Six O'Clock News
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
Episodes
Five young men who died in A66 crash are named
Police name five young men - among them teenagers -- who died in a head-on collision that also killed two officers near Middlesbrough. The police watchdog says a police pursuit of a car -- believed to be using cloned plates -- was aborted just seconds before the crash. Also: Trains across the UK are cancelled by CrossCountry, after a power cut at its control centre. And President Trump caps festiv
Seven people, including two police officers, die in a crash near Middlesborough
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating, after two police officers were among seven people killed in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough. Cleveland Police says a car -- travelling the wrong way on the carriageway -- collided head-on with a marked police vehicle. Also: Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has confirmed he'll impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the Unit
Salmonella warning issued for undercooked eggs at restaurants
People who are over 65, pregnant or vulnerable, as well as young children, are told to take care, after one death. Eggs bought at supermarkets are not affected. Also: Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and more are ordered to make an interim payment of more than £9,500,000 to Associated Newspapers Limited, after losing their privacy claim. And: Sir Keir Starmer's donation to t
Prince Harry and Meghan are coming back to live in the UK
Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled in a British school. Also: GCSE and BTec results day in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. And: 'Niu Lai', the low-budget homemade animated film which is sweeping the box office in China.
Track defect found at site of East Sussex derailment
Dozens of people were injured when the passenger train from London Victoria to Eastbourne came off the tracks. Also: the Israeli military says it will open criminal investigations into two attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, including the killing of five year old Hind Rajab and her family. And: the antique taxidermy 'fox', which turned out to be a rare example of the extinct thylacine.
Meta goes on trial in California
Meta has been accused of exploiting children by getting them "hooked" on Facebook and Instagram, at the beginning of a landmark trial in California. Also: Andy Burnham has pledged his 100% support for Ukraine, after its use of British-made drones prompted a warning from Russia. And Wetherspoons has banned its customers from playing music out loud, or taking calls on speakerphone.
17/08/2026 Trump threatens to bomb Oman
President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman -- a US ally -- if it "gets in the way" of his administration's own talks with Iran. Also: the US envoy, Jared Kushner, has held talks with Israel's prime minister over the stalled Gaza peace plan. And the chancellor of Cambridge University has criticised a "racist feeding frenzy" around Jason Arday.
Ukraine launches biggest drone attack on Russia this year
Kyiv's overnight attacks on Russia have been described as the largest this year. They set another depot of the online retailer, Wildberries, on fire. Also: a growing wildfire in Belgium has been deemed the country's largest in modern history. And the government is giving stronger protections to pubs to stop them from being turned into housing or offices.
Andy Burnham says death of Jason Arday is a 'tragedy'
Firefighters are battling hot spots still burning in the West Midlands; a blaze that devastated the town of Stourbridge is under control.Dozens of people are killed in a powerful earthquake off the Indonesian island of Flores. Lyse Doucet reports from Kabul where supporters of the Taliban celebrate five years since the western-backed government was forced out of power.
PM says Britain is 'a tinderbox' as homes destroyed in wildfire
Nineteen houses have been fully destroyed in multiple blazes across the West Midlands - eighteen others were damaged as firefighters fought to gain control.Parliamentary investigators re-open their examination of a £5 million gift to Nigel Farage - just hours after the Reform UK leader's resounding by-election victory.Luigi Mangione -- accused of shooting dead a health insurance executive in New Y
Israeli military tackles blockade by Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank
Israel sends in more troops to try to break up an Israeli settler blockade of two families in a village in the occupied West Bank. Also: a train derails near Lewes in East Sussex. And there has been an increase in the proportion of A-levels awarded at the top grades in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Millions watch the UK's most significant solar eclipse since 1999
Millions of people across the UK witness the country's most significant solar eclipse since 1999. Also: The serial sex offender Simon Levy has been given a whole-life order after murdering two women and raping another. And a chocolate bar has been made entirely from ingredients grown in Britain for the first time in more than 90 years.
Andy Burnham is 'confident' early release of PC Harper's killers can be halted
The Prime Minister has said he is 'increasingly confident' that two of the three men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper will not be released from prison early. Also: The US media is reporting President Trump was involved in an elaborate plane-swapping decoy operation, while returning from a NATO summit, because of fears of a Tehran assassination plot. And the Met Office says the UK is on course
230 people cross the English Channel in a single boat
A dinghy carrying 230 migrants has crossed the Channel, setting a new record for the number of arrivals on a single small boat. Also: At least 13 people have died in Ukrainian drone strikes deep into Russia. And a critically endangered turtle has begun its journey from Wales to the Gulf of Mexico.
