The Story

Xi Jinping is consolidating his position as the all-powerful president of China. But who is the man at the top of the sharpest pyramid in the world of politics?

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.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Guest: Michael Sheridan, former foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times and author of The Gate to China: A New History of the People's Republic & Hong Kong.

Clips: ABC, South China Morning Post, No Comment TV, BBC, CCTV Video News Agency, Periscope Film, Al Jazeera, CBS, VICE 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.

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Last month, the government brought in a new law to stop under-eighteens using Botox and fillers for cosmetic reasons in England. But with reports of botched procedures and easy access to products online - is this law enough to tame the industry? And who's paying the price for beauty?

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.

Host: Sevda Moyassari.

Guests:

-Arti Nachiappan, news reporter, The Times.

-Ashton Collins, director, Save Face.

-Helen, who had lip filler at a high street beautician.

Clips: Channel 4, BBC, AFP 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.

The ink has dried on the agreement and the dignitaries have returned home - so what really happened at COP - and what does it mean for the planet?

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.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Guests: 

- Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times. 

Clips: COP26, Reuters, TDC, DW News, Sky News, Downing Street, Euronews, France 24, The National

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.

They used to be the stuff of sci-fi and futuristic Hollywood films. But now, artificially intelligent weapons are transforming armies around the world. A technological arms race has begun - should we be worried?

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.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Guests: 

- Matthew Campbell, foreign features editor, The Sunday Times. 

- General Sir Richard Barrons, former Commander of the UK Joint Forces Command.

- General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Clips: DW News, BBC, CBS, WION, MSNBC, Sky News, Slaughter Bots/Prof Stuart Russell, Double Down News, Al Jazeera, Warner Bros Pictures/Stanley Kubrick, France 24, Science Time.

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 scandal at Yorkshire County Cricket Club has triggered a wave of resignations at the county and condemnation from all corners. It's led to an existential crisis for the game in this country. Today, the man at the heart of the story, Azeem Rafiq will speak to a parliamentary committee to discuss the alleged racist abuse and bullying he experienced while playing for Yorkshire CCC. So how did we get here?

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.

Guests:

-Elizabeth Ammon, cricket news reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times.

-Taj Butt, chair of Quaid E Azam cricket league in Bradford.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Sky News, ITV News, BBC. 

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.

Spectrum 10k was supposed to be Britain's biggest ever study of autism. But just weeks after launch, it was put on pause. As the genetics revolution picks up pace, could this be among the first of many such confrontations between researchers and those who feel threatened by their work?

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.

Guests: 

- Holly Smale, bestselling author of the Geek Girl series. 

- Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.

- Sue Fletcher-Watson, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Edinburgh.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Producer: James Shield.

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.

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It's a sport in which men and women compete equally. But is horse racing all that it seems? New accusations paint a picture of a culture that condones threatening behaviour - and frowns upon those who report it.

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.

Guests:

- David Walsh, chief sports writer, The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC, Racing Post, Racing TV, Sports Tonight.

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.

There was public outcry when MPs voted against stricter penalties for water companies dumping raw sewage into England’s rivers. But following a U-turn, the Government has now passed a new Environment Bill it says will reduce the amount of raw sewage polluting our waterways. But do the measures go far enough?

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.

Guests:

• Alice Thomson, Columnist, The Times.
• Hugo Tagholm, Surfers Against Sewage.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: BBC, ITV, Sky, DW News, WaterElectroScan, Institute of Civil Engineers

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.

A Sunday Times investigation revealed this weekend that every chief Conservative Party treasurer in the past seven years gave the party £3m – and every one was offered a peerage. Manveen Rana speaks to the Insight team, renowned for carrying out some of the most groundbreaking investigations on Fleet Street.

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.

Guests:

- Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.

-George Arbuthnott, Insight Deputy Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Parliament TV, BBC.

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.