London’s Metropolitan Police has accepted findings from a landmark report that found racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour inside the UK’s largest police force. Baroness Louise Casey, who led the review, has been speaking with The Times about how she investigated New Scotland Yard. But does she think the Met Police can be fixed? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, Sky News, 5 News, Metropolitan Police, The Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a regional bank in California collapsed, it sent shock waves through the financial system. A few weeks later, and we're still feeling the ripples of Silicon Valley Bank's demise. It's triggered a sense of déjà vu – only 15 years on from the global financial crisis that was brought on by banking mismanagement. Have we learned any lessons from the 2008 crisis? And is it finally time for a banking rethink? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNN, Sky News, NBC News, Al Jazeera, Fox News, CNBC, WION, BBC News, Channel 4 News, AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though gender equality has come a long way at work, when it comes to parenting the mother is still viewed as the primary caregiver. But does it have to be this way? Paul Morgan-Bentley talks about his new book The Equal Parent in which he draws on his own experience as a father, and asks what can be done to share the load. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week police said a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder of Corey Junior Davis. The 14-year-old was shot dead in broad daylight on 4th September, 2017, in Newham, East London.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: John Simpson, former Crime Correspondent, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After swearing an oath on the King James Bible, Boris Johnson spent nearly three and a half hours being quizzed by fellow MPs on the privileges committee about gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown. The same afternoon, only 22 Tories followed him through the lobbies, defying a three-line whip to vote against the government’s Brexit deal. So is his appeal – and his argument – fading away? And where does it all leave the Conservatives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Parliament TV, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s three years since the then prime minister Boris Johnson announced the first national lockdown in an attempt to halt the spread of covid. So, as we move on from the last pandemic, what might cause the next one? And have we learned enough this time round to stop it before it gets out of hand? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Sean O'Neill.  Clips: BBC News, Al Jazeera, Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years on, the invasion of Iraq is widely seen as a fiasco. But still today the conflict has ongoing consequences for Iraq and Iraqis. Times correspondent Catherine Philp is back in Baghdad to meet people and hear how they were affected then - and now. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:  Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times. Dr Saad Eskander, historian and director of the Iraq National Library and Archives. Bader Katr, translator. Iraqi family in Sadr city. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, CBS, AP, Al Jazeera, Journeyman Pictures, CNN, The Washington Post. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Sturgeon’s surprise resignation last month triggered the first election for the leadership of the Scottish National Party in a decade. So, what are the priorities of the three candidates? And - with a row over membership numbers leading the party’s chief executive to resign after giving misleading figures to the press - what impact will the leadership election have on the party? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.  Clips: STV, ITV, Sky News, Channel 4, The Scottish Sun.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 2003, Britain, the US and others invaded the cradle of civilisation, promising to end the perceived threat from Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. But where did the evidence come from and how did it lead us to war? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Michael Evans, Defence Writer, The Times. Robert E Kelly, nuclear engineer and weapons inspector. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: AP, BBC, Al Jazeera, 60 Minutes, Parliament Live, UK Parliament, BBC, CBS C-SPAN, WSJ, Tim Collins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Friday episode comes courtesy of our sister podcast: Off Air ... with Jane and Fi, who are joined by historian Dan Snow to talk about his latest documentary on the Black Death. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Assistant Producer: Kea Browning. Times Radio Producer: Rosie Cutler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the Iranian morality police for allegedly dressing inappropriately, sparking protests across the country and beyond. But six months on, there are two opposing narratives of what happened to the 22-year-old: the official account and what her family says. Our correspondent has been investigating to provide the most comprehensive account yet of her final days. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Jenny Kleeman. Clips: BBC News, France 24, CNN Espanol, Al Jazeera, Times Radio, Channel 4 News, Euronews, Sky News Australia, Middle East Matters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHS has had a tough few years: Covid, huge winter demand and now strikes have disrupted services. But even on an average day, the pressure in one of the country's biggest hospitals is palpable. A few weeks ago Stories of Our Times visited Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for a rare glimpse inside the NHS, and to see the pioneering solutions that could ease the situation. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Rachel Sylvester, Times columnist and chairwoman of the Times Health Commission. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Sky News, BBC Radio 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow the chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand up in the House of Commons to deliver his first full budget. With the UK economy at its most stagnant point in two years, is there anything Hunt can do to ease the pain? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times. Host: Jenny Kleeman.  Clips: Sky News, Bloomberg, ITV, Telegraph, BBC, Al Jazeera, CBS, NBC, Parliament TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They are supposed to help adults quit smoking – so why is a Willy Wonka array of disposable vapes being mass marketed to children? The Chartered Trading Standards Institute wants tougher penalties for those selling to under-18s. Just how did vaping get so big in Britain? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Luke Jones.  Clips: BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A small pro-Russian political party is leading anti-government protests in the former Soviet state amid warnings from Ukraine and Moldovan security services that Russia is plotting to overthrow the country’s pro-EU government. Could this be part of Vladimir Putin’s grand plan?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Jenny Kleeman.  Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, WION, Telesur.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race for the Republican nominee for the 2024 US presidential race is already underway – with former White House resident Donald Trump throwing his hat in the ring a full two years ahead of time. One man who seems poised to be Trump's biggest threat is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. So who is Ron DeSantis? And could he really beat Trump to the nomination? Our man in Washington, David Charter, sat down with him for an interview. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Fox News, CNN, CBS News, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, one woman is determined that the world doesn't lose interest. To mark International Women's Day we meet Lesia Vasylenko, the Ukrainian MP who travels the globe drumming up military support for Ukraine, using every media platform available to fight Putin. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Lesia Vasylenko, Ukrainian MP. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC News, Radio Free Europe, Hromadske, CNN, CBS, India Ahead, Sky Australia, News Nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost six years after a suicide bomber killed 22 and injured hundreds more at the Manchester Arena, the inquiry into the attack has published its final report. Did the security services have the intelligence that could have prevented it from happening? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.   Host: Luke Jones.  Clips: Manchester Arena Inquiry, Reuters, BBC News, Times Radio, AP.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25-year-old Rishi Sharma sleeps in a rental car and eats one meal a day. But it’s worth it, he says – as he travels around the world to interview every surviving Second World War veteran.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:  Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.  Rishi Sharma. You can watch Rishi’s interviews on his YouTube channel, ‘Remember WWII with Rishi Sharma’: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRikw4uCjS8ck3O9Mj-N35Q  Host: Manveen Rana.   Clips: YouTube, CBS, Participant.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Aaronovitch has left The Times after nearly 18 years at the paper, and after three years on Stories of Our Times. As well as presenting this podcast, every week David discussed the news with friend and fellow columnist Danny Finkelstein on Matt Chorley's Times Radio show. On Tuesday, Matt and Danny said goodbye to David with an hour-long special in which they discuss the Brexit deal, trust in politicians, and listener questions for the 'Cerberus of Columnists'. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.