The window for rescuing Afghans is rapidly closing, and for many, that will mean adjusting to life under the 'new' Taliban. Diplomatic correspondent Catherine Philp first met the Taliban 20 years ago. Today: the differences between the Taliban's claims that they've become more moderate, and their actions. Plus, we profile the leadership. 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: Catherine Philp, diplomatic correspondent, The Times.  Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNN, WION, NDTV, Al Jazeera, PBS, TOLO News, DW News, Sky News, NewsX. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who are the 'new' Taliban?

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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.

Investigation: The Tory MP who allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’

Donald Trump has made history yet again, as the first American president to face a criminal trial. It’s one of four criminal cases against him - and the legal arguments already have experts divided. But what about the woman at the centre of it? What’s her story? 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: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times Magazine. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Forbes, Fox News. Email us: 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.

Who are the 'new' Taliban?

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