The Standard

Iran is facing one of the most brutal waves of extreme violence in its recent history. Beyond protests outside the Iranian embassy in London, the reaction from the UK government, and Britain as a whole, has been subdued.

In this episode, The Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford speaks to former security minister Tom Tugendhat MP about the Iranian leadership crisis, the West’s muted reaction to the atrocities, and ways the UK government can support a liberated Iran.
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The UK has approved plans for China to build its largest European embassy in London, near the Tower of London – a controversial move that has triggered serious national security concerns.
As Keir Starmer prepares to visit Beijing, has the government misjudged the risks? On this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, who is a vocal critic of the planning proposal. She also talks to Dr Tim Stevens, the co-director of the Cyber Security Research Group at King’s College London, to assess the cyber and national security risks cited by opponents.
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For episode five of Brave New World, Evgeny is joined by Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences - the company working on de-extinction and species preservation, including its flagship woolly mammoth project. Together, they explore what “bringing back” an extinct species actually means in practice: rebuilding fragmented ancient DNA, comparing it to a close living relative (the Asian elephant), and using gene editing to reintroduce key traits like cold tolerance - before creating embryos that could one day be carried by a surrogate or, eventually, an artificial womb.
Ben also explains why the mammoth has become Colossal’s defining project - from public fascination and unusually strong samples preserved in permafrost, to the potential conservation upside. The conversation dives into how the same tools can support living species too: developing new reproductive technologies, using AI and drones to understand elephant behaviour, and tackling threats like EEHV, a disease that kills young elephants. Along the way, they discuss Colossal’s viral moments - including the woolly mouse and the dire wolf - as well as the ethical lines the company says it won’t cross.
This episode was produced by Message Heard and The Standard.

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Blue Monday is behind us – and January is often the best time of year to book a holiday.

In this bumper travel episode, The Standard’s lifestyle director Suzannah Ramsdale joins travel journalist Alicia Miller to unpack the trendiest destinations for 2026. From meadows in Cantabria to the sandy beaches of the new Maldives, the two select options for different budgets and trip lengths – and break down our current sauna obsession.
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It has been one year since Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term.

So how much has he changed the US — and the world — in just twelve months? And what might the rest of his presidency look like?

In this episode, The Standard’s Political Editor Nicholas Cecil takes stock of Trump’s first year back in office with Laurel Rapp, Director of the US and North America Programme at Chatham House. Laurel previously served as Deputy Director on the US Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, working on American grand strategy under Presidents Obama, Biden and Trump — twice. Together, they reflect on the key moments of Trump’s first year back, what is different this time around, and what it all means for America’s role on the world stage.
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