The latest national and international news from BBC Radio 4
The Six O'Clock News podcast is a highly regarded source of news and information that has garnered tremendous praise for its quality reporting and professional delivery. With a team of talented BBC announcers, this podcast provides listeners with a dignified and memorable news experience. The restraint shown by the BBC in their reporting is greatly appreciated, as it adds to the sense of credibility and integrity of the news presented.
One of the best aspects of The Six O'Clock News podcast is the exceptional delivery by the BBC announcers. Their voices are often compared to that of King Lear, adding a touch of sophistication and gravitas to the news being delivered. The skillful narration engages listeners, making them feel connected and informed about current events. Furthermore, the detailed and impartial reporting ensures that listeners receive accurate information without any bias or sensationalism. This aspect sets The Six O'Clock News apart from other news podcasts and makes it a reliable source for those seeking trustworthy journalism.
However, there are some aspects of this podcast that may not resonate with all listeners. One criticism is directed towards the use of what some describe as "moronic adolescent American voices" for ad copy readings. It appears that these voices do not align with the overall tone and professionalism displayed throughout the rest of the podcast. This issue can be off-putting for some listeners who expect a consistent level of sophistication in all aspects of the program.
In conclusion, despite minor issues related to ad copy readings, The Six O'Clock News podcast remains a highly commendable source for daily news updates. Its commitment to restraint and dignified reporting significantly contributes to its appeal among audiences seeking credible information without unnecessary flair or bias. It is particularly praised for its detailed and impartial coverage, ensuring that listeners receive well-rounded perspectives on important events worldwide. For those who appreciate excellent reporting and value a cosy cuppa while staying informed, The Six O'Clock News is certainly worth tuning into on a daily basis.

The defence secretary, John Healey, said he had "no option" but to resign over the financial settlement for the government's defence investment plan. In a letter to the Prime Minister he said that the Treasury had been "unwilling" and that Sir Keir Starmer was "unable" to provide the necessary resources to keep the country safe. In other news: for the first time, the government has published the number of NHS patients in England receiving care outside formal treatment areas; and the 2026 World Cup is due to get under way.

A court has heard that Stephen Ogilvy has lost his left eye, his right eye is damaged, and he has neck and back injuries. The suspect, Hadi Alodid, has been charged with attempted murder. Also: President Trump threatens to hit Iran 'hard'. And: England's cricket captain, Ben Stokes, has been left out of the squad for the second Test against New Zealand.

Police say the suspect is a refugee from Sudan, in his thirties. Also: President Trump says the US must respond after Iran shot down an American helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. And: NASA names the four astronauts who will take part in the Artemis Three mission.

The claims are part of a joint investigation by BBC Panorama, and The Times newspaper. Also: Israel and Iran have agreed to stop attacking each other, following their first strikes since April. And: Sir Keir Starmer tells tech companies to introduce safety features to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.

A major government-backed project to modernise steel production in South Wales may be delayed by up to eight months. Tata Steel says there have been problems connecting the new electric furnace in Port Talbot to a suitably strong power supply. Also: President Zelensky holds talks in Downing Street about the defence of Ukraine. And Marks and Spencer launches a new training scheme designed for young people struggling to find a job.

The co-chairman of West Ham football club, David Sullivan, steps down in response to allegations dating back to his time in the pornography industry. BBC Panorama and The Times are due to publish a joint investigation on Monday. Also: A Ukrainian commander involved in drone strikes on St Petersburg tells the BBC it was easy to hit Russia. And some of Britain's last surviving D-Day veterans mark the 82nd anniversary in France.

A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison after being found guilty of the rape of a woman more than two decades ago. Andrew Malkinson served 17 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the crime. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has dismissed President Zelensky's proposal for a meeting to end the war. Also: astronauts on the International Space Station told to take emergency shelter.

The prime minister has accused Elon Musk of 'interfering' in UK politics, after he posted repeatedly on X about the police's treatment of Henry Nowak.NHS England says it will ban staff from wearing political badges as part of measures aimed at tacking antisemitism and other forms of racism. Britain's only serving female commando Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher has been named as one of the three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash yesterday. She was on board the Merlin 4 aircraft alongside 42-year-old Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and 24-year-old Petty Officer Owen Green.Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has said his party may have claimed back tax on items purchased by its former chief executive Peter Murrell, who last week admitted embezzling more than 400 thousand pounds from the SNP.01:56 Henry Nowak treatment 06:50 NHS antisemitism measures 10:06 Helicopter pilots named 12:05 Lebanon ceasefire 15:04 SNP on Murrell's tax 17:46 World Cup water bottles 20:02 Teacher shortages 21:54 Hampshire rape sentencing 24:30 Strikes in Crimea 27:59 Bob Harris tribute(Image: Reuters)

