First public comments attributed to Assad claim he never planned to leave Syria

Sarah Baldry, co-owner and pastry chef at Edinburgh restaurant Nàdair, suggests replacing brandy butter with mulled wine as a festive alternative for Christmas pudding. She recommends reducing mulled wine into a syrup with honey and mixing it with softened butter for a versatile topping that can also be used on Christmas cake, mince pies, or cheese. Food writer Nigel Slater also supports this idea by sharing a hot buttered rum recipe, highlighting the flexibility of...

An alleged Chinese spy named Yang Tengbo, previously known as H6, has been revealed as a close confidant of Prince Andrew, facing accusations of trying to gain influence and assisting the Chinese Communist Party. Mr. Yang denied any involvement in espionage, attributing the claims to political tensions between Britain and China. In response, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will skip the traditional royal Christmas gathering at Sandringham, opting to spend the...

Lucy Letby's lawyers are seeking to launch a fresh appeal over her convictions, claiming the prosecution's lead witness was "not reliable." Barrister Mark McDonald stated he will apply to reopen her case based on new evidence from Dr. Dewi Evans, who changed his opinion on the cause of death for three babies. Letby, serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven infants, has lost two previous bids to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal....

Union home minister Amit Shah vowed to eradicate Maoists, stating that the sacrifices of martyrs will not be forgotten. During his visit to Chhattisgarh, Shah met with families of fallen jawans and civilians affected by left-wing extremism, emphasizing the government's support for anti-Naxal operations in the region. Over the past year, security forces have killed 287 Maoists, with a focus on encouraging surrenders, making arrests, and responding firmly to violence. Full Article

Pierre John Parsons, now known as PJ, a transgender woman and convicted child rapist, has gone to the Supreme Court to have an extended supervision order lifted, arguing her predilection is now "latent and might only emerge in certain circumstances". Parsons was jailed for abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl in 1995, and has been on parole or under an ESO since. Despite previous breaches and more offending, the courts have upheld the ESO, citing...

Former top aide Thomas Cullen continued his government witness testimony against ex-Speaker Michael Madigan, highlighting Madigan’s hardworking and constituent-focused operation. Cullen praised Madigan’s leadership and work ethic, while defending lobbying practices as normal. The defense emphasized lobbying efforts as helping friends in need, steering away from bribery accusations in the ongoing racketeering trial. Full Article