Nigerian official says over 300 abducted schoolboys freed

More than 300 schoolboys abducted last week by armed men in northwestern Nigeria have been freed, authorities have confirmed.  Boko Haram militants kidnapped hundreds of children from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in northwestern Katsina state last Friday.  Around 800 students had been present at the school when it was attacked by armed men on … Read more

Man ‘held captive in Swedish apartment by his mother’ is freed after 28 years

A mother has been arrested and accused of keeping her son imprisoned for 28 years at her flat in Sweden.  Medics were called to the apartment, in Stockholm, on Sunday after a suspicious relative broke in and found the woman’s son, now 41, locked inside. The man was severely malnourished, had sores and open wounds … Read more

Convicted terrorist, 27, who REFUSED to explain contact with Salman Abedi to be FREED from jail 

A convicted terrorist who has refused to tell the Manchester Arena inquiry about his contact with bomber Salman Abedi is set to be released from jail this week.  Abdalraouf Abdallah, 27, was jailed in 2016 after he was found guilty of helping people travel to Syria to join so-called Islamic State.  While he was in … Read more

Rat is freed from a manhole by firefighters – but not before it chomps one of the men saving it 

Fat rat is freed from a manhole by firefighters – but not before the rotund rodent chomps one of the men saving it Volunteer fire brigade rescued rat stuck in manhole cover in Germany yesterday They arrived around 4.45pm in Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate The rat bit into one of the rescuer’s gloves when they reached … Read more

Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel says Booker Prize snub ‘freed her’

Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel says Booker Prize snub ‘freed her’ as acclaimed writer misses chance to win award for final book in Thomas Cromwell series Hilary Mantel was hoping to scoop a third win for her novel on Thomas Cromwell Her novel The Mirror and the Light did not reach the six-book Booker … Read more

What an ass: Donkey has to be freed after it gets its head stuck in a plastic chair

My ass is stuck in this chair! Donkey is freed after getting its head stuck in plastic furniture  A stray donkey was spotted in pain as it was stuck in a plastic chair in Ajman  Locals grouped together to catch the animal so that they could cut it free  An animal rescue centre has now … Read more

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was almost freed by Iran three years ago but the deal collapsed

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was almost freed by Iran three years ago but the deal collapsed… weeks after Boris Johnson tried to intervene in her case, new documentary claims A BBC Panorama investigation allegedly uncovered details of deal made in 2017 Richard Ratcliffe said his wife had been due to return to the UK on December 28 … Read more

Could Wigan be freed from lockdown? Andy Burnham says it’s ‘clear’ measures have to worked

Birmingham could be forced into lockdown today as ministers meet to discuss plans to tackle the city’s spiralling Covid-19 outbreak. Health Secretary Matt Hancock is said to have chaired the ‘gold command meeting’ this morning, alongside council bosses and Public Health England.  Official figures show the city of Birmingham’s infection rate has more than doubled … Read more