The Standard

Britain rejects Donald Trump’s claim that trade between the US and UK is “out of line”. The president has hit several other countries with hefty tariffs.

It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Brussels to meet with EU leaders on Monday - a first for a British leader since Brexit.

Has Trump sparked a trade war? We're joined by The London Standard's political editor, Nicholas Cecil, for the latest.

In part two, Beyoncé extends run as most Grammy-awarded artist - wins include best album and best country album - plus, singer Chappell Roan’s success and tributes to late One Direction star Liam Payne.

Awards and ceremony news with The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer India Block.

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Join host Nicola Barron in conversation with Hayley Quinn, the London-based dating coach who has helped thousands of singles break out of dating ruts, build confidence, and enjoy meeting new people again. In this insightful episode, Hayley shares expert advice on how to approach dating in real life, avoid common first-date mistakes, and create genuine connections beyond the apps.

Don't miss Hayley’s live online masterclass, How to Find the Love of Your Life – In Real Life, on Wednesday, 5th February 2025. Book now at standard.co.uk/masterclasses.

Part of The Bigger Life Festival, brought to you by Masterclasses from The Standard.

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It has been half a decade since the United Kingdom exited the European Union.

But now, on Brexit’s fifth anniversary, a YouGov survey suggests 53 per cent of adults in Britain support going back into the European Union, with 36 per cent opposed - which in London grows to 64 per cent of respondents backing rejoining versus 25 per cent opposed.

To discuss the UK’s national circumstances five years on, we’re joined by The London Standard’s political editor, Nicholas Cecil.

In part two, scientists discover salt fragments in Nasa’s Bennu asteroid sample that will add to our understanding of how the universe formed - with Dr Ashley King, from the London Natural History Museum’s department of earth sciences.

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Officials say there are no survivors after a plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter over Washington DC.

American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River following the collision.

The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport 9pm local time on Wednesday (2am GMT), when the collision occurred with a Black Hawk helicopter on a training exercise.

Among the dead on board the commercial flight were members of the American figure skating team, and three soldiers in the helicopter.

Investigators are trying to piece together moments leading up to the disaster.

The Standard podcast is joined by Graham Braithwaite, professor of safety and accident investigation at Cranfield University

In part two, The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall discusses his interview with Lime boss Wayne Ting and the pay-as-you-ride firm’s investment blitz on borough councils to turn more car bays into e-bike drop zones - could it help create “another Amsterdam” cycling haven in the capital?

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Rachel Reeves confirmed the government will support building a third runway at Heathrow in a major speech aimed to boost economic growth and jobs.

But she is expected to face fierce opposition to expanding the west London airport from senior Labour colleagues, including Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan who posted immediately on X after the chancellor’s speech in Oxfordshire he remains against the plan.

Also among the chancellor’s announcements in a “dash for growth” was government backing for the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing linking Kent and Essex under a PFI deal, an Oxbridge rail link and reiterating plans to limit judicial reviews by campaigners fighting mega-projects.

The London Standard’s chief political correspondent, Rachael Burford joins us to examine the detail.

In part two, TfL signals the end of the Wild West End for ‘rip-off’ pedicabs in a licencing crackdown - our City Hall and transport editor, Ross Lydall has the latest.

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The emergence of Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rocked US tech giants’ stocks over concerns the new low-cost generative AI model could topple their dominance.

Tech shares plunged and chip maker Nvidia suffered falls of nearly 17 per cent as trading opened on Monday - and just a week after launch, DeepSeek became the most downloaded free app in the US.

The twist is this huge language AI model made at a fraction of the cost of its rivals, reportedly around £5 million, including the use of much cheaper processor chips to train its chatbot software.

Are the likes of Google and OpenAI preparing to be disrupted?

The Standard podcast's Mark Blunden asked Dr Cecila Rikap, associate professor in economics and head of research at UCL’s Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose.

In part two, ahead of a major speech on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give news on airport expansion plans - The Standard podcast examines changing political language around environmental concerns about a Heathrow third runway.

We’re joined by Alethea Warrington, head of aviation, energy & heat at climate action charity Possible.

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London’s black cab drivers are famous for having a very active part of the brain that’s critical for mapping thousands of streets.

By the time taxi students hop off their training moped and pass The Knowledge licence exam, a driver will have memorised over 26,000 of the capital’s roads thanks to how their posterior hippocampus region develops as a result.

The international study, led by UCL neuroscientists, included quizzing London cabbies to examine how long it takes humans to compute the capital’s A to Z and, crucially, to contextualise routes without the help of artificial intelligence-powered maps.

It’s hoped better insights, described as showing “insights into the genius of the human mind”, could help develop better navigation tools.

The Standard’s Rachelle Abbott is joined by Hugo Spiers, professor of cognitive neuroscience at UCL’s department of psychology & language sciences, to discuss the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In part two, latest developments in multiple lawsuits between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni centring on behaviour on-set during filming of It Ends with Us - we speak with The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer India Block.

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Scientists at London’s Natural History Museum have discovered mysterious giant mounds on Mars that are believed to be billions of years old.

Examining high-resolution images and compositional data snapped by Martian orbiters and surface rovers, the team analysed over 15,000 of the geological features - many as big as Australia’s Uluru.

We speak with Dr Joe McNeil, who led the study for his Open University PhD with results published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

In part two, the best skincare products 2025 and the ingredients to look out for to soothe your city-weathered epidermis, with The London Standard’s beauty and wellness editor, Madeleine Spencer.

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Storm Eowyn smashed into the British Isles bringing record gusts of up to 100mph with millions of Britons urged not to travel and northern regions issued a rare ‘red’ risk-to-life warning.

Tree toppled, causing road closures and more than 1,000 flights were cancelled at airports across the UK, with rail operators halting services and hundreds of schools closed in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.

The Standard podcast hears about the super-storm’s causes from Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin.

In part two, The London Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil discusses his exclusive report revealing how transport secretary Heidi Alexander opposed a third runway at Heathrow in 2020 during her tenure as Sir Sadiq Khan’s deputy mayor for transport.

It comes amid suggestion Heathrow expansion is back on the table as chancellor Rachel Reeves hunts for economic growth, likely setting her up for a clash with cabinet colleagues - and potentially Sir Sadiq over environmental concerns.

We’re also joined by Paul Beckford, policy director at Hacan - the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise - which represents communities living under the airport’s flight paths to discuss air quality, noise and financial impact.

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The British cousin of an Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza has described his family’s ongoing anguish ahead of a milestone update on the fate of the remaining captives this weekend. 

Adam Ma’anit, who’s from Brighton and is digital communication officer at the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told The Standard podcast they are hoping for news very soon about Tsachi Idan, who is among 94 remaining hostages.

Idan, a 50-year-old IT worker, was dragged away from his kibbutz home after his 18-year-old daughter, Maayan, was shot dead by a Hamas gunman in the October 7 terror attacks over 15 months ago.

A phased ceasefire deal has seen the first three hostages released, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Idan is listed among 33 captives set to be freed, but the family say they are “living day to day” awaiting firm news.

It comes amid a spike in antisemitic attacks and shortly before Holocaust Memorial Day.

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