The Standard

A special Evening Standard investigation has found thousands of vulnerable young people weren’t visited by children's services during lockdown. In the three months to June 30, face-to-face visits by children’s services plummeted 75 percent in some boroughs compared with the same period last year. Our investigations editor David Cohen tells us how serious the risk is to these services when they can’t physically meet with at-risk children.And, an exclusive Ipsos MORI survey for the Evening Standard has found that if US President Donald Trump and his democratic rival Joe Biden were going head-to-head in the UK, Mr Biden would win by a landslide. But of those surveyed, far fewer think he’ll actually reach the White House. Our deputy political editor Nic Cecil tells us how this compares with the last election race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the legacy of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bomb attacks? 75 years on, survivors have contributed to an oral history of that's being exhibited at the Imperial War Museum, with a message that governments must to do more to ban nuclear weapons. We speak to nuclear strategy expert Sophie McCormack, who tells us how modern missiles are much more powerful today, and explains what could happen if one fell on London. Also, Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism chief has told our home affairs editor Martin Bentham how lockdown has made it harder to catch terrorists in London. Commander Richard Smith says confinement's meant people at threat of being radicalised aren't being spotted by those who could notice the change. He also reveals they're investigating 800 leads into possible plots.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's anger on the streets of Beirut after an explosion with a quarter of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb's power ripped apart the port area of the city. From there, journalist Nada Homsi tells us blame appears to be focusing on a welder who may have ignited a fire that reached thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate being unsafely stored in a warehouse. She says people have been holding protests outside a government building, furious it could be allowed to happen. Meanwhile, Save the Children's Ahmed Bayram tells us about the recovery operation that's underway, and how he thought an earthquake had hit when the blast rocked the building he lives in. Also, Tik Tok may be looking at London to build a new global headquarters. The social media platform's thought to be looking for a base outside the US, where it's been threatened with a ban because of its Chinese ownership. Evening Standard tech journalist Amelia Heathman says the UK could make a good home for the company, but Britain is having problems of its own with Beijing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's opponents have seized on a television interview in which the US President struggles to defend the country's record on coronavirus. He's also been criticised for dismissing civil rights leader John Lewis' legacy, and trying to explain why he wished Jeffrey Epstein's former partner Ghislaine Maxwell "well". The Evening Standard's Londoner editor Ayesha Hazarika, a former adviser to Labour, tells us why Mr Trump didn't look like he'd done enough prep, and why politicians even put themselves in front of interviewers at all. Also, the Evening Standard's consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us why there's just four weeks to save summer for London after lockdown. He's seen figures showing that last week there were 63 per cent fewer people in the West End than last year, during what is normally the peak of the tourism season with central London full of visitors and office workers. He tells the podcast businesses will need a huge Christmas to get through the year, but there's little sign of that coming.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Health Organisation's Dr David Nabarro's told the Evening Standard London is "at a critical time" in its battle against coronavirus. He's spoken to our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil, who says the warning comes as infection rates rise in two thirds of the city's boroughs. Meanwhile, the government appears to be considering strict lockdown procedures if there's another spike, including closing off the Capital inside the M25. Nicholas tells us doctors still hope it won't come to that, but they're worried about people getting complacent with social distancing. Also, Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out is launching in restaurants across the UK. But will the discounts of up to 50% be enough to save an industry that's been almost crushed by the pandemic? We speak to Ed Sandeman, from the Made of Dough Pizzerias, who tells us how they're readying to relaunch their two sites, and says he's nervous that despite bookings no-one will turn up.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson has cancelled major moves out of lockdown including the reopening of wedding parties and casinos in response to a rise in coronavirus cases. The Prime Minister called a press conference to announce that he was “squeezing the brake” on the reopening of the economy and society in order “to protect those we love”. It follows the health secretary imposing lockdown on parts of the north, saying people weren't following social distancing. Our political reporter Sophia Sleigh tells us how the move came as a shock, with just three hours notice. Also, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple have revealed their financial results, showing all of them made big money during the pandemic lockdowns across the globe. The figures come after bosses from the tech firms appeared before the US congress, where they were grilling on their size and influence. We speak to New York-based tech expert Joshua Lowcock, who says the industry needs a regulator.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain suffered the worst excess death rate in the whole of Western Europe during the coronavirus pandemic. Official statistics lay bare what many experts suspected, that the UK’s mortality rate was raised cumulatively higher by the end of May than even Italy and Spain, which were hit earlier. The details come as health secretary Matt Hancock announces an extension in how long people with the bug in England will have to self-isolate. Our political editor Joe Murphy tell us why. Also, police are vowing a new clampdown on dangerous drivers who put the cyclists’ lives at risk on London’s roads. Officers are encouraging cyclists to wear head cameras to help prosecute motorists who drive over the speed limit, aggressively, too close or overtake in hazardous places. Home affairs editor Martin Bentham tells us how the Metropolitan force expects the use of cameras to be "game changing" as the number of people taking to the roads on two wheels surges following the pandemic.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ministers are on standby to impose quarantine measures on more countries amid fears that a second wave of coronavirus cases could undermine the reopening of schools in September. But is the government making up its Covid-19 counter-strategy "on the hoof" and possibly in danger of losing the public's trust? Travel journalist Simon Calder tells us about the chaos that flip-flopping over quarantine rules is causing for holiday makers and airlines. Also, comment editor Susannah Butter joins us to explain why she thinks the Instagram #ChallengeAccepted trend is just "selfish narcissism". Women are being encouraged to post black and white photos of themselves in the name of female empowerment. But is it a powerful statement, or just an excuse to show off a nice picture? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will a £50 bicycle repair voucher, or even one on prescription from your GP, be enough to get you cycling? Boris Johnson's calling his £2bn package to get people onto two wheels "the most ambitious ever" but campaigners say it pales in comparison to the money going on roads. We speak to London Cycling Campaign's Simon Munk, who's welcoming the investment but warns it's not enough to lure people away from cars. Also, Design Museum director Tim Marlow tells us why there's "always pressure to put on a banger" as it re-opens with a blockbuster exhibition charting the history of electronic music. He explains how they've recreated the nightclub atmosphere at a time when clubs are closed, and why the stakes are higher when making a comeback after the coronavirus shut down. The Evening Standard's given the exhibition a five star review, calling it a "rallying cry for clubbing."  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Amira Hashish was one of thousands of tourists caught out when the government suddenly decided to impose lockdown restrictions on travellers returning from Spain and the Balearics. She joins the podcast to tell us how the news went down where she was staying in Ibiza. She also gives us the latest advice from Downing Street as senior minister Helen Whately tells people to "look very carefully" before going abroad. Also, a new book about Harry and Meghan, which claims a rift between the couple and William and Kate, is reported to have upset the Queen. The Sussex's have denied any involvement with the publication, but our Insider editor Lucy Pavia says it's causing consternation in the palaces, and has overshadowed Prince William's work highlighting mental health awareness.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.