Steffie Banatvala

Steffie is a freelance news reporter

<p>People shoot in the air as they celebrate the fall of the Syrian government in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday</p>

How a lightning assault by Syrian rebels toppled Assad’s regime

Distracted by wars elsewhere, president Bashar al-Assad’s military allies Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah failed to mobilise the kind of decisive firepower that had propped him up for years

How a lightning assault by Syrian rebels toppled Assad’s regime

Distracted by wars elsewhere, president Bashar al-Assad’s military allies Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah failed to mobilise the kind of decisive firepower that had propped him up for years

<p>People shoot in the air as they celebrate the fall of the Syrian government in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday</p>

<p>An ATACMS missile </p>

Ukraine fires first US-made long-range missiles into Russia

<p>Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at trial </p>

Netanyahu finally takes stand at corruption trial

<p>A person gestures as individuals, reportedly freed prisoners, run in the streets of Damascus, Syria</p>

The inmates released from Assad’s notorious prisons

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and the Chairman of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Merz shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine</p>

Zelensky open to idea of Western troops in Ukraine

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and the Chairman of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Merz shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine</p>

Zelensky open to idea of Western troops in Ukraine

<p>Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a deal to ‘immediately provide military and other assistance using all available means’ if either side is in a state of war </p>

Putin gifts dozens of animals to North Korea zoo

<p>Marine Le Pen has threatened to topple the French government </p>

France’s Le Pen threatens to topple government over cost of living

<p>Cooking oil has been linked with rise in colon cancer cases</p>

Cooking oil could be causing colon cancer surge in young people

Who is Francois Bayrou? Macron’s pick to be France’s prime minister

<p>Should mashed potatoes appear in a Christmas dinner? </p>

Debate over whether mashed potatoes should be in a Christmas dinner

<p>File image of King Charles III and Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness as the country tables a republic bill </p>

Jamaica introduces bill to remove King Charles as head of state

<p>Buckingham Palace (PA)</p>

Buckingham Palace maid arrested for assault in Christmas party chaos

<p>Jonathan Reynolds will urge banks and investors to ignore activists </p>

Business secretary tells banks to back defence firms, ignore activists

<p>Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster pointed to the sky mid-match in a tribute to his younger cousin</p>

Sheffield Utd’s Brewster pays tribute to cousin who died on pitch

<p>Some suppliers already offer low or no standing charge tariffs</p>

UK energy firms must offer ‘zero standing charge’ tariffs next year

<p>Gen Z are swapping mince pies for loaded fries </p>

Gen Z ditch mince pies for loaded fries this Christmas