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.

Further questions are raised about Andrew Mountbatten Windor's links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell after US authorities release a photo of the former Prince lying across some women's laps at Sandringham. Also: President Zelensky says the US has proposed fresh face-to-face negotiations between officials from Ukraine and Russia. Manchester City move up to the top of the Premier League standings. And: a German engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to go into Space.

President Putin has accused the west of "making Russia the enemy" and says he wants to end the war in Ukraine, but only on his terms. Also: The children's author, David Walliams, has been dropped by his publisher. And Kylie Minogue beats Wham! to land her first UK Christmas number one.

The government has outlined its long-term plan to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade. Also: The Bank of England cuts interest rates and says there'll be no growth for the rest of the year. And Peter Arnett, who put CNN on the map while bringing the First Gulf War to our television screens, has died.

The Chief Constables of the Greater Manchester and Metropolitan police forces have said they plan to take a more "assertive" approach to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Also: Resident doctors are condemned as "utterly irresponsible" by the Prime Minister as the latest five day strike gets underway. And the government has rejected claims by the Consevatives that re-joining the Erasmus student exchange scheme is a betrayal of Brexit.

The man who drove his car into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win in May has been jailed for 21 years and 6 months. Also: The BBC says it will defend itself against a multi billion dollar lawsuit brought by Donald Trump. And a couple from mid Wales have won 1 million pounds on the National Lottery for the second time.

The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, says the father and son gunmen who killed 15 people at a Jewish religious festival on Bondi Beach were motivated by 'extreme ideology'. Also: a five day strike by resident doctors will go ahead this week as government proposals for a deal are rejected. And the Royal Horticultural Society has predicted that more people will be growing what are known as “tabletop vegetables” in the new year.

11 people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on crowds at the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, described the attack as “evil beyond comprehension.” Also: Police in Rhode Island have arrested a man in connection with a deadly mass shooting at Brown University. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to compromise on NATO membership, and Sunderland beat Newcastle United in their first Premier League derby in nine years.

The Metropolitan Police says it has decided not to investigate newspaper reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his close protection officer to gather information fourteen years ago about Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault. He has not commented on the reports, but has consistently denied all the allegations against him. Also: Buckingham Palace says the King's delighted with the worldwide reaction to his call for more people to be screened for cancer, and: it's believed that more than 600 migrants have crossed the channel today in small boats.

The former US President, Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and the film maker, Woody Allen, are also included in some of the 19 images. There is no suggestion that the photos imply any wrongdoing. Also: a man from Devon who was previously cleared of killing his wife on self-defence grounds in 2016 is convicted of her murder. And: the best selling author, Joanna Trollope, dies.

Last week, there was an average of 2660 people a day with flu in England's hospital beds, a 55% increase on the week before. A more virulent, mutated strain is being blamed for the spike in cases. Also: President Zelensky insists Ukraine must have a vote before ceding any territory to Russia. And: ticket prices for next year's football World Cup are revealed.

All 46 countries signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, including the UK, have given themselves until next May to re-think how it should be applied to immigration cases.Lawyers for eight prisoners who are being held on remand — accused of offences related to Palestine Action — say they are at risk of dying from a hunger strike.The best-selling author Sophie Kinsella has died at the age of fifty-five from brain cancer.And the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy becomes the latest prisoner to publish his memoirs.

After months of delays it's been announced that the former children's commissioner and Labour peer, Baroness Longfield, will chair the national inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales.

Sir Keir Starmer has said any ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia must be just and lasting following talks in Downing Street. Also: A nurse says she's "beyond relieved and delighted" after winning a partial victory against NHS Fife over having to share a changing room with a transgender doctor. And the British driver, Lando Norris, has told the BBC he is looking forward to a chance to "just be normal" after being crowned the Formula One world champion.

Britain's Lando Norris has won the Formula 1 drivers' championship for the first time. The 26-year-old secured the title by finishing third at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris's victory makes him the first driver to break Max Verstappen's four-year winning streak and the first Briton to take the title since 2020.

A BBC investigation has found driving instructors are being offered hundreds of pounds by touts for access to their official accounts so they can bulk book tests. The touts then use social media to sell the slots on to learner drivers for hugely inflated prices.Four protestors have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage -- after food was thrown at a display case housing the Imperial State Crown at the Tower of London. A group called Take Back Power said its supporters had targeted the Crown Jewels as part of a campaign calling for the rich to pay more tax. Also:Ukraine's President Zelensky says he has agreed the "next steps" in efforts to end the war with Russia, after talks with senior US officials.

The BBC understands that the government will investigate the historical use of electric shock treatment in NHS hospitals which aimed to change people's sexuality. Also: The government has been outlining its strategy to reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half a million by 2030. And Washington hosts a theatrical draw for next year's football world cup.

A public inquiry has found that Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, bears "moral responsibility" for the poisoning of a woman near Salisbury. Also: Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands withdraw from next year's Eurovision Song Contest in protest at Israel's participation. And the government has ordered an independent review of the rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England.

A nursery worker, 45-year-old Vincent Chan, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing young children in his care in north London, in a case described by the Metropolitan Police as one of the "most harrowing and complex" it had ever undertaken. Also: European and NATO leaders are stepping up pressure on Russia, a day after Vladimir Putin accused them of blocking efforts to find peace in Ukraine; and the Women's Institute has announced that trans women will be banned from membership from next April.

David Lammy has announced serious crimes likely to lead to a prison sentence of less than three years will now be decided by a judge alone. Also: A report into the Hillsborough disaster says twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings if they hadn't retired. And the Girlguiding organisation says trans girls and young women will no longer be allowed to join as new members.

The head of the Office for Budget Responsibility, Richard Hughes, has resigned after his organisation released details of the budget before the Chancellor had delivered her speech. Also: The Prime Minister has denied that the Rachel Reeves misled people about the state of the public finances. And the World Health Organisation calls for fairer access to weight loss jabs.

The Conservatives call on Rachel Reeves to resign

Sir Tom's best-known works include Arcadia, The Real Thing and Rozencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

A panel of experts has recommended that screening for prostate cancer should be targeted only at men who are most at risk of developing the disease. Also: Downing Street has denied allegations that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, misled the public over the state of public finances in the run up to this week's Budget. And the UK has launched a bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, with 22 stadiums across the country potentially eligible.

The government has U-turned on a manifesto pledge to offer all workers protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. Also: The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has doubled down on his core demands for ending the war in Ukraine. And figures show how homelessness disproportionately affects young people leaving care in England.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced tax rises worth £26-billion in her Budget, which will take the government's overall tax take to record levels by the start of the next decade. Also: There's a hit on pension contributions, cash ISAs and high-value properties in England. And Ms Reeves confirms the abolition of the two-child benefits cap, in an attempt to lift children out of poverty.

The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, is proposing to restrict the ancient right to trial by jury in courts in England and Wales to the most serious cases, such as rape and murder. Also: the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced the minimum wage is to go up next year. And scientists find there are five ages of the human brain, including a surprisingly long adolescence.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has told reporters in Switzerland that talks about US proposals to end the war in Ukraine have been "very meaningful" - calling it the "best day" for the peace process since President Trump returned to office. American, European and Ukrainian officials have been meeting to go over the plans, which have been criticised as being favourable to Russia. Earlier, Mr Trump posted a message on social media, accusing Ukraine of showing "zero gratitude" for Washington's attempts to end the conflict.

Sir Keir Starmer has said there is "more to do" on Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine, after meetings with other world leaders at the G20 in Johannesburg. The Prime Minister and other allies have raised concerns about proposals to make Kyiv limit its armed forces, give up territory, and abandon its path to NATO membership. Mr Trump has said he expects a Ukrainian response to the proposals - which were drawn up after secret negotiations with Moscow - by Thursday. US, Ukrainian and European security officials are to meet to discuss the plans in Switzerland tomorrow.

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been jailed for 10 and a half years for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements. Also: President Zelensky says Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments in its history and risks losing the US as a key ally over Washington's plan for peace with Russia. And the words “fossil fuels” have been removed from the latest draft agreement at the COP30 climate conference in Brazil.

A report by the Covid inquiry has concluded that lockdown could have been avoided entirely if other measures had been implemented urgently at the start of the pandemic. Also: Legal immigrants who claim benefits could be forced to wait 20 years before applying for the right to settle permanently. And Gary 'Mani' Mansfield, the Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, has died aged 63.

