The Story

Prince William is making his first visit to Saudi Arabia this week to celebrate “growing trade, energy and investment ties” between the kingdom and the UK. But with a number of sensitive issues on the table – from defence and intelligence sharing to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record – how will the prince walk the diplomatic tightrope? Should the UK be pursuing a closer relationship with the kingdom at all?

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:
Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times.
Sir William Patey, former UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Host: Luke Jones.
Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson.
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Read more: Prince William to visit Saudi Arabia as diplomatic ‘secret weapon’
Further listening: Travelling with the Duchess in a war zone
Clips: NBC, BBC, HM Treasury.
Photo: Dana Chan, 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 British royal family isn't the only European monarchy in turmoil. In Norway the Epstein files have revealed intimate conversations between the Crown Princess and future Queen, Mette-Marit, and the paedophile after he was convicted. Meanwhile, her son is on trial facing charges on thirty-eight offences, including four counts of rape. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. Could this be a fatal blow for the Norwegian royal family? And what does it tell us about the long tentacles of Jeffrey Epstein's influence in the palaces and parliaments of Europe?

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: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: The rape trial casting a dark shadow over Norway’s royal family
Clips: BBC News, CBS.
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.

Times journalist Helen Rumbelow spent two days sifting through the thousands of lurid, criminal and often coded messages between Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends. Buried among the shockingly misogynistic and disturbing exchanges, lies a revealing insight on how powerful men talk about women when they think no one is listening. In her widely shared article, Helen exposes not just the shocking content of those emails, but what they tell us about the mindset of powerful men.

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

Warning: This episode contains some strong language from the start.

Read by: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer and columnist, The Times.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: I studied the latest Epstein files. As a woman, this is what I felt
Clips: NBC.
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.

The fallout from the latest tranche of the Epstein files is causing chaos in Westminster. With his ex-US ambassador Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein under the microscope, Labour MPs are furiously asking what Keir Starmer knew about it, and when. So will the PM be able to ride out this latest storm? And what future does Mandelson have?

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: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more:
Starmer says sorry. But why did he swallow Mandelson’s lies?
I studied the latest Epstein files. As a woman, this is what I felt

Further listening:
LATEST: The Epstein files drop — what next for Andrew?
The new Epstein emails about Trump
Clips: Associated Press, Times Radio, BBC
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.

Sir Keir Starmer’s next big test is the Gorton & Denton by-election in three weeks' time; commentators are calling it a three-way race between the Greens, Reform and Labour. But how is this vote a microcosm of the national picture, and what does it tell us about the direction of travel in British politics and the key issues that really sway voters?
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: Darryl Morris, journalist, Times Radio.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: In Gorton, where Labour is counting on long memories to see off Reform
Further listening: Who is the real Melania Trump?
Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Manchester Evening News, Novara Media, The Green Party, Reform UK, The Spectator.
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.