Volkswagen to cut 50,000 jobs as profits drop

The countdown is on to the 2026 Scottish elections – voters will be heading to the polls in just six weeks. With a third of MSPs not seeking re-election, it will be a very different parliament to the last. The BBC’s Scotland correspondent Lorna Gordon went to the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency to find…

As the US and Israel continue strikes on Iran, and with retaliatory strikes hitting nearby Middle East states, key shipping routes are being disrupted. Oil and gas production in the region is also being affected. The BBC’s Nick Marsh examines how the war could cause a rise in living costs around the world.

Redcar Area Foodbank Every day the foodbank reveals an item it wants people to donate A foodbank is asking for donations ahead of Christmas through a reverse advent calendar. Tracy Gibson from the Redcar Area Foodbank said it was “always busy at this time of year” and the advent calendar allowed people to give something…

Rail fares in England next year are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced. The freeze until March 2027 will apply to regulated fares, which includes season tickets and off-peak returns. The most recent fare rise, in March 2025, was 4.6%. Rail fares traditionally have gone up in…