Six O'Clock News
The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4.
Episodes
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
Nigel Farage dismisses allegations in an undercover report
Nigel Farage has dismissed as 'a little local difficulty' questions about the provenance of Reform UK party money posed by an undercover report by Channel 4 News. Also: A Russian drone strikes the headquarters of Ukraine's security service in Kyiv. And top tennis stars lash out at the disruptive behaviour of social media influencers at the US Open.
The French President visits Downing Street
The Prime Minister and the French President have held talks in Downing Street, discussing migrant boat crossings and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Also: Reform UK's autumn conference opens with an insistence that it is the party of fiscal responsibility. And the award-winning American journalist and feminist, Gloria Steinem, has died.
Andy Burnham completes his first Prime Minister's Questions
Andy Burnham has been pressed about his management of the public finances in his first session of Prime Minister's Questions. Also: Nigel Farage tells the BBC Reform UK is always under investigation because its opponents are worried about the "new kids on the block". And a team of scientists say they may be one step closer to detecting dark matter.
Andy Burnham makes his Commons debut as PM
Andy Burnham has given his first address to MPs as Prime Minister, pledging 'stronger public control' of services and a 'rewiring' of the British state. Also: 12 people have died in a massive Russian ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. And the BBC announces it is cancelling the winter sports programme, Ski Sunday.
The government defends its prisoner early release scheme
A government minister has said prison capacity in England and Wales will continue to be "very tight", despite planned changes to the early release scheme. Also: The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has announced a sweeping front-bench reshuffle. And Novak Djokovic has lost in the first round of the US Open.
Nearly two thousand people are missing in flooding in Nepal
Officials in Nepal say more than 550 people are now known to have died more than 48 hours after flash flooding hit the Himalayan border region with Tibet. Also: Four men have pleaded guilty to setting fire to ambulances run by a Jewish charity in north-west London. And crowds gather outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to greet Norway's new king, Haakon, after the death of his father.
Hundreds are dead after flash floods in Nepal
Hundreds of people are now known to have died in Nepal after flash floods in the north of the country. Also: The number of asylum seekers being put up in hotels has halved in the past year. And UEFA says it's taking FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, to court.
Meta settles in landmark US case
Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, has agreed to pay billions of dollars to US states in a settlement over claims its platforms harm younger users. The social media giant is also set to introduce time limits, restrictions and optional settings to protect child users although Meta has not admitted wrongdoing. Also: At least 100 people have been killed and hundreds of tourists are missing, a
Canada responds to new Trump tariffs
Canada has announced a slew of tit-for-tat tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of imports from the United States, in an escalation of the trade war between the countries. Also: US media report that the head of the CIA has made a flying visit to Russia for talks; there's no official comment from Moscow or Washington. And Sir Billy Boston, who was the first person to be knighted for services to ru
Andy Burnham promises to maintain support for Ukraine
On his first overseas visit as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has promised to maintain Britain's support for Ukraine and keep up the pressure on Russia, condemning what he called Moscow's "outrageous threats". Also: Cleveland Police have made 12 arrests after the road crash that killed seven people. And the England cricketer, Brydon Carse, is dropped from the Second Test against Pakistan after he wa
