The Standard

Join host Nicola Barron in conversation with David Larbi, the poet, writer, and musician who has built a million-strong community through his authentic takes on mindfulness across TikTok and Instagram. In this illuminating episode, David shares insights from his debut book  Frequently Happy: 52 Mindful Moments to Bring Hope and Joy , exploring how we can find joy in everyday moments and use c...

Donald Trump made an astonishing return to the White House on Monday when he was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. The inauguration, which took place at the US Capitol Rotunda building due -3C temperatures, follows four tumultuous years out of office which saw the 78-year-old Republican businessman and ex-reality star survive assassination attempts and face a series of legal cas...

The Israeli security cabinet has ratified an initial six-week deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in the war that will see some of the hostages held in Gaza being released. The breakthrough marks the cessation of 15 months of fighting since the Hamas terror attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023, and also brings hope of border crossings being reopened for aid to ease the Palestinian humanitarian crisis....

A damning report into the state of the NHS has revealed patients are dying in corridors and can go undiscovered for hours. The Royal College of Nursing published findings, based on the experiences of more than 5,000 UK nurses, into the state of care in England’s hospitals as staff try to manage the number of people needing care. The “harrowing” report comes amid soaring ambulance waiting times and...

The UK inflation rate unexpectedly fell slightly to 2.5 per cent in December in a surprise boost to embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed a slight drop from 2.6 per cent in November and fell below City forecasts. It comes amid record government borrowing and falls in the pound over the past week. How does this all fit into the wider economic o...

Local councils nationwide are preparing to reveal the bad news to residents about this year’s council tax rises . So, why are our rates rocketing, how much more can we expect to pay - and which authorities are impose the biggest hikes? The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford discusses local government finances and policy for the year ahead. In part two, as millions of B...

The Prime Minister has unveiled the government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan in a bid to make Britain a world leader in the artificial intelligence sector. Sir Keir Starmer’s will take forward all 50 recommendations made by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who was commissioned by Science Secretary Peter Kyle to identify AI opportunities. It will see the creation of AI “growth zones” to accelerate p...

Welcome to The Standard podcast’s round-up special edition. In this episode: How does Sir Keir Starmer plan to cut NHS waiting lists? Golden Globes 2025 : Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana & Adrien Brody among winners Child grooming gangs : government plans new safeguarding law but no public inquiry What must be done about London knife crime after boy, 14, killed in stabbing HMPV : what we know about vi...

London’s £2.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel beneath the Thames is set to open in the spring - but how will this impact traffic flow on the capital’s roads? There are concerns the crossing, set to impose a toll along with the Blackwall Tunnel, could push vehicles to other points along the river as drivers seek to avoid the charge. And what about cyclists? It’s this week’s ‘The London Question’ posed by...

A state of emergency and a toxic air alert have been declared in Los Angeles after huge wildfires killed at least five people and swept through hillsides that are home to many celebrities. Now, 130,000 Angelenos have been forced to evacuate their homes as the city became blanketed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash. Thousands of firefighters are battling to contain the original LA fire in Pacific P...

The mother of a 14-year-old boy stabbed to death on a London bus fears her son had been groomed by gangs and exposed to drugs before he was killed. Kelyan Bokassa was attacked on a Route 472 double-decker on Woolwich Church Road just before 2.30pm on Tuesday. His mother, Mary, 50, fought back tears as paid tribute to her “polite” and “caring” son, telling MailOnline he had spent time in care and l...

The government has announced new safeguarding legal guidelines as part of a crackdown on child exploitation in the wake of the grooming gangs scandal. Measures revealed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper include criminal sanctions for professionals working with children if they don’t report sexual abuse claims. The recommendation is among those within Professor Alexis Jay’s 2015 child sexual abuse in...

Sir Keir Starmer aims to cut the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment by 450,000 within two years. Amid his hopes of a New Year government reboot, the Prime Minister said by the end of 2026 two thirds of patients would be getting treatment in that timeframe. Latest figures show 59 per cent of patients are currently having to wait longer than 18 weeks. Labour’s Elective R...

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber ‘cold-health alert’ warning for London amid plunging temperatures and a forecast for snow at the weekend. London plunged below zero overnight, with a ”feels-like” temperature of -4C on Friday morning - and more low single-digit chills forecast next week. Nationally, the cold weather blast has seen temperatures drop to -5C overnight with warning of...

What does the future hold for the evolution of artificial intelligence in 2025? Professor David Shrier, an futurist and artificial intelligence expert at Imperial College Business School, discusses what’s to come. You can hear the full version of this interview on The London Standard’s Tech & Science Daily podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Standard podcast’s pop culture review of 2024. In this episode, Mark Blunden is joined by The London Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer India Block to muse on moments that, maybe, drifted across our shared consciousness in the past 12 months. You’ll hear about Euro 2024, Kate Middleton conspiracies, the Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury split, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, Megan Boni’...

As part of  The Bigger Life Festival,  brought to you by Masterclasses from The London Standard, host Nicola Barron is joined by life and career coach Selina Barker. In this special Twixmas episode, Selina shares practical tips for reflecting on the past year, recharging your energy, and redesigning your life with purpose. From asking the right questions to turni...

Welcome to The Standard podcast transport news highlights of 2024 In this episode, you’ll hear some of the best bits from our news podcast that's focussed on transport - from four to two wheels, rail and Tube. There’s been plenty of passenger news and a steady stream of news scoops, courtesy of The London Standard’s transport and City Hall editor, Ross Lydall, who you’ll hear through this special...

In this preview edition of our Brave New World series, Evgeny meets Wim Hof to learn more about the Dutch athlete’s ‘Method’; a combination of breathing and cold-water immersion that he claims can have health and psychological benefits. Rita Ora also joins the show and talks about her own experience using Wim’s techniques as part of her wellness routines. To hear the whole show, and listen to prev...

Rachelle Abbott joins acclaimed British author and comedy writer John O’Farrell. From his favourite Christmas tales to the art of storytelling, John shares insights from his illustrious career, including the inspiration behind his witty novel, Family Politics . As an award-winning author, lead writer for Spitting Image , scriptwriter for Have I Got News For You , and co-author of Chicken Run and i...

As part of  The Bigger Life Festival , brought to you by Masterclasses from The London Standard, host Nicola Barron is joined by Josh Smith—celebrity interviewer, podcast host of  Reign , and author of  Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation s . With the festive season in full swing, Josh shares his expert tips on navigating tricky family dynamics, handling small talk at...

The London Standard’s crime editor Anthony France reports a phone is now stolen in the capital every six minutes amid a 150 per cent increase in device snatches. As part of an investigation into this crime epidemic, he interviewed phone theft victims and spent time with a City of London Police team to examine the work of the force’s anti-phone theft squad.  Anthony joins The Standard podcast...

Thames Water bills will rise by more than a third to an average of £588 over the next five years despite its dismal record on pollution and leaks. Water regulator Ofwat said the UK’s biggest water company, which supplies London and was recently fined £18 million for breaking share dividends rules, will be allowed to hike its bills by an inflation-busting £152, or 35 per cent - that’s an average £3...

The government has confirmed London’s new HS2 station at Euston will have just six platforms . The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall reports rail commentators fear this could result in a lack of capacity should HS2 ever be extended north of Birmingham. Ross joins us to discuss what the reduced number of platforms could mean for passenger journeys and also an update on the mega-project...

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for an e-scooter bomb that killed a top Russian general in Moscow on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, and his assistant were killed by an explosive hidden inside the electric transport device outside Kirillov's apartment as they exited the building. We’re joined for analysis of this d...