Saudi doctoral student Salma al-Shehab, initially sentenced to 34 years in prison for her Twitter activity, has been freed after her sentence was reduced to four years, with another four suspended. The London-based rights group ALQST confirmed her release but urged full freedom, including travel rights. Al-Shehab, a Shiite minority member, was detained in 2021 and accused of "disturbing public order" for retweeting dissident accounts.
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American Travis Timmerman, 29, was freed from a Syrian prison after seven months of captivity following the collapse of the Assad regime. He was handed over to US troops at the Tanf garrison and flown to Jordan. Timmerman, who entered Syria from Lebanon on a religious pilgrimage, was reportedly treated fairly during his detention.
In Herald Square, Manhattan, a taxi struck a 9-year-old boy and other pedestrians after the driver possibly experienced a medical emergency. Bystanders quickly intervened to rescue the pinned victims. Six people were injured, including the boy's mother. The incident is under investigation, but initial indications suggest it was accidental, not deliberate.
An Army helicopter crew potentially misread their altitude and missed crucial radio communications before colliding with an American Airlines jet over Washington, DC. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash, which killed 67 people, with the final report expected to take over a year to complete.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has told investigating magistrates in France, where he was charged with infractions linked to enabling organised crime, that he "realised the seriousness of all the allegations"learned Saturday from a source familiar with the case. The messaging service Durov founded with his brother in 2013 "was not created to be a platform for criminals", he told investigators through an interpreter, according to extracts from his questioning in December provided by the source.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel is ready to resume fighting in Gaza if needed. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's intention to complete war objectives against Hamas. A scheduled Palestinian prisoner release was halted by Israel due to Hamas's actions. Hamas criticized the move, warning it threatens the ongoing truce, which began on January 19.
J K Rowling has expressed her surprise at the literary community’s silence regarding sexual assault allegations against writer Neil Gaiman. Rowling’s comments come as eight women, including a former babysitter for Gaiman’s child, accuse the author of predatory behaviour. Gaiman denies all allegations. Geiman was first accused of sexual assault in 2024.
Kat Timpf revealed she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer just hours before giving birth to her first child. Timpf expressed gratitude for detecting the cancer early and the support from colleagues, as she navigates new motherhood and treatment concurrently.
Elon Musk’s son, "Little X," captivated the press during a White House briefing by wandering around, climbing on his father's shoulders, and even charming President Trump. Grimes, however, was displeased with the public appearance, emphasizing he shouldn't have been present. Despite this, Musk's son was praised for his politeness.
Nadine Menendez, the wife of former Senator Bob Menendez, has been convicted on all counts for her involvement in a bribery scheme. She accepted gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in exchange for political favors facilitated by her husband. The scheme involved three New Jersey businessmen seeking assistance with their ventures, leading to their convictions as well.
​Photos released by the FBI showed the drone put a large hole in the aircraft’s wing, with the damage causing about a 30-minute delay in the aerial firefight, ABC 7 reported. “I’d just like to stress, that technique, using that super scooper aircraft, are our most effective technique to fight fires like this, and when this happens, it puts everybody’s lives at risk,†said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.