The Princess of Wales has expressed her sorrow at the death of the three Royal Navy personel who died after their helicopter came down during a training exercise in Devon early this morning.The Chief Constable of Hampshire Policehas has apologised for his force's handling of the murder of the teenager Henry Nowak, which sparked violent unrest in Southampton. The former Head of MI6 - Sir Alex Younger - has died at the age of 62 after being treated for cancer. President Trump has suggested he would be willing to meet the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, if an agreement can be reached between Iran and the US.(Image: PA)

The former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has insisted she knew nothing about her estranged husband's crimes, after his admission of embezzlement. Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to spending more than £400,000 of Scottish National Party funds. In other news, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered his troops to advance further into Lebanon as Israel fights the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah; and thousands of Arsenal fans have filled the streets of north London to celebrate winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

The charity, Médicins Sans Frontières, has warned that no previous outbreak of Ebola has recorded as many cases at such an early stage as the current one in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has spent the day in the city of Bunia in the north-east of the country - the epicentre of the outbreak. In other news, it's emerged that Buckingham Palace was handed emails six years ago that appear to show the then-Prince Andrew was sharing confidential government information while he was a trade envoy. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has consistently denied wrongdoing. And Liverpool have sacked their manager, Arne Slot, saying the club was looking for a "change of direction."

Romania expels a Russian diplomat and announces plans to strengthen its air defences -- after a drone crashed into an apartment block close to the border with Ukraine.A Canadian man who sent toxic chemicals to people in dozens of countries – including the UK, Australia and Italy – has pleaded guilty to aiding suicide.President Trump says he is meeting advisers at the White House to decide whether to back a proposed agreement with Iran.NASA considers how its plans for a permanent base on the Moon will be affected after a Blue Origin rocket dramatically exploded on the launchpad.And the charity hikers who were booed at the top of the highest mountain in Wales.

The author of a government-commissioned review of the rising number of young people not in employment or education has said there needs to be a whole-system reset to tackle the issue. New figures show more than a million people aged between 16 and 24-years-old were neither working nor learning in the first three months of this year.Delivering his report, the former Labour cabinet minister, Alan Milburn, said 'NEETs' were caught in a perfect storm, and that the first rung of the career ladder was now simply out of reach for many young people. Also: American and Iranian negotiators are believed to have agreed the framework of a deal that would extend the ceasefire in the Gulf for 60 days, and trigger talks on the future of Iran's nuclear programme. And: a group of scientists has advised against a national screening programme for prostate cancer.

The regulator Ofgem says its energy price cap will go up by 13 per cent in July, because of volatility in the gas market, from the conflict with Iran. The British Medical Association says resident doctors in England, who are in dispute with the government about pay, will go on strike for five days next month. Ministers have dismissed Sir Tony Blair's criticisms of Labour's policy agenda -- saying the government is taking "big steps" to change the country. 01:21 – Energy price cap to rise 05:38 – Resident doctors announce strike 07:29 – Reports of draft Iran deal 12:30 – Minister dismisses Blair criticism 16:50 – Student loan repayment complaints 21:02 – Ebola warning in DR Congo 23:09 – Jeffrey Donaldson trial 25:01 – Large Samsung pay offer 26:24 – Birth rates at lowest since 1970s 28:16 – Tap water — a legal entitlement?

The Attorney General says the sentences of three teenage boys who were spared custody over the rape of two girls in Hampshire, will be referred to the Court of Appeal. The boys were given rehabilitation orders by a Judge who said he would avoid "criminalising" them because of their ages. Bereaved parents meet the prime minister to urge him to ban social media for under 16s, as a government consultation on the issue draws to a close. Also: BP removes its chairman. Another record breaking hot May day. And: Part-time pilot becomes conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, Peter Murrell, has been remanded in custody after admitting embezzling more than 400 thousand pounds from the party, over a period of 12 years. The estranged husband of the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, will be sentenced next month. Also: The UK records its all-time hottest May temperature. The Pope warns about the potential risks posed by artificial intelligence. Man City bids farewell to Pep Guardiola. And: Scientists recognise tiny blue octopus from the Galapagos.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed an urgent review of a judge's decision not to give custodial sentences to two boys found guilty of raping two girls. He also praised what he described as the "harrowing and brave testimony" of one of the girls, who told the BBC the sentences had made her question whether it was worth giving evidence in court. Also: Donald Trump says US negotiators should not rush into a deal with Iran. And: A heatwave is declared in several parts of southern England.

