More reaction to Durham academic jailed for life in UAE over spying
Wife confirms family have asked for clemency for Matthew Hedges
Daniela Tejada says she still does not know where he is being held
UAE ambassador confirms they are 'studying' pardon request
And more news from across the North East
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Read MoreMiddlesbrough hold off a late Brentford fightback to win at Griffin Park and move back to second in the Championship.
Read MoreToby Flood leads Newcastle to their first home win of the season as Bath are beaten on his 100th appearance for the Falcons.
Read MoreBirmingham and Exeter university staff were responding to the jailing of Matthew Hedges in the UAE.
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There has been a rise in drug paraphernalia found on the streets of Hartlepool.
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A van used to dump waste illegally twice in County Durham has been destroyed by the council.
It is the first time such measure has been taken and it's hoped it will serve as a strong warning to potential offenders.
Ian Hoult, neighbourhood protection manager at Durham County Council, said: “Flytipping is a deplorable crime that is a blight to our communities and has a detrimental impact on the environment.
"This vehicle has been used to dump waste illegally on more than one occasion but by taking this action, we have ensured it will not be used again."
The crushed van will be recycled.
Image source, Durham County CouncilPolice are appealing for witness after a serious assault in a Newcastle bar early this morning.
A 22-year-old-man was hit with a glass in MSA Bar on Hood Street shortly after midnight.
He was taken to hospital with cuts to his head.
The offender is white, 5ft 10in, slim, aged in his early 20s and with short mousy brown hair.
Image source, Google MapsStaff at Exeter University will vote this afternoon on whether to suspend their academic relationship with the UAE until Matthew Hedges' case is resolved.
The university runs a Dubai-based education doctorate.
Mr Hedges, who was handed a life sentence on Wednesday on spying charges, completed a Masters degree at Exeter.
The meeting, taking place between 15.30 and 17.30, will also decide if the Vice Chancellor should lobby for the academic's release.
Image source, Daniela TejadaA woman was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on the A69 last night.
The incident happened on the eastbound carriageway between Throckley and Lemmington at 22:25.
The 24-year-old woman, who was driving one of the cars, was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with life-threatening injuries.
One lane of the A69 and the slip road was closed for several hours.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
BBC News Travel
The continuing dispute over the role of guards on Northern train services means than members of the RMT will be striking again tomorrow.
Northern says about 30% of services will run, only between 09:00 and 18:00, but there will be replacement buses on some routes.
You can look for the effects on services near you here., external
Cocaine worth about £9m was found in a lorry that had travelled from Amsterdam to the Port of Tyne.
Read MoreThe Foreign Office has said it hopes the UAE "looks favourably" on Matthew Hedges' family's request for clemency, a spokesman has said.
The reasoning for rejecting the project was "significantly inadequate", a High Court judge says.
Read MoreCleveland's chief constable says austerity cuts have been "too deep" and gone on "too long".
Read MoreThe leader of Gateshead Council has been appointed as chairman of the new North East Joint Transport Committee.
Martin Gannon will lead the body which will oversee all transport matters across the North East of England.
Image source, Gateshead CouncilNewcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes was appointed vice-chair at the commmittee's first meeting held on Tuesday.
The committee will be responsible for the adoption of any regional transport plan and allocating funding to the seven North East authorities – Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland, as well as the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus).
Police are looking to speak to this man after a racist attack in a Newcastle shop.
The incident happened at 11:10 on Monday, October 22.
An Asian woman was shopping at Savers on Raby Street in Byker with her husband. She was at the checkout, when a man approached her and racially abused her.
The woman was not injured, but left the shop very upset.
Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and want to speak to the man pictured below.
Image source, Northumbria PoliceDurham University has confirmed this tweet from the union:
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