The Standard

Hospital admissions data suggests a growing proportion of patients admitted to wards in England after being stabbed are under 18 years old.It comes amid growing calls to finally crack down on online blade sales and London actor Idris Elba backing the blunting of sharp tips on kitchen knives.The Standard podcast's Mark Blunden is joined by Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, which was founded in honour of a 16-year-old Londoner stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in 2008 after celebrating finishing his GCSEs with friends.The charity and Elba are working with the government’s Coalition To Tackle Knife Crime initiative, which aims to halve Britain’s blades menace within a decade.In part two, Network Rail has sparked a commuter backlash over train times ‘vanishing’ from information boards three minutes before departure - but could the nudge tactic improve disabled access and service punctuality?We speak with Michael Solomon Williams, head of campaigns at the Campaign for Better Transport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is London’s heartbeat? Rachelle Abbott joins Emma Strain, customer director at Transport for London, to discuss how important diverse communities are to the capital. Emma also reveals their award-winning animated moquette design, titled ‘Fabric of London’, which tells real stories shared by Londoners, reflecting the vital role TfL plays in bringing people from all backgrounds together. Transport for London, VCCP and Wavemaker UK’s design is now available to view at Outernet, in this week’s edition of our newspaper, and online at standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Research by the London Cycling Campaign has found more than half of the capital’s official cycleways include sections that are unsafe for women to use at night.The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall joins Mark Blunden to discuss his report on the LCC’s Women’s Network study, which found 52 of the 89 cycleways had at least one “socially unsafe” section after dark - and that seven cycleways were considered risky along the entire route.In part two, we speak with the charity’s senior campaigns officer Clare Rogers, about the LCC’s data-gathering process for the research, titled Women’s Freedom After Dark, and the shocking experiences of female cyclists in London after sunset.Transport for London said its “working to better understand how our schemes affect the safety, and feeling of safety, for women and girls”, including a “new women’s safety auditing process” to improve cycling infrastructure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Half a dozen cash-strapped local authorities in England have been told they will be allowed to raise council tax by more than five per cent this year in a bid to stave off bankruptcy.The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford reports the government signed off its final funding settlements for town halls and announced six authorities have been given permission to increase bills by larger than normal amounts - without holding a referendum.She joins us to discuss councils’ financial outlook for the year ahead as London boroughs say they still face a £500 million shortfall.In part two, The London Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn on reasons behind an exodus of millionaires from the capital - and how countries including Abu Dhabi want a slice of the financial action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain rejects Donald Trump’s claim that trade between the US and UK is “out of line”. The president has hit several other countries with hefty tariffs.It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Brussels to meet with EU leaders on Monday - a first for a British leader since Brexit.Has Trump sparked a trade war? We're joined by The London Standard's political editor, Nicholas Cecil, for the latest.In part two, Beyoncé extends run as most Grammy-awarded artist - wins include best album and best country album - plus, singer Chappell Roan’s success and tributes to late One Direction star Liam Payne.Awards and ceremony news with The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer India Block. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Nicola Barron in conversation with Hayley Quinn, the London-based dating coach who has helped thousands of singles break out of dating ruts, build confidence, and enjoy meeting new people again. In this insightful episode, Hayley shares expert advice on how to approach dating in real life, avoid common first-date mistakes, and create genuine connections beyond the apps.Don't miss Hayley’s live online masterclass, How to Find the Love of Your Life – In Real Life, on Wednesday, 5th February 2025. Book now at standard.co.uk/masterclasses.Part of The Bigger Life Festival, brought to you by Masterclasses from The Standard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has been half a decade since the United Kingdom exited the European Union.But now, on Brexit’s fifth anniversary, a YouGov survey suggests 53 per cent of adults in Britain support going back into the European Union, with 36 per cent opposed - which in London grows to 64 per cent of respondents backing rejoining versus 25 per cent opposed.To discuss the UK’s national circumstances five years on, we’re joined by The London Standard’s political editor, Nicholas Cecil.In part two, scientists discover salt fragments in Nasa’s Bennu asteroid sample that will add to our understanding of how the universe formed - with Dr Ashley King, from the London Natural History Museum’s department of earth sciences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Officials say there are no survivors after a plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter over Washington DC.American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River following the collision.The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport 9pm local time on Wednesday (2am GMT), when the collision occurred with a Black Hawk helicopter on a training exercise.Among the dead on board the commercial flight were members of the American figure skating team, and three soldiers in the helicopter.Investigators are trying to piece together moments leading up to the disaster.The Standard podcast is joined by Graham Braithwaite, professor of safety and accident investigation at Cranfield UniversityIn part two, The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall discusses his interview with Lime boss Wayne Ting and the pay-as-you-ride firm’s investment blitz on borough councils to turn more car bays into e-bike drop zones - could it help create “another Amsterdam” cycling haven in the capital? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves confirmed the government will support building a third runway at Heathrow in a major speech aimed to boost economic growth and jobs.But she is expected to face fierce opposition to expanding the west London airport from senior Labour colleagues, including Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan who posted immediately on X after the chancellor’s speech in Oxfordshire he remains against the plan.Also among the chancellor’s announcements in a “dash for growth” was government backing for the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing linking Kent and Essex under a PFI deal, an Oxbridge rail link and reiterating plans to limit judicial reviews by campaigners fighting mega-projects.The London Standard’s chief political correspondent, Rachael Burford joins us to examine the detail.In part two, TfL signals the end of the Wild West End for ‘rip-off’ pedicabs in a licencing crackdown - our City Hall and transport editor, Ross Lydall has the latest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The emergence of Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rocked US tech giants’ stocks over concerns the new low-cost generative AI model could topple their dominance.Tech shares plunged and chip maker Nvidia suffered falls of nearly 17 per cent as trading opened on Monday - and just a week after launch, DeepSeek became the most downloaded free app in the US.The twist is this huge language AI model made at a fraction of the cost of its rivals, reportedly around £5 million, including the use of much cheaper processor chips to train its chatbot software.Are the likes of Google and OpenAI preparing to be disrupted?The Standard podcast's Mark Blunden asked Dr Cecila Rikap, associate professor in economics and head of research at UCL’s Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose.In part two, ahead of a major speech on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give news on airport expansion plans - The Standard podcast examines changing political language around environmental concerns about a Heathrow third runway.We’re joined by Alethea Warrington, head of aviation, energy & heat at climate action charity Possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.