Zelensky pleads for more air defences amid more strikes
On a visit to Russia's traditional ally Serbia, President Zelensky has appealed for more air defences. Three members of one family were killed by Russian strikes on Kyiv.The boss of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has denied allegations that UEFA paid-off a woman he had an affair with while he was running European football.Police have appealed for any potential victims of Simon Levy to come forward. The r
Police and prosecutors admit failings in the handling of a serial sex offender
A serial sex offender who was being monitored by the Metropolitan police has been found guilty of murdering two women and raping a third. Also: The detective, who led the investigation into the death of PC Andrew Harper, says the aggravating factors in the case should be considered before deciding whether two of the killers might be released early. And the music producer, William Orbit, has died a
A record number of referrals to the Prevent anti-extremism programme
The Home Office's anti-extremism programme, Prevent, has seen the highest number of referrals in its history, driven by a surge in reports since the Southport stabbings. Also: European football's governing body, UEFA, has said it is still prepared to boycott FIFA competitions despite plans for the involvement of private investment being scrapped. And state schools in England are to be set their ow
Former neo-Nazi withdraws as a Tory election candidate
A former neo-Nazi, who was controversially selected by the Conservative Party to contest a local council election in Somerset next year, has withdrawn his candidacy. Also: A drone carrying an explosive has been found at Leipzig airport in Germany. And part of a rocket, about the size of a five-story building, is believed to have crashed on the Moon.
The government defends its changes to the prisoner early release scheme
The government has defended changes it's made to the prisoner early release scheme, saying that exempting more offenders would have led to the collapse of the prison system in England and Wales. Also: Britain and France have rescued more than 170 people from a migrant boat which caught fire in the Channel. And pass rates in Scotland's Highers, Advanced Highers and National 5 exams have all risen c
France condemns Reform's cross-channel migrant plans
France says Reform UK's proposals to use the Royal Navy to return migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats would violate its sovereignty and breach international law. Also: The English and Welsh Football Associations withdraw support for Gianni Infantino as Fifa president. And the journalist and former Today programme editor Rod Liddle dies aged 66.
Moscow blast 'was terrorism', but no word on who caused it
Russian security officials have described an explosion at a restaurant in Moscow, which killed three people, as an act of terrorism. They have not yet said who they believe to be responsible, but there is speculation of a link to the war in Ukraine.Iran says it is in the "final stages" of talks with Oman over management of the Strait of Hormuz. Andy Burnham has said he will be "relentless" in tack
Pressure grows on Fifa boss
There is growing pressure on the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, after he dropped plans to sell stakes in the World Cup. Uefa said it had lost confidence in his leadership.The EU is to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the migration crisis in Ceuta. Spain has called some other member states "selfish".
The renowed British-Nepali mountaineer, Nirmal Purja, has been killed in an avalanche i
Funeral director who failed to bury and cremate bodies jailed for 20 years
A former funeral director has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his failure to bury and cremate dozens of bodies. Also: Italy has announced it's suspending its open borders agreement with Spain after thousands of migrants crossed into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta. And a senior adviser to the Fifa boss Gianni Infantino resigns as opposition mounts to his plan to sell off stakes in foo
Uefa says it will boycott the World Cup if Fifa's plans go ahead
European football's governing body, Uefa, has announced it will boycott the World Cup unless Fifa scraps plans to sell off some event rights to private investors. Also: A major incident is declared in Suffolk as a wildfire rages on heathland. And Joe Root begins his second tenure as England cricket captain.
Andy Burnham promises to reform adult social care in England
Andy Burnham has set out his initial approach to tackling the crisis in adult social care in England. Also: drought is declared in more than half of England. And a backlash against Fifa's plan to sell a stake in its major competitions to private investors.
Plans for school pupils in England to get more access to technical subjects
Andy Burnham says he's "on a mission" to tackle the rising number of young people, who aren't working or learning, claiming the education system "doesn't set them up properly". Also: Emergency workers in Japan say many people are trapped inside a shopping centre, after the coastal city of Kumamoto was hit by an earthquake. European football reacts furiously to new proposals from Fifa's Gianni Infa
Wildfires continue in France and Spain
President Macron is visiting the Gironde region of France to show support for emergency crews battling around the clock to bring a huge wildfire under control. Also: Dozens of people are to make victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing of a funeral director, who gave families the wrong ashes and failed to bury bodies. And the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy are granted UNESCO World Her
