By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 6:29 PM EST, February 24, 2024 | Updated: 6:29 PM EST, February 24, 2024

Tucker Carlson once again jumped to the defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that anyone who thinks the brutal strongman was responsible for the untimely death of his main political opponent Alexie Navalny is “idiot.”

Carlson, 54, was speaking to former Fox News host Glenn Beck on the latter's BlazeTV network when he made his comments.

“Navalny's death at the Munich Security Conference, amid disagreements over aid to Ukraine, is certainly not good for Russia. People who say Putin killed him are idiots,” Carlson said.

Alexie Navalny died Friday at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence, Russia's prison agency said. He was 47. His cause of death has not been made public.

On Monday, Navalny's widow, Yulia, released a video accusing Putin of killing her husband and claiming the refusal to release his body was part of a cover-up. His widow has joined the chorus of Western leaders who have blamed the dissident's death on Putin.

Carlson's latest comments are a firecracker from his statement decrying Navalny's treatment.

In an exclusive statement to DailyMail.com, Carlson said: “It is horrific what happened to Navalny. The whole thing is barbaric and terrible. No decent person would defend it.”

In the wake of Carlson's comments to Beck, DailyMail.com has reached out to the host for further clarification on what he found “horrific” about “what happened to Navalny” and what was “barbaric and terrible” about it.

His death came just days after Carlson conducted a soft ball interview with Putin in Moscow.

It subsequently emerged that on the day the interview took place, Putin's secret security forces, the FSB, arrested Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina on charges of insult.

During his interview with Beck, he asked Carlson, “Have you ever thought, 'I'm not in my home country. I'm saying this to a very powerful man who does whatever he wants?' Have you ever worried?

'No. I didn't worry for a second when I was there. I wasn't worried about going there, not because I trust the Russian government, I don't, but because my children are grown, and I don't really care at this point. I feel protected. I say my prayers,” Carlson said.

Speaking specifically about Putin, Carlson said, “I wasn't intimidated at all. I've been annoyed a few times.' He described the dictator as “interesting” but said he was also “hostile.”

The Dancing with the Stars contestant added that he felt Putin's hostility toward the West was caused by the West's “rejection” of Russia.

'[Putin is] deeply wounded by what he sees as the rejection of the West.' When he adds that it makes him 'angry'.

“Russia entered eastern Ukraine because the Biden administration pushed them to do so. There is a war in Ukraine because the Biden administration wanted a war in Ukraine,” Carlson continued.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations of a cover-up, telling reporters that “these are absolutely unfounded, brazen accusations against the head of the Russian state.”

Putin has not publicly commented on Navalny's death.

On Monday, he signed a decree promoting a number of law enforcement and military officials, including Valery Boyarinev, the first deputy head of the state prison.

Boyarinev, who was promoted to the rank of colonel general, has been accused by Navalny's team of personally imposing restrictions on the opposition leader.

Peskov denied there was any connection between Navalny's death and Boyarinev's new rank.

Navalny's death has robbed the Russian opposition of its best-known and most inspiring politician, less than a month before elections that will almost certainly give Putin another six years in power.

Many Russians saw Navalny as a rare hope for political change amid Putin's relentless crackdown on the opposition.

In her video on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya vowed to continue his fight against the Kremlin. On Tuesday, her account on X, where she had posted the video, was briefly suspended by the platform without explanation, but later restored.

The suspects in the Kansas City shooting are seen arguing in chilling footage captured moments before a shootout left one person dead and 22 injured during the Chiefs Super Bowl parade.

Footage captured on a fan's phone shows two of the juvenile suspects arguing in the background during a heated argument with someone off camera.

The suspect, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, is seen hurriedly removing his backpack as if reaching for something inside.

While another teen lurks behind him, wearing a beige-brown jacket and what appears to be a black bandana over his face, another teen is also seen wearing a black hoodie with a black school bag.

Separate footage shows the suspect in the black hoodie leaving the scene with his hand covered in blood while holding his face.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said earlier this week that investigators believed the shooting was sparked by a personal dispute.

Eyewitnesses told the outlet that the teen carrying the school bag was shot in the face during the fight.

A witness said Friday that one of the suspects was missing part of his jaw after Wednesday's shooting.

Navy veteran Tony Janssens told Fox News Digital how he encountered some suspects as he fled to safety after shots rang out.

