Here's what's making the headlines nationally this Sunday.

THE ROLLING STONES PAY TRIBUTE TO CHUCK BERRY AFTER HIS DEATH AGED 90

The Rolling Stones have paid tribute to rock 'n' roll musician Chuck Berry as a "true pioneer" following his death at 90.

The singer and guitarist, known as the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll", was pronounced dead at 1.26pm (6.26pm GMT) on Saturday, St Charles County Police Department said.

Music industry titans have reacted with sorrow at the death of Berry, who influenced stars from Elvis Presley to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

SUPPORT FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE LOWER THAN 2014 - POLL

Support for Scottish independence is lower than in 2014, according to a new poll conducted in the days after Nicola Sturgeon announced her intention to push for a second referendum.

The Panelbase survey for The Sunday Times and LBC puts backing for independence at 44%, one point lower than when the question was put to Scotland two-and-a-half years ago, while a majority (56%) would vote to remain in the United Kingdom.

The poll of 1,008 voters in Scotland was conducted between Monday and Friday following confirmation from Ms Sturgeon that she will seek permission to hold a second vote on the issue.

TIM FARRON ACCUSING THERESA MAY OF 'AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISTIC' AGENDA

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is to accuse Theresa May of pursuing the same "aggressive nationalistic" agenda as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

In a keynote address to activists on Sunday, Mr Farron will say the Prime Minister is part of a "new world order" that links the US and Russian presidents and French National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

Speaking at the party's spring conference in York, he will say the Lib Dems are the "real opposition" to the Conservatives as the only party committed to fighting Mrs May's plans for a "hard Brexit".

RAPE VICTIMS TO BE SPARED COURT CROSS-EXAMINATION ORDEAL

Rape victims will be spared the ordeal of giving evidence in court under reforms being brought forward by the Government.

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said that from September, their cross-examination will be pre-recorded and then played to the jury during the trial.

The roll-out of the scheme was originally not scheduled to start until the beginning of next year but has been brought forward following a agreement with senior judges.

CAR TAX TO RISE FOR MOST DRIVERS WHO BUY NEW VEHICLES, RAC CLAIMS

The vast majority of drivers buying new cars will pay significantly more in car tax from April 1, a motoring organisation has claimed.

Up to two-thirds of new vehicles that fall into three of the most popular tax bands will leave their owners worse off as a result of sweeping changes being made to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), according to the RAC.

The breakdown rescue firm warned the new rules will discourage people from buying some of the least polluting models.


NATIONAL TRUST BID TO SAVE SPECIES BY CREATING THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF NEW HABITAT

The National Trust has outlined plans to create tens of thousands of acres of new natural habitat on its land to help save dwindling species such as cuckoos and water voles.

Important and threatened habitats such as lowland meadows, woodlands, hedgerows and field margins, will be created or restored across a tenth of the landowner's 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres).

The plans also aim to ensure half of all Trust farmland is nature-friendly by 2025 to put nature, which "has been squeezed out to the margins", back in the heart of the countryside.

GEORGE OSBORNE EDITOR ROLE 'COULD LEAD TO CHANGE IN RULES ON MPS' SECOND JOBS'

The rules on MPs taking second jobs could be changed after George Osborne's appointment as editor of the London Evening Standard, the chairman of the country's chief standards watchdog has said.

Former chancellor Mr Osborne will take up his role at the newspaper in May and said he intends to carry on representing his Cheshire constituency of Tatton - 190 miles from the capital - in Parliament.

But the chairman of the Committee of Standards in Public Life told the Sunday Times that the body would discuss whether the rules on second jobs need to be changed in light Mr Osborne's new role.

LEADER KIM JONG UN ATTENDS TEST OF NEW NORTH KOREAN ROCKET ENGINE

North Korea has tested a new type of high-thrust engine to propel its rockets.

Leader Kim Jong Un attended the test at the Sohae launch site, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency.

It said the test was intended to confirm the engine's thrust power and gauge the reliability of its control system and structural safety.

TEACHER AMONG FINALISTS FROM AROUND WORLD COMPETING FOR MILLION-DOLLAR PRIZE

A UK teacher is due to find out if he has won a million-dollar prize.

Raymond Chambers, a computer science teacher at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby, Northamptonshire, is one of 10 finalists up for the third annual Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

This will be awarded at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai.

WORST FLOODS IN TWO DECADES KILL 72 PEOPLE IN PERU

The intense rains, overflowing rivers, mudslides and flooding being experienced in Peru are the worst seen in two decades, the authorities have said.

They have affected more than half the nation and the death toll since the beginning of the year has hit 72.

The highly unusual rains follow a series of storms that have struck hard along Peru's northern coast, with waters inundating hospitals and leaving some small villages isolated.