The Standard

Netflix has lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of the year, sending the company’s shares plummeting.The streaming giant reported a drop in subscribers for the first time in a decade, causing shares to plunge 27% in pre-market trading. Market research firm Kantar claims it’s partly down to the cost of living crisis in the UK, as people try to save money by cutting out subscription services.The Evening Standard's Consumer Business Editor Jonathan Prynn discusses the drop in subscribers, how big a part the cost of living crisis has played in that drop, and what other factors are at play.In this episode:Why has Netflix suffered this loss in subscribers? (0.57)How the cost of living crisis has impacted the streaming service (1.45)How volatile the market is for streaming giants (2.47)Has the Netflix price hike caused people to unsubscribe? (4.07)Will this boost the competition between streaming giants? (5.01)Could streaming services drop their prices to claw back customers? (6.11)Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A London doctor has described the NHS as ‘hitting rock bottom’, as the number of people in England on NHS waiting lists for pre-planned care hit a record 6.1 million this year.Before coronavirus hit the UK, the number of people waiting for planned treatment was already at 4.2 million.Press Association figures show a patient in England has waited almost six years for hospital care and dozens have waited for more than three years.In response, the NHS has planned new measures to try and tackle the backlog, including sending people home the same day they receive treatments like hip replacement surgery, and setting up mobile scanners in supermarket car parks.Dr Sonia Adesara works as a GP in the capital, and explains how patients are struggling with the long waiting times, how the backlog is affecting doctors, and why a staffing crisis in the NHS needs to be addressed.In this episode:Dr Adesara's reaction to the 6.1million waiting list record (1.13)How patients are coping with the long waiting times (2.14)What impact the backlog is having on doctors and GPs (3.28)Will the NHS's new measures be effective? (4.30)Will the government spend money wisely to help the NHS? (6.04)Are you confident action will be taken to better support the NHS? (7.03)How the NHS is struggling in other areas (7.45)Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government’s plans to send refugees to Rwanda have been described as a ‘human rights calamity’ by Amnesty International.On Thursday Boris Johnson set out the plan to send some of the migrants who cross the channel into the UK, more than 4,000 miles away to the African continent.It’s been met with a huge backlash from opposition MPs, public figures, and human rights organisations.Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Director shares his reaction to the plan, explains why it won’t solve the UK’s immigration problems, and discusses his hopes that the government will be pressured into a u-turn.In this episode:Steve’s reaction to the Rwanda migration plans (1.14)What happened to similar schemes by Australia and Isreal (2.13)How the plan impacts human rights laws (3.45)Is Rwanda as safe as Boris Johnson claims? (5.05)What other options could the government take? (6.06)Could the government be forced into a U-turn? (7.06)Are there concerns that more countries could opt for similar schemes? (8.10)Follow us on Twitter for all the latest news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canary Wharf is set to be transformed into a new attractive destination, with new waterways for paddle boarding, floating pontoons, public parks and a huge boost to its greenery.They’re the plans put together by the Eden Project and the Canary Wharf Group, to improve the area’s offering to locals and visitors, but also increase the biodiversity of the area.The Eden Project hopes to demonstrate how a dense urban environment can “live and work in harmony with nature”.We spoke with Chief Executive of Eden Project International David Harland about their plans, how they could benefit the local environment and economy, and whether their vision represents the future for our cities.In this episode:The 'vision' for Canary Wharf (0.52)How they plan to boost biodiversity (1.42)The Eden Project's plans to bring nature back to the city (2.37)The benefits of wild flowers (3.33)How the project could help improve air quality (4.43)Plans to bring water sports to the area (5.42)The benefits of the Eden Project's own London base (6.51)Could they make more of these green areas in London? (7.29)Follow us on Twitter for the latest news, interviews and features @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Downing Street has confirmed Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will be fined for breaking Covid restrictions.No10 said the Prime Minister and Chancellor were among those set to be handed fixed penalty notices over the partygate scandal.It has led to fresh calls for the Prime Minister to resign, including from opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer.The Evening Standard’s Political Editor Nicholas Cecil discusses what the fines mean for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, whether he’s at risk of losing his role as prime minister, and what impact these fines may have on the Conservative party.