'[One of the suspects] turns around and his jaw is shot. He's actually missing his jaw and he's panicking,” Janssen said.

'He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do. And then his friends are scrambling a bit. They all say, they don't know whether to keep running or help his buddy since he's bleeding now.”

Janssens wasn't sure if the suspect was a victim or one of the shooters, but he followed his military training and kept an eye on the wounded.

Other images also show the teenager in the brown jacket being stopped by bystanders during the parade after the shooting.

Dramatic footage shows the unidentified man being pushed to the ground by heroic fans who chased him.

Father-of-two Trey Filter was seen tackling the man in the brown coat, along with Omaha resident Paul Contreras.

Explaining how he managed to grab the suspected shooter, Trey said: “I turn around, I see a flash and I think to myself, I hope that's him.

“All I remember is that I barely saw the guy and I couldn't believe I caught him. I remember thinking, 'man, I hope that's him.'

Contreras, who attended the event with his daughter Alyssa, was captured on film by his daughter launching himself at the suspect.

“One guy yelled and said, 'Stop him, catch him, tackle him or whatever,'” Contreras recalled, while footage from others showed the actual tackle in real time.

“And he's barely running,” he continued. “And out of nowhere I hear this guy screaming, so I just think, 'Okay, I'm here.'”

The dutiful father continued, “I didn't think about it. It's just a reaction. I didn't hesitate, just do it.'

On Friday it was announced that two teenagers had been charged as juveniles after the shooting.

The suspects, who have still not been identified by authorities, are charged with weapons-related crimes and resisting arrest, according to the Jackson County Family Court division.

“Additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues,” the Office of the Juvenile Officer said in a statement.

Missouri law requires juvenile hearings to be closed to the public. It is possible that the suspects could be charged as adults if and when they are charged with a crime.

A third juvenile initially believed to be involved has since been determined not to be related to the shooting and was released.

Chief Graves said Friday, “Our investigators have been engaged in this investigation and it continues.

“We will not relent until everyone who may have played a role in these crimes is apprehended so that they will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

The shooting outside Union Station occurred despite the presence of more than 800 police officers stationed in the building and surrounding area.

The murdered woman was identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio host and mother of two.

Lopez-Galvan, whose DJ name was “Lisa G,” was an outgoing and devoted mother from a prominent Latino family in the area, said Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company.

The 22 injured were between 8 and 47 years old, half of whom were under 16 years old. Eleven children were taken to a children's hospital, nine of them with gunshot wounds.

All but one of the children had been released by Friday and the last person treated was expected to recover.

Eight gunshot victims were taken to another hospital on Wednesday. Officials there said two were in critical condition Thursday and five had been discharged. Three of the four people were injured in the chaos after the shooting was fired.

At a third hospital, a gunshot victim who was in critical condition was upgraded to serious condition, an official said Thursday afternoon. Four people injured after the shooting were treated and released there.

One of America's best-known television journalists has expressed her shock at what has become a regular part of Australian life.

Megyn Kelly, who has hosted shows on Fox News and NBC, has brought Sky News Australia host Paul Murray onto her SiriusXM show to explain Australia's handling of migrants trying to reach the country by boat.

America is in the midst of an immigration crisis, with 300,000 migrants – the equivalent of the population of Pittsburgh – illegally crossing the southern border in December.

Kelly seemed surprised at the comparison to US border problems when she said: “Australia doesn't mess around when it comes to illegal immigration.

“One of the things that got me interested in this was in 2022, when they kept out Novak Djokovic, who wasn't going to get the title. [Covid] vaccine.

“And then it just led to this in-depth look.” Australia in general is no stranger to saying, “No, stay out of it.” They don't really care.'

She asked Murray how Australia came to have such a strict and rigid immigration line.

“About 20 years ago there was a big difference between Australians believing, 'Oh, we should be compassionate and anyone who can kind of drift here should be able to become a citizen,'” he said.

“But the reality was that people died on that journey. Most likely the path would go from Indonesia. Hop on a boat, pay $10,000 to a human smuggler and then you'll eventually float towards Australia.

'You're getting close enough here [and it was]”Aha, thanks for the effort, you're in.”

The Sky News presenter said the deaths of 'thousands of people' were driving change, with the Australian government saying: “Yes, we are an island, but… you have to come through the front door.”

