A “world-leading” social media ban has been enforced by the Australian government, to prevent under-16s from accessing social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. 

Platforms that do not comply risk fines of up to $49.5m.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as "the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies".

The ban has garnered worldwide attention, with several nations indicating they will adopt a ban of their own, including Malaysia, Denmark and Norway.

But could similar legislation be introduced in the UK? We’re joined by Daisy Greenwell - founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, a movement of families standing together to delay smartphones and social media - to discuss. 

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Jamie Oliver is to relaunch his Italian restaurants in 2026 - seven years after the chain went out of business - having reached a deal with Brava Hospitality Group, the owners of Prezzo.

At its peak, there were more than 40 Jamie’s Italian sites across the UK, but after rapid expansion and a changing market, the company ran into trouble.

Now the first UK branch in six years is set to open in Leicester Square next year, at a time when UK hospitality bosses have complained of a tough trading environment, increased costs and changes to business rates. 

So can the celebrity chef pull off this comeback - and does the capital need another Italian chain restaurant? 

The Standard’s Food & Drink Writer Josh Barrie is here with the latest.

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Nominations for the Golden Globe Awards 2026 are in - effectively kicking off a film awards season that will last until the Oscars in March. 

Leonardo DiCaprio film One Battle After Another has swept up with nine nominations, whilst Netflix drama series Adolescence and Hamnet actor Paul Mescal are among the other nominees.

Other Hollywood heavyweights recognised for their work include Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Emma Stone for Bugonia, and George Clooney for Jay Kelly. 

But there was shock, as Wicked: For Good was snubbed from the category of Best Picture - Musical or Comedy - though leads Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo made history by being the first two actors from the same film to be consecutively nominated for their respective roles as Glinda and Elphaba.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here with the latest. 

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You might not have heard of the Hinduja family, but with a net worth of over £35 billion, they topped the Sunday Times Rich List for six of the past 10 years.

The eldest two of four sons, Srichand and Gopichand, were co-chairmen of the Hinduja Group - which always prided itself on being a family business. They brought billions to London and built the capital’s grandest hotel - the Owo - and their private home round the corner from Buckingham Palace is estimated to be worth over £300 million.

But after the death of the family patriarch, what will happen to their empire?

The Standard’s Feature Writer Claudia Cockerell joins us to discuss this Succession-style battle in the capital.

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In the blink of an eye, the year is almost over - and that means only one thing: Christmas is upon us once more. 

Alongside all the playing of board games, eating of turkey and unwrapping of presents, there’s one other thing that remains a mainstay in most British festive households: the telly. 

Nothing quite beats the feeling of sitting in front of the TV, sliding into a post-feast food coma and drowsily watching the year’s collection of festive specials.

And this year, there’s plenty to look forward to on TV over Christmas, from Will Sharpe donning a white wig to Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell reuniting. 

The Standard's Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop joins us to discuss the best Christmas TV to watch this festive season.

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A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, which has just launched Season 4. 

Host Evgeny Lebedev sits down with Steven Bartlett to talk ambition, mindset, burnout, and the lessons failure can teach us — including one learned on a padel court. 

Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.

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A damning inquiry into sex crimes against women and girls in public places has been published, concluding that too many perpetrators are slipping through the cracks and that prevention schemes are often “just words”.

Four years after the murder of Sarah Everard in Clapham by a Metropolitan police officer, the second part of the Angiolini Inquiry found that there is a “critical failure” to answer basic questions about sexual violence, including how many women are raped by strangers each year. 

It said that urgent action is now needed to prevent further violent, sexual attacks against women and girls, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would carefully consider the recommendations. 

The Standard’s Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford is here with the latest.

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Paddington the Musical has opened at London’s Savoy Theatre in time for the festive season - and has already proven to be a resounding hit in the capital. 

Inspired by the beloved children’s books by Michael Bond, as well as the films, it’s directed by Luke Sheppard, the man behind hits such as the Starlight Express, with a music score written by McFly’s Tom Fletcher. So is this the West End’s hottest ever family show? 

We’re joined by actors Amy Ellen Richardson and Adrian Der Gregorian, who play Mr and Mrs Brown. Plus, theatre critic Tim Bano is here to share his 5-star review of the production.

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High street pubs, hotels and shops face “catastrophic” hikes in business rate bills that will force widespread closures and job losses, the Government has been warned. 

Less than a week after Rachel Reeves’s Budget speech, thousands of business owners in the retail and hospitality sector have learned their bills will rise by tens of thousands of pounds from April next year as a result of a “broken business rate system".

The damage is being done by a combination of huge increases in rateable values, and the end of 40% relief for the sectors most harmed by the pandemic lockdowns. 

The Standard’s Business Correspondent Jonathan Prynn is here with the latest.

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The government could soon come close to scrapping the right to trial by jury, it’s been revealed, with Justice Secretary David Lammy proposing to massively restrict this ancient right, as the criminal justice system is on the verge of collapse. 

There are plans to create a new tier of courts in England and Wales, removing guarantees to a jury trial for all except those accused of the most serious crimes. But could this still result in a fair trial? 

The Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk joins us to discuss why the jury system is a treasured and historic commodity that fosters a level of trust in our courts.

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