Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

  1. Steve Cram launches hospice appeal

    The sponsored bauble appeal gets under way at the Bridges Shopping Centre.

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  2. Dozens of horses and dogs rescued

    Dozens of animals, some of them badly injured, have been rescued from land and properties in Bishop Auckland.

    Twenty four stray and tethered horses, which were being illegally grazed on public land, were removed.

    Search warrants were also executed by Durham Police under the Animal Welfare Act on a number of buildings where a suspected puppy farm was discovered.

    Some of the animals were badly injured.

  3. Listen: Friday's Premiership fixtures

    Newcastle Falcons face Bath and Worcester Warriors host Harlequins in the Premiership - listen to BBC local radio commentary.

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  4. Man armed with hammer threatened to smash up GP surgery

    A patient who verbally abused staff at a doctors’ surgery before returning 10 minutes later with a hammer has been jailed.

    Hartlepool Mail front pageHARTLEPOOL MAIL

  5. Helping asylum seekers settle in

    A project in South Tyneside introduces local women to asylum seekers and refugees to help them feel at home in the area,

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  6. 'Ghosn to be arrested' says Japanese paper

    BBC Business News

    A report on the website of Japanese newspaper Asahi says that Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn is to be arrested by Tokyo prosecutors for alleged violation of financial instruments.

    It claimed Mr Ghosn, head of the Alliance group, which also includes Japan's Mitsubishi and France's Renault, was suspected of having understated his own income on financial statements.

    A Nissan spokesman said the company was making checks on the report.

    Shares in Renault slide 4% to more than three-year lows.

    Carlos GhosnGetty Images

  7. Family 'reliving' attack seven years on

    David Basrai suffered a fractured skull, broken jaw and a bleed to the brain.

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  8. Cloudy with showers arriving from the east

    Rather cloudy this morning with a few showers possible. During the afternoon there will continue to be a lot of cloud around and more showers pushing in from the east.

    Breezy and feeling colder.

    Maximum Temperature: 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

    weather graphic

  9. The British soldier who first recorded Waltzing Matilda

    John Collinson was the first person to record the famous bush-ballad - but his talent was discovered by chance.

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