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new poll by the National Education Union has found almost half of teachers in England plan to quit their job in the next five years.A fifth of the 1,788 teachers surveyed said they would leave within two years.The NEU said heavy workload was a ‘significant factor’ in their decision to leave, as well as concerns about the level of trust in teachers from the public and Government, pay, and accountability.It’s as the NEU is today calling for Ofsted to be replaced - claiming it’s an “unfair and unreliable inspectorate” which has driven up unnecessary workload and stress for teachers.In response to the poll, a Department for Education spokesperson said teaching “remains an attractive and fulfilling profession”, and the number of teachers in our schools remains high. We spoke with London teacher Kiri Tunks about the poll, what life is like as a teacher, and what changes she wants to see for the education system.For all the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an Invitation to Meet Anna Chokina, CEO of Cellular Goods. They’re a cannabinoid wellness start-up, trying to make headway in an emerging market, where competition is already fierce and getting stronger all the time. They’re offering CBD and CBG products from health supplements to skin care, but how do you persuade customers to try something new?It’s a problem Anna’s had to overcome before in her many jobs for huge companies including Avon, PepsiCo and Procter and Gamble, but is it harder in a startup?In this show we talk about:The visit to an Alaskan pot shop where Anna discovered CBD productsThe CBD market and its difficulties, including reputational onesThe public’s rediscovery of science since the pandemicYou can listen to the full interview in our An Invitation To Meet series here.For more business news, interviews and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Cressida Dick officially leaves her post as Met Commissioner this Sunday and the Evening Standard can exclusively reveal that in an explosive ‘letter to London’, she slams the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan. Accusing him of damaging the entire justice system by the “politicisation of policing”.Our Crime Correspondent, Anthony France, who broke the story, discusses what we know about the complicated relationship between the outgoing Met chief and the Mayor of London, as well as what will be Dame Cressida’s legacy now she’s gone. Today we talk about:How we got here (0:40)What is this ‘letter to London’ (1:30)Does Dame Cressida have a point about the “politicisation of policing” (3:12)Dame Cressida’s legacy (6:46)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A piece of Earth’s history has just been found. Scientists have discovered a fossil of a perfectly preserved dinosaur leg that may have been ‘ripped off’ by the asteroid that sparked a mass extinction.It was unearthed at a site in Tanis, North Dakota, 3,000km away from the asteroid impact site in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of a number of impressive finds from the location. Professor Paul Barrett, dinosaur specialist from the Natural History Museum, explains the significance of this 66-million-year-old find.Today we talk about:The significance of the discovery (02:50)Other findings at this particular site (04: 09)The upcoming Sir David Attenborough BBC documentary on the Tanis site (05:34)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s another blow in the cost of living crisis. From today the National Insurance increase comes into effect. It means that workers, businesses and the self-employed will now pay an extra 1.25p in the pound. The Evening Standard’s Consumer Business Editor, Jonathan Prynn, explains what this all means for Londoners who are already feeling the pinch. Today we talk about:The changes coming in today (01:17)What it means for Londoners (03:10)Should we be preparing for any other upcoming price increases, taxes or other costs? (07:10)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No-fault divorce is being introduced in England and Wales tomorrow (Wednesday 6th April 2022). It’s the biggest divorce reform in 50 years and means that partners wishing to split no longer have to assign blame or wait anything from two to five years to start the legal process. We hear from Nigel Shepherd, the former chair of Resolution who led their campaign to bring in no-fault divorce. He’s also a highly experienced family lawyer. Today we talk about:What the previous rules were & the new process coming in (01:27)Why it’s taken so long to change the law (03:15)Why he led Resolution’s campaign for no-fault divorce (03:59)His response to critics (05:36)Will the new process coming in put added strain on the courts? (06:27)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great Easter getaway has started but it’s off to a bumpy start to say the least. EasyJet and BA have cancelled hundreds of flights because of staff shortages. Elsewhere, there’s disruption at Eurotunnel and ongoing issues with ferries at Dover too. Simon Calder, the Independent’s Travel Correspondent, explains all you need to know about the chaos.  Today we talk about:The problems with BA and easyJet (01:55)Advice to people planning on flying with them soon (03:09)Eurotunnel disruption and issues at Dover (04:18)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CEO of Huel, James McMaster, invites us to their HQ in Hertfordshire for a fascinating chat about how the meal replacement company has grown from a garage to international success.Listen to the full episode HERE.We talk about the astonishing speed of growth in 6 years, that’s taken the company to a revenue run rate of $100,000. How did they do that? And did anything go wrong on the way?James also tells us about his route to CEO, from being the kid that reads the business pages before the sports ones in the newspaper, to running a company – via several other careers in finance and the food industry.Additional Material“Master Chief” - Waze Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a new series of DNA Journey launches on ITV next week, we have spoken with Brad Argent, Senior Director of International Programming at Ancestry about what to expect from the series.He discusses how the stories continue to get