UK
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Some schools are banning caffeine pouches. Here's what parents and students should know
Young people are turning to caffeine pouches for a quick energy boost, raising concerns among health experts, school officials, and parents
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Storm Boelo to batter North East with 80mph winds as yellow warning issued
A yellow weather warning has been issued across Darlington and County Durham as Storm Boelo is set to bring winds of up to 80mph this weekend.
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Nestle removes £1.5bn of Russian assets after business seized by Putin
But the food giant said the move would have a limited financial impact on its underlying results for 2026.
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UK gender pay gap declines as more workers in low-paid jobs
The Office for National Statistics found the gender pay gap for full-time employees was 6.8% in April.
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French authorities ban some student protests after weekend looting and clashes
French authorities have banned protests planned for Thursday in multiple cities after a weekend of violent unrest
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UK plumbing and drainage company collapses into administration after 9 years
Plumbing and drainage company United Drains Ltd has collapsed into administration after nine years in business.
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‘Limited’ Government services temporarily offline amid PHP cybersecurity issue
Downing Street did not provide details of which websites are affected.
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‘America, this is a warning’: pro- Trump Maga media in a froth over Europe protests
Fox News and others have toed president’s line – seemingly hoping unrest abroad will make people vote Republican
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BioWare: Mass Effect and Dragon Age video game studio to close
The influential studio that made Mass Effect and Dragon Age announces it is closing its doors.
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Married at First Sight Australia: Police investigate show after 'inappropriate' allegations
New South Wales Police say inquiries took place "following a report of inappropriate content being shared".
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Calls for £9.90 prescription charge to be scrapped as patients go without medication
The NPA said that prescription charges are a ‘cruel tax on illness’ as they called on the Chancellor to scrap the charges in the upcoming Budget
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Monster hail smashes cars as rare tornado threat grips Arizona
The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings across parts of Arizona on Wednesday, including severe thunderstorm warnings that brought large hail the size of golf balls
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Vivek Ramaswamy campaign ad for Ohio ‘shameful, disgusting’, says Republican congresswoman – US politics live
Nancy Mace said: ‘This ad is going to go down as the most shameful, disgusting, offensive ad this election season’
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‘Nobody believes you!’ Megapastor destroys GOP senator’s wild gas price excuses
Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall said Wednesday that Ukraine’s war with Russia — and not the U.S. war with Iran — was to blame for high diesel prices
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Coul Links ruling deals blow to hopes for major Highland golf development
Supporters said the championship course could create millions of pounds in economic activity, but ministers ruled this did not outweigh the environmental harm
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Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are promising hosts more money and fewer secrets
With host communities across the U.S. turning against their gargantuan data centers, America’s technology giants are promising to take fewer taxpayer handouts, keep fewer secrets or shower more money onto the communities willing to allow the server warehouses
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65mph storm threatens East Coast with flooding and dangerous winds
Subtropical Storm Josephine is pushing north from the U.S. Northeast coast, bringing some coastal flooding and possible gale-force winds
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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 22).
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White House demands Politico retracts articles and apologize to Trump: report
Counsel to the President William Scharf accuses outlet of publishing ‘series of demonstrably false and defamatory articles in an apparent effort to manufacture a narrative of dysfunction and infighting’
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Church to retrace final footsteps of soldier killed just days before end of WW1
40 people from Motherwell are to travel to Belgium to retrace the final footsteps of a young soldier who was killed during the closing days of the First World War – just 11 days before the Armistice.
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Stephen Flynn accused of 'hiding' as union hits out over Israel links to ScotRail
The Scottish organiser for the train drivers' union has accused Stephen Flynn of "tenuously hiding" behind process after it was decided a company linked to illegal Israeli settlements will not be removed from a ScotRail tender process
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Fingerprint analysis reveals something remarkable about makers of Terracotta Army
Artisans in third century BC created thousands of life-size terracotta figures to guard tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang near Xi'an
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New North East cultural venue attracts almost 80,000 visitors in first month
Culture House Sunderland welcomed 79,685 visitors in its first month after opening on September 12, with 3,800 joining its library, including 1,000 children.
