Away from Matthew Hedges' life imprisonment, the sacking of Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn is the other big news today.

After nearly 20 years at the helm of the car-maker, Mr Ghosn has been ousted.

He is accused of under-reporting his salary and using company assets for personal use.

Senior executive Greg Kelly has also been removed. Both men are in custody in Tokyo.

Nissan's chief executive Hiroto Saikawa will take over as interim chairman.

Read more about Carlos Ghosn's status in Japan here.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Tees

Two boys from Teesside have been given a special supercar experience.

The Government is "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the jailing for life of a British academic in the United Arab Emirates on an allegation of spying, peers have been told.

Baroness Goldie said ministers were raising the case of 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges with the UAE authorities at the "very highest level".

"We are conveying in the starkest and bluntest terms possible what the reaction has been within the UK to Mr Hedges' situation," she said answering an urgent question at the Lords.

She said consular staff had met with Mr Hedges on six occasions.

"We will continue to do all we can to support him as we consider the next steps," she added.

Lady Goldie said she has no specific information about Mr Hedges' health.

Image source, Daniela Tejada

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt warns Britons against vacationing in the UAE while Matthew Hedges is in custody.

Amnesty International has criticised the trial of Durham Phd student Matthew Hedges as "ridiculously short".

Speaking of the sentence, UAE researcher Devin Kenney said: "This is shocking and terrible news.

"We were extremely worried from the start because of Matthew's long period of imprisonment without being able to see a lawyer and the alleged confession in prison.

"Now, there is this life sentence, issued after a highly irregular and ridiculously short process.

"Matthew Hedges is entitled to a fair trial; otherwise, the UAE authorities do not have the right to detain him and must release him immediately

"In the last seven years in the United Arab Emirates it has been a whole process of trials not worthy of the name. Many have done so, from advocates of reforms to human rights defenders, from politicians to judges and lawyers, and now even a British student."

Image source, Daniela Tejada

The UK must be "cautious" about ending schemes such as student exchange in the wake of academic Matthew Hedges being jailed for life in the UAE for spying, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah says.

He added: "It is an incredibly tragic story and I am pleased to see the Foreign Office is using all the available levers to Her Majesty's Government to intervene on behalf of this graduate.

"We have got to be cautious, but student exchange is one of these things that should always go on.

"I think that even where you have countries where you might have profound policy disagreements with, one of the issues that can actually help facilitate a change of outlook and ideas is student exchange programmes.

"It worked during the Cold War, I don't see why it can't work now. But that is not in any way to suggest that we approve of what has happened in this case."

Daniela Tejada has condemned the UAE's respect for human life and has pleaded for a review of her husband's sentence.

"Matt is innocent," she told Reuters.

"Handing a life sentence to an innocent researcher who held the UAE in high regard speaks volumes about their lack of tolerance and respect for human life.

"They must review their sentence and release my husband who has already had more than six months taken away from us," Ms Tejada said.

Image source, Daniela Tejada

More from the House of Lords, external - Lord Collins of Highbury says there are 120,000 UK citizens in the UAE and we have 11 universities represented there, and asks if there is any advice for them?

Baroness Goldie says the Foreign Office always monitors situations in other countries, adding: "At the very highest level the UK government is in contact with the UAE and we are conveying, in the starkest and bluntest terms possible, what the reaction has been in the UK to the situation."

Some other news today away from jailed academic Matthew Hedges - Nissan have sacked disgraced Carlos Ghosn as chairman, local media report.

Public broadcaster NHK and business daily Nikkei both said the seven-member board had decided to remove the 64-year-old from the top of the firm he has led for almost two decades.

UK consulate staff in the UAE met jailed academic Matthew Hedges six times, it has emerged, following criticism of the help the government has given him.

Crossbench peer Viscount Waverley asked the House of Lords, external how often Hedges received assistance while he was being held in solitary confinement.

Baroness Goldie (Conservatve) said: "We are shocked and deeply disappointed by the verdict and we are raising it with the Emirati authorities at the highest levels.

"The Foreign Secretary is urgently seeking a call with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, the Foreign Secretary met the UAE ambassador to the UK this morning and will meet Mr Hedges wife later.

"Consulate staff have met with Matthew on six occasions, three before his recent bail and three whilst on bail."

Victoria Derbyshire

A friend of Durham University student Matthew Hedges said he was "shocked" and "pretty emotional" by his jailing in the United Arab Emirates for spying.

Gertjan Hoetjes said the signs had been "pretty positive" as Hedges, 31, had been released from prison on bail and his "conditions were improving".

He said: "It seemed to be until yesterday that public pressure on the Emirati authorities was working. There seemed ti be improvement in his situation

"Then to hear the news yesterday morning was a huge shock and was pretty emotional."

He said Hedges' wife Daniela Tejada had been in "constant touch" with the British authorities and "did everything in her power to get Matthew released".

Staff at the University of Birmingham are to meet today to discuss its response to the jailing of British academic Matthew Hedges, accused of spying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Image source, University of Birmingham

In a statement, external the University and College Union (UCU) at the site said it was "especially troubled" by the verdict because the university is in the process of opening a new campus in the UAE.

The university officially opened the Dubai International Academic City site, external in February 2018 with the first cohort of students welcomed in September.

"We, along with other staff, students and our local MP, have consistently raised serious safety concerns about the Dubai project," said the UCU committee.

"To date, management have been unable to provide clear assurances over how they would protect the safety of staff and students."

The University of Birmingham has been approached for a response.

Lib Dem trade spokesman Tom Brake has told Radio 5 Live the UK government "should consider" denying Manchester City's owner, Sheikh Mansour, a visa.

It comes after Matthew Hedges, 31, of Durham University, was sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates for spying.

Another Conservative MP has criticised the Government's handling of Matthew Hedges' case:

Liberal Democrat international trade spokesman Tom Brake is calling for the government to impose sanctions on the UAE after Matthew Hedges was jailed for life for spying.

He told the BBC: "We need to hear some firm words from the Foreign Secretary.

"After all, it would seem as though Hedges confessed, in inverted commas, because he was tortured.

"So not only do we have a British citizen who was detained but potentially, also someone who suffered ill treatment as well.

"That's why we need a very clear statement from our government and I'm afraid, so far, that is lacking."

More criticism from Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer following BBC Radio 4 Today programme's interview with the wife of jailed Durham academic Matthew Hedges:

The life sentence handed down to Durham academic Matthew Hedges in the UAE dominates the front pages this morning.

The Metro, external says the hearing in Abu Dhabi yesterday lasted only five minutes.

The Daily Mail, external leads on the "agony" of his wife Daniela. It also warns of "retaliation" by the Foreign Secretary.

Mr Hedges' wife, external is on the front page of The Times as well. The paper says the ruling has "plunged Britain’s relations with the Gulf state into crisis".