News & Politics
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Tesla and SpaceX: Why does Elon Musk want to merge the companies?
Musk says there's "a lot to be gained" by combining the firms in what would be the biggest merger in history.
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Second airline to leave Leeds Bradford Airport after easyJet withdrawal
The decision comes weeks after easyJet said it would leave Leeds Bradford next January.
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23 pictures that show the devastation caused 60 years ago by the Aberfan Disaster
Rescue workers made human chains and worked for days to clear the rubble and try to rescue the bodies of 116 children killed in the tragedy
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Wandsworth prison ordered thousands of coats and blankets after heating failure
Issues with the heating supply and hot water at HMP Wandsworth became so serious that it was reported as a ‘loss of service’, a report said
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Trump lost it and ordered me to be ‘quiet’ in the Oval Office. Then it got personal
What was supposed to be an announcement on fraud quickly devolved into Trump vs The Independent. Andrew Feinberg details how it all happened in the Oval Office
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Suspect silent in first court appearance over ‘attack’ on Australia MP
Nugent was restrained by bystanders at the scene after Helen Haines was struck twice by an SUV
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North East law firm Muckle tops £20m turnover after five-year growth
Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP reports 9 per cent turnover growth to £20.6m and a fifth consecutive year of rising revenue and profit across the North East in 2026.
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Bukangi: Huge crowds watch shark stranded in Busan, South Korea
A third attempt has been made to guide the 9ft 10in (3m) shark back to the open sea.
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Domino’s sales growth slows despite strong demand for thinner pizzas
Boss Nicola Frampton told investors that it was a ‘strong performance’ but recognised that there is ‘a lot of work still to be done’.
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Darlington market to host free Diwali celebrations with crafts, food and dancing
Darlington's indoor market will host an afternoon of Diwali celebrations later this month, with free entertainment and crafts and food on offer for visitors.
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Busy Danish homeware shop Søstrene Grene confirms Durham opening date
Shoppers in Durham will soon be able to step inside one of Scandinavia's most popular homeware brands, as Søstrene Grene has confirmed the opening date of its new store at The Riverwalk.
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Police hunt mystery man after alleged assault in North Yorkshire
Police are appealing for information following an alleged assault on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate
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Tumble dryer safety fears raised by coroner after death of father and daughter
A coroner has raised concerns about the safety of a Hoover tumble dryer following the death of a father and his nine-year-old daughter in a fire.
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‘What are you implying?’: El-Sayed confronts critics head-on as attacks ramp up
Against a backdrop of rising Islamophobia, Michigan Senate hopeful has challenged premise of repeated questions on Muslim Brotherhood, Israel and faith
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UK gives green light to controversial North Sea gas project
The Shell Group, one of the project's co-developers, predicts the field can produce around 6.5% of the UK’s gas production at its peak.
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Rare show in night sky as meteor shower set to peak over Scotland
Scotland's skies could see a spectacular show tonight
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State pensioners to receive £500 triple lock boost in 2027
Someone on the full state pension will get over £13,000 for the year from April
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One in four people with depression may suffer from this new type
‘Circadian depression’ is linked to disruption of a person body’s internal clock
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NHS staff told 'I'm going to burn your house down' and are spat at as abuse worsens
NHS staff in County Durham and Darlington have faced threats and spitting, with a health boss warning verbal aggression has become “much worse”.
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Australian MP has both legs amputated after car ramming ‘attack’, husband says
Surgeons amputated her left leg on Monday and were working to save the right leg
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Video. Dramatic footage shows ferry engulfed in flames off Indonesia
Video. All passengers and crew were rescued after the KMP Batumandi ferry caught fire near Merak Port in western Indonesia on Tuesday.
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David Attenborough explains simple trick Londoners are using to protect hedgehogs
Veteran broadcaster David Attenborough has shown how effective so-called ‘hedgehog highways’ can be in urban areas
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Supreme Court justice warns conservative majority is destroying democracy
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Tuesday said the court's conservative majority has undermined democracy
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Vandals strike Bishop Auckland nursery again in latest break-in
A Bishop Auckland nursery has been targeted again after intruders broke in over the weekend, leaving damage that staff say is harming children’s learning.
