The Standard

Dust off your crystal balls and look to the future of travel: bikini beach holidays in the Baltics, sewage-powered flights abroad, and rail miles instead of air miles?Our sustainable-travel expert Juliet Kinsman talks to Jon Weeks about how extreme weather is already impacting ski resorts and island retreats, how eco-laws can help us help the planet, and why cheaper renewable energy should leave us feeling optimistic about the future.Plus, the Evening Standard's Lifestyle Director, Suzannah Ramsdale reveals the beaches slowly getting shorter, why a rise in demand for cruises is a bad thing, and explains why she thinks the UK is the destination of the future.Check out Juliet's accompanying article on how climate change will transform your summer holiday here.Plus, find out what else we're exploring as part of our Sustainable Travel campaign here.

The King’s warning over climate inaction. $5 trillion needed each year to “drive the transformation we need”. What was different about Charles’s speech this year? Our Royal Editor Robert Jobson discusses how King’s speech was received, and whether he was distracted by the saga around Omid Scobie’s new book. Plus our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil explains the key points from the speech, and where the UK stands in the mission to tackle climate change.Follow us on X or on Threads.

Without free speech, is it truth that is at stake? Philosopher Sam Harris and Evgeny Lebedev discuss one of the most important questions of our time.As part of The Standard's free speech inquiry, Harris and Lebedev discuss the Israeli-Gaza conflict, the battle with fake news, the future of media, and the importance of free ideas. This episode comes ahead of Brave New World, a new Standard podcast hosted by Lord Lebedev on the future of humanity – and the scientists, thinkers and innovators, who are rising to the occasion to lead us into it, which is launching in January.Follow us on X or on Threads.

Crime on London’s transport network surges 30% in six months. TfL reports robbery on the Tube is up 107%. Which areas are the worst for crime? Our City Hall & Transport Editor Ross Lydall talks through the TfL data, why we’ve seen such a spike, and how it’s impacting passenger numbers. In this episode:Thefts, abuse, violence and robberies: the crimes explainedTory mayoral candidate Susan Hall ‘bang on target’ with tube thefts warningThe tube line deemed ‘worst’ for crimeHow passengers are avoiding the tube because of high crime ratesFollow us on X or on Threads.

Patient recovers from the UK’s first confirmed human case of a new strain of swine flu. Health officials track down close contacts to measure spread. Should we be worried about this new strain? Our Health Reporter Daniel Keane explains what has happened, and whether this new strain could lead to the next pandemic. In this episode:Do we know how this person contracted it?Dr Andrew Catchpole’s 'Don’t panic but stay alert' advice explainedWhat scientists are saying about this new strainWhy we need to ‘keep an eye’ on developmentsPlus: The latest on ‘mystery’ respiratory illness in ChinaFollow us on X or on Threads.

Ahead of the film's release in cinemas tomorrow. How will Timothee Chalamet’s Wonka compare with Johnny Depp’s and Gene Wilder’s? Film Critic for the Standard Nick Howell’s discusses his expectations for the new movie, how it’ll compare with its predecessors, and what it needs to do to win over British hearts. In this episode:Another Wonka? Go ahead and do it!Is this a Wonka origin story?The all-star cast examinedWhy Paul King is up against good competitionIs Wonka just part one of a wider franchise?Follow us on X or on Threads.

In this episode, it's the big question: why do we “need” to travel?Juliet Kinsman and Jon Weeks discuss how travel can significantly support local communities, and even help destinations impacted by extreme weather get back on their feet. Juliet reveals all about her time spent in Mallorca investigating the behind-the-scenes sustainability of Iberostar resorts, the sponsor of this podcast series.Global Director of Sustainability at Iberostar, Dr Megan Morikawa talks about the importance of protecting oceans and local environments, and their journey to zero waste, including the Winnow AI-powered tech in their kitchens which has reduced their food waste by 28%. Find out what else we're exploring as part of our Sustainable Travel campaign here.

As climate change heats up London and the capital’s population grows, we’re going to need some upgrades to the deepest-level sweaty, stifling Tube carriages.The Piccadilly Line is the first deep-level route - that’s over 20 metres below ground - to get proper air-conditioning in the coming years, as part of a redesign with futuristic new rolling stock.So sweltering commuters on the Heathrow airport to Cockfosters route cutting through the West End should have the same level of comfort as Overground and Elizabeth Line passengers.At the test facility of design contractor Siemens, near the German town of Mönchengladbach, the Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall tests the next generation of air-cooled, walk-through London Underground trains.He also examines Transport for London's infrastructure and financial challenges to come.

This is a special edition of the Standard, in support of the Evening Standard and Comic Relief’s Winter Survival Campaign.The cost of living crisis has become so entrenched that for many, Christmas is effectively cancelled.According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the number of UK families categorised as destitute has more than doubled in the last five years.In the Rowntree study, 3.8 million people - including 1 million children - are at severe risk of being inadequately fed, clothed, cleaned or kept warm.There is increasing alarm at the impact this severe hardship is having on children as the cost of living crisis enters a second winter.That is why the Evening Standard has today combined forces with Comic Relief to launch our Winter Survival Appeal Christmas campaign, with Comic Relief pledging £500,000 to get us underway.The money will be given to charities in London and across the UK that help people struggling with food insecurity as well as children’s health and well-being.To make a donation, visit comicrelief.com/wintersurvival