The largest single illegal border crossing in the history of the European Union took place last week as 60,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish city of Ceuta on the north coast of Africa. But why did they all come at once? Was a Spanish legal change to blame, or foreign actors annoyed at Spain’s lenient migration policy? And how did it reignite questions about migration in the UK?

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:

• Katie Gatens, Europe correspondent, The Sunday Times.
• Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History at Oxford University.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producers: Olivia Case and Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Reform pledges to send in the navy to stop small boat crossings

Further listening: Europe on fire

Clips: Al Jazeera, GB News, CSPAN, 9 News Australia, The Mirror, Reform UK, El Debate, The New York Post. 

Photo: Getty Images.

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A six-part investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde has portrayed the luxury conglomerate LVMH as in the midst of a Succession-style drama, controlled by an ageing king: Bernard Arnault. Arnault made his first appearance on X to post a three-page sarcastic takedown of the piece. So what’s really going 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: Peter Conradi, Europe editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Taryn Siegel, Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: France’s last monarch? Not moi, says luxury king Bernard Arnault

Clips: Dior, Sephora, Fenty, IG/Puckdotnews, CNN, CNBC, Legend podcast.

Photo: Getty Images.

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President Trump wants American women to have more babies. But despite policies like offering a baby bonus of a thousand dollars, birthrates continue to fall. So why are fewer Americans choosing to have children? And what does the answer reveal about the country today?

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: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Sunday Times

Host: Manveen Rana

Producers: Emily Webb, Jennifer Kennedy

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Why can’t Trump persuade US women to have more children?

Clips: Washington Post, NBC News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, CBS Chicago, Bloomberg.

Photo: Getty Images.

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As demand for fashionable pets soars, vets and animal welfare charities say we're creating breeds that are destined to suffer. So, why are we prioritising cuteness over welfare? And what would it take to change the way we breed and buy our pets?

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

Read by: Matt Rudd, contributing editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Emily Webb, Jennifer Kennedy

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: ‘They’re not dogs’: how extreme breeding is making our pets sick

Photo: Paul Stuart, The Sunday Times

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Donald Trump has announced that a deal has been reached to disarm Hamas in Gaza, while also forcing Israel to withdraw its troops from the strip. The President is hailing it as a ‘monumental step towards lasting PEACE and SECURITY’. But can it succeed where so many other attempts have failed?

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: 

• Michael Evans, contributor and former defence editor, The Times.
• Jonathan Conricus, former spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank.

Hosts: Ryan Tubridy, Ayesha Hazarika.

Producers: Lewis Decker, Musty Aziz.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Trump hails historic Gaza deal – but will it work?

Further listening: The ticking time bomb Netanyahu faces at home

Photo: Getty Images.

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After a scandal-ridden tournament, there’s a new crisis brewing for the World Cup. As exclusively revealed by the Times, FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to monetise and Americanise football by selling off the tournament. But the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, has threatened to boycott the tournament if that goes ahead. So what is Infantino thinking? And what does Donald Trump have to do with it?

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: 

• Alyson Rudd, senior sports writer, The Times. 
• Tom Clarke, sports editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Olivia Case, Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Deluded Gianni Infantino can’t read room — he must be kicked out

Further listening: Who is the “king of soccer" Gianni Infantino?

Clips:  Associated Press, WTHR, TalkSport, ABC News, SKY, ABC, ITV, Bloomberg, The Daily Mail. 

Photo: Getty Images.

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Why are transport links in the north of England so poor, and what could Andy Burnham do about it? Should women be worried about Meta’s AI glasses? And what is Trump planning – in Iran and beyond? You asked, so we answered, in this edition of our monthly Q&A series. 

If you have a question, send it to us at [email protected], and we’ll try to answer it in a future Q&A episode!

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 Collins, northern editor, The Sunday Times.
• Chris Stokel Walker, tech journalist.  

Hosts: Manveen Rana, Luke Jones. 

Producers: Micaela Arneson, Yasmin Choudhury. 

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: The rise of Islamist terror in Germany

Further listening: Can Trump run for a third term?

Clips: Kylie Jenner via Instagram, Associated Press. 

Photo: Getty Images.

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Tom Clarke speaks to The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler, following his exclusive story on Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plans to offer 'stakes' in the World Cup. So, what are these plans? Why does it matter and what happens next? 

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: Martin Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times

Host: Tom Clarke

Producer: Neil Cartmell

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more:

• Gianni Infantino tells countries: Agree to World Cup sale plan or miss extra funding
• Enough is enough — it’s time to stand up to Fifa and protect game we love

Further listening: The Game podcast

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Andy Burnham’s plans to shift power out of London are already taking shape, with No 10 North open for business in Manchester. The city sees yet more political action tomorrow, with Labour expected to win Britain’s biggest ever by-election and usher in a new mayor. But what will Burnham’s plans for devolution really mean for the country?  

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: Darryl Morris, presenter, Times Radio.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Andy Burnham vows to put practical education on par with academia

Further listening: Can Burnham learn from Starmer's mistakes?

Photo: Getty Images.

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In France and Spain wildfires have been ripping through communities, forcing 325,000 to flee. And it’s not just mainland Europe feeling the heat. In Britain, wildfires have broken out across the country. So what does the future hold?

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: 

• Katie Gatens, Europe correspondent, The Sunday Times. 
• Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Emily Webb and Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: As the wind drops and rain falls, a moment of 'false calm' amid wildfires

Clips: Reuters, Sky News.

Photo: Getty Images.

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We’re publishing our monthly Q&A episode this Thursday. Send us your questions by Wednesday 12pm BST!

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Further listening: Q&A: Departures, diplomacy, and an unused motorhome

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