The Story

When parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany were hit by flooding earlier this month, it left a trail of devastation and over a hundred dead. As the flood waters subsided and locals dealt with the clean up operation, a blame game erupted. 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: thet...

Veteran Times war correspondent Anthony Loyd hits the road with Afghan security forces… and meets the Taliban.   The second of two episodes this week looking back at 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and forward to the country’s 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: thetime...

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/stor...

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,...

2021 is on track to be America's deadliest year for gun violence in two decades. With record numbers of mass shootings across the country, is the US finally ready to confront the problem? 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, The S...

Five years ago, the death of an ex-footballer in the Midlands town of Telford made headlines. Last month, the officer who unlawfully killed Dalian Atkinson by tasering him to the ground and kicking him in the head, has been jailed for eight years. What does this case tell us about how police de-escalate difficult situations, particularly for those involving someone experiencing a mental healt...

The forty fifth president of the US, Donald Trump, will be talked about forever. Now, Michael Wolff in his new book:  Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, exposes the chaos behind the scenes at the White House during President Trump's time in office. What did he learn when he sat down with him? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The...

Earlier this year football fans, politicians and royalty united against the breakaway European Super League. Today we reveal how the multibillion-pound plan was scuppered and ask: could it still be revived? 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:  Ol...

The online racial abuse of some England players following Sunday's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy has caused outrage across the country. What does the reaction to Sunday's result reveal about the state of our nation? 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...

Despite a surge in coronavirus cases, Boris Johnson is set on lifting all restrictions on what's been dubbed as 'Freedom day' next Monday in England. Today, we look at three examples: Israel, The United States and Australia, all of which have had varying success with vaccination programmes and easing lockdowns. Can we learn anything from their pandemic strategies? This podcast was brought to...

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...

Last Wednesday a group of gunmen broke into the home of President Moïse in Haiti. Posing as American drug enforcement officials, once inside they shot the president dead. Despite arrests being made, the events are still shrouded in mystery. What does this murder mean for the future of Haiti? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Su...

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/sto...

At times over the past few years this country has felt quite divided. But now, there's something we can all agree on: it's coming home. Who is the man changing English football? 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 Walsh, Chief sports writer at T...

Students at Pimlico Academy in Westminster, have used boycotts and walk-outs to express their dissatisfaction over policies about their dress code, policies which they say are racist because they discriminate against natural black hairstyles. Today, we explore the politics of hair in British schools.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday...

Increasing numbers of people from Iran are being sold an escape package out of Turkey and then onto the UK. Who are the men, women and children risking their lives crossing the world's busiest shipping route? And who are the people who sell them the trip? 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...

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 mo...

Two weeks ago tensions bubbled up in the Black Sea as a British warship, HMS Defender, sailed through Ukrainian waters and encountered Russian forces. What really happened during those 36 minutes? It depends on who you ask… 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...

It started 40 years ago as an academic movement to critique how historical racism may still be preventing people of colour in the United States from achieving true equality, now it's dividing America. What is critical race theory and why is it under attack? 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 fre...

As the pandemic was changing all of our lives, the most private of men was forced into the pressure cooker of public life, facing increasing public harassment. Sixteen months on, how well do any of us really know the doctor charged with keeping the country safe? 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 fre...

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 vot...

It's not often that CCTV footage changes the political landscape. What does the scandal surrounding Matt Hancock tell us about the way government works? And what does his departure mean for the NHS and the pandemic?  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: theti...

A Turkish mob boss who's on the run, has been making unverified claims on YouTube about corruption and organised crime linked right to the top of president Erdogan's government. His tell-all videos have captivated the nation and turned him into an unlikely social media star. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe bef...

From Nobel-winning greats and pacey thrillers to memoirs and historical novels, Times Radio's Stig Abell returns to the podcast for our guide to the best reads for the beach. 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 . Books recommended in t...

President Joe Biden put his VP Kamala Harris in charge of stemming the tide of migrants into the United States in March - a seemingly intractable problem. Since then, many have criticised Harris for not having made a visit to the US- Mexican border, despite being in charge of its management. After mounting pressure - yesterday the Vice President announced she would go and visit personally - but is...