The author of the government's review of youth inactivity has told the BBC that 25 times more is being spent on benefits for young people than schemes to get them into jobs. Alan Milburn - who was a Cabinet minister under Tony Blair - says it is "shameful" that nearly a million young people aren't in work or education, and called for a "complete" reset. Also: France has suspended the new EU border checks at the port of Dover after holidaymakers - trying to cross the Channel at the start of half term - were waiting in excess of four and a half hours. And: In men's football, Hull City have secured promotion to the Premier League for next season by beating Middlesborough at Wembley.

A team of scientists from Oxford University say the new Ebola vaccine could be ready for clinical trials within months. Also; police investigating Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could look into allegations of sexual misconduct as part of their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office. He's denied wrongdoing. And, there's mixed messages from a NATO summit about US troop deployments in Europe.

The Prime Minister says the government is delivering on its promise to regain control of the UK's borders, after official figures showed that net migration fell sharply last year. Also: New papers released by the government suggest the late Queen Elizabeth was "very keen" for Prince Andrew to be made a trade envoy. And Aston Villa players take part in an open top bus parade in Birmingham to mark their Europa League victory.

The government has announced an extension to the 5 pence cut to fuel duty until the end of December. Also: The UK condemns Russian jets which flew within six metres of an RAF plane. And Southampton appeal against their disqualification from the Championship play-off final.

The Metropolitan Police says it is sending evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on criminal charges, in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, for 57 individuals and 20 companies and organisations. Also: The Transport Secretary says the HS2 high speed rail link may end up costing more than a hundred billion pounds. And three presenters have been chosen to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.

Two women have told the BBC they were raped during the filming of one of Channel 4's biggest shows. Channel 4 said it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on the programme in April. Also: Sir Keir Starmer says he won't walk away from Downing Street. And The Prince of Wales is to sell twenty per cent of his Duchy of Cornwall estate to help fund social housing and environmental projects.

Lisa Nandy, a member of Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet, backs Andy Burnham's bid to return to Westminster, and says she can't guarantee the prime minister will fight any leadership challenge. The BBC's political correspondent, Paris Gourtsoyannis, has the latest.Also: Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow on one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia since the start of the war four years ago.We hear from the BBC's Africa correspondent Thomas Mukhwana as a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo prompts authorities to declare a health emergency of international concern -- with analysis from our health correspondent Dominic Hughes.Our Scotland correspondent Katie Hunter has the latest from Glasgow, where police say two offiers were seriously injured in violence after Celtic's Premiership title win.Patrick Gearey looks back at the life of the great Scottish rugby union player Scott Hastings, who has died aged 61.And Jon Wilkinson has the rest of the day's sport.

Wes Streeting has confirmed he'll challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said he is standing in the Makerfield constitutency to "save" the party. A massive police operation has taken place in central London where two major protest marches -- one led by the right wing activist, Tommy Robinson and the other a pro-Palestinian rally -- have passed off largely without incident. More than 30 people have been arrested. The last senior Hamas leader thought to have been involved in planning the October the 7th attacks has been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

Labour's National Executive Committee has given the go-ahead for Andy Burnham to seek selection to be the party's candidate in a by-election in Makerfield. Also: The UK and other European countries have signed a landmark declaration, which calls on courts to rethink how they decide migration cases, in a bid to make it easier to deport illegal migrants. And China's foreign minister has announced that President Xi Jinping has accepted an invitation from Donald Trump to travel to the United States later this year.

The Labour MP for Makerfield has offered to give up his seat to allow the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, a chance to get into Parliament and possibly bid for the Labour leadership. Also: Wes Streeting resigns as the Health Secretary, saying he has "lost confidence" in Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. And Madonna, BTS and Shakira will headline the first ever football World Cup Final half time show.

Allies of the health secretary, Wes Streeting, say they expect him to launch a challenge against Sir Keir Starmer tomorrow. Also: A parliamentary investigation is to be held into whether Nigel Farage broke Commons rules by not declaring a five-million pound gift from a supporter. And the Princess of Wales embarks on her first foreign tour since being treated for cancer.

Some government ministers and MPs have called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down, despite his insistence that he wants to "get on" with running the country. Also: The leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorweth, has been voted in as the new First Minister of Wales. And Donald Trump flies to China for a state visit.

