The Standard

European lorry drivers appear to be rejecting the UK’s offer of 5,000 temporary visas to help the country out with its fuel crisis. We ask European Transport Workers’ Federation boss Livia Spera why?She tells us the situation is far more complex than simply resentment over Brexit (although that’s playing a part). There is also a shortage of delivery drivers across the continent, where pay and conditions are better. We also talk about how the UK’s problems are playing out in the media across Europe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded at a petrol station in East London, we look at the fuel crisis including why London has been so badly affected. Associate Editor Jonathan Prynn tells us how cabbies fuelling up at the first sign of trouble weakened an already fragile fuel ecosystem in the capital, which has a higher driver per pump number than anywhere else in the UK.We also look at how frustrations have been boiling over as drivers fight for the last of the petrol at some stations, and ask if or when the army will be brought in.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard political reporter Rachael Burford joins the podcast as some petrol forecourts appear to be getting busier and others are closed altogether due to shortage of fuel. The government’s urging people to “shop normally” when filling up cars, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is also not ruling out bringing the army in to help with deliveries and training. Some are blaming Brexit, others Covid for a shortage in drivers to get fuel to petrol stations, and the boss of a leading supermarket’s calling for new rules to let more Europeans work in the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As ES magazine prepares to auction its historic NFT front cover, we speak to art academic Acacia Mei and tech journalist Monty Munford about how digital code is transforming campaigning. 'Brave New World' features black non-binary model Kai-Isaiah Jamal, and Acacia tells us why they believe it's a milestone moment for marginalised groups. Monty explains how NFTs have become sought after in the collectibles world with some seeing them as an investment. 'Brave New World' is being auctioned on the Foundation platform  in association with the Philips auction house on Friday September 24th. Proceeds will go to the Evening Standard's charity partner the Felix Project.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix is stepping into the gloriumptious world of Roald Dahl with the acquisition of the company which licences the author’s works in its biggest-ever content deal. Our deputy business editor Joanna Bourke and columnist Melanie McDonagh join the show to look at what new tv shows, movies, musicals and video games might come out of the contract. We also discuss the author's enduring legacy, looking at how he's managed to sell more than 300 million books around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once cast as rivals from opposite sides of the political divide, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden appear to have smoothed over differences and become, as one US TV journalist described them, 'peas in a pod'. Diplomatically there are signs that the US and UK are becoming closer. There's the nuclear sub deal with Australia and America's allowing double-vaccinated tourists from Britain back in. But there are also divides. Afghanistan is one. A post-Brexit trade deal is another. We speak to analyst Julie Norman, from UCL's Centre for US Politics, and ask her what' really going on between Boris and Biden? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are two new stations on the world famous Tube map. Together Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms make the first extension to the Northern Line for 80 years. In this special programme, we speak to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and others as the first passengers got on-board. We hear how the £1.1 billion project is seen as the catalyst for the wider redevelopment of the Nine Elms area, with the former power station at its heart. And we also learn how discussions between TfL and the government are going as the transport network looks for a long-term deal to provide stability after the devastating effects of coronavirus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hasn't even launched, the other appears to be struggling to get off the ground but a new TV rivalry is beginning that could change the face of broadcasting in the UK. GB News has just lost its Chairman and lead presenter Andrew Neil, who now admits he quit because he was in "a minority of one" over the direction of the channel which critics say is becoming more right wing. That's come in the week that Piers Morgan announced he's joining Rupert Murdoch's TalkTV which is due to launch next year. We speak to media commentator Ian Burrell who tells us the two newsrooms may be battling over an audience that doesn't exist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ES Magazine has made history as the first UK publication to print an NFT, or non-fungible token, in a ground-breaking piece of moving digital artwork. We speak to deputy art director Jessica Landon who reveals how the piece was created by two of Bjork's collaborators using 160 cameras to create a Matrix-like effect. You can also find out how to bid for the NFT, featuring model and activist Kai-Isaiah Jamal, at an upcoming auction with proceeds going to the Evening Standard's charity partner, the Felix Project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to discuss the cabinet reshuffle. Gavin Williamson’s out as Education Secretary, Dominic Raab’s been shifted from the Foreign Office to Justice Secretary – although he’s also been made Deputy Prime Minister. Nicholas reveals why the thinking behind some of Prime Minister’s decision making, and the reasons the shake-up’s happening just ahead of winter and a predicted rise in coronavirus cases.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another downpour, another day of chaos on London. An estimated 25mm of rain fell in the city, causing disruption to commuters, the closure of a tube station, even the flooding of Tower Bridge. We speak to hyrdrologist Dragan Savic and ask why the Capital appears to have developed an increasing problem with flooding? We ask what threats there might be to the city if more isn’t done to deal with the issue, and whether there are any ways to protect crucial services like the tube and underground stations?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our deputy political editor David Bond joins us as speculation mounts about how the government plans to get the country through the next few months as doctors warn of another Covid peak. Will we, as rumoured, face a “firebreak” lockdown if the NHS becomes overwhelmed with cases? Will facemask mandates and other restrictions make a comeback? Is the vaccine passport really dead? We also talk about the Prime Minister’s £650bn push to boost the economy with a promise to deliver 425,000 new jobs a year over the next four years, though the investment is partly reliant on the private sector.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frozen the Musical has finally opened in London after a long delay caused by the Covid pandemic - But is it any good? The Evening Standard’s theatre critic, Nick Curtis, tells the podcast the production is hampered by sticking too closely to the movie. We also talk about the £60 million refurbishment of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which is hosting Frozen, and the return of big productions to London with Cinderella already open and Back to the Future to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's revealed holidaymakers paid out more than £1 billion for compulsory Covid tests this summer from an industry being investigated for a “laundry list” of bad practices. It follows research by travel expert Paul Charles, of the PC Agency, who joins the podcast to explain how the testing sector has exploded in just a few months, and remains almost unregulated, allowing "cowboy operators" to infiltrate it. He says the government needs to intervene as travel operators say the eyewatering costs of the tests, along with the hassle of doing them, is causing people to be put off taking flights, making the sector's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic even harder.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Susannah Butter joins the show to talk about her interview with the Education Secretary that set Twitter ablaze. During their chat Gavin Williamson appeared to confuse footballer Marcus Rashford with rugby player Maro Itoje. The cabinet member's name was trending on the social network, with Rashford himself among commenters saying: "Accent could have been a giveaway". Susannah tells us what happened when Mr Williamson made the gaffe, and also talks about some of the other parts of the interview including his "transitioning" tarantula and the moment he realised he may have accidentally insulted the Queen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Jack Kessler takes a look at the numbers as the Prime Minister announces a 1.25% increase in National Insurance to, Boris Johnson says, fix social care and the NHS following the devastation of the pandemic. The government says the move will raise £36bn, but it breaks a manifesto commitment not to raise taxes and some in the Conservative party have said they're opposed to the move. We ask Jack why the PM's taking a gamble, exactly what the proposals actually mean, and whether or not it'll pay off the PM? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard reporter Rachael Burford joins the show to talk about how tens of thousands of Londoners have finally started returning to the office. She's been at London Bridge talking to commuters, some of whom haven't been back at their desks for 18 months or more. But is this the start of a long-term return to tubes and busses, or will we see the numbers tailing back off again as the new post-pandemic world begins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arts correspondent Robert Dex joins us to talk about ABBA’s reunion concert in London next year. The band are building their own venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and the gig will use digital versions of Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Ingrid that have been dubbed “Abbatars”. We also talk about the two new songs that have been released and the pioneering steps ABBA have taken to keep their name in headlights despite not producing any new music for 40 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It looks like London is going back to the office, but it's far from everyone and it's certainly not every day. Our consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us how another initiative to encourage people back to their desks by reminding them of nights out with colleagues. But with Friday appearing to be a popular work from home day, how effective will that campaign be? Also, although public transport is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, alarming figure show car use in the city centre is higher than it was before Covid-19. Is all the work to discourage cars on the commute being unravelled?