How illicit arms trafficker Viktor Bout’s business models works: ‘Africans can kill each other, I don’t care’
In 1999 the United Nations made known that they were aware of Bout’s aircraft flying arms around Africa, but there wasn’t a legal way to prosecute him even though these flights were violating UN arms embargoes in certain jurisdictions. By the 2000s Bout’s empire was worth billions of dollars. He employed several hundred people and dozens of mostly ex-Soviet cargo aircraft.
Released from US prison, ‘merchant of death’ Viktor Bout behind bloodbath in Congo eyes second coming to Africa
Personally, Bout believes in following his heart, as this “is what brought me success in the first place.” He added that, “life is a learning curve and so we’ll always incorporate lessons learnt. Overall, I’m grateful for what I achieved.”
China bans fish imports from Japan after release of Fukushima radioactive contaminated water into sea
Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said the release began at 1:03pm local time (0403 GMT) and it had not identified any abnormalities. However, China reiterated its firm opposition to the plan and said the Japanese government had not proved that the water discharged would be safe.
Republican aspirants fail to knock back Trump in presidential primary debate despite his absence
While the candidates repeatedly tangled – often talking over moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum – most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon. The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election.
Revenge suspected in plane crash near Moscow that killed 10, including Wagner mercenary boss Prigozhin
Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who also confirmed that Prigozhin was aboard, as was Dmitry Utkin, whose call sign Wagner became the company’s name.
Missing in action: After revolt against Kremlin, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s goose was cooked
Wagner was first seen in action in eastern Ukraine soon after a separatist conflict erupted there in April 2014, in the weeks following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. At the time, Russia denied sending its own weapons and troops despite ample evidence to the contrary. The private Wagner army gave Moscow a degree of deniability.
