What goes on inside one of the most secure, secretive and at times controversial British institutions? The Times is the first newspaper to be allowed into some of the most secure laboratories at Porton Down. Plus: an exclusive interview with defence secretary Ben Wallace, who warns of a growing threat of chemical and biological attacks. 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: Larisa Brown, defence editor at The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Times stories mentioned in this episode:Inside Porton Down, Britain’s biological threats laboratory: anthrax in the fridge and vials of plagueFake finger will test how long coronavirus can surviveGrowing risk of attacks as world order crumbles
 Clips used: BBC, ITV News, ITN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Porton Down: Britain’s top secret laboratory

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.
The Story is available at the start of your day from Monday to Friday, with bonus ‘Inside the Newsroom’ episodes every Saturday for Times subscribers, available by connecting your subscription via Apple Podcasts. 
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News

Politics

Daily News

William Hague sits down with Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor and one of the world’s leading thinkers on artificial intelligence, to discuss how tech could be the great equaliser, how we must control it and how the world will be unrecognisable in 5 years time.  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: Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor, author, thought leader. Host: William Hague.
Further listening: Artificial intelligence: Our bright new future or the end of humanity? 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.

Hague talks to AI expert Azeem Azhar - ‘Unchecked power ends with bad outcomes’

After two years of legal disputes and political debate, Parliament has approved the government's Rwanda bill to send asylum seekers from the UK to be processed in east Africa. The question now: when will the first plane to Kigali depart? And will this be a political win for Rishi Sunak who says he wants to 'stop the boats'?  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: Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times.  Host: Manveen Rana. 
Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.co.uk  Find out more about our bonus series for Times subscribers: 'Inside the newsroom' Clips: BBC Parliament, ITV, BBC News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rwanda Bill: the controversy explained

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.

Rewilding the smartphone generation: One school's story

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.

Inside Porton Down: Britain’s top secret laboratory

Download our free app to listen on your phone