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.

• Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart dies aged 86

  Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart has died at his home in Los Angeles aged 86 following a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia”, it has been announced on his social media.

• Patrick Stewart Before accepting Star Trek fame his first love was Shakespeare

  Sir Patrick Stewart’s first love was the stage and the plays of William Shakespeare but it was to be a science fiction series and a series of superhero films that brought him worldwide fame.

• Met refers itself to police watchdog over action on letter about Meghans father

  The Metropolitan Police said it has voluntarily referred itself to the police watchdog because it failed to pass on a letter detailing allegations against the Duchess of Sussex’s father to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies.

• Enzo Maresca admits Man City never practised penalties after shoot out win

  Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca admitted his players had not practised penalties after edging past Brighton in a Carabao Cup shoot-out on Wednesday.

• Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola did not want to pick Cherries in quarter final draw

  Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola’s reward for beating Chelsea on penalties was a Carabao Cup quarter-final against the one side he wanted to avoid – former team Bournemouth.

• Healey warns of more hard decisions and departmental spending cuts

  Major departmental spending cuts are coming down the line to pay for the Government’s policies at next year’s spending review, John Healey has indicated.

• Social media age checks effective but not foolproof Ofcom warns

  Age checks could “significantly” enforce plans to ban under-16s from social media, but some children will find ways around the measures, Ofcom has warned.

• Douglas Stuarts John Of John among contenders for Waterstones Book Of The Year

  Douglas Stuart’s Booker Prize-nominated novel John Of John is among the books shortlisted for Waterstones Book Of The Year 2026.

• John Healey denies postponing difficult welfare system decisions

  John Healey has denied postponing difficult decisions on the welfare system, insisting the Government is making changes “now”.

• Report finds substantial variation in health board prescribing of GLP 1 drugs

  A new report has highlighted “substantial geographical variation” in prescribing of drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro on the NHS in Scotland.

• Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes hold clear the air talks before Chelsea trip

  Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes have held clear-the-air talks.

• Healey to set course for 3 defence spend by 2030 at spending review

  The Government will aim to spend 3% of economic output on defence by 2030, and will plot a course for the target at next year’s spending review, John Healey has said.

• Budget at a glance What has John Healey announced

  John Healey has set out his first Budget as Chancellor with a bid to provide “breathing space” for the public amid a difficult domestic economic situation made worse by the turmoil of the Iran war.

• Tommy Robinson found guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists

  Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been convicted of harassing two journalists and causing them to fear violence.

• Bank taxes to rise by less than some feared to help fund breathing space

  Bank taxes are set to rise by less than some in the industry had feared, as the Chancellor said he was asking “a bit more” from banks to help fund support on energy bills.

• Healey Budget offers help for families and firms hit by global economic storm

  Millions of households will receive £100 to help with soaring energy bills and high street firms will get a tax break as John Healey sought to protect British workers and businesses from the economic impact of the Iran war.

• Healey promises Budget will help UK chart a course through global economic storm

  Millions of households will receive £100 to help with soaring energy bills and high street firms will get a tax break as John Healey sought to protect British workers and businesses from the economic impact of the Iran war.

• Bonfire Night will have largest police deployment since Trump visit

  Bonfire Night will see the largest co-ordinated deployment of police resources in Scotland since the visit of President Donald Trump, a senior officer has said.

• Andrea Bocelli James Blunt and Idina Menzel to perform at Royal Variety 2026

  Andrea Bocelli, James Blunt and Idina Menzel will lead the stars taking to the stage at the Royal Variety Performance 2026.

• No penalty practice for Conor Haughey before dealing final blow to Arsenal

  Fleetwood shootout hero Conor Haughey admitted he had not even practised penalties before hitting an emphatic spot-kick that dispatched Arsenal and secured a Carabao Cup upset his manager Matt Lawlor described as “mental”.

• Trial to begin of man accused of attempted murders on LNER train

  A man is due to stand trial accused of attempting to murder 10 people in a mass stabbing incident on a London-bound train.

• PM urged to deliver meaningful help in Budget instead of showboating

  Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been challenged to deliver “meaningful help” for struggling families in his Government’s first Budget – rather than “showboating on TikTok and Gogglebox”.

• Bradford defeat Peterborough to reach EFL Cup quarter finals

  Bradford are through to the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time since they reached Wembley in 2013 with a 2-0 win over Peterborough.

• Drone delays play as Fleetwood host Arsenal in Carabao Cup fourth round

  Fleetwood’s Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Premier League champions Arsenal was interrupted in the opening stages by a drone flying above Highbury Stadium.

• King to acknowledge great suffering of the past during visit to Caribbean

  The King will begin his tour of the Caribbean by acknowledging the “great suffering of the past” and confirm Commonwealth leaders will discuss the legacy of slavery at a summit he will open.