David Averre

By DAVID AVERRE Published: | Updated: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made his first statement since he was ousted by rebel groups and fled to Russia less than two weeks ago.

By DAVID AVERRE Published: | Updated: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued his first statement since he was deposed by rebel groups and fled to Russia less than two weeks ago.

Oscar Pistorius has begun dating a family friend just months after his release from prison for murdering former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - and the two women look suspiciously alike.

The death of Russian military chief Igor Kirillov in Moscow this morning is just the latest in a string of recent assassinations of high-ranking Russian scientists, military chiefs and pro-Kremlin politicians

The autocrat allegedly provided the location of weapons stockpiles, missile launch sites, military bases and other key infrastructure of Syria's government forces to Israeli chiefs

Today, the Monster of Avignon was slapped with a 20 year prison term by Judge Roger Arata after he pleaded guilty to drugging her repeatedly for almost a decade to rape and abuse her

Gisele's visible joy in the image snapped by her abusive husband belies the heinous treatment to which she was subjected by Mr Pelicot over the course of a decade

Pelicot could yet face another shameful trial as investigators believe the depraved 72-year-old may be responsible for the rape and murder of Sophie Narme, a real estate agent, in 1991

Dominique and Gisele Pelicot's daughter Caroline said the ordeal, plus the trying court proceedings, have caused her to 'lose her mother', with Pelicot's actions having ruptured the family

The idea of a large-scale conflict between Russia and the Western-led security bloc is enough to have even the most seasoned strategists waking up with a jolt in a cold sweat