The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
Episodes
Ukraine and Russia agree 'largest' prisoner exchange
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have ended two days of peace talks with an agreement to release what has been described as the largest number of prisoners in the war so far. Also: The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has told the COP summit in Turkey that the climate crisis is outrunning efforts to address it. And thousands of veterans, cadets, politicians and members of the public have o
David Walliams accused of grooming teenage girls
The comedian and children's author, David Walliams, has been accused of grooming women and girls as young as 15 for sex in a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News. He strongly denies the allegations and says he has not broken the law. Also: The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has dismissed the attempt to impeach him by an outgoing Republican congressman as a 'stunt' and a 'farce'. A
Russell Brand jailed for rape and sexual assault
Russell Brand is sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. Also: A civil servant who used sick notes and remote working to hold five jobs is convicted of fraud. And Robbie Williams has defended the American singer, Olivia Rodrigo, after fans noticed similarities between two of their songs. (Image: PA)
Terror probe into deadly Krakow shooting
Police in Poland have announced a terrorism investigation, after yesterday's attack on the southern city of Krakow. Six people died when a gunman opened fire on the city's main market square. Also: The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has said that sexual abuse could still be happening within the media industry. And the King has laid a wreath and led the nation in a two-minute silence to mark Rememb
Six dead in Krakow shooting
At least six people have been killed and more than a dozen others have been wounded in a gun attack in Poland's second city, Krakow.The suspect who police say was clad in military-style gear, is in custody, after being shot by officers. Also: Ukraine says Russian ballistic missile attacks have damaged the energy system, causing power cuts in five regions. And the former Brexit negotiator, Michel B
Thomas Markle arrested in Florida
Authorities in the United States charge Thomas Markle Senior, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, with possessing child sex abuse images. Also: The Met police Commissioner urges people to come forward if they have allegations against Russell Brand. And Andy Burnham has urged businesses to publish salaries in job adverts to improve transparency. (Image: ITV / Shutterstock)
Russell Brand found guilty of rape
The comedian, Russell Brand, has been found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court. Also: Interest rates are to go up for the first time in three years, with the Bank of England saying more increases might follow if the Iran war does not end. And the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football. (Image: PA)
The Republican Party loses control of Congress
President Trump has admitted the war in Iran contributed to his Republican party's loss in yesterday's mid-term elections, as the Democrats took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Also: The Supreme Court hears an appeal against the ban on Palestine Action. And the celebrity hairstylist, John Frieda, has died at the age of 75. (Image: Reuters)
King calls slave trade a 'shameful chapter'
The King has opened the Commonwealth summit with a speech describing the transatlantic slave trade as a shameful chapter that fills his heart with horror. Also: A series of passenger flights across Europe have been searched after bomb threats. And 'mogging' has been named as the word of the year by the Collins English Dictionary. (Image: Reuters)
Home Secretary sets out changes to immigration rules
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has scrapped plans to make migrant care workers already in the UK wait 15 years for permanent settlement. Also: Dozens of supermarkets across seven European countries have been hit by a cyber-attack which raised temperatures in refrigerators and freezers, ruining the food inside. And Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion. (Image:
Palace says King 'transcends' politics of slavery
The King has begun attending events in Antigua, ahead of a Commonwealth meeting where he'll speak about the issue of slavery, but he won't offer an apology. There's been widespread criticism of the violence and looting on the margins of yesterday's mostly peaceful demonstrations across Germany, in part about the cost of living. The family of the murdered teenager Henry Nowak have said that the tra
World's biggest crypto exchange hacked
The US Secret Service says it's 'working around the clock' to recover almost five billion pounds worth of cryptocurrency which was taken when the world's biggest crypto exchange was hacked. Also: Police Scotland has confirmed it is looking into the time Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Balmoral estate. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has strongly denied all
Rescuers work to identify Spanish train crash victims
Dozens of families in Spain are waiting for news about their loved ones, after at least 69 people were killed in yesterday's train crash near Madrid. Also: Andy Burnham says he wants to cut the welfare bill as soon as possible, but does not guarantee this will happen before the next general election. And George Michael's guitar sells for £180,000 after a row over the decision to auction it. (Image
John Healey delivers his first Budget
The Chancellor has delivered his first Budget promising to steer Britain through economic storms. In the Commons, he announced that 20 million households in England would receive a £100 payment towards energy bills. But the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, accused him of delaying difficult decisions about issues such as defence. Also: At least 68 people have been killed and dozens more injured
Two men in court charged over alleged Iran-linked plot
Two men appear in court charged over an alleged Iran-linked plot involving RAF Fairford. John Healey announces his Budget tomorrow. Israel holds its general election.
