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.

• Governments pledge to ban trail hunting in spotlight as Boxing Day hunts meet

  The Government is under pressure over its manifesto pledge to ban trail hunting as hunts gather for the traditional Boxing Day meet.

• Train reliability hits the buffers as annual cancellations exceed 360000

  More than 360,000 train services across Britain were fully or part-cancelled in the past year as reliability is at a joint record low amid major staffing shortages.

• King praises doctors and nurses who provided care during cancer treatment

  The Monarch spoke from Fitzrovia Chapel, a former London hospital chapel

• Man 39 shot dead by armed police on Christmas Eve

  A 39-year-old man was shot dead by armed police on Christmas Eve.

• Britons enjoying remarkably mild Christmas Eve

  Britons are enjoying a “remarkably mild” Christmas Eve as shoppers dash to buy last-minute gifts and travellers head home for the festive season.

• Over 10000 in armed forces not medically deployable Ministry of Defence says

  More than 10,000 people in the armed forces are “not medically deployable”, figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have shown.

• PM looks to brighter future at Christmas and wishes for peace in Middle East

  Sir Keir Starmer said he would be looking towards a “better, brighter future for every person” in a Christmas message following a turbulent year for the UK.

• Government aims to restore clarity with consultation on petrol car phase out

  A consultation has been launched into the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

• Permanent crisis in AE caused thousands of deaths in 2024

  The Scottish Government has been accused of having responsibility for a “disgracefully high” number of deaths following growing waits for treatment in hospital accident and emergency departments.

• Young people more likely to spend Christmas alone study finds

  The number of young people spending Christmas Day alone has doubled, according to new research that compares festive attitudes and behaviours in 2024 and 1969.

• How will a second Trump presidency impact the tech world in 2025

  A second Donald Trump presidency is expected to be consequential in many ways, and its impact on the tech sector will be a key area after he enters office in January.

• England captain Ben Stokes out for at least three months with torn hamstring

  Ben Stokes will undergo surgery on a torn hamstring and be out of action for at least three months.

• Two men jailed over 42m cocaine smuggling bid

  Two men who tried to smuggle £42 million worth of cocaine into the UK have been jailed.

• Luigi Mangione denies murdering UnitedHealthcare chief executive

  The man accused of fatally shooting the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution.

• Arsenals Bukayo Saka emotional as he faces lengthy injury absence

  Arsenal have been dealt a major injury blow after Mikel Arteta revealed a “really emotional” Bukayo Saka has been ruled out for “many weeks” with a hamstring tear.

• Morrisons extends discounts after IT issues hit Christmas shopping

  Morrisons has cut the price of items including turkeys and Champagne for all shoppers after a system glitch hit its loyalty card on Monday, but some customers may face delayed Christmas orders.

• Met Office forecasts mild Christmas with notably high temperatures

  The Met Office has forecast a “mild Christmas” with “notably high temperatures” over the festive period.

• Large blaze at Birmingham shop tackled by dozens of firefighters

  A fire that broke out at the front of a shop in Birmingham is “under control”, emergency services said.

• Victim calls Archbishop of Yorks response to abuse case insulting

  A victim of an alleged sex abuser priest has called for the Archbishop of York to step down over his “insulting and upsetting” response to his handling of the case.

• Advice to look for dementia symptoms at Christmas amid record diagnosis number

  The NHS has urged people to look out for symptoms of dementia as they gather with loved ones at Christmas as new data shows more people than ever before have been diagnosed with the condition in England.

• Belfast City Airport reopens after landing emergency

  Belfast City Airport’s runway is “operating at normal” after it was forced to close following an emergency incident.

• Roman Kemp says visiting The Repair Shop for Christmas show really special

  TV and radio presenter Roman Kemp has said it was “really special” to visit The Repair Shop’s barn for its festive special.

• UK economy failed to grow in third quarter of 2024

  The UK economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, according to revised official figures.

• Shop staff facing Christmas crime wave with more shoplifting cases unsolved

  Shop staff are facing a “Christmas crime wave”, an MP has warned as new figures revealed an average of more than 650 shoplifting offences a day went unsolved in the past year.

• Star studded sisters of Blake Lively voice support after Justin Baldoni suit

  A “sisterhood” of celebrities have voiced their support for US actress Blake Lively in the wake of her lawsuit and sexual harassment complaint against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni.