Six O'Clock News
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
Episodes
Downing Street insists RAF Fairford is safe
The American Vice President, JD Vance, has said the US acted out of an 'abundance of caution' when it removed its bombers from RAF Fairford yesterday. Also: A teenager's hand is blown off during nationwide student protests in France. And the joint winners of this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine are recognised for helping scientists learn more about the inner workings of the brain. (Image: PA)
The Green Party votes to adopt a policy that Zionism is racism.
Members of the Green Party of England and Wales have voted to define Zionism as racist. Four of the five Green MPs had voiced public opposition to the motion - which described Zionism as an ideology in support of "an ethnonationalist Jewish state". Also: The government says dropping Sir Keir Starmer's plan to scrap some jury trials will speed up the process of bringing down the backlog in the cour
03/10/2026 UAE prosecutors say co-pilot used cockpit axe in plane attack
Investigators in the United Arab Emirates say the co-pilot on a plane bound for Israel used an axe, stored in the cockpit for emergencies, as a weapon to attack the aircraft's captain. Also: Spanish riot police and protesters in Valencia clash at a demonstration over housing. And Tennessee's prison commissioner resigns over the botched execution of Christa Pike.
G7 releases 100 million barrels of fuel reserves
The G7 bloc of major economies agrees the release of a hundred million barrels of strategic fuel reserves, to try to bring down the cost of diesel. Also: Riot police have fired tear gas in Paris, as students continue protests across France demanding more money for education. And Manchester City have confirmed they have launched an appeal against a ruling that the club breached the Premier League’s
Hundreds of prisoners walk free
The first prisoners to be released early under the government's scheme to create more space in prisons in England and Wales have walked free. Victims and probation service staff are among those to criticise the move. Also: Executions in the US state of Tennessee have been halted after the prisoner, Christa Pike, survived two attempts to kill her by lethal injection. And secondary school students i
RAF Fairford suspects released on bail
The British men suspected of plotting a bomb attack on an RAF airbase in Gloucestershire have all been released on bail. The head of counter terrorism police says the investigation is still ongoing. Also: the Chancellor, John Healey, tells Labour Conference delegates that cutting welfare expenditure is a 'moral duty', and not just an economic necessity. And Space X's latest starship mission goes u
Pilot arrested after 'stabbing co-pilot in cockpit'
A senior Israeli minister has described an incident on a plane travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv as an 'attempted jihadist terror attack'. Also: Andy Burnham says it's possible Labour will offer a new in-out referendum on the EU in its next election manifesto. And a brown bear known as '89 Backpack' has won the annual fat bear week competition in the US. (Image: Reuters)
Andy Burnham sets out his vision on social care
Andy Burnham has told the Labour Party conference that the existing pension triple lock will end in 2030 to help fund a new national care service. Also: The Premier League has announced that Manchester City have been found guilty of all 150 financial breaches they were accused of. And Spain has agreed to ban evictions until 2030.
Andy Burnham promises new direction for the UK at Labour Party conference
Andy Burnham has promised to set out a new direction for the UK after what he called a decade of drift since Brexit, as he arrived for his first Labour conference as prime minister. He told clapping supporters that he'd outline how he'd deliver growth in every postcode and hope in every heart. He also announced a new scheme to help get young people on the property ladder.
Man City found guilty of most of 115 financial rule breaches
Sources say Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching. Also: The Prime Minister has urged the justice system of England and Wales to look at how a paedophile was bailed back to his flat overlooking a playground. And the BBC is bringing back the children's programme, Play School. (Image: PA)
President Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House
Donald Trump and China's leader, President Xi, have been holding talks at the White House to discuss issues including trade, Taiwan and AI. Also: Cyber criminals claim to have accessed the personal information of all of the FBI's agents and staff. And it's been confirmed that the boxers, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, will finally meet in the ring in December. (Image: Reuters)
UK military expands into space
A Ministry of Defence source tells the BBC the UK military is jamming signals from satellites used by hostile states. Also: The Home Secretary says it's "unacceptable" that two migrant boats in two days reached British shores without being intercepted. And a warning of higher fares from the boss of Ryanair. (Image:BBC)
Andy Burnham holds meeting with Donald Trump
President Trump says he thinks he can "do business" with Andy Burnham, as the two leaders hold their first face to face meeting at the UN General Assembly. Also: Piers Morgan calls for Earl Spencer's book about Princess Diana to be pulled from the shelves. And the author of the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, is to be honoured with a memorial at Westminster Abbey in London. (Image: PA)
Technical issue disrupts flights across the UK
Flights across the UK have been disrupted by a problem with air traffic control systems for the second time in two weeks. Also: America's main TV networks are refusing to take part in some coverage of President Trump in protest against his ban on three other media outlets. And personal possessions of the late actress, Brigitte Bardot, are sold at auction. (Image: PA)
German Chancellor: 'Disastrous' state elections
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says he takes full responsibility for what he's called a disastrous showing for his party in state elections.Ukraine has targeted Moscow with hundreds of drones - in what Russian officials described as the biggest such attack on the city so far in the war.The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to cut fuel duty by ten pence a litre until December - to
President Trump's Greenland security deal welcomed
A new deal over Greenland's security announced by President Trump has been welcomed by Danish and Greenlandic leaders after months of tension over the Arctic territory. Liberal democrats have been told they have a "moral responsibility" to stop Reform gaining power by their leader - Sir Ed Davey.There have been protests in South Africa after nine young women were killed in the last two months.
