The Story

Last year’s attack on a dance class in Southport killed three young girls and injured a further eight, as well as two adults. The teenager responsible, Axel Rudakubana, has since been sentenced to a minimum 52 years. But a public inquiry is still trying to understand whether it would have been possible to prevent the horrific event. 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: Constance Kampfner, northern correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Edward Drummond. Read more: Axel Rudakubana’s father ‘was too scared to challenge him’Southport killer’s brother ‘feared he would kill a family member’Clips: Southport Inquiry, Times Radio, The Times. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost 700,000 people are waiting to book their driving test in the UK, a record backlog which is being exploited by scammers. Our reporter Emma Kirwan found victims across the UK have already paid out more than £134,000 this year trying to book slots which don’t exist. So, she tracked down a scammer and got him on the phone. 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: Emma Kirwan, reporter, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case. Clips: Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves has paved the way for potential tax rises. In a speech three weeks before the budget, the chancellor refused to commit to Labour’s manifesto promise to not raise National Insurance, income tax or VAT. With Nigel Farage also back-pedalling on tax cuts, is it time for the politicians to be more honest about the state of the economy? 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: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Shabnam Grewal, Alula Hart. Read more: Reeves: We must all do our bit to secure Britain’s future Further listening: Do bond markets rule the world? Clips: Sky News, The Guardian, Parliament TV, ITV Politics. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, passengers on a train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross suddenly found themselves in the path of a man wielding a large kitchen knife. In the terrifying minutes that followed, there were scenes of horror and acts of bravery. So what happened, could the attack have been prevented, and can passenger safety be improved? 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: Host: Manveen Rana Producers: Micaela Arneson, Shabnam Grewal. Read more: What happened on the train in Huntingdon? How stabbing attack unfolded Clips: BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Channel 4 News, Parliament TV, Sky News, RTE News, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow is election day for the mayor of New York and the frontrunner is 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. But are his plans to remake America's biggest city achievable - or a pipe dream? And how might he face off against President Trump? 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: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Olivia Case, Sophie McNulty, Alula Hart. Clips: nnmaddox / YouTube, @amberyeet / TikTok, NBC, C-SPAN, zohran_k_mamdani / TikTok, Fox, Mr Cardamom / YouTube, Bernie Sanders / YouTube, @subwaytakes / TikTok, Forbes. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gail Rice had given up on dating apps and was dreading old age. Then the psychologist had an idea — book a hotel room for a landmark birthday and pay a stranger to turn her on. Would it work? 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: Olivia Case. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: My 70th birthday treat? I hired a male escort Clips: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Searchlight Pictures. Photo: Isabella Moore for The Times Magazine. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. In Lausanne, Switzerland, neuroscientist and Rolex Awards Laureate Grégoire Courtine and neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch have pioneered a “digital bridge” that translates brain signals into spinal stimulation, giving people with paralysis new ways to regain movement. They tell Tom Whipple about the science behind the technology, the patients leading the way and their hopes for the future of movement recovery after paralysis. Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Host: Tom Whipple, Science Writer, The Times. Series Producer: Priyanka Deladia Sound Designer: David Crackles This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is from The Story's sister podcast The Royals. He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The man formerly known as Prince Andrew is being stripped of his titles and removed from his mansion, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate. Last month The Times obtained a copy of the leasehold agreement for Royal Lodge which showed that while the prince paid £1 million for the lease plus at least £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, he has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent per year, since 2003. Andrew's links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, brought increasing public and political demands for action. It is a seismic moment in royal history – but is it enough? Presenter: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times. Contributors: Producers: Sophie McNulty, Priyanka Deladia, Robert Wallace, Stephen Titherington. Photo: Getty Images. Subscribe to The Royals podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since January, one clinic in the UK has started prescribing the weight-loss medication Wegovy to 12-17 year-olds. For some, the results have been life-changing. But without evidence about the long-term impacts, is it safe? 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: Roisin Kelly, commissioning editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Taryn Siegel. Read more: The children taking Wegovy to turn their lives around Further listening: Why weight loss drugs will change even more than you think Photo: Times Media. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, while Xi Jinping hit back with export limits on rare earth minerals. As the two leaders come face to face in South Korea to make a deal, the stakes are high. 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: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edith Rousselot and Alula Hart. Clips: CBS News, CNBC, AP News, Bloomberg TV. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has announced plans to move migrants out of hotels and into accommodation on military barracks. The same plan Labour opposed when put forward by the Conservatives in 2023. What’s behind the move and could it work? 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: Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Asylum seekers to be housed in military sites instead of hotels Billions ‘squandered on migrant hotels due to incompetence’ Clips: Parliament, BBC, Times Radio, ITV, Getty Images. