Today, we look at a big result in the West Midlands as Labour's Richard Parker beat Conservative Andy Street in a mayoral vote that was too close to call until nearly 9pm. Laura and Paddy give their instant reaction. They also reflect on votes elsewhere, including London, where Labour’s Sadiq Khan was voted in for a third time. Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Adam Chowdhury. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Local Electioncast! The BIG Result (part 3…)

The UK’s flagship daily news podcast from the BBC, Newscast dives into the day’s big stories so you’re never out of your depth.
 
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you’re ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond, what the cost of living means for the money in your pocket and the impact of climate change.
 
Can Rishi Sunak turn the Conservatives fortunes around? Will Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party win the next general election? Newscast will give you all the best insights from BBC News so you’re across all the day’s top stories. 
 
Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. Joined by special guests, including Lyse Doucet, Katya Adler, Marianna Spring, John Simpson and Victoria Derbyshire among others. In this election year, Newscast will track all the developments from Westminster - as well as following all the big developments around the world, from the race to the White House, to the war in Ukraine. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer
 
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You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or us #Newscast Newscast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Newscast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Americast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Newscast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

News

Today, we look at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin, on his first foreign visit since being sworn in for a fifth term as president last week, was greeted with a rare hug from Xi Jinping before the leaders met to discuss trade between their two countries.  Adam discusses the significance of this visit - and its potential ramifications for China’s relations with the West - with Gordon Corera, security correspondent, John Simpson, world affairs editor, and Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at Policy Exchange.  You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
 
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Natasha Mayo and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Putin, Is It Xi You’re Looking For?

Today, we look at Keir Starmer revealing the “first steps” Labour would take if they won the general election. 
 
Speaking at an event in Essex, the Labour leader unveiled a pledge card with six key policies, including delivering "economic stability" and providing 40,000 more hospital appointments each week.
 
Starmer rejected claims the party had scaled back its ambitions, and that it was a “copycat” of Tony Blair who launched his pledge card and went on to win the general election for Labour in 1997. Adam, Chris and Alex are joined by Steve Reed, the Shadow Environment Secretary. And find out how Rishi Sunak got on when he braved the panel on ITV’s Loose Women.  You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
 
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor Sam Bonham.

Starmer’s Six Steps!

Today, we look at what we know about the assassination attempt on Slovak PM Robert Fico. The alleged assailant has been detained by the police and ministers have told reporters it was a politically-motivated attack. Europe editor Katya Adler is on to explain what we know about what happened, and who Robert Fico is.
 
And Chris joins James to discuss why some prisoners are being released early in England.
 
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
 
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Chris Flynn with Natasha Mayo and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Assassination attempt… Slovak PM “fighting for his life”

Today, we look a new study which suggests obesity jabs, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, could also cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The drug semaglutide, which suppresses the appetite, is prescribed by the NHS and now has growing use as a “skinny jab”. Researchers have said that weekly shots could benefit the cardiovascular health of millions of adults, but the results have not yet been fully reviewed. Adam is joined by David Aaronovitch, Presenter of Radio 4’s Briefing Room, and Dr Ellie Cannon, GP and author. And, after three weeks of delays, cancellations and chaos behind the scenes, the new Co-op Live arena is set to open for a gig. What caused the problems? And what does the venue tell us about the music industry of today? Adam speaks to Matt Everitt from Radio 6 music and Anna Foster, BBC news presenter.
 
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
 
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Elliot Ryder and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Weighing Up Diet Drugs

Today, we look at Rishi Sunak’s claim that the election would be a choice “between past and future”, as Labour accused him of rebranding again.   In a wide-ranging speech, the PM said that Keir Starmer would make the UK less safe and that the Tories are “the only party really talking about the future.” But Labour responded by claiming this was Rishi Sunak’s “7th reset” during his time in office. Are the battlegrounds for the election being drawn? Adam is joined by Chris who questioned Sunak after the speech.  And the Birth Trauma Inquiry was presented to parliament, finding that there was “shockingly poor services” in maternity care. It contained harrowing evidence of medical negligence from more than 1,300 women. Adam speaks to Theo Clarke, the Conservative MP who led the inquiry, and Suzanne White, Head of the Medical Negligence team at Leigh Day.
 
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
 
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack McLaren with Elliot Ryder and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Local Electioncast! The BIG Result (part 3…)

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