<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/thames-water-ofwat-bills-debt-pollution-sewage-b1200875.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Thames Water bills&lt;/a&gt; will rise by more than a third to an average of £588 over the next five years despite its dismal record on pollution and leaks.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Water regulator Ofwat said the UK’s biggest water company, which supplies London and was recently fined £18 million for breaking share dividends rules, will be allowed to hike its bills by an inflation-busting £152, or 35 per cent - that’s an average £31 a year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The charges are being hiked to fund a £104 billion spending plan, with other water companies in England and Wales following suit increasing customer bills.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Standard podcast is joined by Matthew Topham, lead campaigner at We Own It, a pressure group for public ownership.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In part two, patients with sleep apnoea are receiving a choice of two nerve stimulators from&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/science/sleep-apnoea-london-northamptonshire-east-sussex-olivia-b1199776.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt; University College London Hospitals&lt;/a&gt; to combat the condition, and it’s the first UK healthcare provider to offer both therapies without needing bulky equipment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’re joined by Mr Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, consultant ENT and sleep surgeon at UCLH’s Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Plus! Sweet New Year dreams? Pioneering sleep apnoea nerve stimulator treatment

<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/thames-water-ofwat-bills-debt-pollution-sewage-b1200875.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thames Water bills</a> will rise by more than a third to an average of £588 over the next five years despite its dismal record on pollution and leaks.Water regulator Ofwat said the UK’s biggest water company, which supplies London and was recently fined £18 million for breaking share dividends rules, will be allowed to hike its bills by an inflation-busting £152, or 35 per cent - that’s an average £31 a year.The charges are being hiked to fund a £104 billion spending plan, with other water companies in England and Wales following suit increasing customer bills.The Standard podcast is joined by Matthew Topham, lead campaigner at We Own It, a pressure group for public ownership.In part two, patients with sleep apnoea are receiving a choice of two nerve stimulators from<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/science/sleep-apnoea-london-northamptonshire-east-sussex-olivia-b1199776.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> University College London Hospitals</a> to combat the condition, and it’s the first UK healthcare provider to offer both therapies without needing bulky equipment.We’re joined by Mr Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, consultant ENT and sleep surgeon at UCLH’s Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Thames Water customers brace for 35% bills surge after Ofwat ruling

<description>&lt;p&gt;The government has confirmed London’s new HS2 station at Euston will have&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-euston-hs2-station-six-platforms-b1200561.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt; just six platforms&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall reports rail commentators fear this could result in a lack of capacity should HS2 ever be extended north of Birmingham.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ross joins us to discuss what the reduced number of platforms could mean for passenger journeys and also an update on the &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/hs2-cost-highspeed-rail-link-london-birmingham-euston-b1200426.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;mega-project’s price tag&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In part two, Dr Enrico Amico, assistant professor in applied mathematics at the University of Birmingham, on methods behind research that uses neuroimaging to reveal new ways of mapping the brain.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Plus! ‘Brain mapping’ reveals new insight into cognitive functions

The government has confirmed London’s new HS2 station at Euston will have<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-euston-hs2-station-six-platforms-b1200561.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> just six platforms</a>.The London Standard’s transport editor Ross Lydall reports rail commentators fear this could result in a lack of capacity should HS2 ever be extended north of Birmingham.Ross joins us to discuss what the reduced number of platforms could mean for passenger journeys and also an update on the <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/hs2-cost-highspeed-rail-link-london-birmingham-euston-b1200426.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mega-project’s price tag</a>.In part two, Dr Enrico Amico, assistant professor in applied mathematics at the University of Birmingham, on methods behind research that uses neuroimaging to reveal new ways of mapping the brain. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Euston HS2 station to have just six platforms, says government

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/igor-kirillov-killed-bomb-moscow-russia-b1200486.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Ukraine has claimed responsibility&lt;/a&gt; for an e-scooter bomb that killed a top &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/moscow-explosion-igor-kirillov-bomb-electric-scooter-russia-b1200398.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Russian general&lt;/a&gt; in Moscow on Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, and his assistant were killed by an explosive hidden inside the electric transport device outside Kirillov's apartment as they exited the building.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’re joined for analysis of this developing story with The London Standard’s defence editor, Robert Fox.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In part two, a High Court judge has ruled that the alleged Chinese spy at the heart of a scandal about access to Prince Andrew can now be &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/chinese-alleged-spy-named-yang-tengbo-prince-andrew-high-court-b1200293.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;named as Yang Tengbo&lt;/a&gt;, a 50-year-old “close confidant” of the Duke of York who denies the claim.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The businessman, named in an immigration tribunal appeal hearing, was banned from the UK over national security fears that he could compromise the royal amid Yang's access to the heart government.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’re joined for insight into the case by The London Standard’s courts correspondent, Tristan Kirk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Plus, Prince Andrew alleged Chinese ‘spy’ scandal: what we know so far

