The energy price cap goes up again today by 4% – but more pain is around the corner, with forecasts yesterday suggesting a further 16% rise in the new year. Why are UK energy prices, particularly electricity, much more expensive than the US and even most European countries? And while Andy Burnham is promising radical plans to bring them down, will this be enough?

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: Tom Whipple, science writer and special correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Harry Stott.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Why does the UK have the most expensive energy in Europe?

Further listening: Does Britain have an energy security problem?

Clips: DWS News, Sky News, ITV, Channel 4, Martin Lewis Youtube.

Photo: Getty Images.

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.

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Christa Pike is set to be executed today, making her the first woman to be put to death in Tennessee in 200 years. Ahead of the execution, Pike has spoken with The Times about her regrets, her fears, and what it’s been like awaiting her final hours. Thirty years on from her trial, she wonders, would she have gotten the same sentence in 2026?

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence, murder, and sexual abuse.

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: Olivia Empson, US correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Sophie McNulty, Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Christa Pike: ‘I have a kinship with Lindsay Clancy’

Further listening: He went to jail for exposing America’s darkest 9/11 secret. Should Trump pardon him?

Clips: WBIR, Times Radio, PBS, CBS, VICE News.

Photo: Tennessee Department of Corrections/Reuters.

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.

The Labour party is jubilant. Andy Burnham has fired the starting gun for the next general election with one of the most consequential conference speeches in recent memory. Burnham used the speech to set out a series of major proposals, including an end to the triple lock, the abolition of first-past-the-post and closer ties with Europe. At the heart of his national project is a care service free at the point of use. Burnham has set out his vision which promises to put Britain on a different road. But can he persuade the country to buy it?

Guests:

• Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
• Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

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.

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When police arrested five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosive offences at RAF Fairford early Sunday morning, questions swirled: who was behind the foiled plot? Should Britain be concerned about its security vulnerabilities? But then the men were released on bail, and suddenly a different question arose: could this entire saga have been a terrible misunderstanding?

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:

• Mario Ledwith, news reporter, The Times.
• General Sir Richard Barrons, retired British Army general and defence expert.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Robyn Simon, Micaela Arneson, Paige Reynolds.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: RAF Fairford: police investigate possible Iran link to foiled bomb plot

Clips: BBC, 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.

Deep in Russia’s Ural Mountains lies a secret nuclear bunker, guarded by a gate that has never been seen before. Until now.

A Sunday Times joint investigation has revealed that the Cold War-era bunker, long thought to be dormant, is being revamped as President Putin seeks to arm the country against potential nuclear attack. So what does this mean for the West?

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: John Mooney, investigations editor in Ireland, The Sunday Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Revealed: Putin is preparing a base for doomsday nuclear strikes

Further listening: The descent into madness under Putin

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.

When was the last time you read a book? Literacy rates have plummeted across the developed world since the advent of the smartphone and the consequences for society are chilling, says James Marriott. But why does it matter that fewer of us are reading books? And what happens if we all just stop?

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: James Marriott, columnist, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: The death of reading puts the world in a perilous place

Further listening: Inside the British town contaminated by forever chemicals

Clips: ABC, DW News, Good Morning America, TMZ, Tucker Carlson Network.

Photo: Getty Images.

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.

For centuries, people who’ve survived near-death experiences have told eerily similar and strange stories. They talk of bright lights, a feeling of euphoria, life flashing before their eyes. For much of that time, such accounts were often relegated to the realm of mysticism. But now, some scientists are beginning to reconsider what happens to you when you’re on the very edge of life and death.

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: John Naish

Producer: Sophie McNulty

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: The neuroscientists who had near-death experiences – and how it changed them

Photo: Getty Images

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.

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Did King Charles really tell Earl Spencer that Diana would soon be forgotten? In his new memoir, Swan Song, Diana’s brother makes a series of explosive claims about the King’s behaviour following her death — prompting a swift and unusually personal response from Buckingham Palace.

Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her True Story, to examine Spencer’s disputed account and ask whether the Palace scored a “colossal own goal” by responding. He also reveals where Spencer’s version conflicts with Diana's own account, and explains why he believes the memoir is an attempt to take control of her story ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.

They also discuss William’s reported “multigenerational fury”, Harry’s relationship with the Spencer family and whether the book honours Earl Spencer’s pledge to protect Diana’s sons — or risks them reliving their grief.

Who should have the final say over Diana’s story? Get in touch: [email protected]

Watch us on YouTube.

Read more: Hypocrite Spencer is peddling Diana's privacy, say King's allies

Further listening: Catherine, Meghan, Camilla, Diana — the price of marrying a prince

Producer: Robert Wallace

Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Image: Getty

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.

Britain’s small boats saga has had a dramatic week. Wednesday saw 781 people arrive in Britain, the highest number of the year, while on Monday a dingy carrying 60 migrants was met at sea by the far-right activist ‘Danny Tommo’. Protests have since engulfed parts of the south coast, but why is this all happening now? And what can the government do to get a handle on 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: Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Jesse Fox, Robyn Simon.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: How Danny Tommo came face to face with migrants in the Channel

Further listening: Flights, visas, and kidnappers: The new migrant route to Britain

Clips: Danny Tommo YouTube, Channel 5 News, ITV News, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Al Jazeera, The Central Club podcast, Dan Wootton (Facebook), BBC Politics.

Photo: Getty Images.

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.

In an area just north of Blackpool, a chemical factory sits on the River Wyre. In the past few years, journalists have detected large amounts of forever chemicals in land around the plant. And yesterday, some residents discovered they had high levels of these chemicals in their blood. So, what does this mean? And what can those tested do about 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: George Odling, senior news reporter, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Robyn Simon, Jesse Fox.

With audio from: Lara Wildenberg.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Alarm over 'forever chemicals' in blood of Lancashire town residents

Clips: CBN News, BBC News, BBC World Service, News4AJAX, ‘Dark Waters’ - Universal Pictures.

Photo: James Speakman for The Times.

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.