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North East consultancy wins international AI and digital transformation award
Newcastle-based Opencast wins AI & Digital Transformation Company of the Year at the GP Bullhound Allstars Awards, highlighting North East tech growth.
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MP's disappointment as North East misses out on City of Culture shortlist
A North East MP has expressed his disappointment after Middlesbrough missed out on a place on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2029.
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Man, 24, jailed after targeting students for money in Durham City
Durham man James Carr jailed for 16 weeks after breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order by approaching students for money amid an anti-social behaviour crackdown.
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Bishop Auckland fashion show to celebrate additional needs children who deserve shine
Children and young people with additional needs are set to take centre stage at a runway event celebrating confidence, inclusion and individuality next month.
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Waze rejects Malaysia’s data risks claims after civil servants barred from using the app
Waze has rejected Malaysia's claims that it collects sensitive government information or allows exploitation of personal user data
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Cause of A171 crash which killed Darlington MBE couple 'unknown', inquest hears
Alan Charlton, 90, and Joy McCulloch, 74, died after the two-vehicle crash on the A171 near Scaling Dam just before midnight on Friday (October 2).
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Is the UK set to green-light the Rosebank oil field?
Scotland editor James Cook visits Rosebank - the UK's largest known untapped oilfield - in the North Atlantic.
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Government urged to approve Rosebank oil and gas field after Jackdaw go-ahead
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for Labour to repeal its ban on all new oil and gas licences.
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Killers who skip sentencing to face solitary confinement or be denied social visits
The new measures aim to push killers to come to court, as threats of more time behind bars are unlikely to deter them
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David Attenborough reveals how UK households can save hedgehogs with one task
Veteran broadcaster David Attenborough has shown how effective so-called ‘hedgehog highways’ can be in urban areas
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First human case of Shamonda virus detected in France, officials say
The disease, which usually affects cattle, has been identified in a patient who died in early October.
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Phil Vickery: England Rugby World Cup winner shares bodybuilding journey
Why England Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery has started entering bodybuilding competitions at the age of 50.
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Government issues riot warning for Brits travelling to Italy
Government travel bosses are urging British tourists not to take photos of or join protests sweeping northern Italy - as some demonstrations descended into 'violent riots and looting'.
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Aung San Suu Kyi’s son speaks to detained former Myanmar leader for first time in five years
Kim Aris says ‘hearing her voice again means more than words can express’ amid loosening of detention restrictions
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The simple way to ward off cognitive decline and keep brain young in old age
Social activities seem particularly effective at keeping mind sharp
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Cat happiness chemically linked to happiness of its owner, new study shows
Landmark study reveals feline happiness levels mirror their owners’, while reducing human anxiety and stress
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Trump orders diplomats to leave Middle East amid fears US could strike Houthis
Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia killed at least two people at an airport in Damman on Wednesday
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Iran says 7 tankers on fire or damaged overnight in the Strait of Hormuz, and other Mideast news
Iran's state television has reported that seven oil tankers caught fire and were damaged overnight after either being targeted or striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz
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Experts give advice on what you need to buy to prepare for winter weather
A ‘danger to life’ warning has been issued for sea fronts and coastal roads as UK braces for Storm Austen to hit
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Thousands of patients accidentally removed from NHS waiting lists
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) says the electronic system ’was not designed to manage the current volume of referrals’
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John Healey vows to be a chancellor ‘who backs business’ ahead of Budget
Chancellor says he is seeking to rebuild the damaged relationship between Labour and business
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How Arab parties could hold critical balance of power in Israeli election
Disaffection has often driven down turnout among Arab Israelis, but there is a strong push to get rid of the right-wing governing coalition.
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Children's singer Raffi on his 50-year career, screen time and Ms. Rachel
The beloved children's musician Raffi continues to charm audiences with his timeless songs
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The Independent’s Alex Croft wins young journalist award for foreign reporting
Judges highlight several exceptional pieces of Alex’s reporting on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza among other global issues
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Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs by end of year after AI drive
The banking group said cuts affect about five per cent of all its employees
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Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warning as Storm Austen approaches
Strong winds are expected across southern parts of England and Wales
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Oil prices jump to five-month high as attacks threaten global supply
Iran’s IRGC says it hit four vessels in the northern Gulf and three more struck mines near the strait of Hormuz
