The Story

All of Ed Sheeran’s support acts have pulled out of his tour after his opening act Macklemore was dropped for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. So why has this become such a cause célèbre? What does it mean for Ed Sheeran? And what has happened through history when music and politics meet? 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: Jonathan Dean, executive editor of interviews for Culture and Books, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Ed Sheeran is in a £100m mess of his own makingFurther listening: My life with Freddie MercuryClips: teddysphoto / Instagram, BBC, NewsNation, Virgin Media One, Sky, Boston 25 News, ConcertChickCT / YouTube, Macklemore / Instagram, Nikki/YouTube, BV Concerts / YouTube, CNN.Music: Macklemore / Hind’s Hall / Bendo; Macklemore and Ryan Lewis / Thrift Shop / Macklemore LLC; Macklemore Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert / Same Love / Macklemore LLC; G-Eazy & Macklemore / FDT (Pt. 2) / Def Jam; Greenday / American idiot / Reprise Records; Billie Holiday / Strange Fruit / Commodore; Kendrick Lamar / Alright / Top Dawg / Aftermath / Interscope;Ed Sheeran / Shape of You / Asylum / Atlantic; Ed Sheeran / What do I know / Asylum / Atlantic; Nina Simone / Mississippi Goddam / Philips Records. Photo: Getty Images.

The space race is on, but not as we’ve known it. Instead of a man on the moon, nations are jostling for who can plant weapons on the moon. In a major development this week, the US has announced that it has deployed a weapon to outer space – the first country to do so. But are other nations, like China and Russia, far behind?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: Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.Host: Rosie Wright.Producers: Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, Robyn Simon, Micaela Arneson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com.Read more: US confirms weapons in space, prompting warning from China Clips: Air and Space Forces AssociationPhoto: Getty Images.

President Trump sparked controversy during his recent trip to Ireland when he said a unified Ireland would be “a fantastic thing.” That was followed on Monday by Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh leaders signing a pact pledging to break up the UK. With Prime Minister Andy Burnham set to meet with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin tomorrow, is a united Ireland now more likely?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: Jennifer Bray, political editor, The Sunday Times Ireland.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Robyn Simon. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders sign ‘historic’ independence pactClips: The Times, The Sunday Times, and RTE NewsPhoto: Getty Images.

The Microsoft co-founder tells Danny and Katie why AI is "ultra-different" from any previous technology - and why tech companies shouldn’t be responsible for controlling it. Speaking about a new report on AI and equity published by The Gates Foundation he also explores the “vacuum of US leadership” in AI regulation.The Interview is Times Tech's weekly conversation with the people shaping the future of technology.Watch on YouTube Read more: Bill Gates: My plan to keep the world safe in the age of AIGet in touch: techpod@thetimes.co.uk Presenters:Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times.Danny Fortson, US West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Producer: Marnie Duke.Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia.Video Producer: Bronwen Latham.Image: Getty

The Thirlwall Inquiry into how Lucy Letby was able to murder babies at the Countess of Chester hospital has released a damning report. It found the hospital could have prevented at least three of the murders, if not for evidence of a pernicious “them and us” culture and a lack of safeguards. But what does this report mean for the hospital authorities? And will it have any bearing on Letby's attempts at an appeal?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: Sian Bradley, Northern correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Lucy Letby inquiry: staff could have stopped three murders Further listening: Is there ‘new evidence’ in the Lucy Letby case?Clips: BBC, The Telegraph, The Mirror, True Criminals podcast, The Guardian, The Thirlwall Inquiry. Photo: Getty Images.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have seized large swathes of territory in Yemen and taken control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key shipping corridor between Asia and Europe. About 12 percent of global trade passes through the strait, including huge amounts of oil, so the move has sent energy prices skyrocketing. But, who are the Houthis? What’s their aim? And with regional powers wary of getting dragged into yet another war, who can stop them?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: Dr. Elisabeth Kendall, president of Girton College, Cambridge, specialising in Arabic and Islamic studies.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Robyn Simon.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Houthis seized strait ‘without a fight’. Now they’re bracing for oneFurther listening: Inside the West Bank crisis driving Britain to actClips: PBS, CBS, BBC, France 24, Fox News, ABC, CNN.Photo: Mohammed Huwais for Getty Images.

Warnings about the dangers of AI are reaching fever pitch, with cases of AI agents going rogue and attempts by malicious actors to use the technology to create biological weapons. Industry whistleblowers are sounding the alarm about a technology they claim could destroy humanity, while AI CEOs are themselves making proposals for a slow down. So how do they plan to stop this march towards oblivion? And how scared should we all be?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: Chris Dorrell, technology correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott, Leo Danczak.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Anthropic blocks ‘malicious’ AI use over biological weapons fearFurther listening: 'We don't understand the consequences' - Why I quit OpenAI - The Sunday StoryClips: CBS, BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, NBC, Sky.Photo: Tony Bell, Times illustration.

In June 2023, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic who is currently serving an indefinite hospital order. The months-long public inquiry into their deaths has revealed a staggering number of failures by the authorities, and a widespread culture of denial and unaccountability. So what went wrong? And what lessons can be learned? 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: Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Jesse Fox.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Nottingham attacks: ‘We have no faith in the police. We want justice’ Clips: BBC, Sky News, The Nottingham Inquiry. Photo: Richard Pohle, The Times. 

When Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist of Queen and one of the all-time greats of rock music, died from Aids in 1991, he left his beloved Kensington house to his lifelong companion Mary Austin. Once engaged to the superstar – before they both realised he preferred men – Austin was by his side from unglamorous beginnings to global stardom. She exclusively reads the story of their extraordinary relationship for the Story.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: Mary AustinProducers: Sophie McNulty and Taryn Siegel.Read More: My life with Freddie Mercury — by the best friend he nearly married We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comClips: Live Aid, Queen Youtube. Music Excerpt: Queen - Lily of the Valley (Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)Photo: Getty Images.