Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist on BBC Radio 5 live

After consecutive wins and seven points out of a possible nine, people are finally beginning to believe Rafael Benitez's claims that his Newcastle United side are not going to be relegated.

But even if he does manage to keep them up, will it be enough to ensure he remains at St James' Park?

Image source, Getty Images

If he does maintain the momentum and ensures Premier League status, it will be an achievement to rival any of the managerial successes crafted over a long and illustrious career.

Click here to read the full blog.

The UAE's ambassador in London defends the conviction of a British student accused of spying - but says he is hopeful an "amicable solution" to the case can be reached.

The family of jailed British academic Matthew Hedges has pushed back on claims from the UAE ambassador that his court hearing was a "full and proper process".

A statement from his wife Daniela Tejada said: "Matt was held in an undisclosed location in solitary confinement for over five months, with no charge, no lawyer and very limited consular access.

"When he did receive consular access, he was not allowed to talk openly about his case and thus never received advice as to what his rights were.

"The judicial system in the UAE and the UK cannot be compared.

"I was in the court room and the hearing lasted less than five minutes. We have asked for clemency, we will wait to see what happens."

Image source, Daniela Tejada

The UAE government is considering a request to pardon jailed Durham PhD student Matthew Hedges, the country's ambassador has said.

The 31-year-old has always maintained he is innocent, and that he had been researching the country's security strategy.

Prosecutors say he admitted the charges in an Abu Dhabi court, which found him guilty of "spying for or on behalf of" the UK government and he was jailed for life.

Today Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui said: "Under UAE law everyone has the right to appeal after conviction. And everyone can request a pardon from our president. Mr Hedges' family have made a request for clemency and the government is studying that request."

Image source, Daniela Tejada

Here is the full text of the ambassador's statement:

In a short statement, the UAE ambassador to the UK denied Matthew Hedges trial lasted only five minutes. He also said the academic's family have made a clemency request, which is being reviewed by the government.

Matthew Hedges' friend Cinzia Bianco said a suggestion from the UAE ambassador that the family could ask for clemency was positive.

But speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, she said that would be clemency for a crime "he had not committed".

"Therefore it doesn't eliminate the whole problem, and of course they want to point out the government can't influence the courts in the UAE, but this is a very political case, Matthew has been accused of spying for the UK government, so it's principally a political question.

"And when the ambassador makes a reference to the importance of preserving national security because of the UAE being in a dangerous neighbourhood, who are they preserving this national security against? Against the United Kingdom? Does the United Kingdom pose a threat to the UAE, given that Matt has been accused of spying for the UK government?

"That would be quite a significant statement to make."

In a brief statement, the ambassador said they were hopeful an amicable solution could be found to the case.

The UAE's ambassador to the UK, Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui, has denied Matthew Hedges was convicted in a "show trial".

Watch the BBC news channel live.

Rafael Benitez's contract expires in the summer and, with little financial backing forthcoming, Guillem Balague asks whether he might leave – or even be sacked.

BBC Tees

A Teesside baby hospice says it's seen a drop in donations which could make running the service difficult in the future.

Zoe's Place in Middlesbrough- which cares for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions says there are now more charities which means funds raised are spread more thinly.

Mark Guidery, manager of the charity says he's looking into how the charity will manage for money in the future.

Daniela Tejada tells BBC Breakfast her husband Matthew Hedges is "not well".

A British academic, convicted of spying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and jailed for life, is "absolutely terrified", his wife says.

Daniela Tejada said she had had "five minutes" on the phone with Matthew Hedges for the first time since his sentencing and he is "not well".

Hedges, 31, denied spying and said he had been researching his PhD. Prosecutors said he confessed.

The UAE ambassador is due to give an update on the case at 10:00.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams tweeted that things were "looking a bit more positive" for Hedges, with Foreign Office sources suggesting there had been an "olive branch" from the Emirati foreign minister.

Image source, Daniela Tejada

Matthew Hedges' wife Daniela Tejada thanked Jeremy Hunt for meeting her at "this crucial point".

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has talks with his UAE counterpart about jailed Briton Matthew Hedges.

The A1 southbound has now reopened by the Angel of the North after it was closed following a crash:, external

Paul Adams
BBC diplomatic correspondent

Yesterday was a remarkable day.

It started off with the UAE ambassador going to the Foreign Office and getting what we think was quite a dressing down from Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, he's made his fury at this life sentence that was handed down the previous day very clear indeed.

And then in the afternoon, following a statement from the Foreign Ministry in the UAE which talked about the two sides working towards some kind of amicable solution, there was another conversation, this time with the Foreign Minister of the UAE, and after that Jeremy Hunt said that had been constructive and that he believed the Foreign Minister was working hard to resolve this as soon as possible.

So the tone just dramatically changed in just a few hours, and the impression I am getting from both sides is that they are now working assiduously and with some urgency to try and get this sorted out, possibly very soon.

There is the possibility that one of the mechanisms that the authorities in the UAE have identified is the possibility of the family seeking clemency, that those wheels may be in motion, and that may be the route that secures Matthew Hedges' release, within a matter of days.

Highways England is warning of long delays after the A1 southbound by the Angel of the North was closed following a crash:, external

Image source, Highways England