The Story

Microsoft has found itself in a bitter war of words with both its gaming rival Sony and the UK authorities, over a multi-billion dollar takeover bid of games developer Activision Blizzard. So what is the future of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty franchise on Xbox or Playstation? And after the UK’s competition watchdog blocked the deal, what does it say for Britain’s post-Brexit business strategy? 

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: Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times.

Host: Jenny Kleeman.

Clips: CBS News, BBC Radio 5 Live, CNBC, Windows XP/Microsoft, ChatGPT/OpenAI, Xbox Series X/Microsoft, YouTube/@SpawnWave, BBC Newsnight.

Video game clips: 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2/ Infinity Ward/Activision, World of Warcraft/Blizzard, Spyro Reignited Trilogy/Toys For Bob/Activision, Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy/Vicarious Visions/Activision, Candy Crush Saga/King.

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.

As a new report from the Children’s Commissioner points to the impact of violent pornography on British children, are the waters around consensual sex being muddied? And should there be greater regulation of the porn industry?

This episode contains discussions about sex and some explicit descriptions of violent porn.

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. 

Articles: I’m watching what the kids are watching: porn. It’s disturbing - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-m-watching-what-the-kids-are-watching-porn-most-of-it-is-disturbing-pqb99zbnq

Sex lessons for boys: what young men need to be taught - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sex-lessons-for-boys-what-young-men-need-to-be-taught-pltqpxfbd

Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Features Writer, The Times.

Host: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday 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.

Russia's deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, was sanctioned by the EU last October. Forty days before that happened, his wife, the socialite Svetlana Maniovich, divorced him. The Anti-Corruption Foundation, a Russian non-profit organisation, received a trove of emails that seem to suggest this 'pre-emptive' divorce might have been an evasion strategy. So what was really going on?

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:

- Maria Pevchikh, investigator for the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

- Tom Keatinge, Director for the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at RUSI.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips: CNN, ABC News, European Council.

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.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.

With estimates suggesting that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of micro and macro plastics in our seas and continued reports stating that a truckload of plastic enters our oceans every minute, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the life cycle of plastic products once they are thrown in the bin. Environmental Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is joined by scientist, tech entrepreneur and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Miranda Wang to learn how her innovative upcycling technology is paving the way for plastic to have a second, third… maybe even evergreen life.

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 Hinduja family leads the Sunday Times Rich List again, having topped it four times before. But who is the man at the head of the family and how have they achieved such wealth? And aside from the Hindujas, who’s up, who’s down and what does the rich list tell about the way the UK is changing?

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: John Arlidge, co-writer, The Sunday Times Rich List.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: The Sunday Times, BBC, CBS.

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.

Whilst the government's controversial illegal migration bill moves through parliament, an untraceable and ancient banking system is being used to finance people smuggling across Europe and the Channel. So how does it work? And should the authorities crack down on 'hawala'?

Additional reporting by Priyanka Shankar, Andrea Giambartolemei, Andres Mourenza, Elena Ledda and Iliana Papangeli. This investigation is supported by a grant from the IJ4EU fund and by Journalismfund.eu. 

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: Emma Yeomans, News Reporter, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: 10 Downing Street, Parliament Live, Times Radio.

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.

It's been a difficult fortnight for Vladimir Putin. Russia has been losing ground in the key city of Bakhmut, the man in charge of the Wagner group of mercenaries seems to be publicly criticising him in expletive-strewn videos, and now there are even suggestions of betrayal…

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: Mark Galeotti, author of Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: Reuters, CNN, MSNBC, Times Radio, 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.

In the last decade, ketamine has become one of the most popular drugs among students. Part of its appeal seems to be a false reputation for being comparatively safe. But the Times has uncovered never-before-seen data that paints a very dark picture of the dangers of ketamine.

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: Dominic Kennedy, Investigations Editor, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Clips: Wigan council, Sky News.

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, there are resources to help:

FRANK provides a confidential service to anyone wanting information, advice or support about any aspect of drugs.

Phone: 0300 123 6600 Online chat facility (2-6pm weekdays)

Visit the Talk to Frank site

Drug Addicts Anonymous

Phone: 0300 030 3000 Visit the Drug Addicts Anonymous website

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.

India will soon surpass China as the most populous country in the world. As China’s population slumps, could India’s population rise spell a new chapter in the country’s economic growth, and could it help make it a global superpower? 

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: Amrit Dhillon, freelance journalist. 

Host: Manveen Rana 

Clips: First Post, ANI, BBC, CNA, AP Archive.

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.

This is Planet Hope, a new podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by Stories of Our Times as a bonus weekly series each Saturday.

Medical inequity jeopardises the safety of everyone and contributes to growing inequalities in and between countries. Take vaccinations for example, we know how important they are for ensuring a longer and healthier life, yet during the Covid-19 pandemic statistics have shown that of the more than 10 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine distributed worldwide, only one percent have been administered in low-income countries.

Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan talks with biomedical engineer and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Mark Kendall to investigate how his medical innovations are revolutionising modern medicine and allowing for more accessible health care worldwide- from vaccinations in the form of a patch, to micro-wearables that can show early warning signs of a heart attack.

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.