The prime minister has told his party’s conference that there is ‘light at the end of this tunnel’. But after weeks of bad press about his top adviser’s pay and freebies - are Labour in danger of becoming a one-term government? And what’s going on in Downing Street - has dysfunction led to this series of own-goals?

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: Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Clips: Times Radio, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News.

Episode artwork: Times Photographer Jack Hill. 

Read more:

• Labour aides unionise over pay cuts and conditions
• Sleaze, quarrels and austerity: Labour is looking a lot like the Tories

Further Listening: Politics Unpacked 

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Normal People and Conversations with Friends author Sally Rooney is a publishing sensation and became a huge star whilst still in her twenties. Her new book Intermezzo, published today, follows two grieving brothers in complicated relationships. Will it cement Rooney’s reputation as the voice of millennials - or is she overhyped?

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: Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Clips: Normal People/BBC Three/Hulu, Manchester EUDC 2013, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Denmark, Fox News.

Episode artwork: Getty Images.

Further listening: What 50 years of best-selling books says about us

Get in touch: [email protected]

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As Labour’s party conference gets into full swing in Liverpool this week, we look in detail at a key part of the government’s employment rights package: working from home. Keir Starmer says flexible and hybrid working is better for productivity while large companies like Amazon have ordered their staff to return to the workplace five days a week. Who's right? And what does it mean for where you will work in future?

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: 

• Harriet Minter, author of WFH (Working From Home): How to build a career you love when you're not in the office.
• Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Clips: LBC, Times Radio. 

Episode artwork: Getty Images 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies targeting Hezbollah members have killed dozens of people and injured thousands in Lebanon and Syria. Israel hasn’t commented on the blasts, but the country’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called it "a new phase in the war". What’s next for the region? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe

Guest: Samer Alatrush, Middle East Correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones. 

Clips: NBC News, The Sun, Sky News, Al Jazeera. 

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: [email protected]

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At the UN General Assembly next week, Ukraine's President Zelensky will present his 'plan for victory' to world leaders. Key to that victory, he thinks, is being allowed to shoot British-made 'Storm Shadow' missiles into Russian territory. Keir Starmer agrees, Joe Biden does not. Is Biden right to be worried - or is this all part of a wider plan by the president to bring us closer to some kind of peace?

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: Mark Urban, writer and columnist, The Sunday Times. 

Host: Luke Jones. 

Clips: BFBS Forces News, CBC, FT.

Episode artwork: Getty Images 

Further reading: Are Russia and Ukraine edging towards an endgame?

Get in touch: [email protected]

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As a new TV drama re-examines Prince Andrew’s controversial 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, it's understood King Charles is losing patience with his brother over his financial support of him.

What is the Duke of York’s future within the Royal family?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe

Guest: Kate Mansey, Assistant Editor and Royal Editor, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones. 

Clips: BBC Newsnight, Scoop/Netflix, A Very Royal Scandal/Amazon, CBS News. 

Photo: Getty Images - Prince Andrew and King Charles in 2012. 

Get in touch: [email protected] 

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How do you live in a society where you can’t speak in public? Where you can’t travel to work without a chaperone? Where you can’t leave the city with your family? We speak to a young woman in Afghanistan who tries to explain. And as Afghanistan’s national cricket team faces off against South Africa this week – how is the nation enforcing a gender apartheid not facing boycott?

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

Host: Manveen Rana.

Guests:

• Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent, The Sunday Times.
• A female doctor in Afghanistan.

Clips: Afghanistan Cricket Board, Sky Sports.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Episode artwork: Getty Images.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shiny, indestructible metal saw its fortunes wane in the postwar years, but investors and central banks are again flocking to it, with its value hitting new records. What’s fuelling this demand? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe

Guest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones 

Clips: The Italian Job (1969) Paramount Pictures, ITV News, YouTube/@MengerCenter

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: [email protected]

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In the week that thousands of inmates were freed early from prison, we revisit our recent undercover investigation which prompted an urgent investigation by the Ministry of Justice. Our reporter revealed a worrying lack of security at HMP Bedford which houses dangerous criminals. He witnessed fights and drugs - and heard of a prison escape that happened because doors were left unlocked.

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: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: ITV News, Times Radio, BBC.

Get in touch: [email protected] 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical tourism to Turkey for ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ and liposuction is surging despite the risks. 

The UK government says at least 28 people have died since 2019 as a result of medical tourism to the country. 

Our correspondent goes undercover to expose the firms recruiting customers in London.

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: Charlotte Wace, Special Projects Correspondent, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Get in touch: [email protected] 

[email protected]

Photo: Getty images.

Clips: ITV, Talk TV.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.