The Story

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 at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Louise Callaghan, Middle east correspondent for The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Guest: Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry, former Royal Navy officer and former director general in the Ministry of Defence.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera English, Reuters, The Sun, Sky News Australia, TASS.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent for The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Fox, PBS, NBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 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 free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: -Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times.-Professor David Mabey, friend and former colleague of Chris Whitty.-Professor John Ashton, former president of the Faculty of Public Health and author of 'Blinded by Corona: How the Pandemic Ruined Britain's Health and Wealth'.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC Radio 4, BBC News, ITV, Sky News, 5 News, Euronews, Royal Society of Medicine, Gresham College, Nerys And The Soul Traders on YouTube, Darren Dutton on YouTube.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 PartyThe by-election candidates are (listed alphabetically by surname):Paul Bickerdike - Christian Peoples AllianceMike Davies - Alliance For Green SocialismJayda Fransen - IndependentGeorge Galloway - Workers PartyTom Gordon - Liberal DemocratsThérèse Hirst - English DemocratsHowling Laud Hope - The Official Monster Raving Loony PartySusan Laird - Heritage PartyKim Leadbeater - Labour PartyOliver Purser - Social Democratic PartyCorey Robinson - Yorkshire PartyAndrew Smith - Rejoin EURyan Stephenson - Conservative PartyJack Thomson - UK Independence PartyJonathan Tilt - Freedom AllianceAnne Marie Waters - The For Britain MovementThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV, Sky, The Telegraph.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A 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 before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hannah Lucinda Smith, Turkey correspondent at The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From 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 this episode:Non-fiction:1) The Sleeping Beauties And Other Stories of Mystery Illness by Suzanne O'Sullivan (hardback / audiobook)2) One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time by Craig Brown (hardback / paperback / audiobook)3) Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West by Catherine Belton (hardback / paperback / audiobook)Fiction:1) Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (hardback / audiobook)2) Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (hardback / audiobook)3) The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz (hardback)Guests: -Robbie Millen, literary editor of The Times.-Andrew Holgate, literary editor of The Sunday Times.Host: Stig Abell. Clips: Baillie Gifford podcast; Suzanne O'Sullivan reading her own book on Audible; Meg Mason reading her own book at a Book People virtual event; Klara and the Sun from Faber on SoundCloud.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 it a little too late? Today we look at the reputation of a second-in-command who came into office with the world's expectations on her shoulders.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: Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent for The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: NBC, Fox News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.