More than 50 Labour MPs have called for the prime minister to resign, despite Sir Keir Starmer's vow to stay on, and prove his doubters wrong. Also: President Trump has said the American ceasefire deal with Iran is "on life support", as the sides fail to agree terms for talks on ending the war. And the British actor Michael Pennington, best known for his performances of Shakespeare, has died at the age of 82.

The former Deputy Prime Minister has warned that Labour is on its 'last chance' and 'needs to change now' -- following the party's losses in local elections. Angela Rayner has backed Andy Burnham to return to Westminster as the Prime Minister faces calls from within Labour to step down. Also: British passengers from the cruise ship hit by an outbreak of hantavirus are being flown back to the UK after landing in Tenerife. And the Netflix drama, Adolescence, picks up more prizes at the television BAFTAs in London.

Sir Keir Starmer insists he won't step down following his party's heavy election losses in England, Wales and Scotland — but one former minister says she'll try to trigger a leadership contest next week if no-one in the Cabinet comes forward. Also: President Putin watches a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow as a three day ceasefire with Ukraine begins. And British nationals on board the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak are to be taken to a Merseyside hospital.

The Labour party has suffered huge losses in English local elections and has lost control of the parliament in Wales, while Reform makes historic gains. The Scottish National Party eye a record fifth term in power, but without an overall majority. There are gains too for the Greens and Liberal Democrats. Sir Keir Starmer has defied calls to step down, saying that would plunge the UK into "chaos".

Two men have been found guilty of spying for Beijing, by passing on information about Hong Kong Democracy activists living in the UK. Also: The World Health Organisation has stressed that an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic does not signal the beginning of a pandemic. And Sir David Attenborough reveals the celebrations for his 100th birthday tomorrow won't be quite as he'd originally planned.

A British doctor is among three people who've been airlifted from the cruise ship hit by an outbreak of a deadly virus. Also: An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says officials are reviewing a new US proposal to end the war. And the American media mogul Ted Turner, who launched CNN, has died at the age of 87.

Four Palestine Action activists have been found guilty of criminal damage after targeting the UK site of a defence firm with an Israeli parent company. Also: Prosecutors have been told to fast-track hate crime cases after what's been described as a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. And Nigel Farage answers questions about a five million pound gift he received from a billionaire supporter two years ago.

The US military says some of its navy destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, and are now operating in the Gulf, as part of President Trump's operation to break Iran's blockade. Also: Two people have been killed in Leipzig, as a car drives into a crowd in the centre of the German city. And scientists say deep-sea mining in parts of the world's oceans would likely breach global commitments to protect nature.

The leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Zack Polanski, has said he's not interested in policing the language of protests, after the Prime Minister called for prosecutions for some antisemitic chants during pro-Palestinian marches. The row about whether to ban the demonstrations has grown since two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in north London on Wednesday. Mr Polanski apologised for sharing a critical social media post about the conduct of the officers who tackled the suspect.

The Prime Minister says officials made a deliberate decision not to tell him that Lord Mandelson had failed a security vetting for the job of ambassador to the US. Also: President Trump says a US delegation will travel to Pakistan for the next round of peace talks with Iran, although it still isn't clear if the Iranians will attend. And the government says it will introduce a legally binding ban on smartphones in schools in England.

The White House says that the US vice-President, JD Vance, will lead a team of negotiators in Pakistan tomorrow for a second round of talks to end the war with Iran. Tehran says it won't make a decision about sending a negotiating team, while an American naval blockade is still in place. Also: The Chief Rabbi has warned that attacks targeting the UK's Jewish community are “gathering momentum”, after another synagogue was targeted by arsonists last night. And: Police in Austria say they've found rat poison in a baby food product.

President Trump has said that things "are working out very well" with Iran - despite Tehran closing the Strait of Hormuz again, and accusing Washington of "piracy" for its blockade of Iranian ports. Also: A French UN peacekeeper is killed in an attack in southern Lebanon. A former civil servant who was in charge of the Foreign Office has accused Downing Street of throwing one of his successors under the bus. And: A wild otter has caused chaos at a garden centre near Dumfries.

A 52 year old man has been found guilty of raping a woman nearly 23 years ago; a crime for which an innocent man spent 17 years in jail. Also: Sir Keir Starmer has said it's unforgiveable that he wasn't informed Lord Mandelson had failed security vetting before he was appointed the UK's Ambassador to the United States. And a new word enters the Japanese lexicon.