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 their website.

• Man charged with criminal damage after Churchill statue defaced with graffiti

  A 38-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage after graffiti was sprayed on the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster, branding the former prime minister a “Zionist war criminal”.

• US and Israel launch attack on Iran as Trump warns of massive operation

  The US and Israel have launched an attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike landing near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

• Remarkable results in study on new prostate cancer drug

  A drug for advanced prostate cancer has shown “remarkable” results in an early-stage trial, experts have said.

• National Trust gardens see unusually early spring blooms after mild weather

  Despite a battering from extreme weather this year, many National Trust gardens are reporting surprisingly early spring blooms.

• Dairy firm ramps up cottage cheese production as TikTok drives record demand

  A Scottish dairy company has announced it has ramped up its cottage cheese production, amid a TikTok trend that has led to “all-time record demand” for a foodstuff once associated with the 1970s and 1980s.

• Winston Churchill statue daubed with graffiti calling him Zionist war criminal

  The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster has been defaced with graffiti branding the former prime minister a “Zionist war criminal”.

• Severe weather swings leave families battling floods and farmers facing bad year

  Extreme weather swings from drought to persistent rain have left families battling flooding and farmers facing another bad year in the fields.

• Collagen boosts skin elasticity but is not an anti wrinkle quick fix researchers say

  Taking collagen supplements over a long period has been linked to better skin elasticity and increased hydration, although experts suggest it should not be seen as an “anti-wrinkle quick fix”.

• Greens win Gorton and Denton by election in blow to Starmer

  The Green Party has won its first ever parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton, dealing a bitter blow to Sir Keir Starmer.

• NHS maternity services are failing women and babies national investigation

  NHS maternity services are failing women and babies through a reluctance to admit mistakes, “a lack of kindness and compassion” and pervasive discrimination, according to a Government-ordered investigation.

• Call for more police help from Manchester mosque after concerning axe incident

  The chairman of a Manchester mosque has asked for increased police presence after what the Prime Minister called a “concerning” incident when an armed man arrived during Ramadan prayers.

• Speaker says he gave information to police about Lord Mandelson ahead of arrest

  Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he passed information “in good faith” to the Metropolitan Police following reports someone had informed the force that Lord Peter Mandelson could be a flight risk.

• NHS failing on key cancer target with some patients waiting over 104 days

  Almost all NHS trusts are missing a major cancer target, with some of the worst performers seeing only around half of patients on time, data shows.

• Nearly half the public delayed or avoided seeking GP help last year

  Nearly half (48%) of all UK adults avoided or delayed contacting their GP about a health concern last year, a new poll suggests, as the Government announced new plans for family doctors to guarantee same-day appointments for patients with urgent health needs.

• Harry and Meghan begin two day Jordan visit to highlight humanitarian efforts

  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will begin a two-day visit to Jordan to highlight efforts to support vulnerable communities affected by conflict and displacement.

• Snoop Dogg welcomed by excited football fans on first Swansea visit

  Swansea City football club co-owner Snoop Dogg was greeted with twirling towels and a guard of honour on his first visit to the Welsh club.

• Water firm fined for polluting stream with sewage three times in a year

  A water company has been fined more than £700,000 for polluting a country park stream with sewage three times in a year, the Environment Agency has said.

• UK data watchdog fines Reddit 14m for failing to protect child users

  Online discussion platform Reddit has been fined more than £14 million after the UK data watchdog said it had failed to protect children’s personal information.

• Kemi Badenoch calls for digital counter revolution to protect children

  Kemi Badenoch has called for a digital “counter-revolution” as she said she found it “tough” to stop using social media.

• PM reiterates Ukraine support on fourth anniversary of Russian invasion

  Sir Keir Starmer has promised to stand by the people of Ukraine for “as long as it takes” as he hit out at Vladimir Putin for blocking the path to peace.

• Lord Mandelson is reportedly released on bail pending further investigation

  Lord Peter Mandelson has reportedly been released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office

• Russell Brand pleads not guilty to two further sex offences including rape

  Comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two further sexual offences, including rape.

• Police launch hate crime investigation after bacon left at mosque

  A police investigation has been launched after bacon was left at a mosque.

• Gianluca Prestianni provisionally banned by UEFA after Vinicius Junior incident

  Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended for Wednesday’s Champions League return leg against Real Madrid by UEFA following the Vinicius Junior racism incident last week.

• Zoe Atkin takes bronze to match Britains best Winter Olympics medal haul

  Zoe Atkin won women’s ski halfpipe bronze in Livigno on Sunday to claim Great Britain’s fifth medal of their record-breaking Winter Olympics.