The Standard

How England is building up to the final . Will we get an extra bank holiday? Drama over VIPs attending the final. Can England exploit Spain’s weaknesses? Our Arts Correspondent Robert Dex examines how the country’s preparing for the final, and our Football Writer Simon Collings explains how England can beat Spain. In this episode: How England is preparing for the game on Sunday Are we expecting an...

Top grades plunge by record 25% as pre-pandemic grading standards return. 2023 A-levels cohort called ‘the unluckiest year’. Approximately 19,000 expected to secure their place through clearing. Our Education Editor Anna Davis examines the drop in top grades this year, and whether the return to pre-pandemic grading came at the right time. In this episode: What does the return to ‘pre-pandemic grad...

Lionesses fans across London erupted in cheers, hugs and dancing as England secured their place in the World Cup final after a stunning victory over host nation Australia. A superb display with goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo ensured England reached their first World Cup final, beating the Matildas 3-1 in Sydney. From Australia, the Evening Standard's Simon Collings joins the...

England’s semi-final day dubbed ‘Work From Home Wednesday’ with 11am kick-off. Businesses urged to be ‘flexible’ with staff for the match. Is England’s football-first culture here to stay? Our Arts Correspondent Robert Dex discusses our culture of prioritising football, how TV champions women's football and why the women's game is growing. Plus girls football coach Paul Oades from Millie Bright's...

Sir Keir Starmer urged to shake up his top team . Why do senior Labour MPs want Angela Rayner in a new role? How a potential reshuffle could be a boost for Labour. From Westminster, our Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford analyses Sir Keir Starmer’s options for his number two. In this episode: Why does Angela Rayner’s cause Sir Keir Starmer a headache? The new cabinet role Labour MPs wan...

On a small farm in Chinsali, in Zambia’s far northeast, girls are learning new farming techniques in the hopes of saving our planet. Ros Russell presents a special episode as part of the Let Girls Learn series, where the Evening Standard is hearing stories from around the globe that shine a light on innovations and solutions that are helping girls to fulfil their right to healthy, productive futur...

The Evening Standard's sports team takes over the podcast ahead of an extraordinary weekend of football. The Premier League kicks off without Harry Kane after Tottenham agreed a £100 million deal with Bayern Munich. Meanwhile pressure's growing on Mikel Arteta at Arsenal following the club's multi-million pound player buys in the pre-season.   And in Australia, England face Columbia in t...

Rail passengers on commuter routes into London could face hefty fare increases in the new year forecast to add hundreds of pounds to season tickets even while inflation is falling. It comes amid growing passenger criticism of services often hobbled by strikes, delays, cancellations and timetable cutbacks. Yearly national rail ticket price rises are normally closely linked to Retail Price Index inf...

There is fresh turmoil among London’s Conservatives as the party launches a probe into its electoral operations in the capital. Voters will likely go to the polls both nationally and in London in 2024.  Now the internal review, news of which was broken by LBC, comes just weeks after Susan Hall’s selection as the Conservatives’ London mayoral candidate. The investigation will focus on the “str...

New UN climate chief Professor Jim Skea issues warning to world leaders in exclusive interview . Politicians “will be judged” on delivery of net zero strategy. Leaders urged to “stick to” shift from petrol and diesel cars to EVs. Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil explains the warnings issued by new IPCC Chair Professor Jim Skea, that climate change is happening faster than experts predicted.&nbs...

There’s just weeks to go until London’s expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone is brought into force. So, how ready is the capital for the biggest - and most expensive - set of rules impacting motorists since the Congestion Charge?  It comes after hundreds of doctors urged politicians to toughen their stance on plans to tackle toxic air, saying they witness the “devastating health consequences” of...

Rafael Oliveira is International Markets President at Kraft Heinz, which has operations in more than 50 countries. Now based in London, he started life in Rio de Janeiro where he says the democracy of the beach taught him how to negotiate with people from different backgrounds. To hear the full How to be a CEO episode, click this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of orchestrating a plot to overturn his 2020 election loss - in what prosecutors call an effort to undermine American democracy.  It’s the third time the former president's pleaded not guilty in a court in four months, and faces federal charges with a possible 20-year jail term attached, while pushing on with hopes of becoming Republican candidat...