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years ago, French bloggers began to claim the President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man. As the false allegations spread internationally, the Macrons decided to take legal action. Yesterday, ten people appeared in a Paris court charged with cyberbullying and in the US, the right wing influencer Candace Owens faces a defamation suit. So where did this come from? And in a world of fake news, is there value in fighting for the truth? 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: Charles Bremner, Paris contributor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case and Micalea Arneson. Clips: De de / YouTube, NBC, CNN, France24, Engineering Science, Theo Von Clips, Candace Owens / YouTube, Daily Wire Plus, BFMTV. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cyberattack which shut down Jaguar Land Rover for five weeks this summer, cost Britain nearly £2bn. It was just one of a series of attacks on big British businesses by teenage hackers who co-ordinate via the dark web. So who are they and how do we stop them? 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Shabnam Grewal. Read more: Who are the hackers behind the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack? , Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack nears £2bn in UK’s costliest hack Clips: BBC News, 5 News, ITV News, TALK TV, CHANNEL 4 News. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been described as the 'crime of the decade'. In just seven minutes, masked thieves stole the French crown jewels in broad daylight, from the most visited museum in the world: the Louvre. How did they pull off their audacious plan and will they get away with 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: David Chazan, Paris correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: How the Louvre Heist Unfolded Clips: ITV News, Fox News, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Over a billion people live with preventable vision loss. Eye surgeon and Rolex Awards Laureate Andrew Bastawrous has created a smartphone app that is transforming eyecare, facilitating sight restoration for millions and changing lives. He tells Tom Whipple, how glasses – a 700-year-old invention – have transformed his own life, and why he’s determined no one should lose their sight for lack of access. Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andrew Bastawrous, eye surgeon and founder, Peek Vision. Host: Tom Whipple, science writer, The Times. Series Producer: Priyanka Deladia. Sound Designer: David Crackles. This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump announced sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, saying he hoped it may push Putin to be ‘reasonable’ over ending the Ukraine war. The EU swiftly followed suit, and are discussed using seized Russian assets to help fund Ukraine. Could the financial pressure bring Russia’s economy– and Putin’s war ambitions– to its knees? 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: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson, Edith Rousselot. Read more: What do Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil mean for Ukraine war? Trump announces ‘tremendous’ new raft of sanctions against Russia Clips: Forbes, Associated Press, Times News. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is promising to give Argentina $20 billion to save its struggling economy but only if incumbent President Javier Milei holds onto power in the midterm elections this weekend. So why does Trump care about a country 5,000 miles away? And is this part of a broader swing to the right across South America? 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: Stephen Gibbs, contributor, Latin America and the Caribbean, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case. Read more: Trump to Argentina voters: Back Javier Milei to get US billionsMaría Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize — to fury of Trump’s teamFurther listening: Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil? Clips: AP, Forbes, ABC, PBS, Vivo / YouTube, New York Post, The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the night of September 9, sirens sounded across eastern Poland. Around 20 Russian drones had crossed the border, and NATO aircraft were scrambled to shoot them down. The incident became a wake-up call for Europe and the US, where further sightings of drones over airports and military facilities have since been reported. This week, defence secretary John Healey announced a plan to allow British troops to bring down drones over military bases. But the UK isn’t the only country taking this growing threat more seriously. So what’s Europe’s plan to fight Putin’s drones? 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: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Drones and balloons cause wave of panic in Nato countries How ‘state-sponsored’ drone activity is pushing Nato to brink Soldiers will be given power to shoot down threatening drones Further listening: Putin’s drones, Nato’s fightback, and when is it war? https://pod.fo/e/3352cd Clips: NPR, 7 News, Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last week, after new revelations about the relationship between the Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew was forced to relinquish his titles. His meeting with the King also followed the publication of extracts from the autobiography of Virginia Giuffre, which is released today. Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, something he has always strongly denied. In recent days, there have been further questions about the prince's judgement and financial arrangements. 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edith Rousselot and Shabnam Grewal. Read more: ‘Tell us everything you saw, Andrew, for Virginia’s sake’ Clips: BBC, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you the first episode from The Times' new investigative series, The Poppy Day Bomb. On Remembrance Sunday in 1987, an IRA bomb went off in Mario Ledwith’s hometown of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, which ultimately killed 12 people. A lifetime later, Mario returns to investigate the silence surrounding that terror attack. To make sure you don't miss the rest of the series, subscribe to the Poppy Day Bomb. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence that you may find upsetting. Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter, The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwidth@thetimes.co.uk podcasts.investigates@thetimes.com Connect your Times subscription with Apple Podcasts and get episodes ad free and early. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.