The Defence Secretary, John Healey, has accused a Russian ship operating on the edge of UK waters of directing lasers at RAF pilots monitoring its movements. Also: The Supreme Court rules that Christian-focused religious education in Northern Ireland is unlawful. And inflation dips for the first time since March, but food prices go up.

The security service warns MPs, peers and parliamentary staff they may be targets for Chinese spies. The Government says its taking steps. Congress votes on the release of all remaining documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. A court has heard that an alleged member of Palestine Action attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer. Also: An Australian prisoner sues over state's Vegemite ban.

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out what she's called her "moral mission" to heal divisions in the UK by overhauling immigration rules. Her plans include fast-tracking deportations, and making people who have been granted asylum wait longer before they can settle permanently. The Conservatives and Reform UK have said they are a step in the right direction; some Labour backbenchers have condemned the proposals as "dystopian" and "cruel".Also: a death sentence for Bangladesh's exiled former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who has called the verdict "politically motivated".And a new rugby union tournament has been launched which will pit the best of the northern and southern hemisphere nations against each other.

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has said a proposed tightening of asylum rules will help stop illegal immigration from 'tearing the country apart'. Plans that she'll set out in the Commons tomorrow include quadrupling to twenty years the length of time people granted asylum will have to wait before they can settle permanently in the UK. In other news, a clear-up is under way in Monmouth in south Wales after Storm Claudia caused severe flooding, devastating homes and businesses. And one of Donald Trump's staunchest allies has accused the President of putting her life in danger after he branded her a traitor.

Donald Trump has said he will speak to Sir Keir Starmer this weekend about his plans to sue the BBC for the way it edited footage of one of his speeches. The corporation has apologised, but is refusing to pay him compensation. Mr Trump insists he has an "obligation" to press ahead with legal action, saying he is seeking up to five billion dollars. In other news, a leading refugee charity has said the government's plan to allow people granted asylum to stay in the UK only temporarily will not deter small boat crossings. And Storm Claudia causes widespread flooding in Monmouth.

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has decided against raising income tax in the Budget — following speculation that she might break a key Labour manifesto pledge. Jaguar Land Rover has revealed the stinging cost of the cyber attack that brought the company to a standstill. Plus police investigating claims of an impostor wearing a Rear Admiral's uniform to take part in a Remembrance Sunday event have arrested a 64-year-old man. And: the return of the puffin, after 25 years, to the Isle of Muck near Northern Ireland, after a project to chase away the rats

It's been revealed that a day before Sara Sharif was murdered by her father and stepmother, council workers tried to check on her, but went to the wrong address. Also: A second BBC programme is accused of splicing together two sections of Donald Trump's speech on the day of the Capitol Hill riots. And a bird flu outbreak may have killed tens of thousands of elephant seals in South Georgia.

Democrats in the US have released emails which, they say, raise new questions about Donald Trump's relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also: The health secretary, Wes Streeting, denies he's plotting to challenge the Prime Minister. And a replica woolly mammoth skeleton in the National Museum of Cardiff has been named Tom Bones.

The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has revealed that 91 prisoners have been released by mistake over the last seven months. Also: Epping Council loses a High Court case to block The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers. And another name change for Andrew as Mountbatten-Windsor belatedly gets a hyphen.

The chairman of the BBC, Samir Shah, has apologised for what he called an "error of judgement" over the way a speech by President Trump on the day of the US Capitol attack in 2021 was edited for an episode of Panorama. Also: The Chancellor Rachel Reeves again refuses to rule out tax rises in the budget later this month, but hints at changes to the two child benefit cap. And the United Nations climate summit COP30 has opened in Brazil.

The BBC's director general, Tim Davie and the CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness have resigned, after a leaked memo raised concerns about bias at the broadcaster. Also: King Charles leads Remembrance Sunday commemorations in London. UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium after suspected Russian drone incursions and Super Typhoon Fung-wong makes landfall in the Philippines.

The Home Secretary is set to announce a major shake-up of the immigration and asylum system later this month, reportedly inspired by Denmark's approach. It comes as Home Office figures show almost 650 migrants crossed the English Channel yesterday. Also:Top Gear's Quentin Willson -- famous for his direct approach to car reviews -- has died at the age of 68.