The Story

The government has announced a ban on some social media platforms for under-16s. It’s a move that echoes a similar ban introduced by the Australian government, which came into effect in December. So what are teens actually looking at on social media? And will a ban help? 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: Mark Sellman, technology correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Harry Bligh.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Doomscrolling 708 videos a day: how TikTok turned our teens into addicts Further listening: How infinite scrolling damages our brains - The Saturday StoryClips: The Times, Times Radio, Revealing Reality, BBC News, Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.

Donald Trump has announced that his much trailed peace deal with Iran is to be signed this Friday, bringing an end to hostilities between the two countries and opening up the strait of Hormuz. With the fine print still to be worked out, many questions about the deal remain. Can it bring some stability to the world economy? And will it actually bring peace to the Middle East in the long term?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: Mohamed El-Erian, economist and former International Monetary Fund Deputy Director Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former US ambassador and president of the Middle East Policy Council, now senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Hosts: Jane Garvey and Fi Glover.Producer: Hannah Quinn. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump’s deal with Iran will make the world’s tyrants smileFurther listening: “Everyone hates you now” - Could Lebanon cost Trump his Iran deal?Photo: Getty Images.

The annual G7 summit starts today in France. The normally stuffy, formal affair has been shaken up in recent years by Donald Trump, who has sparred with nearly all of America’s allies. So is the G7 still the powerful, united global force it once was? And with China building its own alliance, how should it respond? 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: Catherine Philp, world affairs editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How the G7 will look by 2050 — and what it means for usFurther listening: Could China become the world's policeman?Clips: Arirang News, Al Jazeera, BBC News, The Hill, Dawn News English, PBS. Photo: Getty Images.

Following months of police inaction over the disappearance of British tourist Lorna McSorley, we reveal a high-tech breakthrough. A new digital trail reveals potential suspects who might hold the answer to what happened - and seems to confirm the worst of local fears.This is the final episode of a special three-part investigation.WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of murder and violence.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Jane Flanagan.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive Producers: Taryn Siegel and Kate Lamble.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Disappearances stoke fear of more ‘witchcraft murders’ after Briton vanishedPhoto: Getty Images.

With the South African police’s search for missing British tourist Lorna McSorley gone cold, locals take matters into their own hands. Their investigation uncovers extraordinary and deeply troubling facts about her disappearance, linking it to a string of other missing people in the area.This is part two of a special three-part investigation.WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of murder and violence.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Jane Flanagan.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive Producers: Taryn Siegel and Kate Lamble.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Disappearances stoke fear of more ‘witchcraft murders’ after Briton vanishedClips: Newzroom Afrika / Youtube.Photo: Getty Images.

Seventy one-year-old British tourist Lorna McSorley went out for a walk near South Africa's Ghost Mountain. She never returned. In the first part of this three-part investigation, we travel to the remote, superstitious heart of KwaZulu-Natal to retrace Lorna’s final steps. As the police search hits a dead end, bizarre rumours begin to emerge - including talk of witchcraft and an illicit trade in body parts.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Jane Flanagan.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive Producers: Taryn Siegel and Kate Lamble.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Disappearances stoke fear of more ‘witchcraft murders’ after Briton vanishedClips: Newzroom Afrika / Youtube.Photo: Getty Images.

Defence Secretary John Healey resigned this afternoon, over the government’s much delayed defence funding plan. In a letter to the prime minister, Healey said Keir Starmer had been “unable” to commit resources that the UK desperately needs. So what does this mean for Starmer’s leadership? And will taxpayers ultimately be left to foot the bill? 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: Anna Mikhailova, political editor, Times Radio. Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times. General Sir John McColl, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Host: John Pienaar. Producers: Angus Mitchell, Sofia Johanson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: John Healey has launched a broadside at Keir Starmer. Will the PM surrender?Further listening: Has Britain become ungovernable?Photo: Getty Images.

There has been a second night of riots in Belfast following a knife attack in the Northern Irish city on Monday. Yesterday authorities called for calm after vehicles and houses were set alight. As violent anti-immigration protests continue, what’s it like on the ground and what can the government do going forward?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:Constance Kampfner, northern correspondent, The TimesOliver Wright, policy editor, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Sophie McNulty, Olivia Case, Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Belfast attack latestFurther listening: What Henry Nowak’s murder means for policingClips: X, The Times, BBC, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images.

The fragile ceasefire in the Middle East appears to be unravelling, with Iran and Israel exchanging missile strikes. The violence has been met with fury from President Trump, who’s been pushing to get a peace deal over the line for weeks. So why is Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu risking his relationship with his greatest ally? And how much are pressures at home dictating Israel's stance in 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: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Netanyahu’s ticking time bomb? Inside the political war at homeFurther listening: “Everyone hates you now” - Could Lebanon cost Trump his Iran deal?Clips: The Times, Fox News, Al Jazeera.Photo: Getty Images.