Captagon – a deadly, addictive amphetamine – has turned Syria into the heart of a $2 billion drug empire few know about, with the Assad regime at the center of it all. From secret labs to smuggling routes, we uncover how this shadowy network operates and its devastating impact across the Middle East.
With the regime’s fall, what happens to this illicit empire?
In this episode:
LeBron James limped out of the Los Angeles Lakers ‘ 111-101 defeat by the Boston Celtics with a groin injury.
The 40-year-old left the court during a timeout in the fourth quarter after he contested a layup with Jaylen Brow.
James scored 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists before his exit with six minutes and 44 seconds left to play.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer missed 17 games with a groin problem in 2018 but said he did “not have much concern” about this setback.
“I’ve been there before and I know what type of injury we’re dealing with”, said James, who passed 50, 000 career points earlier this week.
“Obviously, I’m day-to-day. I’ll look at it each day and see if it gets better, and take the proper measures to see what I need to do moving forward”.
Jayson Tatum bagged 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists as the Celtics held off a late rally from the Lakers, spearheaded by Slovenian Luka Doncic, to secure their fourth straight win.
Elsewhere, Stephen Curry passed 25, 000 NBA career points during the Golden State Warriors ‘ 115-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Curry became the 26th player in NBA history to reach the milestone when he claimed a three-pointer in the third quarter.
The 36-year-old finished with 32 points, taking his total to 25, 017, but said he had not been keeping track of his overall tally.
“It was a surprise actually. I knew I was coming up on it but I didn’t think about it until I heard it in game”, Curry said.
Israel has confirmed it will send a delegation to Qatar’s capital for talks on extending a fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
On Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a delegation would be sent to Doha on Monday in “an effort to advance negotiations”.
This comes after a Hamas team met Egyptian officials in Cairo on Saturday to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire deal.
“The delegation emphasised the necessity of adhering to all terms of the agreement proceeding immediately to initiate negotiations for the second phase, opening the border crossings, and allowing the entry of relief materials into Gaza without any restrictions or conditions”, it said in a statement.
In earlier comments, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanoua said a day earlier that “indicators are positive regarding the start of negotiations for the second phase”.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal ended on March 1, after six weeks of exchanges, including 25 living Israeli captives held in Gaza for the release of 1, 800 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Israel has said it wants to extend the first stage of the agreement until mid-April, refusing to move to the second stage of the deal that involves a complete end to the war and full withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.
Hamas, however, says it wants both sides to move to the second phase as agreed.
Meanwhile, freed Israeli captives and families of those still held in Gaza called on the government to move on to the second stage of the deal and prevent a return to war.
During a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan Zangauker, who is being held in Gaza, accused Netanyahu of playing a “political game of chess” with the captives.
“The war could resume in a week … Only an agreement that brings them all at once will ensure their return”, she said.
Reporting from Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut said Israel’s push to see an extension of phase one of the deal has led to a blockade of desperately needed humanitarian aid.
“There’s still so much pressure on Netanyahu from family members of captives who are accusing the premier of prolonging the war for his own personal and political gain”, she said.
Amid the talks, Israel continued its deadly assault on Gaza, killing at least three Palestinians on Saturday.
Palestinians in Gaza are also struggling under the aid blockade, which has worsened a dire humanitarian crisis amid the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Since Friday night, Rafah has been the target of intense Israeli attacks from tanks and drones, with shelling affecting residential areas, including al-Jnaina, ash-Shawka and Tal as-Sultan, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Pro-Palestine activists have targeted Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, spraying “GAZA IS NOT 4SALE” on the lawn and splattering red paint on the clubhouse in protest against his plans for the US to take over Gaza and resettle its population.
Magomed Ankalaev scored a stunning upset with a unanimous decision to take Alex Pereira’s undisputed light heavyweight belt at UFC 313 in Las Vegas.
All three judges scored in favour of Ankalaev (21-1-1) in the Saturday night clash, with scores of 29-26 and two at 28-27.
Ankalaev fought a tactical, measured bout to unseat Pereira, who struggled to generate opportunities in the Octagon to unleash his signature left hook against the Dagestan fighter.
“I knew it would be a war”, said Pereira (12-3-0). “Every fight of mine is a war”.
Pereira’s loss to Ankalaev ends a highly publicised streak of three title defenses within the last year, a stretch that saw the 37-year-old become arguably the biggest star in the sport. A win would have made Pereira the second-fastest fighter to four title defenses in UFC history.
In the co-main event, the number three-ranked lightweight and fan favourite Justin Gaethje (27-5-0) earned a unanimous decision over number 11 Rafael Fiziev (12-4-0).
Gaethje was scheduled to fight Dan Hooker, who pulled out because of a hand injury. Gaethje dropped Fiziev with a stiff right uppercut in the second round.
CCTV video captured the moment a Peruvian man miraculously survived after being run over by a train in Lima while he was asleep on the tracks. Authorities believe the 28-year-old was under the influence of alcohol, and he was taken to a hospital with minor hand injuries.