National News

Here are the latest stories from the team at Radio News Hub. The links will open in a new page and take you to the Radio News Hub website. You can hear the latest national news every hour on the radio station.

• Donald Trump urges UK to send warships to help secure Strait of Hormuz

  The UK must send ships to help the US secure a key oil shipping route out of the Middle East, Donald Trump has said.

• Chancellor to intervene to ease soaring energy bills

  Rachel Reeves drawing up plans to help with spiralling costs as Iran war continues

• Andrew and Lord Mandelson pictured in bathrobes with Jeffrey Epstein

  Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson have been pictured in bathrobes alongside paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

• UK economy flatlines unexpectedly in January

  The UK economy unexpectedly stalled in January following meagre growth at the end of last year, official figures have shown, amid fears Britain is heading for a hit from the Iran conflict as prices are sent soaring.

• VIP donor with ultra rare blood says she feels honoured to help sick patients

  A woman whose blood is so rare that it can be frozen for up to three decades every time she donates has said she feels “very special and honoured” to be able to help sick patients.

• Edinburgh International Festival to mark 250 years of American independence

  This year’s Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) “will confront complexity with curiosity and openness” as it marks 250 years of American independence, its director has said.

• MPs to look at fairness of student loans system

  MPs will examine the fairness of student loans repayment in a new inquiry following increasing debate over the system.

• NHS trusts face perilous financial situation with deficit of 780m last year

  Many organisations in the health service face a “perilous” financial situation, with analysis finding that NHS trusts ran a deficit of more that three quarters of a billion pounds last year.

• CPS loses appeal over Kneecap rapper terror case

  Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh will not face a terror trial after judges at the High Court rejected a Crown Prosecution Service appeal against the decision to throw out the case.

• Starmer warned of reputational risk over Mandelsons links to Epstein

  Sir Keir Starmer was warned there was a “general reputational risk” over Lord Peter Mandelson’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before giving him the role of ambassador to the US.