Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual marathon news conference and call-in show, emphasizing Russia’s economic performance and stable situation despite challenges like high inflation. The session, dominated by domestic issues, featured questions on road repairs, utility prices, and medical services. Putin also addressed military action in Ukraine, including recent tensions with the West and the killing of a senior Russian general, while reiterating Moscow’s readiness for talks on a peaceful settlement but demanding Ukraine renounce NATO aspirations and recognize Russia’s gains.
Full Article
How the Assads used a civil war to turn Syria into a narco state
Before the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a luxury villa outside Damascus was used as a factory to produce the highly addictive drug Captagon. The regime trafficked the drug to countries in the region, earning billions of dollars to prop up the collapsing economy during the civil war. Captagon, originally created as a legal pharmaceutical, became a popular illicit party drug known for its energy-boosting effects. The evidence of this extensive drug operation...
Read more