Evening Standard investigation reveals cocaine seizures in London soared over 1,500 per cent in the past decade. Usage has become so prevalent that there’s even cocaine traces in the capital’s waste water amid a “glut” of the Class A drug. Metropolitan Police data shows officers seized over a ton of powdered cocaine with an estimated street value of £105 million last year - the most on record. Exp...

We've all heard about the 'book bans' in US states like Florida, where schools and libraries are pulling titles from their shelves following complaints from parents about 'controversial' content. Could that happen in the UK? Ruth Anderson, CEO of Index on Censorship, tells us why she thinks "of course" it could. We also talk about cancel culture, freedom of expression in countries around the world...

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the capital’s tourist economy is “roaring back” to life after Covid - but is it, and who’s paying a fortune for those inflated entry ticket, food and drink prices? Research released by City Hall shows two million more international visitors are forecast to arrive in London in 2023, compared with last year, which is projected to produce an extra £674 million in revenue....

A new poll suggests that three quarters of Britons say long NHS waiting lists, rising taxes, strikes and inflation fuelling the cost-of-living crisis are making the UK a “worse place to live”.  The Ipsos survey for the Evening Standard will make uncomfortable reading for the Conservatives as Rishi Sunak receives his lowest satisfaction rating as Prime Minister. The Government has also sunk to...

This is a bonus episode taken from the Evening Standard’s year-long series of specials called ‘Let Girls Learn’, we’re going to Duhok in Iraqi Kurdistan.   The Lotus Flower is a non-profit organisation that supports women and girls impacted by conflict and displacement. Their centres also offer classes such as; English, yoga, art and music. The Evening Standard’s Charline Bou Mansour fin...

Sadiq Khan’s decision to expand Ulez found to be ‘within his powers’ . Five Tory councils vow to continue the fight against “tax on living in outer London”. How many people actually support the expansion? Why the Mayor’s plan does have its flaws. Our City Hall Editor Ross Lydall discusses the big win for Sadiq Khan, and what people really think about the expansion. In this episode: Why the ruling...

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reveals proposals to fix London's housing crisis . Is he right to blame Mayor Sadiq Khan for high house prices? Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil and our City Hall Editor Ross Lydall discuss the 'political attack' from Rishi Sunak, Mayor Sadiq Khan's response, and explain why the housing figures don't match up with the PM's criticism. In this episode: What is Rishi Sun...

Dame Alison Rose: the most powerful woman in UK banking resigns . Nigel Farage calls for more resignations at Coutts & NatWest. Should we have a right to a bank account in 2023? Our Financial Editor Simon English discusses Dame Alison Rose’s resignation, whether there will be more resignations, and what the debacle means for banks in general. In this episode: Dame Rose’s ‘rare mistake’ explain...

Barbenheimer movies led to UK cinema’s biggest weekend since 2019 . Why Barbie’s success wasn’t just down to marketing. What can Hollywood do to get us back to the cinema? Our Chief Film Critic Charlotte O’Sullivan dissects the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer and considers whether it will spark a comeback for UK cinema. In this episode: How Barbie and Oppenheimer both appeal to male & female...

Family describes ash falling in their drinks. Holidayers ‘stranded’ by airlines and travel firms. ‘Hundreds’ sent to sleep in sports centres and schools. Brits praise Rhodes locals for offering help. Our Senior News Correspondent Anthony France describes the story of Laura and Marc Hall who were evacuated from their hotel. Plus, our Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford explains who is mor...

With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in full swing, the next generation of female footballers are set to be inspired by top athletes from around the globe. However, this isn’t the only way that the sport is making a difference to people’s lives. In this special Let Girls Learn episode, we’re off to India, to one of Mumbai’s poorest districts where a football project is helping girls complete their...

Thousands of NHS consultants are striking across England, causing large-scale disruption to patient care. Senior doctors and hospital dentists in the British Medical Association walked out for 48 hours until 7am on Saturday in a pay dispute. BMA consultants, like junior doctors, are seeking a 35 per cent pay rise to correct a real terms fall - the Government’s offering six per cent Thousands of op...