The Story

Fifty thousand people have crossed the channel in dangerous small boats since the government promised to ‘smash’ the people-smuggling gangs at the last election. Among those arriving, Vietnamese people have become the fastest growing nationality, but why? Our reporter, Shayma Bakht, has gone inside this new clandestine smuggling route taken by those looking to come to the UK from Vietnam.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Shayma Bakht, News Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Anna Dowell. Read more: What I saw on the trafficking route that ships ‘slaves’ to the UK Clips: Sky News, ITV News, BBC News. Photo: The Times. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  

When Presidents Trump and Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky will not even be present. Trump said on Monday that he would ‘try and win back territory’ for Ukraine – but also mentioned there will be ‘swapping’ of land. So what’s really on the table - and is it more than just ending the war? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Professor Mark Galeotti, Historian, Times Contributor, Director of Mayak Intelligence and Author of We Need to Talk about Putin.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Read more: Xi, not Trump, has the most power over Putin. Will he use it?Clips: CNN, DW News, Reuters, Kremlin.ru, Fox, YouTube / @TimesNow, Al Jazeera. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Speculation is rife that the upcoming Autumn budget will introduce new tax rises following expensive U-turns on welfare and slower than expected growth. Some thinktanks have suggested Rachel Reeves’ next budget will need to find up to £50bn. The Times’ economics editor, Mehreen Khan talks to Luke Jones about why Britain is broke, and what can be done to find extra funds?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics editor at The Times.Host: Luke JonesProducer: Kate Lamble.Read more: Rachel Reeves ‘must find £50bn’ in tax rises or spending cuts in budgetMove defence budget outside fiscal rule, says Gordon Brown Clips: Times News, The Telegraph, Sky News, ITV News.Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

As we mark 80 years since the atomic bomb that changed the world, we revisit an interview with Hiroshima survivor, Koko Kondo.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Koko Kondo.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC News, NBC, Imperial War Museum, US Army.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This week on The Royals, Kate Mansey speaks to royal biographer Andrew Lownie whose allegations in his new book - Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York - have been described just about everywhere as 'explosive'. From trade envoy trips to connections with Jeffrey Epstein, Lownie outlines claims of institutional cover ups, financial secrecy, and royal resistance to scrutiny.And The Times Investigations reporter George Greenwood reveals why it's so difficult to obtain information from the government about the royal family, and what it could mean for public trust in 'The Firm'.

Eighty years ago this week, the first atomic bomb to be used in war was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, the city of Nagasaki was hit by a second. Hundreds of thousands of people died and Japan eventually surrendered. But why did America decide to use the bombs, given that Japan was already expected to lose the war? And how did Times readers debate the ethics of this decision in the pages of the newspaper?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Jack Blackburn, History Correspondent, The Times.Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: YouTube / Harry S Truman Library, YouTube / The Atlantic / Castle Films, YouTube / Huntley Film Archives, YouTube / US National Archives.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

As anti-immigrant protestors declare today ‘No Aslyum Day’, and Nigel Farage continues his Summer of Crime campaign, can the Government wrest back control of the immigration crisis with its new small boats migrant deal? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Dathan, Home Affairs Editor, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Rosie StopherRead more: Migrants can use human rights ‘loophole’ to avoid return to FranceFascists buy up land for white-only communities in WalesMore from the Story:The far-right party spreading ‘sensible nationalism’Clips: Sky News, The Sun, The Daily Express.Photo: Getty images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com    

A Times investigation has found companies have been offered sponsorship deals involving private meetings with an ‘influential Labour figure’. The reporters spent months working undercover, speaking to dozens of sources and combing through leaked documents. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Edward Drummond. Read more: Revealed: Labour group’s £9,500 ‘cash for access’ breakfastsHow we exposed Labour’s cosy links to lobbyistsPhoto: Times illustration. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Our Ukraine correspondent Maxim Tucker returns from the frontlines of the country's defence against Russia's invasion. With its soldiers under constant attack, a new war has opened up - this time against corruption at home. It comes as the US special envoy Steve Witkoff travels to Moscow this week for 'last chance' ceasefire talks.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times. Host: Calum MacDonaldProducer: Kate LambleRead more: How Ukraine’s air defence warriors take aim at Putin’s drone swarmsAnti-corruption bodies arrest four over drone sales fraudClips: AP, BBC News, Fox News, Times Radio, Kyiv Independent, Tucker Carlson Network.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com