On Friday, Giorgia Meloni will break Italy’s record and become the longest-serving continuous prime minister since the Second World War. Her sceptics predicted she would only last a few months. So how has she managed it? And with Britain going through four prime ministers in the same period, does she have a lesson for the rest of us?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Tom Kington, Italy correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Olivia Case and Leo Danczak.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: 1,413 days and counting… can Meloni become Italy’s Merkel?

Further listening: How Giorgia Meloni became Europe’s political superstar

Clips: Atlantic Council, CNN, Giorgia Meloni / YouTube, @GiorgiaMeloni / X, EUDebates.tv

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham faced parliament for the first time as prime minister on Tuesday. He’s spent the summer projecting a sunny, optimistic vision of Britain’s future – but how long can the good vibes last as Burnham faces the cold, hard realities of governing?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Micaela Arneson, Leo Danczak, Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Keir Starmer’s final U-turn gives Andy Burnham an early headache

Further listening: The impossible dilemma of early release

Clips: BBC, Parliament TV, Andy Burnham via TikTok, Number 10, Channel 4, Sky News, CNBC, The Mirror.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been six months since President Trump announced the US and Israel had launched a military campaign against Iran. And despite some early military successes, the conflict has had financial and political costs for the United States. Will a change in strategy turn the tide? Or has the US already lost the strategic battle?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: David Charter, assistant editor (US), The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Micaela Arneson, Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: How six months of war could make US rethink Middle East role for ever

Further listening: How war is changing Iran from within

Clips: Forbes, CNN, AP.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Ceri Menai-Davis’ five year old son Hugh was diagnosed with cancer, his whole family’s life was transformed. The emotional toll was unimaginable, but alongside that came myriad other hidden costs, and he soon found there was no support available. So why does the UK not help families going through this most devastating moment? And could a new law, championed by Ceri, change that?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

You can find more information and support Ceri’s work here: https://www.hughslaw.uk/

Guest: Ceri Menai-Davis, co-founder and director of policy, It’s Never You.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Harry Stott.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Nobody should be bankrupted for spending time with their dying child

Further listening: Why are more young people getting bowel cancer?

Photo: Ceri Menai-Davis.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Notting Hill Carnival began in the sixties as a celebration of the culture of Britain’s Windrush generation - but as the tradition has swelled there are issues of overcrowding and violence. Critics question the policing costs, which run into the tens of millions. With the future of Carnival now a political lightning rod, how long can the party go on?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Andy Silvester, London editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana

Producers: Robert Wallace, Emily Webb.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Notting Hill Carnival, 60 years on: how it began — and what’s next

Clips: BBC, Sky News, The Independent, GB News, ThamesTV

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a crime that many victims don’t know is illegal. Now a Times investigation has found that online platforms are hosting graphic content depicting women being sexually assaulted while they sleep, despite UK laws banning depictions of rape.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

• Constance Kampfner, political correspondent, The Times.
• Zoe Watts, survivor and founder of #endeyecheck campaign.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Emily Webb and Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Appeal - Charity and law practice

Read more: Revealed: Social media content depicting sex assaults on sleeping women

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tech giant Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add child-safety measures to its platforms, after settling a landmark trial against a coalition of American states. So, will the forthcoming measures actually lead to real change? And why has 2026 become a year of social media backlash?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Danny Forston, West Coast correspondent, The Sunday Times

Host: Luke Jones

Producers: Sophie McNulty, Jennifer Kennedy

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Meta agrees to child safety features in social media addiction case

Further listening: The Times Tech Podcast

Clips: NBC News, CBS News, CNN, The Guardian.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 360 have died, with hundreds more still missing, after a flash flood in Nepal. Experts are warning that a second flood may be imminent.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

• David Brown, chief news correspondent, The Times.
• Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The Times.

Host: John Pienaar.

Producers: Sandra Mitchell, Sofia Johanson.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Nepal flash floods latest

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.