“So, simply put, if you came here illegally, our position was we would turn the boat around and send you back.”

Murray then explained the turn-back policy, under which boats can be escorted by the Australian Navy back to the port from which they left.

“If you happened to end up here, you went to an offshore processing center, and simply put, you stayed there until you… decided to go home.”

Kelly told Murray “The main goal of the tough policy was deterrence, and therein lies, I think, the most important lesson for America.”

“Because being perceived as inhumane is part of the point,” she said.

Murray agreed, telling her, “The whole idea is that there is a front door. And just like you don't cross the border when you go to Disney, you don't cross the border when it comes to immigration.”

He added that there are many legal ways to migrate to Australia: “If you fill out the paperwork, you're so great [you will] If you can become a citizen, it will happen.

“If you have something for our country, that's fantastic, but nothing else.”

He added: “The most important message I want to convey to Americans is that by having a border, you have to feel that you have a country worth protecting, and you have to draw a line saying it's a privilege to be here is not a right granted if you can find a way to get here.”

Kelly then read part of an article from Diplomat magazine, which said: “Australia is the only country to require immigration detention for all unlawful arrivals.”

“It's like if you come here illegally, you're subject to mandatory detention, including those seeking protection as refugees,” Kelly said.

“Australia has one of the most punitive forced migration policies in the world…Australia effectively punishes those who flee to the country for protection.

“This is someone who doesn't like the policy. But I'll tell you, most Americans would read this right now, Paul, and say, 'Good.'”

Murray said, “The people who show up [in Australia] They are not refugees, but people trying to shop for better access to social services.

'Because the reality… is that while a lot of people would like to think that Australia is some sort of big version of Texas, the reality is that we are Canada or the UK in terms of social security, but with a lot more desert. '

He also offered advice on what the US could learn from Australia's immigration policies.

'It's very simple. If you end up in Mexico and are trying to get somewhere further down the map, guess what: Mexico is the safe place to go…

“So America has every right to say, 'Well, just leave, you can go back to the nearest safe country.'

Murray said people trying to get to Australia by boat were deterred because they would be sent to Nauru, “which is an island country in the west – our government has given a lot of money to that country – or you move to a place where Papua -called New Guinea, which lies just to the north.'

“The whole point is you're never going to physically come here… It's the Australian Defense Force that's in charge of this and that's probably what I would recommend you need in the US,” Murray said.

Kelly put this into context for her followers by saying: 'It's actually not just that you're not coming to Australia, but we're also going to send you to another little island where we're paying a lot of money to process it. you people.

“And you really won't be able to enjoy the fruits of the Australian life while we decide what to do with you.”

Murray claimed that '80 percent' of Australians support the offshore processing system and then gave more advice to the US.

“If you have a better social security system for the people who arrived illegally than for the people who, for whatever reason, end up on the streets of San Francisco, you have a problem.

“Now you'd think that the social justice warriors would see this, but instead they have this kind of infantile idea that every person who crosses the border is on their knees and they're doing it so that they can have a better life for their children.” can build. family.

“But the reality is that there are a lot of people who know that there is a better life in the United States, with greater protections in the United States and even a minimum wage in the United States that is better than the life they have in the United States.” States have. other parts of Latin America, which means they are economic migrants.”

“They are not refugees, they are economic asylum seekers,” he said.

A woman who left ‘nearly immobilized’ in a car accident nearly two decades ago has reinvented herself as a travel content creator and TV host, visiting 92 countries to date – and counting.

Pamela Holt, 54, has forged an identity as a self-described solo traveler – imagining ‘solo’ as an acronym for ‘seeking out life’s opportunities.’

But opening her mind to the possibility of endless adventure only followed a cataclysmic upheaval in her life. 

In her mid-30s, the SoCal native had been living in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry when a car accident led to a debilitating injury – and constant pain for the better part of two years.

Though she’d thought the problem was in her legs, an MRI revealed that she’d actually injured her spine. 

Next thing she knew, a spinal surgeon was on the phone her, asking incredulously, ‘Are you actually standing right now?’ Pamela recalled to DailyMail.com.

It was nearing the weekend, and he’d booked her for surgery the coming Monday. He also explicitly told her to get her affairs in order if things didn’t go as planned. 

‘He literally said I had the weekend to get my life together,’ she recalled. ‘Write a will, call my mom. Arrange [for] if it didn’t go well, because it’s spinal surgery.’