better, and how the technology behind the DNA research is improving.Also in this episode:How the DNA technology has moved on since 2019 (1.22)Celebrities "becoming someone else" during the process (3.04)How they're telling original stories (4.08)What happens when stories change during research (4.57)The tools used to trace DNA back to the past (5.58)Will Ancestry will use its DNA tech to look back further in time? (7.21)Follow us on Twitter for more news, features and analysis @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An online tool set up by the Met Police to help the public report places where they feel unsafe in the capital, has received more than 3,000 since it was set up.The force launched StreetSafe in September 2021, following the deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.Since then almost three quarters of the reports it has received have been from women.Most of them related to poor street lighting and CCTV coverage, but the Met said there were also reports of men verbally harassing women, which it had tackled successfully by introducing more police patrols in those areas.Women’s rights activist Patsy Stevenson, and Anna Birley from Reclaim These Streets discuss the tool, how effective it is, and what more can be done to keep women and girls safe.In this episode:Patsy’s opinion of the StreetSafe tool (1.10)Does lighting & CCTV make people feel safer? (1.46)Have measures been introduced to tackle culture that lead to abuse? (3.26)Anna discusses the StreetSafe tool (4.30)Comparison with other resources to report abuse (5.14)Education for men and boys to stop abuse (6.52)Are things moving in the right direction? (8.23)Follow us on Twitter for the latest news @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just under two weeks after the return to the UK of Iran detainees Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, a man who was allegedly supposed to come home with them, is still in detention in Iran.Morad Tahbaz’s family said they were promised he’d fly back to the UK alongside Nazanin and Anoosheh, but his daughter Roxanne found out on the day he was due to return that he wasn’t on the flight.Now back on the campaign trail to bring him home, Roxanne tells the Evening Standard how it all happened, the latest from officials, and why he’s now on a hunger strike.Roxanne discusses:Her dad’s hunger strike (1.33)Her shock when she found out he wouldn’t return to the UK (2.21)Finding out he wasn’t on the flight through the press (3.56)Morad’s life growing up in London (5.07)How Iran decided he was an American Citizen (6.20)Richard Ratcliffe’s support (7.05)Plea to the government to bring him back home (8.44)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Met Police is issuing 20 fines to individuals who broke lockdown rules at Downing Street parties in 2020.As part of its investigation into twelve events held across government, the Met has said it will not reveal who the fines have been issued to, or which specific alleged event they relate to.Downing Street has pledged to reveal if the prime minister is among those fined, but said it wouldn’t release the identity of junior staff.The Evening Standard’s Home Affairs Editor Martin Bentham discusses:What the fines mean for Partygate (1.32)Why Boris Johnson might not be fined yet (3.14)What might happen if the PM is among those fined (4.36)How Conservative MPs might react if the prime minister is fined (6.15)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less than a week after making his Spring Statement, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been defending his financial decisions today at a meeting of the Treasury Committee.He’s been questioned about the support available for people receiving benefits, after announcing a series of measures which will largely benefit those in work.But, as the energy price cap rises by around 54% from April 1st, inflation continues to rise and fuel remains at an all time high, despite a 5p fuel duty cut, those unable to work are unsure how they will cope with the cost of living crisis.We spoke with Strategy Director at the Trussell Trust food bank charity, Garry Lemon, about:His reaction to the Spring Statement (2.35)The ‘devastating’ consequences for people on Universal Credit (3.33)How the crisis will ‘inevitably’ lead to homelessness (4.33)Food banks becoming oversubscribed (5.26)The economics behind the government’s measures (6.21)We also hear from Jenni from Hampshire who is unable to work, and said she’s struggling to keep up with bills already. Remember to follow us on Twitter for the latest news - @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to create a multi-million pound business without losing your ideals; even the ones you’ve held since childhood?This is An Invitation to Meet... Saasha Celestial-One, co-founder of sharing app Olio. Originally a way for communities to share unwanted food, it’s now expanded to include much more.Listen to the full episode HERE.Saasha tells us about the negotiations to raise $43 million dollars in round B funding last year, and how she “stalked” a Tesco boss to secure a deal helping the supermarket distribute surplus food.And we chat about her early days growing up in Iowa with her “hippy entrepreneur” parents, who instilled in her the value of not letting things go to waste. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s number of Covid cases diagnosed have risen by nearly a third...so what has happened, and how worried should we be, particularly when using public transport?The Standard’s reports on Friday that data suggests one in 19 people have coronavirus symptoms, and this comes as the spring boosters are being rolled out.Professor Tim Spector, the King’s College London scientist behind the Zoe Covid tracker app, warns “there has never been a riskier time to travel” in London.City Hall statistics gathered from the NHS show there were 58,092 confirmed cases in London in the week to March 18 – up 28 per cent on the 45,211 in the previous week.The Leader’s joined by the Standard’s Health and City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall, who has been investigating the latest developments.Ross discusses the current infection and hospitalisation rates, and reveals how Transport for London bosses performed a u-turn over their Covid public health messaging on travel risk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street, a service of commemoration and support for journalists working under fire.This unique church has been offering pastoral care for centuries to news professionals.It remembers not only those killed in the line of duty but helps journalists wounded and captured, and offers comfort to their family, colleagues and friends.Thursday’s service, called ‘Under Fire: Journalists and Ukraine’, was supported by the London Press Club and the Journalists’ Charity.We asked the Reverend Canon Dr Alison Joyce how the nature of risk faced by journalists reporting in conflict zones has evolved and the church’s role when the worst happens.The service was packed with industry colleagues, from print to radio, television and web.Readings were given by speakers including Patrick Kidd, diary editor at The Times and Caroline Wyatt, former BBC defence and war correspondent, and now a presenter on Radio 4’s PM programme.After the service, we caught up with Caroline and asked about the role of news reporters in getting to the truth amid the bullets, bombs and social media propaganda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled measures aimed to ease the cost-of-living crisis, for many Londoners it’s simply not enough.Inflation and spiking bills are heaping misery on the capital’s most vulnerable people - with at-risk women often suffering most from the economic fallout.Eleanor Greenhalgh, Women’s Development Unit manager for Solace Women’s Aid and the Connection at St Martin’s, examines the impact of today’s Spring Statement.It comes after an increase in women sleeping rough on the streets of central London during the pandemic.Last month, analysis by a cross-party group found there were almost twice as many women impacted by “hidden homelessness” in the capital than men.Now, with funding from the Evening Standard’s homeless appeal, the Women’s Development Unit run through the Solace Women’s Aid and the Connection at St Martin’s charities is helping more female clients than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amputee former servicemen and women are deploying their military experiences to help young people become more resilient to the challenges of modern life.The Making Generation R project is a collaboration between veterans organisations Blesma and The Drive Project.Hear how the squad’s experiences and coping strategies shared at innovative workshops are inspiring schoolchildren to better navigate the stresses of the 21st Century.We speak with south Londoner Dan Richards, now a project manager and competitive cyclist, after recent session held at Sadler’s Wells theatre in Clerkenwell.Dan was formerly a trumpeter with King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery who needed his right arm and shoulder amputated after a horrific motorbike crash.He describes his mental health battle as he struggled to get a job after making over 300 applications following his medical discharge from the army.The Leader also speaks with Jon Bryant, Blesma chief executive and former Army Air Corps colonel, who tells us about the battlefield injuries being suffered in Ukraine.More than a dozen ex-servicemen and women are involved in the project.You can donate to the Standard’s Ukraine Appeal here: gofundme.com/eveningstandardukraineappeal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hackney-based artist Idris Khan is creating prints from a watercolour painting based on the Ukrainian flag washed over sheet music paper from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, to raise money for the Evening Standard’s Ukraine appeal.It’s part of a collaboration with Migrate Art, an organisation working with artists to raise funds for refugees, with all profits going to the Disasters Emergency Committee.Listen to Idris in conversation with the Standard’s deputy arts editor Jessie Thompson, describing how the horrifying images of war moved him to use his skills to raise money to help out by creating the vibrant piece, which is called ‘I Thought We Had More Time...’Signed prints of I Thought We Had More Time... are £300 and available until 31st March via migrateart.com/products/idriskhan.Donate to the Standard’s Ukraine Appeal at gofundme.com/eveningstandardukraineappeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Youtuber turned entrepreneur Caspar Lee joins the show to talk about his incredible career as one of the first-ever social media stars and his new job as co-founder of the Influencer marketing company.Check out the full interview with Caspar HERE.Caspar turned his back on creating videos with tens of millions of views, including many featuring A-list Hollywood stars, to pursue a long-held passion to build a start-up with his business partner Ben Jefferies.So how does someone who has made such a success of themselves doing one thing manage to transition to something else?He gives advice for those who want to become the next big thing on TikTok, and for those who want to work with them on brand awareness campaigns.And we talk about the pressures that being a Youtuber can bring to a young person, and what it’s like being “the grandfather of the internet” aged just 27.Additional Material:Joe & Caspar hit the Road: BBC StudiosCaspar Lee: YoutubeWonder Park: Paramount Pictures & NickelodeonInfluencer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a week they would rather forget for the Met.A YouGov poll found that the majority of Londoners think the force is sexist and racist. There’s been the appalling story of a 15-year-old black school girl in Hackney who was strip searched whilst on her period, without adult supervision.And all this is happening whilst the selection of a new Met commissioner is on hold until Cressida Dick’s pay-off is sorted out. Emma Loffhagen is a columnist from the Evening Standard. She explains what the new commissioner will need to do to improve public opinion and whether or not it’s possible to build back trust in the Met. Today we talk about:Emma’s reaction to the 15-year-old girl who was strip searched (1:07)Is the Met fit for purpose? (2:54)What she wants to see from the new commissioner (5:52) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shock and disbelief as P&O Ferries sacks 800 crew members and suspends its services. In a statement, P&O confirmed the workers would be made redundant immediately as a result of “unsustainable” financial losses. The move has been condemned by unions as “a betrayal of British workers”.The Independent’s Travel Correspondent, Simon Calder, joins us from Dover to discuss the aftermath. Today we talk about:Reaction from Dover (0:43)The confirmation that 800 staff members have been sacked (2:02)How will P&O Ferries manage the backlash? (6:13) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The day is finally here, after six years imprisoned in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is coming home. The mother-of-one is on a flight along with British–Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori, who had also been detained since 2017. Another British national, Morad Tahbaz, has been released from prison but remains in Iran. We hear from Eilidh Macpherson, an Amnesty International UK campaigner who has worked closely with the families.Today we talk about:EiIidh’s reaction to photo of Nazanin on the plane (2:05)How it feels knowing Nazanin and Anoosheh are coming home (2:30)Amnesty International UK calls on the government to do more (7:19) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s some light at the end of the Crossrail tunnel. London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford, has confirmed that the long-delayed Elizabeth Line will open before 30th June 2022. Although, he won’t give an exact date just yet.The east-west line, which will link Reading and Heathrow with Shenfield and Abbey Wood via twin tunnels between Paddington and Whitechapel, was initially meant to have opened in December 2018 but has fallen years and billions over budget.The Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall, explains everything we know so far about the £20 billion line. Today we talk about:The latest Crossrail developments (4:14)Whether the Elizabeth Line will be worth the wait (5:58)The ten new stations (7:19) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme has officially launched. Homeowners can sponsor named individuals, or families, to stay in their home for a period of at least six months. Those who do open their doors will receive £350 a month as a thank you.Rachael Burford, the Evening Standard’s Political Reporter, explains how it all works, the criticisms and whether the UK is doing enough for Ukraine. More than 2.5 million people so far have fled Ukraine because of Russia's invasion, in what the UN has called the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War Two.Today we talk about:The 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, what is it? (1:15)Has the UK improved its visa system for refugees yet? (3:34)How does the UK compare to other European countries when it comes to helping Ukrainian refugees? (5:07) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of the Evening Standard’s International Women’s Day podcast special series, we’re joined by Ann McNeill, professor of tobacco addiction at King’s College London.Professor McNeill is also vice-dean of culture, diversity and inclusion at the university’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.She discusses how family experiences inspired a focus on harm from smoking, succeeding in male-dominated academia and how her team’s pioneering research led to an overhaul for cigarette shop displays in UK shops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What London’s new clean air plan means for your lungs and pocketAs Mayor Sadiq Khan announces plans to expand the capital’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone by the end of the 2023, we speak to Dr Gary Fuller, an air pollution scientist at Imperial College London, who runs the pollution-mapping Londonair website.Dr Fuller looks at how the existing scheme in central London is working out, and discusses the increase in toxic air as post-Covid commuters return to work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain’s London social centre has been transformed into an aid logistics HQ.Volunteers collate donated critical supplies for lorry dispatch to the war zone.Painkillers, tourniquets, torches, helmets and new socks are among critical items needed.We speak with AUGB members Vlodko Pawluk and Iryna Terlecky about how Russia’s brutal invasion has galvanised the capital to help the massive aid effort.To donate to the Standard’s Ukraine appeal, please visit: gofundme.com/eveningstandardukraineappeal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark International Women’s Day 2022, the Evening Standard and the London Press Club hosted one of four panels of leading women in the UK to discuss issues surrounding female empowerment. The panel was led by former BBC Radio Four producer, Carole Stone.The London panel, themed “Women as Catalysts for Resilience, Diversity & Change”, discussed gender diversity, inclusion and open communication in the workplace.Guests from our own newsroom included columnist Nimco Ali, Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of editors, Press Club young journalist of the year winner Abbianca Makoni, and the Evening Standard’s Chief Content Officer Anna Van Praag.Other panels took place simultaneously in Zagreb, Karachi, Beirut, Nairobi, Amman and Dubai.The events were organised by Elizabeth Fillipouli, founder of the Athena40 forum.