American 'pilgrim' emerges unscathed from Assad jail
The Independent|December 13, 2024
An American who spent seven months in a Syrian prison after crossing into the country on foot on a Christian pilgrimage has been found.
ALEX CROFT
American 'pilgrim' emerges unscathed from Assad jail

Travis Timmerman, who was found in the town of Dhiyabiya, says he was one of thousands of people released from Syrian prisons after rebel groups ousted the brutal regime of Bashar alAssad last weekend.

Speaking with CBS, Mr Timmerman revealed that he was freed by two men with AK-47s on Monday, after being detained when he entered Syria for “spiritual purposes”. He told Al Arabiya TV network that he crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahlé.

After being detained and spending seven months in prison, Timmerman’s “door was busted down”, he told CBS. “I thought the guards were still there, so I thought the warfare could have been more active than it ended up being. Once we got out, there was no resistance, there was no real fighting.”

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FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE INDEPENDENTSe alt
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As Noa-Lynn van Leuven approached the stage, red hair flowing and lipstick shimmering under the lights, it was hard to know what the reaction would be.

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2 mins  |
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Fixture chaos is a blueprint for shocks and dark horses
The Independent

Fixture chaos is a blueprint for shocks and dark horses

In the immediate aftermath of the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola was dumbfounded.

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3 mins  |
December 18, 2024
Mudryk in 'complete shock' over banned substance test
The Independent

Mudryk in 'complete shock' over banned substance test

Mykhailo Mudryk insists he has “not done anything wrong” after submitting a drug test sample which contained a banned substance.

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1 min  |
December 18, 2024
Weakened job market is a grim sign of things to come
The Independent

Weakened job market is a grim sign of things to come

Recruiter Reed threw the cat among the pigeons when it warned of a sharp fall in the number of jobs being advertised – and suggested that a recession may be just around the corner.

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3 mins  |
December 18, 2024
What's at stake if US goes ahead with TikTok ban?
The Independent

What's at stake if US goes ahead with TikTok ban?

After amassing more than 170 million users in the country in less than seven years, TikTok is now facing an outright ban in the US.

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2 mins  |
December 18, 2024
Teen kills teacher and pupil in shooting at US school
The Independent

Teen kills teacher and pupil in shooting at US school

A US community has been left traumatised after a 15-year-old female student killed a teacher and another pupil in a shooting spree at a Christian school in Wisconsin on Monday.

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2 mins  |
December 18, 2024
French fly flag in Damascus as West holds talks in Syria.
The Independent

French fly flag in Damascus as West holds talks in Syria.

France has raised its flag at its Damascus embassy for the first time in 12 years and European Union officials prepared to engage with the new Syrian leadership, a sign of the growing contacts after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president on 8 December.

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3 mins  |
December 18, 2024
Gaza ceasefire in sight as expectations grow over deal
The Independent

Gaza ceasefire in sight as expectations grow over deal

Hamas says an agreement will only be signed if Israel stops setting new conditions during 'serious and positive' talks

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4 mins  |
December 18, 2024
UK held migrants on island unlawfully, judge rules
The Independent

UK held migrants on island unlawfully, judge rules

A group of more than 60 asylum seekers were unlawfully detained by the UK on the remote island of Diego Garcia, a judge has ruled.

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2 mins  |
December 18, 2024