The Story

Nearly 7,000 men have played in the World Cup since it began in 1930. To capture some of their extraordinary stories, The Times' football reporter James Gheerbrant set out on a quest to track down 48 players from the 48 countries playing in this year's tournament. We hear the remarkable memories of 3 of them: One of the old surviving players, another who trained under the shadow of gunfire in Vietnam, and a final player whose team endured death threats.

Guest: James Gheerbrant, football reporter, The Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: 48 countries, 48 players: World Cup through eyes of men who played in it.
Further listening: Who is the “king of soccer" Gianni Infantino?
Clips: ITN, BBC, CNN.
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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Sophia Greenwood was adopted as a baby and spent years searching for her biological parents. When she finally met her father at the age of 24, neither could have predicted what happened next. Their relationship would spark controversy, lead to criminal proceedings, and shape the rest of their lives.

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

Written by: Sophia Greenwood and Helen Croydon.
Read by: Molly Guinness.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: I was 24 when I met my biological father. Then we had an affair
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.

Andy Burnham's victory in Makerfield makes him Labour leader and prime minister in waiting. How will the next days and weeks play out? Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered. So does that mean a bloody contest rather than a coronation? In a special episode recorded live on Times Radio with Ed Vaizey, we go through the possible scenarios.

Hosts:

Ed Vaizey, presenter, Times Radio
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Harry Kitson, Erin Carney
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding this week to begin negotiations toward a broader peace agreement in the Middle East. But what does the deal look like inside Iran? And how are ordinary Iranians responding to this moment?

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: Fatemeh Jamalpour, Iranian journalist in exile and author of For the Sun After Long Nights.
Host: Luke Jones
Producers: Sophie McNulty, Elle Scott.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: In Tehran, Iranians dare to hope this is the death of the regime
Further listening: Will Trump’s Iran peace deal hold?
Clips: NBC, CNN, The Guardian, Donald Trump - Truth Social, PBS, Al Jazeera.
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.

Eighteen firebombings across Europe, including in London, have all been allegedly traced back to one man. Iranian-backed Mohammed al-Saadi was finally caught by the FBI last month. But how did a man no one had heard of come to allegedly execute these orders? And how was he finally caught?

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: Dipesh Gadher, home affairs correspondent, The Sunday Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: How net closed in on ‘mastermind behind UK arson attacks’
Clips: ABC, i24News.
Photo: FBI, Instagram.
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.