The Standard

This year marks the 33rd edition of the awards, with categories ranging from best house and best flat, through to best regeneration projects and low carbon homes. The longest serving judge on the panel, Stephen Lee, explains what the awards are all about, which categories he’s most looking forward to this year, and describes some of his favourite entries from previous years.You can enter this year’s New Homes Awards here.Follow us on X or on Threads.

A high court judge has ruled that a prayer ban at one of the highest-performing state schools in England - run by ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’ - was not unlawful.Following the decision, Katharine Birbalsingh, who founded Michaela Community School, a free school in Brent, posted on social media saying it was a "victory for all schools".It comes on the same day that primary school places are announced. Almost 10,000 children failed to get a place at their first choice primary school despite a drop in applications partly caused by families fleeing London.The Evening Standard’s Education Editor Anna Davis shares her insight & analysis.Follow us on X or on Threads.

Sadiq Khan’s expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone out to the capital’s outer roads is one of his most controversial policies.The Mayor says the charging scheme will improve air quality and health, but critics claim it's a stealth tax on Londoners hampering their choice to drive.In this episode of the Standard’s series focussing on the 2024 race for City Hall, Hamish MacBain explores both sides of the argument at two of London’s busiest traffic locations.Hear interviews with Imperial College London pollution expert Professor Frank Kelly by the A501, Marylebone Road, and motoring journalist Shahzad Sheikh - AKA YouTuber the BrownCarGuy, by the A10, Shoreditch High Street.

In a special episode taken from our business show, How to be a CEO, the Evening Standard's business editor Jonathan Prynn speaks with 2011 The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau, whose business is thriving, 13 years later.To hear the full interview just search How to be a CEO wherever you find your podcasts, or via this link: lnk.to/TAWjEL

Independent candidate Andreas Michli evicted from hustings. Disruption halts debate for 20 minutes. Sadiq Khan & Susan Hall’s feisty exchanges. Our City Hall Editor Ross Lydall explains the drama at the first hustings in the race for City Hall, and discusses which of the candidates came out on top.Follow us on X or on Threads.

In this preview edition of our Brave New World series, Evgeny meets Wim Hof to learn more about the Dutch athlete’s ‘Method’; a combination of breathing and cold-water immersion that he claims can have health and psychological benefits. Rita Ora also joins the show and talks about her own experience using Wim’s techniques as part of her wellness routines.To hear the whole show, and listen to previous episodes, search 'Brave New World Evening Standard' in your podcast provider.

Report finds children have been let down by NHS care and have been receiving treatment that’s not based on evidence. Dr Hilary Cass calls for long-term research into use of hormone treatments. How Dr Cass received abuse from both sides during the review. Our Health Reporter Daniel Keane explains the Cass Report’s key recommendations for the NHS. In this episode:Why was the Cass Report commissioned?The need for more research & studies into gender careReport highlights a need to ‘dial down’ anger in gender debate, and put children firstHow soon will the NHS implement the report’s recommendations?Follow us on X or on Threads.

The foreign secretary’s ‘surprise’ visit to see Donald Trump. Calls for $60billion of extra aid for Ukraine. What else is Lord Cameron hoping to achieve in the US? Our Deputy Political Editor Jitendra Joshi discusses the foreign secretary’s plan to secure more cash for Ukraine, and what else he plans to gain from his trip over the pond. In this episode:David Cameron & Donald Trump’s history explainedHow Lord Cameron will ‘appeal to Trump’s vanity’Trump’s attempts to undermine Joe Biden in the run-up to the US electionHow $60billion funding will help Ukraine “go on the offensive” in 2025Follow us on X or on Threads.

In this week’s episode of Who Wants to be a London Mayor, Hamish Macbain heads to a London Renters Union rally to look at the capital’s ongoing housing crisis.Londoners face fierce competition for accommodation and endlessly soaring rents, the waiting lists for social housing is in the hundreds of thousands, and there’s widespread poor conditions even if you manage to secure a home. Can the next Mayor of London do more to tackle these issues?