New variants of COVID-19 have caused spikes in infections around the world and rang alarm bells about vaccine resistance. We speak to two scientists tracking mutant strains of the virus. How are these variants discovered? And just how dangerous are they? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reader of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes Guests: -Sharon Peacock, Professor of public health and microbiology at The University of Cambridge and Director of the COVID 19 Genomics UK consortium. -Dr Jeffrey Barrett, Director of COVID-19 Genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.  Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips used: BBC News, UK Government, Sky News, UK Parliament, ITV News, DW News, KTLA, Bloomberg, ABC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunting the COVID-19 variants

The Story: the flagship podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. One remarkable story, told in depth, each day.
Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones take you to the heart of the story you need to know with exclusive reports and investigations.
Plus, each month, William Hague hosts an agenda-setting interview with a key newsmaker or thinker.
Discover the story behind the story with world-class journalism from The Times and Sunday Times.
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With young people in Britain and across the world increasingly reliant on smartphones, and many teens now openly admitting they’re addicted to social media, could an entire generation be suffering serious and irreversible damage, and what should we as a society do to stop it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story  Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Times Feature Writer and Columnist. Host: Manveen Rana.  Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.uk ﻿Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Clips: NBC News, ITV News, Bloomberg Technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we save the smartphone generation?

India's PM Narendra Modi is favoured to win a third term as 970 million voters hit the polls in a six-week general election. Using an aggressive digital campaign, he’s doubling down on Hindu nationalism and promising more development. However, crackdowns on opposition and the press have intensified during his decade-long leadership, raising concerns about the future of India's secular democracy.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Guest: Philip Sherwell, Asia correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Maveen Rana.  Clips: ANI, Reuters, DW News, BBC, CNN, The Wire, Brut India.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Influencer of influencers': Modi's strategy to win the Indian election

The call came in the dead of night. “Are you on your own?” the man said. “I’ve got in with some bad people and they’ve locked me in a flat and they want £5,000 to release me.” The caller was Mark Menzies, the Conservative MP for Fylde in Lancashire.  The Times investigation reveals a litany of allegations involving sex, drugs and a drunk dog. Mark Menzies disputes all the allegations, and says he “fully complied with all the rules for declarations.” This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.co.uk/thestory Guest: Billy Kenber, Senior Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Further listening: The council house row Angela Rayner can't shake.   Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investigation: The Tory MP who allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’

Donald Trump has made history yet again, as the first American president to face a criminal trial. It’s one of four criminal cases against him - and the legal arguments already have experts divided. But what about the woman at the centre of it? What’s her story? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/the-story
Guest: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times Magazine. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Forbes, Fox News. Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial, according to Stormy Daniels

Police are investigating whether Labour’s deputy leader broke “any offences”, including under electoral law, after Tory MPs alleged that she may have given false information about her main residence - an ex council house she purchased - a decade ago. Rayner, who has promised to resign if she is found to have committed a crime, said she “followed the rules at all times”. But how damaging could this row be to her - and to her 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/podcasts/the-story
Guest: Kate McCann, Political Editor, Times Radio. Host: Luke JonesClips: BBC, Newsnight, ITV, 5 News, Sky News. Email us: thestory@thetimes.co.uk Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunting the COVID-19 variants

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