The Standard

Although Sharia law councils, often referred to as courts, have no legal jurisdiction within the UK, many people of Muslim faith turn to them for guidance on aspects of their everyday lives.With their number in the capital on the rise, award winning journalist, David James Smith, joins us for an in-depth conversation about his special report for The Standard into how these councils operate and whether they best serve those who turn to them for help.

Astronomers believe they have discovered the strongest evidence yet that life may exist on a planet outside our solar system.A group of scientists, led by the University of Cambridge, have published the results of their study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.One of the co-authors is Dr Subhajit Sarkar, a lecturer and astrophysicist at Cardiff University, and he joins us to explain more about the planet K2-18b, why the team were looking specifically at that part of space and why he thinks it’s only a matter of time before we can confirm alien life.Plus, with the long Easter weekend upon us, The Standard’s Food and Drink writer, Josh Barrie, is on hand with ideas of what to do and where to go in the capital to keep the family entertained.

UK inflation has dropped to 2.6% - the lowest since December. The fall, driven by cheaper fuel and hotel rates, is being hailed as a sign of economic stability. But is this just a blip or a sign that we’re past the cost of living crisis? The Standard’s Business Editor, Jonathan Prynn, explains what it means for wages, interest rates, and the wider economy.Plus, Arsenal face Real Madrid in tonight’s Champions League quarter final tie later. The Standard’s football writer Simon Collings joins us from Spain with team updates, tactical insight, and what’s at stake as the Gunners chase a semi-final place for the first time since 2009.Remember you can follow all the action live via our live blog at standard.co.uk

Police have been called in to investigate the circumstances surrounding the felling of an ancient oak tree in North London. Reports were made to Enfield Council on the 3rd April that the tree, in Whitewebbs Park, had been damaged, sparking local outrage and immediate concerns by the council. Local business owner and campaigner for woodland protection, Lawrence Thor Stephen, from Thors Trees, joins us to explain the ecological significance of the tree, the impact its felling will have on local wildlife, and the community's response to the incident.  Plus, the American TV network, HBO, has confirmed the names of the actors taking on the iconic roles of Dumbledore, Hagrid and Snape in their forthcoming TV adaptation of the Harry Potter books. The Standard’s Culture writer, Vicky Jessop, is on hand with the latest updates including speculation on who could be cast as He Who Must Not Be Named. 

Visitor numbers to the UK’s leading art institutions have fallen sharply since the pandemic - with the Tate galleries alone seeing a drop of more than two million visitors in the last five years.In this episode, we hear from Rosie Kay, co-founder of the campaign group Freedom in the Arts, about her opinion piece for The London Standard. She shares her concerns that ideological messaging is eclipsing artistic and historical exploration, and questions whether a heavy-handed approach to inclusion is putting off audiences.Plus, pop star Katy Perry has made history by joining Blue Origin’s first all-female crewed space flight. The Standard’s Jacob Phillips was live blogging the launch - we find out who else went, what they took with them, and whether Katy really sang in space.

High prices, rising utility bills, rogue landlords and poor living conditions are all contributing to a growing crisis in London’s rental market and it is young people who are bearing the brunt. With 2.7 million people renting in the city, paying on average around 40% of their income on rent alone, does this make London the worse place to be renting? Jacob Phillips joins us to talk about the challenges faced by many people when it comes to accommodations choices and what impact the Government’s Renters Rights Bill might have on the situation.Plus one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting rivalries takes place this weekend, as Oxford and Cambridge Universities go head-to-head in the annual Boat Race, but will the water quality of the River Thames pose a serious risk to the rowers taking part? The Standard’s Megan Howe is here with the latest on what advice is being given to the teams and all the details of when and where you can watch the race.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a raging blaze that tore through a block of east London flats late last night. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but witness accounts suggest the fire was started by a faulty e-bike battery. It’s not a unique story - a Standard investigation found fires sparked by “dangerous” e-bikes and e-scooters in London have doubled in just three years. But why do these fires start, and can dodgy e-bikes be stopped? We’re joined by Local Democracy Reporter Noah Vickers. In part two, The London Standard’s Culture and Lifestyle writer India Block takes us through the new series of everyone’s favourite dystopian drama, Black Mirror. Dropping on Netflix today, featuring an all star cast, Series 7 continues its comment on the rapid pace of change in politics and technology.

More than 11,000 millionaires have left London in the last 12 months. It’s the biggest exodus of the super-wealthy from any city in the world, second only to Moscow.In this episode, The Standard’s news reporter Bill Bowkett joins us to discuss what’s driving the trend and what it means for London’s economic future.Plus, cuts to the Metropolitan Police mean the end of officers in schools. The Standard’s crime correspondent Anthony France explains the impact the loss of Safer Schools Officers could have on London’s young people.

A baby girl has made history as the first child in the UK to be born from a womb transplant. Amy Isabel Davidson was delivered at the end of February after her mum, Grace, received the womb from her older sister, Amy, in 2023. The pioneering transplant procedure follows decades of work by surgeons Professor Richard Smith and Isabel Quiroga.Daniel Keane, Health Correspondent for the Standard joins us to offer an insight into this medical breakthrough and who might be able to benefit from this procedure in the future.Plus, the Duke of Sussex arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London this morning, to appeal the previous decision to downgrade his security arrangements in the UK. The Standard’s Court Correspondent, Tristan Kirk, is on hand to explain Prince Harry’s case and how it might affect his future visits with his family.