<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/igor-kirillov-killed-bomb-moscow-russia-b1200486.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ukraine has claimed responsibility</a> for an e-scooter bomb that killed a top <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/moscow-explosion-igor-kirillov-bomb-electric-scooter-russia-b1200398.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Russian general</a> in Moscow on Tuesday.Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, and his assistant were killed by an explosive hidden inside the electric transport device outside Kirillov's apartment as they exited the building.We’re joined for analysis of this developing story with The London Standard’s defence editor, Robert Fox.In part two, a High Court judge has ruled that the alleged Chinese spy at the heart of a scandal about access to Prince Andrew can now be <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/chinese-alleged-spy-named-yang-tengbo-prince-andrew-high-court-b1200293.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">named as Yang Tengbo</a>, a 50-year-old “close confidant” of the Duke of York who denies the claim.The businessman, named in an immigration tribunal appeal hearing, was banned from the UK over national security fears that he could compromise the royal amid Yang's access to the heart government.&nbsp;We’re joined for insight into the case by The London Standard’s courts correspondent, Tristan Kirk. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Ukraine claims killing of Russian chemical weapons general in Moscow e-scooter bomb

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/royal-mail-takeover-czech-daniel-kretinsky-b1200176.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Royal Mail &lt;/a&gt;has been cleared to be taken into foreign ownership for the first time in its 508-year history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky was given the green light by ministers to buy Royal Mail’s parent company International Distributions Services in a £3.6 billion deal, likely to be signed early next year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What will it mean for Britain’s postal service and the price of sending a letter?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In part two, planning consent has been approved for the Square Mile building known as &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/skycraper-undershaft-city-of-london-shard-b1199844.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;1 Undershaft&lt;/a&gt;, which will rise to 1,008ft - nearly 310 metres - and equal the height of the Shard across the river at London Bridge.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’re joined by The London Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Plus! Approved: City of London’s tallest skyscraper approved...tall as Shard

<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/royal-mail-takeover-czech-daniel-kretinsky-b1200176.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Royal Mail </a>has been cleared to be taken into foreign ownership for the first time in its 508-year history.Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky was given the green light by ministers to buy Royal Mail’s parent company International Distributions Services in a £3.6 billion deal, likely to be signed early next year.What will it mean for Britain’s postal service and the price of sending a letter?In part two, planning consent has been approved for the Square Mile building known as <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/business/skycraper-undershaft-city-of-london-shard-b1199844.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1 Undershaft</a>, which will rise to 1,008ft - nearly 310 metres - and equal the height of the Shard across the river at London Bridge.&nbsp;We’re joined by The London Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Royal Mail £3.6bn takeover: impact on UK stamps, letters & parcels

<description>&lt;p&gt;Welcome to The Standard podcast’s round-up special edition.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/what-next-syria-bashar-al-assad-flees-to-russia-b1198821.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Assad flees Syria&lt;/a&gt;: what now for Middle East after &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/syria-bashar-al-assad-fall-refugee-chemical-weapons-b1198916.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;rebels topple regime&lt;/a&gt;?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ivy League graduate &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/luigi-mangione-charged-new-york-police-unitedhealthcare-shooting-brian-thompson-b1199001.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Luigi Mangione&lt;/a&gt; charged with UnitedHealthcare boss NYC murder&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Silvertown &amp;amp; Blackwall &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/belmarsh-prison-sadiq-khan-blackwall-silvertown-tunnel-tolls-b1198354.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;tunnel tolls&lt;/a&gt;: future cost of &lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/silvertown-blackwall-tunnel-tolls-drivers-tfl-profit-b1198047.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;London driving&lt;/a&gt; revealed&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/whitehall-keir-starmer-parliament-budget-government-b1199419.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Farmers’ new London protest&lt;/a&gt; against Labour ‘tractor tax’&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.fo/e/28f539" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Fabric &lt;/a&gt;25th anniversary: new book on east London superclub&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/versailles-science-and-splendour-at-the-science-museum-review-b1199578.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;Marie Antoinette’s&lt;/a&gt; £24 million ‘smartwatch’ &amp;amp; first moon map&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Welcome to The Standard podcast’s round-up special edition.&nbsp; In this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/what-next-syria-bashar-al-assad-flees-to-russia-b1198821.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Assad flees Syria</a>: what now for Middle East after <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/syria-bashar-al-assad-fall-refugee-chemical-weapons-b1198916.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rebels topple regime</a>?</li><li>Ivy League graduate <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/luigi-mangione-charged-new-york-police-unitedhealthcare-shooting-brian-thompson-b1199001.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luigi Mangione</a> charged with UnitedHealthcare boss NYC murder</li><li>Silvertown &amp; Blackwall <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/belmarsh-prison-sadiq-khan-blackwall-silvertown-tunnel-tolls-b1198354.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tunnel tolls</a>: future cost of <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/silvertown-blackwall-tunnel-tolls-drivers-tfl-profit-b1198047.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">London driving</a> revealed</li><li><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/whitehall-keir-starmer-parliament-budget-government-b1199419.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Farmers’ new London protest</a> against Labour ‘tractor tax’</li><li><a href="https://pod.fo/e/28f539" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fabric </a>25th anniversary: new book on east London superclub</li><li><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/versailles-science-and-splendour-at-the-science-museum-review-b1199578.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marie Antoinette’s</a> £24 million ‘smartwatch’ &amp; first moon map</li></ul> <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Syria revolution, farmers’ protest, Tube fare rises & Marie Antoinette’s £24m ‘smartwatch’: our weekly news round-up

Released at 4pm on the day of recording, an essential daily guide to the biggest, most complex events by our award-winning newsroom. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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