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.

• Government must plan for Iran war to continue for some time Starmer says

  Britain must be prepared for the Iran war to continue “for some time”, the Prime Minister has said.

• Aspiring first time buyers with student debt face 2000 annual savings gap

  People who are saving up for a house deposit are putting aside around £2,000 per year less typically if they are still paying off a student loan, compared with those without education debts, according to research for a bank.

• Report highlights economic value of railway stations

  Railway stations could help to unlock one million jobs and deliver £79 billion in economic value by 2036, new research suggests.

• Keir Starmer to chair Cobra meeting after Donald Trump call on Iran crisis

  Sir Keir Starmer is set to convene an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday after a call with Donald Trump to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

• One in four donors have blood that helps critically ill newborn babies

  Around one in four donors in England have the blood needed to help critically-ill newborn babies, health officials have revealed.

• Police investigate antisemitic hate crime after ambulances set alight in London

  Police are investigating an antisemitic hate crime after an apparent arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service in London, the Metropolitan Police said.

• Children on social media for three hours a day more likely to develop anxiety

  Children who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to develop mental health problems such as depression and anxiety as teenagers, according to research.

• Newcastle vow action after alleged racist abuse halts Tyne Wear derby

  Newcastle have vowed to track down those responsible for discriminatory abuse aimed at Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida during Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.

• Cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent have dropped

  The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has decreased after some “confirmed” cases were downgraded following further tests, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

• Over 8000 meningitis vaccines handed out in Kent as queues improve over weekend

  More than 8,000 meningitis B vaccines have been handed out since the outbreak in Kent while the number of cases is up to 34 from 29.