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout this week, schools across London are re-opening after the summer break but can they avoid the shutdowns that blighted last year? Our education editor Anna Davis takes us through what steps are being taken by teachers and pupils to keep Covid-19 at bay, even though face masks aren't mandatory and 'bubbles' are no longer in use.  There's also uncertainty about lessons themselves, with teachers saying that, despite government assurances, they don't know if there will be exams held at the end of the school year or how they will be assessed if they are.  And Anna tells us about the mental health issues that some school heads are concerned about, with warnings support services are coming under increased pressure as teenagers return to the classroom and problems from the lockdown emerge.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the podcast following the departure of the final US soldier from Kabul airport, and the Taliban taking total control of Afghanistan. He tells us why "more speculation than usual" is surrounding the Foreign Secretary's position, as Dominic Raab faces more criticism over his handling of the crisis. And we also learn that Boris Johnson is not at Downing Street right now, but his team is insisting he's "not on holiday".  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden writes for the Evening Standard to persuade Londoners to spend money at attractions in the city, our Business Consumer Editor Jonathan Prynn tells us why. He says this weekend is the last chance tourist traps that have been shut for the last 18 months have to bring in cash before everything closes again for the winter. We also discuss the dire straits of Theatreland, which is trying to battle back with a series of blockbuster openings like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cinderella’. And we look ahead to the Festive season, when the city’s shops will be making the same appeal as they try to finish a horrendous 2021.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s defence editor Robert Fox joins us following an explosion and gunfire at an entry gate into Kabul Airport. He tells us how the US and UK have been worried about “yet another thing” hampering efforts to get people out of the country, but warns advice to head to the border may be the wrong action to take. He also tells us about ISIS-K, an offshoot from the original Islamic State that’s been operating inside Afghanistan and may have plans to launch terrorism attacks in foreign countries.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A plea from Boris Johnson and other world leader for the US to extend its deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has been rebuffed by Joe Biden. To explain what’s happening, the Leader podcast spoke to Dr Julie Norman, deputy director of UCL’s Centre on US politics. She tells us that the White House’s decision is the first example of Biden’s foreign policy in action, in which he wants to work with allies but “basing the tough decisions on how he views US interests”. We also discuss whether Afghanistan will become an issue in the US midterm elections next year, and how the situation is playing out in neighbouring countries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As McDonald’s admits its run out of milkshakes across the UK, a group representing the freight industry’s warning Christmas could be hit by serious shortages.The podcast is joined by Natalie Chapman, from Logistics UK, who says a shortage of drivers has been caused by the “perfect storm” of Brexit, Covid and longer-term recruitment issues. The group’s claiming the situation is only getting worse as retailers gear up for the festive period not knowing if there’ll be enough people to man the trucks and get the goods to stores. They’re calling for the government to temporarily relax immigration laws to enable EU-based drivers to get back behind the wheel in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Sam Fishwick’s been talking to members of the Extinction Rebellion campaign group as it returns to London’s streets for a planned two week long protest. He tells us how the group once dismissed as “crusties” by Boris Johnson has made real world change, but is struggling to overcome its reputation as being loaded with white middle-class eco-warriors. He also talks about the struggles the group has with holding mass rallies, such as this week’s one in Trafalgar Square, when so many people are still working from home.Can XR make the same impact? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marzia Babakarkhail is a former Afghan judge who fled Afghanistan when the Taliban targeted her for assassination during their first time in power in 1996.In this edition of the Leader podcast, she tells us why she was targeted for her work helping divorced women and how she hid for five hours while nine Taliban soldiers ransacked her house looking for her.In an extraordinarily powerful interview, she tells us how she fled that night in a terrifying nine hour car journey across the country and into Pakistan.She now lives in the UK and says she fears for the friends she still has in her home country, but has hope that the people of Afghanistan will overcome “the darkness of this time.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US historian Christopher Phelps, associate professor at Nottingham University, tells us Joe Biden’s “visceral, personal” opinions on Afghanistan have been shaped by his feelings as a father. His son, Beau, served in Iraq in 2009. He died in 2015 from a brain tumour, and Christopher says many of President Biden’s decisions in the Oval Office appear to have been influenced his family.We also discuss the international repercussions of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, including asking if the collapse of Kabul can be compared to the fall of Saigon in 1975.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our political correspondent Sophia Sleigh joins the podcast after the Prime Minister was savaged by MPs from all sides of the house during a debate on Afghanistan.MPs were recalled to Parliament from their summer break, three days after Afghanistan’s capital Kabul fell to the Taliban. Mr. Johnson said the sacrifice in Afghanistan was “seared into our national consciousness” and that the UK looked at trying to stay longer. But he sought to justify leaving Afghanistan by outlining the “hard reality” that the West could not continue the US-led mission without American support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Afghanistan and authoritarian regime expert Professor Natasha Lindstaedt joins the podcast to explain why it's important Western countries try to talk to the Taliban, even though attempts to moderate them will be "extremely difficult". She describes how isolating the country under the extremist group could lead to further abuses of its people. She also explains why Afghanistan has been "impossible to govern" effectively for decades, and how tribal loyalty means the Taliban regime won't "last for decades and decades". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Defence Editor Robert Fox and Political Correspondent Sophia Sleigh join the show to breakdown what’s happening in Afghanistan and what’s next?Robert tells us how the US got “sucker punched” by a behind-the-scenes deal with the Taliban that was brokered without the Afghan government’s knowledge. Sophia says the UK was so surprised at the pace of the country’s collapse that the Prime Minister was supposed to be going on holiday this week, but has now had to change his plans and recall Parliament.Has the Taliban really “changed” like it’s promised? Will the UK and others open diplomatic relations? How are countries evacuating their own citizens from Afghanistan? And what’s next for those who live there? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, 21 firefighters from the United Kingdom volunteered to help Greece battle some of the worst wildfires the country has ever seen. They included experts from London, Merseyside, Wales, the West Midlands and Lancashire, who have been dispatched to Arcadia where the blazes remain fierce two weeks after they were ignited.Team leader Tony Brown joins the podcast to tell us how their humanitarian mission is going, and revealing some of the dangers they’re facing. He explains how they’re using chainsaws to create firebreaks, running for cover when winds whip up flames that threaten to surround them. And he talks about the incredible resilience of the Greek people, who came to their rescue when the UK team's water ran out while trying to get down from a mountain in 40c heat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s education editor, Anna Davis, is back on the show as the GCSE results are revealed. They show another record year, with 28.9 per cent graded 7/A and above, compared with 26.2 per cent last year. In 2019, the last year exams were held, the figure was 20.8 per cent. Leading the way is London, which has better results than anywhere else in the country… but why?Also, as with A-Levels, girls have done much better than boys nationwide. Is it really, as one expert claims, because “girls are cleverer than boys” or has the disruption caused by the pandemic something to do with it. In two years’ time, the current GCSE students will be taking their A-Levels but it’s expected to be the first time many of them will have ever sat a formal exam. How will that affect results in 2023? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s courts correspondent Tristan Kirk joins the show as the lawyer representing the Duke of York’s accuser has warned against anyone ignoring the US courts, claiming the royal’s legal team have “stonewalled” appeals for information.Virginia Giuffre is suing the Queen’s son for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, and has said it was “past the time for him to be held to account”.David Boies, who represents Ms Giuffre, says his client ultimately wants “vindication” from her civil suit for damages.Andrew has vehemently denied the allegations in the past, and a spokesman for the duke said there was “no comment” when asked to respond to Ms Giuffre’s legal action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are celebrating record-breaking success in this year’s A-Levels, with London doing the best in the country. Our Education Editor Anna Davis tells us why the Capital’s performed so well, and also looks at the mystery of why girls have done better than boys this year? She also discusses the dilemma facing universities with a record 435,430 people having a confirmed place, but also more people entering clearing and fewer courses available than last year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A UN report into global climate change has laid bare how extreme weather events are set to increase in coming years with global temperatures set to rise by more than 1.5C. We're joined by one of the contributors to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change study, Dr Laura Wilcox of Reading University. She tells how as a scientist the findings are "scary," but insists there are still ways to turn things around. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Anthony France joins us from Tokyo where he’s been reporting on a unique Olympic Games. There have been Cold War-style defections of athletes, a typhoon, an earthquake, Covid-19 restrictions and even some events on the field like Simone Biles pulling out of competitions.But Anthony tells us how his mind has changed about the Games, shifting from wondering why it was happening at all to being impressed at how Japan has pulled it off “through sheer willpower”.He also tells us about some of the aspects of the coronavirus restrictions, including the joy of gourmet food delivery when you’re stuck in a hotel, and the mysterious ‘bus spotters’ lurking at stops in the city.But will it be remembered as a classic Olympics, up there with famous occasions like London 2012? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn tells us about the latest changes to England’s traffic light travel list system. He tells us which countries have been put onto the green list and has the ‘amber plus’ column been scrapped now that its only member, France, has been taken off it. We also talk about the plight of around 6,000 British holidaymakers in Mexico. That country has just been placed on the red list and there aren’t enough flights to get everyone home by the time the change takes effect on Sunday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s political correspondent Sophia Sleigh is on the show to break down reports that 16-17-year-olds are to be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.We discuss why the move’s being made now and how difficult it might be to persuade busy young people, or sceptical parents, to actually take the shot. Under existing guidance, young people aged 16 to 17 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious Covid infection should have already been offered a jab. Children aged 12 to 15 with certain conditions which make them vulnerable to coronavirus can also access the vaccine, as can those aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person, such as a parent or grandparent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to tell us about the government minister who says it’s the “duty” of older workers to get back to the office so they can guide their younger colleagues.Skills minister Gillian Keegan is also urging firms to use the summer to “ramp up” getting staff back into the office. She stressed that many young employees had missed out on key development experiences in their jobs because they have been working from home.However, the Government is under growing pressure to get civil servants back into Whitehall as it encourages more employees to return to the workplace in the private sector. Ms Keegan estimated that about 20 to 25 per cent of staff at the Department for Education are in the office on any one day at the moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard reporter Rachael Burford tells us what happened at Heathrow when the first passengers arrived following the UK lifting quarantine restrictions for the vaccinated. She tells us about the scenes of joy as families kept apart by the pandemic, some for nearly two years, were finally reunited. At Terminal 5, dozens of families were waiting to see their relatives, who live in the US, as restrictions in both countries have made travel between them almost impossible before today. We also discuss London’s tourism industry and the hopes that summer might be saved with more people able to visit a city that’s been battered by three lockdowns.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special edition of the Leader podcast we’re in Malawi to look at how a 24-year-old music student has become a hero in the country’s fight against Covid-19. Maggie Mkandawire had to return to her home village from the capital Lilongwe when coronavirus restrictions fell in March 2020. Finding herself at a loose end, she started making affordable facemasks from a traditional cotton textile for those struggling to afford disposable ones. Soon she was embroiled in the fight against vaccine misinformation, tackling rumours and falsehoods from the injections making people infertile to claims they’re connected to Satanic cults. In this incredible story we hear from Maggie herself and the health official who credits her work for increasing vaccination take up and getting more people to wear face masks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leading travel journalist Simon Calder joins the podcast to try to explain what the government’s doing with international travel, as the UK opens up its borders but other countries keep theirs all but closed to Brits. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s hinted more destinations will be added to our so-called “green-list” and pressure’s being applied to the US to open up a corridor with the UK. But Simon says Joe Biden will “not be quaking in the Oval Office” with US domestic tourism on the rise, and Stateside airlines not suffering the same losses as their British counterparts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England’s opening up its borders to double-jabbed US and EU travellers, now will other countries let our tourists in?We speak to travel expert Paul Charles who suggests Washington’s unlikely to budge soon on its current restrictions against UK passengers as the Delta variant surges Stateside. But he suggests places like Italy and others in the EU might finally start to look more favourably on British travellers, possibly before the end of the summer. We also talk about how the new rules are going to work in the UK, and the pilot scheme at British airports that appears to have convinced the government it can be done safely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil takes a look at the stats as one of the country’s leading epidemiologists says the pandemic will be “largely over by October”.Professor Neil Ferguson, who was one of the scientists behind the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020, was talking to BBC Radio 4 as figures show another tumble in cases – in London it’s down 57% in six days. But the Prime Minister’s continuing to urge caution saying it’s “very, very important we don’t allow ourselves to run away with premature conclusions”.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a huge clean-up begins following a night of flooding in parts of London, people are wondering how one of the world’s leading cities can be hit so badly by rainfall. Evening Standard reporter Rachael Burford’s been looking at that for the newspaper and tells the podcast there are “numerous” reasons behind it. London Fire Brigade had taken more than 1,000 calls by the early hours of Monday morning following the torrential rain and thunderstorms. Barts Health, London’s largest health trust, declared a major incident after water flooded the basement at Whipps Cross Hospital, causing damage to the electrical system. Newham Hospital was also affected. Parts of the Central Line in east London were suspended on Monday morning as engineers worked to repair damage caused by the weather.The Prime Minister’s released a statement saying his “thoughts are with everyone affected by the flooding”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know it can order groceries when your fridge is empty, turn on the lights in your house, even drive a car but could AI ever be smart enough to become an author?Computing pioneer Ada Lovelace thought it wouldn’t happen because machines can only work with programming inputted by humans, but writer Jeanette Winterson disagrees. Her new book 12 Bytes is an exploration of AI and the journey humans are taking to create a new kind of lifeform.She tells the Leader podcast that computers could very well develop their own ‘imaginations’ but once they do, what kind of stories will they tell and would we want to hear them?Jeanette is appearing at the Evening Standard’s Stories Festival, in association with Netflix. You’ll find the full line-up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil reveals how shoppers are being urged not to panic buy as staff at supermarkets are forced to self-isolate after being alerted by the NHS app. The “pinging” crisis is growing with Boris Johnson being urged to hold a meeting of Whitehall’s Cobra emergency committee to consider deploying the Army if necessary as a “last resort” to ensure supermarket shelves are not left empty in the coming weeks.Meanwhile Sadiq Khan is warning of his rising concerns over the “pingdemic” disrupting London’s “absolutely crucial” public transport, food supplies and bin collection services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Evening Standard reveals a 7-year-old was caught taking a knife into his primary school to “stab another boy at afterschool club,” our investigations editor David Cohen tells us how we here.In a special report, he’s identified five reasons why knife crime has become such a problem in London, and what measures can be taken to reverse it. This year, 22 young people have met violent deaths in the capital; twenty of those were through stabbings. The worst year on record is 2008, when there were thirty deaths. Campaigners fear it’s inevitable that record will be broken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has made history with the successful launch of his New Shepard rocket in West Texas. Among those onboard with him was the flight pioneer Wally Funk, who at 82 has become the oldest person to ever venture into space.On the Leader podcast her biographer Sue Nelson tells us how it’s been a lifelong ambition for the woman who was once told she’d never be an astronaut because “you’re a girl”. Sue reveals the extraordinary story and determination of a true innovator who holds every kind of pilot’s license available... now including the one that takes her out of the atmosphere.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.