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.

• Williamson insists exam results will be fair amid grade inflation concerns

  The Education Secretary has insisted A-level and GCSE grades decided by teachers will be fair amid concerns that a “rock cake of grade inflation” could be baked into the system..

• David Walliams and Martin Clunes among stars to settle phone hacking claims

  David Walliams and Martin Clunes are among a number of high profile celebrities to have formally settled damages claims over phone hacking against a newspaper publisher at the High Court..

• Thousands of jobs impacted as Asda launches major restructuring

  Asda has launched consultations with around 5,000 staff over a major restructuring which could put around 3,000 back office store workers at risk..

• Khashoggi filmmaker hopes Boris Johnson reconsiders Saudi relationship

  The director of a new documentary about the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi has said he hopes viewers are inspired to demand Boris Johnson reassesses the UK’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. Mr Khashoggi, who had been critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey in 2018..

• How will students in England receive exam grades this summer

  The Government and Ofqual have unveiled how pupils in England will receive their grades after this summer’s GCSE and A-level exams were cancelled. Here is how it will work, based on what we know so far:.

• Father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson drowns in Brazil

  Two Brazilian football clubs have expressed condolences after the sudden death of the father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Brazilian media reported that 57-year-old Jose Agostinho Becker drowned after going for a swim on his property in the city of Lavras do Sul, in the south of the country..

• Salmond questions highly irregular Crown Office intervention over evidence

  Alex Salmond has questioned the Crown Office’s “unprecedented and highly irregular actions” after it intervened to have his evidence redacted..

• Marcus Rashford I really appreciate my gold Blue Peter badge

  Marcus Rashford has been awarded a Blue Peter badge – saying he “appreciates it greatly”..

• Drink driving charge against Bruce Springsteen dropped

  Prosecutors have dropped drunken driving and reckless driving charges against Bruce Springsteen..

• Incoming Celtic chief exec Dominic McKay wont be released early from SRU role

  Incoming Celtic chief executive Dominic McKay will not be allowed to make his move to Parkhead early as Murrayfield bosses insist he sees out his notice period..

• Education Secretary does not rule out lengthening school days for Covid catch up

  Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not ruled out lengthening school days or shortening summer breaks to help pupils in England catch up from coronavirus disruption..

• Spider Man stars tease fans with multiple titles for upcoming third film

  The stars of Spider-Man have teased fans with multiple titles for the upcoming third film as they shared an early glimpse at the superhero movie..

• Tiger Woods facing hard recovery after suffering serious injuries in car crash

  Tiger Woods is facing the toughest recovery of his remarkable comeback-filled career after undergoing surgery on right leg injuries following a car crash which could have cost him his life..

• Neil Lennon resigns as Celtic manager after traumatic second stint in charge

  Neil Lennon has resigned as Celtic manager, the Scottish Premiership club have announced..

• Golf star Tiger Woods suffered leg injuries when his vehicle rolled over near Los Angeles and is in hospital undergoing surgery authorities and his manager say

  Golf star Tiger Woods suffered leg injuries when his vehicle rolled over near Los Angeles, and is in hospital undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager say..

• The Duke of Edinburgh is being treated for an infection

  The Duke of Edinburgh is not expected to leave hospital for several days.

• Johnson says lockdown road map will bring incomparably better lives

  Boris Johnson has said spring and summer in England will usher in changes to make lives “incomparably better” as he set out a plan to fully ease the lockdown by June 21. The Prime Minister defended his “cautious but also irreversible” approach to relaxing restrictions with a four-step plan on Monday, arguing he will not be “buccaneering” with people’s lives..

• Jobless rate hits 51 but data shows early signs of stability

  The number of workers on UK payrolls has fallen by nearly 730,000 since the start of the pandemic and the jobless rate has surged to its highest level since 2016, but official figures revealed “early signs” of a stabilising jobs market. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of payrolled workers rose by 83,000 between January and February in the second small monthly increase in a row..

• Surge in holiday bookings following road map to end lockdown

  Airlines and travel firms are experiencing a surge in demand following Boris Johnson’s road map for how coronavirus restrictions will be eased. The Prime Minister said on Monday that a Government taskforce will produce a report by April 12 recommending how international trips can resume for people in England..

• Full house hope for Wimbledon as lockdown easing paves way for return of fans

  The sporting summer in England could be played out in front of capacity crowds after the Government set out its road map for the easing of coronavirus restrictions on Monday..

• Ministers to review whether discriminatory vaccine passports should be allowed

  There will be a review into whether vaccine passports could be deployed as part of the road map for releasing the lockdown, the Prime Minister has confirmed..

• Boris Johnson promised the end really is in sight as he set out a plan to ease Englands lockdown by June 21

  Boris Johnson promised “the end really is in sight” as he set out a plan to ease England’s lockdown by June 21..

• Duke of Edinburgh OK in hospital William

  The Duke of Cambridge has said the Duke of Edinburgh is “OK” after his 99-year-old grandfather spent a sixth night in hospital..

• Queens Commonwealth TV special to air hours before Sussexes Oprah interview

  The Queen and senior members of the royal family will take part in a special television programme celebrating the Commonwealth, just hours before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah interview is aired in the US..

• Substantial reduction in hospital admissions four weeks after first Covid jab

  The Covid-19 vaccines being used in the UK could reduce a person’s risk of being admitted to hospital by as much as 94% four weeks after the first dose, new data suggests. Experts examined Covid-19 hospital admissions in Scotland among people who have had their first jab and compared them to those who had not yet received a vaccine..