Consultant doctors in England to strike next month
Senior doctors in England have announced a two-day strike next month over pay and working conditions. The government has called the planned action "irresponsible". The Home Secretary has commissioned an independent review into the murder of Henry Nowak -- the student whose attacker falsely claimed he had been racially abused. The Prime Minister has left the door open for a referendum on freedom of
PM open to EU free movement of people
The Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, has said nothing should be off the table when considering the UK's future relationship with the EU -- after Andy Burnham said he'd welcome an 'honest discussion' about restoring freedom of movement. Elon Musk has accused Ukraine's military of breaking the rules of his Starlink satellite service by using it for offensive drone strikes. People in Brazil are cast
Police review handling of allegations about Meghan's father
Police are reviewing their handling of allegations about the Duchess of Sussex's father, Thomas Markle -- after confirming they received information in 2019 that they passed to her -- but not to other law enforcement agencies. French police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in several cities -- but there has been no repeat of the widespread violent disorder seen last week
Meghan Markle responds to claims against her father
The Duchess of Sussex has said she is "deeply distressed" after it emerged that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Senior, is being investigated for alleged possession of child sex abuse images. Thomas Markle has told The Daily Mail the accusations are 'sick lies'. Also: Power cuts are affecting thousands of properties in the south west of England and Wales because of high winds brought by Storm
Cyber-security flaw affects millions of websites
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre says the scale of a technical problem which has disrupted millions of websites is 'unprecedented'. Also: the defence secretary, Wes Streeting, issues a fresh warning to the public to be prepared for natural disasters and emergencies. And a decorator's Pokemon collection nets him one and half million pounds at auction. (Image: EPA/Shutterstock)
Jackdaw gas field gets the green light
A plan to start drilling the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea has been approved by the government. Climate change campaigners condemn the decision as 'reckless' but Andy Burnham says the move may help remove standing charges from gas bills. Also: The Education Secretary accepts in full the recommendations of a review of antisemitism in schools. And Just Eat's advertising suffers an
Care homes an afterthought in Covid, inquiry finds
The Covid 19 public inquiry has found that the care sector appeared to be an afterthought during the pandemic, and that failings in the way people in care homes were protected allowed the virus to spread like 'wildfire'. Also: The Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, despatches RAF jets to the Middle East, to help defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks. And a hedgehog who’s lost all seven thousan
Temporary curfews implemented across France
The government in France has told regional leaders to impose temporary curfews in a number of towns and cities to try to prevent a repeat of the weekend's violent disorder that's been described by some officials as the worst in modern French history. Also: A man accused of a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire last year has admitted 12 counts of wounding with intent. Anthony Williams will s
French protests turn violent
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, prepares to address the nation after protests against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services descended into rioting and looting. Around 1,800 people were arrested yesterday and more than 500 police officers and firefighters were injured. Also: Zack Polanski rules out any immediate attempt to overturn the Green party's policy of describing
Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years
The former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Jeffrey Donaldson, has been jailed for fifteen years for historic child sex offences, including rape. Also: the Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has expressed the importance of standing with Ukraine in its war against Russia while on a visit to Washington. And the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has apologised for his plans to commercialise
Russell Brand goes on trial
Witnesses have begun giving evidence in the rape and sexual assault trial of the comedian, Russell Brand. He denies three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one of indecent assault, made by six female complainants. Also: Andy Burnham has promised to accelerate deliveries of British air defence missiles to Ukraine, after welcoming President Zelensky to Downing Street. And a new res
MI5 chief warns of threats to UK from Russia, Iran and AI
The head of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has warned that one of his key concerns is that artificial intelligence could help terrorists create biological weapons, such as killer pathogens. Also: A man who was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been identified as William Chapman. And Pope Leo has surgery to remove a nodule from his lung. (Image: PA)