Earl Spencer defends claims about King Charles
Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, has insisted he is "telling the truth" about a phone call with King Charles in the days after his sister's death. Also MI5 has accepted that it lied to three courts, to try to stop a BBC investigation into a violent neo-Nazi agent. And Nash the golden retriever goes viral, after a security camera captures him bringing an intruder a series of toys. (Image:BBC
Charles 'giddily elated' after Diana died, her brother claims
The Daily Mail has published more extracts from Earl Spencer's upcoming book about his sister, Princess Diana. On the day of her death, he claims, the then Prince Charles sounded 'giddily elated, like a lottery winner'. Buckingham Palace has yet to comment. Also: King Charles warns of 'existential danger' of AI falling into wrong hands. And Bournemouth football club ventures onto European soil for
Schools in England get extra funding for teachers' pay
Schools in England are to be given an extra £500 million in funding towards the cost of a pay award for teachers this academic year. Also: Andy Burnham has rejected criticism from one of his former advisers on his public spending plans. And scientists create mice which have human brain cells. (Image: PA)
Lucy Letby hospital inquiry
A public inquiry has found a "complete failure to protect babies" at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven others. Also: Reform's leader in Wales, Dan Thomas, quits after being arrested at the weekend. And the value of the state pension is set to go up above the cost of living, thanks to the triple lock. (Image: Cheshire Police)
Donald Trump says there is a 'conspiracy against AI'
Donald Trump has attacked what he calls a sick conspiracy against AI, after technology tycoons backed calls from the boss of Anthropic to limit the pace of AI development. Also: Nigel Farage tells our political editor the 72 million pound donations given to Reform UK are compliant with the law. And female athletes criticise an advert for a sport trading app, starring Sydney Sweeney.
Assisted dying to remain illegal in England and Wales
MPs have rejected a fresh move to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Also: The US has been marking the 25th anniversary of the September the 11th attacks. And the Princess of Wales has visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she received treatment for cancer. (Image:EPA/Shutterstock)
'Be ready for far right protesters', Home Secretary tells police
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has urged police leaders to be ready to move "quickly and effectively" in dealing with far-right groups who are intimidating communities over immigration. Also: the Government gives mayors in England the powers to impose new levies on people staying in their towns and cities. And the Bayeux Tapestry has gone on public display at the British Museum.
A warning that AI could kill all humans in the next decade
A senior safety researcher at the artificial intelligence giant, Anthropic, has warned that there is a greater than 10% chance AI could kill all humans in the next decade. Also: The Metropolitan Police is widening a criminal investigation into Reform UK. And the American cartoon series, South Park, changes its name in its latest dig at President Trump.
UK sanctions Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank
Israel says it will shut down the UK consulate in East Jerusalem in response to sanctions on West Bank settlements. Also: A failure at Britain's air traffic control causes delays to flights across Europe. And a spokesman for Prince Harry and Megan the Duke and Duchess of Sussex says they were surprised by the King’s reiteration that they will be treated as “private citizens”.
The policing minister condemns elements of anti-migrant protests as 'intimating and thuggish'
Portsmouth City Council says the Home Office has "questions to answer", after the landing of 1-hundred and 20 migrants in the area last night sparked large demonstrations. Several police officers were injured, as personnel using riot gear dealt with hundreds of protestors. The government has condemned what it described as "thuggish" behaviour by the activists, but the area's Conservative Police an
Germany's far right AfD party projected to win regional election
Exit polls in Germany indicate that the far-right AfD party has won 44.5% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, its strongest result in a regional election. Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU is projected to have almost halved, to 18 point 5 percent. But the Alternative for Germany party has fallen short of an overall majority, leaving other parties facing difficult negotiati
