The Story

A gas platform in the North Sea is at the centre of a fierce debate that has divided the country: should the UK be expanding fossil fuel infrastructure or going all-in on renewables? The Rough Field gas facility wants to repurpose depleted gas fields to solve Britain’s chronic shortage of energy storage. But should government funding go towards securing our current energy supply, or funding a greener 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

Guest: Jim Armitage, contributing editor, The Sunday Times
Host: Manveen Rana
Producers: Micaela Arneson, Elle Scott.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: This rig could treble Britain’s gas reserves, so why is it closing?
Further listening: War, immigration, welfare: the in-tray for Burnham and his new cabinet
Clips: Parliament, BBC, The Guardian, LBC, Express, Sky News.
Photo: Sunday Times Photographer Richard Pohle.

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Britain’s new prime minister Andy Burnham revealed his key cabinet picks yesterday; so who’s in, who’s out and what does it tell us about the direction in which he’ll take the country? And as the Iran and Ukraine wars rumble on and the cost of living continues to bite, how will the PM handle the key problems in his in-tray?

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: Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Olivia Case and Elle Scott.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: Burnham on football, his father’s dementia and preparing for power
Further listening: The remarkable rise of Andy Burnham
Clips: Sky, Goalhanger, BBC, DWS News, Eureka UK, Global News.
Photo: Getty Images.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around Scotland, something bizarre has been happening. Men dressed in black have gathered in military-style formations. The silent parades are filmed in grainy black and white. Experts describe the imagery as unmistakably fascist. So what is this? And why is it happening now?

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: David Leask, Scotland reporter, The Times & The Sunday Times
Host: Manveen Rana
Producers: Sophie McNulty
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Tensions rise over ‘fascist’ parades held across Scotland
Further listening: Belfast on fire
Clips: LBC, Scottish Family Party - YouTube, Craig Houston - X, STV News.
Photo: X - Craig Houston.

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Lab-grown stones are booming, threatening to crush the diamond trade. So, how is the industry coping? And what does this mean for Botswana, a country whose schools, hospitals, roads, and economy have been built by the profits from diamond mining?

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: Richard Assheton, foreign features, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Photo: Getty Images.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Kawaller suddenly has the urge to have children, but he would prefer not to raise them. Luckily, there is a growing online market that can help with that.

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

Read by: Ben Kawaller, reporter and essayist.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: I’ve decided to become a father. Does anyone want my sperm?
Photo: Adam Grey for The Times.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.