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debbie Wosskow OBE is a business leader on a mission to support more female entrepreneurs.The founder of Love Home Swap, which she sold for around £40 million, has been working hard on her Allbright community, providing help to women trying to get ahead in their field.In this show, she reveals the shockingly low amount of capital investment given to women, the barriers some face when trying to start-up a company, and gives her own advice to budding CEOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 1.7 people have been displaced from their homes in Ukraine since Russia invaded - that’s the equivalent of emptying London’s five biggest boroughs.We’re joined by Dr Agnieszka Kubal, a sociology lecturer and a migration law expert at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies, whose mother is also among Polish households opening their family homes to help refugees.Dr Kubal examines UK government strategy to cope with the growing humanitarianism crisis, and whether enough is being done to stop the most vulnerable refugees from falling prey to people traffickers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Des Gunewardena teamed up with Sir Terence Conran to open up a restaurant in London, people told them they were “totally, totally stupid”. What does a “finance guy and a designer” know about the hospitality trade?Today, the company that evolved from that partnership, D and D restaurants, operates more than 40 establishments in London, Paris and New York.In this episode, Des tells us they set up a restaurant because Terence was fed up with France having better ones than Britain, and how they became so popular he read one woman had to change her own kitchen décor because someone said “it looked like a Conran restaurant, and she was very upset”.He also reveals his top tips for business, including advice for people venturing into the restaurant trade following two years of turmoil thanks to the coronavirus pandemic... and what he thinks of the UK government’s support for hospitality. You can hear the full interview over on our An Invitation to Meet... channel HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia has taken over another nuclear facility in Ukraine, after shelling the site on Thursday night.The attack of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been condemned worldwide, with reports that the attack continued even as emergency services tried to put out the resulting fire.In response, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Authority Rafael Grossi, is planning to travel to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to negotiate with the Ukrainians and the Russians to uphold the principles of nuclear safety.Malcolm Grimston, a Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London’s Centre for Energy Policy and Technology discusses the risk associated with Russia's attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and why they have taken over the site.You can find our Ukraine fundraiser here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia continues to be hit with economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, the world’s top tech firms are also taking action to try to end the conflict.Apple has blocked its contactless payment system in Russia, Google has disabled its map traffic data in Ukraine to protect citizens, and Facebook owner Meta has set up a special team to tackle misinformation on social media.But what impact will these actions have? And how much responsibility falls on tech firms to act during international conflicts?Senior tech reporter at Insider Isobel Hamilton discusses the actions being taken, what more tech firms can do, and what might happen next.You can find our Ukraine fundraiser here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As war rages on in Ukraine, the civilian death toll in the country has reportedly reached more than 2,000.On day seven of the Russian invasion, strikes on Kharkiv have killed at least four people.Russia claims it has taken control of the city of Kherson, which the UK and Ukraine have denied.We speak with Hussain, a Kherson resident who moved to the city in 2020 with his wife and young daughter.He describes what the situation is like in the city, and his worry that he won’t be able to feed his family.You can find our Ukraine fundraiser here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the fighting in Ukraine continues, the Evening Standard is launching an appeal to raise money for the thousands of men, women and children fleeing the conflict.We’ve set up a GoFundMe to support charities on the ground including the Red Cross, who are helping refugees cross the border into Ukraine’s western neighbours.Journalist Tom Mutch, who is also supporting refugees as they flee Ukraine, explains how the operation is going, how people are feeling, and what people in the UK can do to help those caught up in the conflict.You can find our appeal here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London is preparing for the first network-wide underground strike action in more than 5 yearsAll underground stations are expected to close on Tuesday and Thursday, as members of the RMT Union strike over jobs, pensions and working conditions.It’s thought the strike action will mean a £20million loss in fare income for