The Story

Hidden in a quiet Belgian archive, century-old colonial maps of the Democratic Republic of Congo may hold the key to an estimated $24 trillion in untapped minerals. Now the United States, backed by Trump, together with the likes of Jeff Bezos, want them. The curators, however, are in no hurry to hand them over.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWritten by: Madeleine Spence, deputy editor for News Review, The Sunday Times.Read by: Olivia Case.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The $24trn question: who owns these 100-year-old mining maps?Clips: DW, BBC.Photo: Getty Images, The Sunday Times.

The American Dream is as old as the United States itself. But as the country marks its 250th anniversary, with economic uncertainty, political turbulence and social divisions all on the rise, do ordinary Americans still believe? The Times and YouGov spoke to 1800 of them to find out – and we've got their analysis.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:  David Charter, assistant editor (US), The Times.Tom Calver, data editor, The Times and Sunday Times.Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Callum Martin and Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The American Dream is dying, Times poll revealsFurther listening: Five years on from the Jan 6 riots, how has the US president changed America?Clips: SullenToys / YouTube, Zohran Mamdani / YouTube.Photo: Getty Images.

Attacks targeting the Jewish community have surged in recent weeks, with synagogues and community centres being hit. Many people are feeling increasingly vulnerable, but what's behind this escalation? And how is it impacting Jewish people?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: David Woode, crime editor, The TimesJosh Glancy, associate editor, The Sunday TimesHost: Luke Jones. Producers: Dave Creasey & Edward Drummond.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Jewish attacks ‘are why state-backed groups must be called terrorists’Further listening: Danny Finkelstein: How the world’s antisemites turned on meClips: Channel 4, BBC News, ITV News, Times Radio, Daily Mirror.Photo: Getty Images.

The shaky ceasefire between Iran and the US has been extended. Whether it lasts much longer or fighting resumes depends partly on Lebanon, where another fragile truce has been struck between Israel and the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah. So why is Lebanon so important to peace with Iran? And what happens if the ceasefire fails? 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: Jack Clover, assistant foreign news editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Edward Drummond. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: With war in its DNA, will Hezbollah ever disarm?Further listening: Trump’s ceasefire with Iran - what’s in it and what’s nextClips: Channel 4, The Guardian, CNN, Global News, Middle East Eye, Reuters. Photo: Getty Images.

Sir Olly Robbins dropped bombshell after bombshell when he spoke to MPs. Robbins, who was sacked as the Foreign Office’s chief civil servant, has accused Downing Street of placing the department under constant pressure to get Lord Mandelson through vetting. He also said the prime minister had tried to find an ambassadorial job for Matthew Doyle, another Labour peer who's been in trouble for a friendship with a paedophile. Where does it all leave Sir Keir Starmer?Plus, we reveal when the next tranche of Mandelson files will be published.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Parliament TVClips: Parliament TV

Yesterday evening Sir Keir Starmer defended himself in Parliament, stating ‘the facts are incredible,’ but ‘nobody’ in Number 10 knew that Peter Mandelson failed security vetting. Addressing MPs, the prime minister rejected the suggestion that the government’s desire to appoint Mandelson overrode security concerns. Immediately after, we caught up with the Times’ political editor to ask, who exactly knew what when? And how does this all end?Mandelson denies any wrongdoing when it comes to his relationship with Epstein. 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: Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesHost: Rosie WrightProducers: Sophie McNulty, Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Keir Starmer ‘put Mandelson job before security’, say Labour MPsFurther listening: Can Keir Starmer survive the scandal over Mandelson and Epstein?Clips: Sky News, The Guardian, Keir Starmer - X, The Times, BBCPhoto: Getty Images.

Jane Coates’ daughter Lucy was just 23 when she was shot and killed by her father, while visiting him in Texas. US authorities quickly ruled her death an accident and no charges were brought. But as The Sunday Times reveals holes in Lucy’s father’s account, Jane wants the case reopened.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: Katie Tarrant, news reporter for The Sunday TimesJane Coates, victim’s motherSam Littler, victim’s boyfriend and witnessHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Julia WebsterWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: Britain failed family’ of girl shot dead by father in TexasFather shot daughter dead after ‘arguing about Donald TrumpPhoto: Picture provided by the family, graphic by Kathia Mestanza

A strict conservatorship, control of her finances, breakdowns, nonstop media pressure and divorce. It's been one hell of a journey for the Princess of Pop, but the latest news that Britney Spears has entered rehab leaves fans asking the question, will she ever be truly free?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer for the Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Controlled, hounded, scarred. Could Britney Spears ever truly be free?Clips: NBC, ABC, CNN, hugebritneyfan, britneyonline.Music: Baby One More Time - Britney Spears - Sony Music Entertainment.Photo: Getty Images.

Yesterday afternoon in Manchester, a man was found guilty of a brutal rape for which an innocent person had been wrongly jailed for more than 17 years. We bring you a special update to our groundbreaking podcast series Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story, which first highlighted this tragic miscarriage of justice.You can listen to the full series on The Times Investigates feed: https://pod.fo/e/3256f8Hosts: Will Roe & Emily Dugan, Sunday Times' Special correspondent.Producer: Will Roe. Clips: Greater Manchester Police. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comIf you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Crisis England & WalesNHS - Help after rape and sexual assaultCriminal Cases Review CommissionAppeal - Charity and law practice