of a fierce debate that has divided the country: should the UK be expanding fossil fuel infrastructure or going all-in on renewables? The Rough Field gas facility wants to repurpose depleted gas fields to solve Britain’s chronic shortage of energy storage. But should government funding go towards securing our current energy supply, or funding a gree...

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 Ti...

Around Scotland, something bizarre has been happening. Men dressed in black have gathered in military-style formations. The silent parades are filmed in grainy black and white. Experts describe the imagery as unmistakably fascist. So what is this? And why is it happening now?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:...

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/thestory G...

Ben Kawaller suddenly has the urge to have children, but he would prefer not to raise them. Luckily, there is a growing online market that can help with that. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read by: Ben Kawaller, reporter and essayist. Producer: Dave Creasey. We want to hear from you...

Today, Andy Burnham will be crowned Labour leader. On Monday, he'll become Prime Minister -- Britain's fifth in as many years. But questions are still lingering over the direction he’ll take the government. And more than that, people are still trying to decipher who the man really is. We turn to our man in Westminster, who has spent plenty of time with Burnham, to try to get some answers. This pod...

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? Thi...

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?...

It’s no secret that NHS mental health care is under strain - long waiting lists, disjointed communication between providers, and patients left in limbo. So how did it end up this way? And could a treatment model from Finland be the solution? The Sunday Times went to find out. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http:/...

Counterterrorism police are now leading the investigation into the alleged murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe. A 28-year-old man has now been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Guests: Oliver Wright,...

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 U...

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/thestory Guest:  James Lasdun, autho...