an already struggling Transport for London.City Hall Editor Ross Lydall discusses the planned tube strike action, London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s role in trying to resolve it, and what the future holds for TfL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you sell an idea that’s so innovative, a lot of people don’t understand it? This is a bonus episode for our brand new business podcast "An Invitation to Meet…”, this week we're letting you hear our interview with Holly Tucker MBE, who founded the Not on the High Street marketplace 16 years ago. You can hear the full episode with Holly here: https://pod.fo/e/108b77Now running the Holly & Co small business advice company, she tells us how she used the power of story-telling to drum up finance and persuade the public to use her site when “people still didn’t like putting their credit card details into a shopping portal". We also talk to Holly about why women leading businesses is so important.Holly will be appearing at the Evening Standard’s SME EXPO event at Olympia London. You can get more details, and free tickets, here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tube strikes across the entire network will go ahead next week as part of the ongoing row over Transport for London cuts. Passengers are facing severe disruption, closed stations and little or no service, the same week the TfL fare increases come into effect.The Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall, explains everything that London commuters need to know about what’s set to be a week of travel misery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Vladimir Putin has launched a war in Ukraine, shattering peace on the European continent”, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said.Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Russian President had “chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction” and the UK and its allies would respond “decisively”. But what exactly is Putin’s strategy and can he be stopped? The Evening Standard’s Defence Editor, Robert Fox, explains the Russian strategy, their capabilities and whether Ukraine can fight back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Tim Stevens, cyber security expert from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, tells us about how Russia could strike online.GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre is urging UK organisations to 'bolster their online defences', warning of a 'historical pattern of cyber-attacks on Ukraine with international consequences'. The US has also warned of threats to banks, power plants - even water treatment facilities. Dr Stevens tells us about the capabilities of the Russian government, but also the hacking groups inside the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK has warned that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has already started. It comes after Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent states and ordered in what he claimed were Russian “peacekeeping” troops. Boris Johnson has announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three “very high net wealth” individuals under his “first barrage” of measures over the Ukrainian incursion.Dr Julie Norman, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at University College London and the Co-Director of the UCL Centre on US Politics explains the potential impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister is unveiling his plans to scrap all remaining covid legal restrictions in England as part of his ‘Living with Covid’ plans. Is this the return of normality at last? Well, it’s certainly not smooth sailing for Mr Johnson. Experts have been urging the government to be cautious and Labour has questioned the plans to reduce testing. There’s also some criticism about the timing of the announcement in the wake of ‘partygate’. The Evening Standard’s Political Editor, Nicholas Cecil, explains what we know so far about the plans and how they're going down in Westminster.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a wild, windy Friday after a weather Red alert was issued by the Met Office - warning of risk to life - and 70mph gusts were recorded in the capital, with Londoners urged to stay indoors.London Ambulance Service reported two people injured, one by falling debris and another by a tree.Trees have been brought down, buildings damaged - including the O2 - and there’s been widespread flight and rail cancellations.London Fire Brigade declared a “major incident” due to the volume of 999 calls over Storm Eunice.So how can we prepare for future extreme weather events and are the authorities doing enough when the worst happens?The Leader’s joined by Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London.You can listen to the Evening Standard's brand new business podcast 'An Invitation to Meet...' here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The capital’s bracing itself on Friday for what is expected to be the worst storm in over 30 years. The Met Office issued a rare Amber warning on Thursday - later upgraded to the highest level Red warning - for extreme weather hitting London. It says blasts of severely high winds are expected to be so powerful that Storm Eunice poses a “danger to life” from flying debris, with roofs blown off, downed trees and damaged power lines. The government’s called an emergency Cobra meeting and rail passengers in the capital are being urged not to travel.For some expert insight into the risks ahead, the Leader’s joined by Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.Check out our brand new business podcast called 'An Invitation to Meet..' here.Find out about the Evening Standard's SME XPO at Olympia London on the 25th and 26th of May here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.