The Standard

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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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?

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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." 

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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. 

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The full scale of the battle to save central London’s economy has been laid bare with an Evening Standard survey finding many workers in Britain’s top companies are set to stay away from the office for months. We've spoken to FTSE 100 firms and found a series of the UK’s largest listed businesses have no immediate plans to return many staff to offices. City journalist Simon English says tens of thousands of employees will continue to work remotely, with some not going back at all this year. But how will that affect the city centre's crumbling economy?

Also, they resent wearing masks, think lockdowns are unlawful, and say that safety measures are an attack on their civil liberties.The Covid Contrarians are a wide group of virus refuseniks, who say their numbers are growing as pandemic politics divides the country. Feature writer Katie Strick's taken a deep dive into the community, and tells us what she found. 

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The Labour Party has agreed to pay "substantial damages" to seven ex-employees following a BBC Panorama investigation into anti-Semitism within the party. The whistleblowers, who were responsible for the probe into alleged misconduct by party members, sued Labour over “defamatory and false allegations”. Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika tells us why it's an important move for Sir Keir Starmer, but reveals Jeremy Corbyn's not thought to be backing down.

Also, driving tests have re-started and used car sales are back to pre-lockdown levels. Are commuters being driven back to cars as offices prepare to re-open? How do we encourage people onto trains and busses after months of messaging telling us to stay off them? We speak to environmental psychologist Dr Ian Walker who fears the beginnings of a "green recovery" are in jeopardy.

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A long-awaited report into Russian interference in the UK has made a bombshell claim: the Government ‘actively avoided looking for evidence’ of a threat from the Kremlin. MI5 is also criticised for its response to the Intelligence and Security Committee as it investigated whether Moscow sought to sway the outcome of the 2016 Brexit vote. The Evening Standard’s Julian Glover says the big question now is: whose decision was it not to look for Russian influence?

And, Boris Johnson has assembled his Cabinet face-to-face for the first time since Spring. Ministers were socially distanced and had easy access to hand sanitiser - measures we’ve become familiar with to stop the spread of Covid-19. But they were under no obligation to wear face masks, despite them becoming mandatory in shops and on public transport. Oxford University Professor Melinda Mills and director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science says these confusing messages could lead to a second spike in cases.

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