The Independent - December 11, 2024

In this issue

December 11, 2024

'We still don't know why my brother was sent to prison'

Bel Trew reports on the Syrian people's desperate search for family members disappeared under a despot's brutal regime

6 mins

Assad's naval fleet smashed by barrage of Israeli missiles

Israel has carried out a wave of airstrikes across Syria, claiming to have destroyed the country’s naval fleet and deployed troops beyond a demilitarised buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

3 mins

Secret underground tunnels found under Assad mansion

Secret escape tunnels used by the Assad family have been discovered after their tyrannical regime was overthrown by Syrian rebel forces over the weekend.

2 mins

Does Reeves's war on waste signal a return to austerity?

As a sort of softening-up exercise in advance of next year's comprehensive, first principles \"zero-based\" spending review, the chancellor of the Exchequer is taking her self-styled iron fist to government waste.

3 mins

Former Tory who organised Nazi stag do joins Reform

A former Tory MP who organised an infamous Nazi-themed stag party has joined Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Aidan Burley was sacked as a ministerial aide after the incident came to light.

2 mins

The billionaire appointed as Reform UK's new treasurer

Property tycoon and celebrity husband Nick Candy says he'll raise record funds for the right-wing outfit

3 mins

Birmingham Council agrees huge historic equal pay deal

Council facing £760m bill reaches settlement with unions

2 mins

Dutiful Dylan biopic lacks the electricity of its subject

Timothée Chalamet tries his hardest in the competent but uninspired 'A Complete Unknown'

3 mins

PinkNews bosses accused of sexual misconduct by staff

The couple who run the LGBT+ website PinkNews have been accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct by staff members.

2 mins

US shooting suspect shouts as he's dragged into court

Mangione: 'It's an insult to the intelligence of Americans'

2 mins

Netanyahu takes witness stand in corruption trial

Benjamin Netanyahu has become Israel’s first sitting prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant – having taken the witness stand in his lengthy corruption trial.

3 mins

Unlike Starmer, Farage's charisma lights up the room

The extraordinary poll showing Reform UK has overtaken the Labour Party in popularity can be attributed to many factors.

2 mins

Relax Kemi, history's on your side in the battle with Farage

Conservative MPs are worried. They weren’t worried when Andrea Jenkyns, formerly one of their number, defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.

3 mins

Murdoch loses court case in real-life 'Succession' battle

Rupert Murdoch's attempt to give his eldest son control of his family media empire has been blocked by a US court after a lengthy legal battle with three of his other children.

2 mins

Thames Water's operation is simply not good enough

Deeply in debt and proposing huge price hikes, the troubled company is holding customers to ransom

3 mins

Liverpool's imperfect win maintains perfect campaign

The mathematics of a complicated competition may remain unclear but one element is apparent.

3 mins

Injury-plagued City cannot afford to slip up in Turin

Manchester City's manager had his head in his hands.

3 mins

Year of living dangerously: our season awards for 2024

Kieran Jackson on best driver, biggest shock and much more

4 mins

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The Independent Newspaper Description:

The Independent has been at the frontline of journalism since 1986, with its mission to challenge and debate always ahead of its time. The Independent is free-thinking and free of bias in an increasingly fragmented world where communities locally, regionally and across continents are disenfranchised with traditional establishments. They want real facts and frank opinions delivered first-hand from a news source that is ready to stand for something, not everything.