The Story

Transparency rules have been cast aside by ministers in their coronavirus panic. The result? Privileged access for friendly lobbyists and £1.5bn of contracts to Conservative-linked companies. We speak to the Sunday Times journalist who exposed much of it, and a lawyer bringing a case against the government. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunda...

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether Shamima Begum should be allowed to come back to Britain to fight for her citizenship. It's a legal battle that could have enormous consequences for her future and her 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/s...

The UK is not alone in having to decide what to do with its citizens stuck in Syrian camps and Iraqi prisons. Thousands of European nationals travelled to the Middle East to take part in the conflict that has torn the region apart. How is the rest of Europe coping with the problem? Are they bringing foreign fighters back? And what do they do with them if they do return? This podcast was broug...

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 r...

In the second part of our series on Shamima Begum, we explore the experience of British nationals detained in Syria. What are living conditions like inside refugee camps? And should Britain repatriate its nationals who live in them? 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/storiesof...

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 challeng...

All next week Stories of our times will examine the effectiveness of the UK’s policy towards those detained in Syria; discuss de-radicalisation; and look at the dissenting views on the idea of repatriation as the Supreme Court decides whether Begum can return home to contest the removal of her citizenship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fled house arrest in Tokyo and turned up in Beirut in December 2019, the details read like they’d come straight from the pages of a spy thriller. Accused of financial misconduct by Nissan, and facing a long trial and prison sentence, he decided to make a break for it. What’s his side of the story? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The...

Was one of the most famous interviews in UK television history secured by underhand means? Twenty-five years on, the BBC finds itself under fresh scrutiny.  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 at The Times. Ros...

Donald Trump got more Republicans to vote for him than any US presidential candidate in history. He's changed the party and the country forever. And though he may be on his way out, is Trumpism here to stay? 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 . Gues...

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: thetim...

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,&n...

The first in an unfolding miniseries -  The Vaccine  - tracking the progress of those tackling this historic challenge. We'll be making sense of the latest developments as they happen, taking an inside look at the vaccine industry, and learning from past efforts to defend humanity from our biological enemies. This week: in the war between scientists and the virus it looks like...

If there's one item of food that defines this era, and a generation of millennials, it's the avocado. But how much do we know about where the avocados in British supermarkets come from? This episode explores the allegations of violence and intimidation emerging from Kakuzi farm in Kenya, which is owned by a British company.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of r...

How did Amazon boom during the pandemic? And how big will it grow whilst other retail businesses suffer?  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.  Guest: Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent for the Sunday Times. Clips...

Hares Youssef, a Ukrainian businessman, claims he was promised a US visa in return for information that would damage Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. Should these new allegations be investigated? 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: Lt Col Alexander...

What will a Biden presidency look like? And what do we know about the man taking on the top job 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 . Guests:  Josh Glancy, Washington Bureau Chief for The Sunday Times. Richard Schiff, actor and a...

Over the last few weeks, Islamist terror attacks in France, and then Austria shook Europe, and the world. In response, the UK has also raised its terror threat level to "severe". But the French President Emmanuel Macron's response to the attacks has sent ripples of anger through the Muslim world. Today we take a deeper look at French secularism and the Muslim community in Franc...

A new national lockdown starts today. It’s due to end on December 2nd, but just what conditions will be necessary to lift the restrictions? And what can be done to slow the spread of infection? 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:  Oliver Wright,...

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/stor...

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 aca...

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,...

Half term may be over, but the battle to feed the children of this country, certainly isn’t. What will happen when the next holidays come round?  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:  Baron Griffiths of Burry Port, Labour peer.  Sian Gr...

With just days until the election, Joe Biden is entering the final stretch with a significant lead in the polls over Donald Trump. But could another surprise result be around the corner? 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 Zeffman, Washingt...

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:&n...