The Story

Nearly 7,000 men have played in the World Cup since it began in 1930. To capture some of their extraordinary stories, The Times' football reporter James Gheerbrant set out on a quest to track down 48 players from the 48 countries playing in this year's tournament. We hear the remarkable memories of 3 of them: One of the old surviving players, another who trained under the shadow of gunfire in Vietnam, and a final player whose team endured death threats.Guest: James Gheerbrant, football reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: 48 countries, 48 players: World Cup through eyes of men who played in it.Further listening: Who is the “king of soccer" Gianni Infantino?Clips: ITN, BBC, CNN.Photo: Getty Images.

Sophia Greenwood was adopted as a baby and spent years searching for her biological parents. When she finally met her father at the age of 24, neither could have predicted what happened next. Their relationship would spark controversy, lead to criminal proceedings, and shape the rest of their lives.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: Sophia Greenwood and Helen Croydon.Read by: Molly Guinness.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I was 24 when I met my biological father. Then we had an affairPhoto: Getty Images.

Andy Burnham's victory in Makerfield makes him Labour leader and prime minister in waiting. How will the next days and weeks play out? Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered. So does that mean a bloody contest rather than a coronation? In a special episode recorded live on Times Radio with Ed Vaizey, we go through the possible scenarios.Hosts:Ed Vaizey, presenter, Times RadioSteven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Harry Kitson, Erin CarneyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding this week to begin negotiations toward a broader peace agreement in the Middle East. But what does the deal look like inside Iran? And how are ordinary Iranians responding to this moment?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: Fatemeh Jamalpour, Iranian journalist in exile and author of For the Sun After Long Nights. Host: Luke JonesProducers: Sophie McNulty, Elle Scott. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: In Tehran, Iranians dare to hope this is the death of the regimeFurther listening: Will Trump’s Iran peace deal hold?Clips: NBC, CNN, The Guardian, Donald Trump - Truth Social, PBS, Al Jazeera. Photo: Getty Images.

Eighteen firebombings across Europe, including in London, have all been allegedly traced back to one man. Iranian-backed Mohammed al-Saadi was finally caught by the FBI last month. But how did a man no one had heard of come to allegedly execute these orders? And how was he finally caught? 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: Dipesh Gadher, home affairs correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How net closed in on ‘mastermind behind UK arson attacks’Clips: ABC, i24News. Photo: FBI, Instagram.

As England kick off their World Cup campaign tonight, one man will be impossible to ignore: FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Hailed by supporters as the man who transformed football’s governing body and accused by critics of chasing power and influence, he's become one of the most powerful figures in global sport. But who is the man at the centre of football's biggest stage?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: Martyn Ziegler chief sports reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Dave Creasey and Edward Drummond.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The ruthless rise of Gianni Infantino and his Fifa money machineFurther listening: The GameClips: BBC News, FIFA, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Fox News, CNN.Image: Getty Images.

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.