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.

• Tim Westwood charged with rape and sexual assault

  Former Radio 1 DJ charged with offences between 1983 and 2016

• Five water firms provisionally allowed to raise bills

  By further 1% to 5%

• Three UK universities make top 10 in prestigious world rankings

  The University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London have grabbed some of the top spots in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, with Oxford coming first for the 10th year in a row.

• Job advisers in GP surgeries to help long term sick and disabled into work

  Job advisers in GP surgeries and virtual reality interview practice are part of efforts to get 300,000 sick or disabled people into work by 2030 as the Government pledges to give people “a hand up, not a handout”.

• Britain could face tight days in winter energy supply grid operator warns

  Great Britain’s energy system operator has said there could be “tight days” for energy supply over winter but stressed that new battery storage will help to meet national demand.

• Queen named the UKs most played rock act in the 21st century

  Queen have been named the most played rock act on UK radio and TV in the 21st century according to the music licensing company, Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).

• Indian trade deal a launchpad for growth Starmer tells business leaders

  Sir Keir Starmer has urged business leaders to seize the opportunity of the UK’s trade deal with India, after brushing aside suggestions Britain could open up more visa routes for the country.

• Badenoch to pledge doubling of apprenticeship budget and cut in degree numbers

  Kemi Badenoch will close the Conservative Party conference with a promise to double the apprenticeship budget, paid for by slashing student numbers by 100,000.

• Chad ends Harry charity mandates to manage wildlife reserves

  An African wildlife charity part run by the Duke of Sussex has seen its mandates to manage key animal reservations in Chad withdrawn by the country’s government.

• 20 million fund to be shared across 75 museums in England

  A £20 million fund will be distributed across museums in England to ensure they remain open, the Government has announced.