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West Yorkshire campaign puts young people at the heart of tackling violence
A CREATIVE campaign led by young people is aiming to tackle serious violence across West Yorkshire
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Video. Large crowds watch as rescuers try to save stranded shark in South Korea
Video. Officials in Busan made a third attempt to guide a trapped shark out of a canal and back to sea. The animal has drawn over a million visitors.
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SNP minister's letter raises questions over Scotland's huge data centre plans
Patrick Harvie challenges the Scottish Government over a minister's letter that appeared to contradict its pledge on national data centre planning guidance.
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Darlington mum who found dream job on maternity leave grows wool shop across UK
Darlington entrepreneur Hannah Hazledine-Herd, owner of Pretty Knits Wool Shop, named 2026 Start Up Loans Ambassador for the North East.
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Traffic, travel and weather news - Live updates for County Durham and North East
We'll be bringing you all the latest live traffic, travel and weather updates from County Durham and the North East this morning (October 21).
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Bradford midwife celebrates three generations of NHS service
Despite facing discrimination and hardship, she built a career in care that laid the foundation for future generations.
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Police presence at bus station - Passenger chaos with 6 services disrupted
Passengers travelling on those routes have been advised to use the next available stands.
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CCTV image released as concern grows for missing man last seen in Bradford
West Yorkshire Police said recent enquiries had uncovered a new sighting of Gareth, captured on CCTV at Bradford Interchange.
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Watch: 'We don't pay' - lawyer advises how to avoid £45,000 illegal-worker fine
Mohammad Alias Yousaf made his claim to an undercover reporter posing as a mini-mart owner.
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‘A powerful warning’: will Europe’s angry protests lead to real political change?
Hamstrung governments seem to have no answer to the public’s furious demands, making further discontent likely
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Tiktoker to bring her 'gritty' play inspired by 'Shameless' to North East stage
A new stage play is coming to Middlesbrough next year based on the creator's "gritty" Teesside upbringing.
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Country Hits Live brings Nashville spirit to Ilkley’s King’s Hall this Thursday
COUNTRY Hits Live is set to bring the atmosphere and energy of an evening in the home of country music to Ilkley
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Video. 'Failures of the past have consequences today' says Fabrice Leggeri
Video. Fabrice Leggeri, MEP for Rassemblement Nationale speaks to Euronews on the recent violence and protests in France.
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The disputed story of the 'creepy' undercover police officer
Andrew Coles denies claims he deceived a young woman into sex while infiltrating an activist group.
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Immersive horror show Blackout comes to Bradford’s St George’s Hall this week
AN immersive theatrical experience is set to captivate Bradford
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Burnham faces Badenoch at PMQs after Jackdaw gasfield approved – UK politics live
The Jackdaw field will start supplying gas to homes and businesses from the end of the month, the government said
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DWP issues four-month warning to people who owe benefit money
The DWP can recover certain benefit debts directly from bank accounts without a court order. Find out who is affected and what to do if you receive a letter.
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Bridges or island identity? Scots inquiry head says locals must decide future
Patricia Ferguson says Scotland's island communities must decide whether bridges and tunnels are right for them, amid concerns over depopulation and island identity.
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Hungarian police arrest Orbán-era central bank governor on suspicion of fraud and abuse
Hungarian police have taken former Central Bank governor György Matolcsy into custody
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York man banned from using ‘notorious layby’
A 74-year-old York man has been banned from using a layby north of York after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a male.
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PMQs latest: Burnham proposes removing standing charges from energy bills
Miatta Fahnbulleh has promised greater energy security, but told Britons not to expect cheaper bills this winter
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Malaysia bans civil servants from using navigation app Waze, citing data risks over Israeli links
Malaysia has banned civil servants from using the navigation app Waze due to data security concerns linked to its Israeli origins
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Could Strictly legend grab the Christmas pop charts Number 1?
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has announced his new career move away from the BBC show.
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Video. Latest news bulletin
Video. Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this October 21st, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
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Music producer Trevor Horn to bring spoken-word tour to Durham homecoming
Durham-born music producer Trevor Horn returns to Gala Durham with spoken-word show Adventures in Modern Recording, sharing his career stories.
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Mayor fuming after Middlesbrough named 'worst place to grow up in UK'
The mayor of Middlesbrough has hit out at a report which describes the town as the hardest place to grow up in the country.