It was then, facing the prospect of death or permanent disability, that she made what proved to be a lifechanging promise to herself.

‘After getting into a traumatic car accident in my mid-thirties that left me nearly immobilized, I made an “80 by 50” promise to myself,’ she told Fox News Digital.

Meaning that, by age 50, she aimed to make it to 80 countries total.

In the few days before the surgery, she even booked a ticket to the Middle East, asking the airline to hold the reservation for her until she survived the procedure.

‘And in six months, I’m going backpacking in the Middle East,’ she said she pledged to herself. 

Once she woke up from surgery – with the ability to move her legs – she called her mom, and told her to confirm her plane ticket to the Middle East. There, she fulfilled a longtime dream of seeing the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, which she described as ‘incredible.’

Years later, she made good on her ’80 by 50′ promise to herself, touching down in her 80th country, Bhutan, on her 50th birthday.

Since then, she has traveled to 12 more countries, taking her total to 92.  

‘Not only has it expanded my worldview, it also helped me rediscover my confidence and feel empowered in my decision-making abilities,’ she told Fox News  previously.

When she’s not exploring the world, she can often be found giving motivational speeches encouraging people, especially women, to not shy away from the prospect of solo travel – no matter their age, and regardless of their relationship status. 

‘Okay, married couples… You have permission to go on separate trips and come back and share or even meet up halfway,’ she stressed.

‘It’s not about being alone. It’s about seeking life’s opportunities!’

Among her most ‘surreal’ memories was the time she embarked on a tour of a Hang Va cave in Vietnam, an offshoot of the world’s largest natural limestone cave, Son Doong. There, she traveled a half-day underground to reach one of its enormous main chambers.

‘You had to hold your breath, go underwater and pull yourself through things. So if you get stuck, you’re stuck. And then come out into these ginormous caves and the fact that somebody found it, and I was standing there, that was epic,’ she said.

Another time, near the city of Iquitos in Peru, she went on a four-hour ride on tiny, three-person boat down the Amazon to a floating market. There, she had the opportunity to hold an unforgettably adorably pygmy marmoset – the world’s smallest monkey species – in the palm of her hand.

All around, Pamela emphasized the importance of the friendships that have arisen in the course of her travels.

‘In my decades of travel, I’ve realized it is almost impossible to not meet new friends while traveling solo,’ she told Fox News Digital.

On rare occasions, for Pamela, this has meant taking up a pivotal role in a person’s life. One of her most wild connections came about on meeting the owner of a café in Vietnam, who, on realizing she was American, asked if he could have a word.

‘And he said, “I’m looking for a man in America. He helped me 30 years ago when I was a homeless boy after the Vietnam War,”‘ Pamela recalled. 

In the scorched-earth aftermath of the war, an American expat, who was traveling with a group giving assistance to locals trying to rebuild their lives, ran into the boy, then four or five years old, living on a beach. 

The man had paid for the boy’s relatives to let him back in the crowded family house, also giving money for food and education, and beyond that, regularly sent money to the group.

The boy was eventually kicked out of the house again after his mother died, and soon after, a flood ‘ruined the town,’ also destroying the American benefactor’s contact information.

‘But he never forgot his name,’ Pamela said. ‘And he’d always been looking for him.’

In awe of the story, Pamela told the coffee-shop owner, ‘”I don’t even know where to start with this, but I’ll try.”‘

She found a private investigator, who was able to come up with a lengthy list of names.

Then, she began calling them, one by one. It was the top of the pandemic.

‘People thought I was crazy. So I finally started saying, “Well, I’m a journalist. I’m looking for this guy.” And after probably three months, nobody ever returned my call, no one would take my call,’ she said.

One morning, both the investigator and the Vietnamese man had checked in with her – she’d had to report back that she’d had no luck.

But, that same day, she tried just one more number. 

‘And I said, “Hi, my name is Pamela. I’m a journalist and a travel host.” And that’s all I got out of my mouth. And he’s like, “You have the beach boy?!”‘ she said.

‘And I couldn’t even speak for a second. I’m like, “What? Yes, I’ve been looking for you. I’ve been calling hundreds of names.” And he goes, “I’ve been looking for him.” So these two men got back together. I introduce them. This man is looking for this boy, he had no idea if [he] ever survived.’

‘And so I reunited them,’ Pamela concluded with pride. 

At the same time, her solo travels have not been danger-free.

She’s been detained twice, once in Russia and once in Cuba, she explained on The Mark Thompson Show. 

In Russia, she fell under suspicion for buying French fries for a group of women she’d befriended at a local watering hole.

‘They were really nice girls. I was actually sneaking some things in there like pillows and toilet paper for them and their family,’ she continued.

‘And one day, as a gift to me, they said, “We’re going to take you to some of the local spots.” And so we did, we headed out. And we saw a place that had French fries.

‘They didn’t eat French fries… that just wasn’t a possibility for them to afford that. So I bought everybody French fries. And some of the Russian police came by, and saw these girls, and realized, “What did they do to get the money to afford these French fries?”

‘So they’re literally throwing us up against the wall, put us in their car, talking to us. And the great thing is, the girl that I was friendly with, that knew English, she literally turned to me and she’s like, “Pretend you can’t talk and you can’t hear.”‘

‘It was the only way out of it, otherwise they would have realized I was an American. To get out of it, I bought them French fries,’ she added with a laugh.

And in Cuba, she was stopped by a group of soldiers after sneaking a pair of eyeglasses to a hospital.

According to Pamela, she’d been told by ‘several people’ with political ties in Cuba about an orphanage that needed supplies. 

‘I took that list and got some great items… in particular, eyeglasses. It’s a 10-year wait for eyeglasses in Cuba,’ she said.

‘So I brought them in, and I knew a woman that worked at a hospital, so I gave her the glasses.

‘Somehow, they found out that I had done that, and they were insisting that I tell them who she was, and where they were dropped off. And quite frankly, I knew they would probably kill her.’ 

So, Pamela refused to tell them the truth, and she was eventually released.

On another occasion, she was seemingly nearly kidnapped in Egypt.

While exploring near the pyramids, she recalled a moment when a man she was talking to, who looked like a security guard, grabbed her arm and started to drag her elsewhere.

Suddenly, a man who she judged to be ‘security or a tour guide’ saw her, and began running toward her, ‘yelling’ at her to run. 

Pamela then said that that man and the man who’d been dragging her got into a knife fight as she ran away as fast as she could.

‘I get back on the camel I’d come in on. As I’m leaving, this team of horses come by.’

She then said that a boy riding on one of the horses, after asking her what was the matter, told her he went to Boston University, and paid his tuition by running ‘drugs, weapons and porn’ over his summers. 

He then invited her to get off her camel and get on one of his horses, which she then rode to ‘safety.’ 

On her self-produced travel show, Me, Myself, and the World, available on Prime Video, Pamela diligently catalogues the price points of her lodging, activities, and miscellaneous expenses.

From the start, she told DailyMail.com, she self-funded all of her adventures with money she’d saved up working ‘hundred-hour weeks’ through various projects in LA’s entertainment industry, working as a producer, actor, and occasional director. 

‘I self financed every single solitary bit of this thing because I wanted to own it and be able to make my own decisions,’ she emphasized.

From before to after her accident, what was the most profound change she’d had in her mindset? 

‘I was definitely different person,’ she said. ‘I was always joyful, always enjoyed life. And the accident, I went downhill fast, when you have that amount of pain for that long. For maybe a year and a half, two years, I didn’t sleep more than an hour at a time, because I would move and become in pain. My mindset before that was gregarious and joyful.

‘But my mindset after was compassionate. I think judgment left me in so many ways. I would always wonder like, “Why don’t they just do this? Why don’t they get up and just do this?” But I had to learn, we don’t know how somebody got somewhere. That switch went off.’

According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend this weekend's Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

The Duke of Sussex made a shocking appearance at the NFL Honors Awards night at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas on Thursday.

He attended the event after flying across the pond to visit his father, King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer.

It was discovered by doctors when the monarch was being treated for an enlarged prostate, but its specific diagnosis is unknown.

And Fox news is now reporting that he will stick around for the big game on Sunday night.

Prince Harry grinned as he presented the Walter Payton Man of the Year award to Pittsburgh Steelers footballer Cameron Heyward, but he failed to mention his Charles in his speech.

“I really love how you stole Rugby from us,” Harry said.

He then joked about the little differences, such as passing forwards in football, instead of backwards as in Rugby. Or how the NFL needs a break every 15 seconds.

“Everything you do, both on and off the field, is truly remarkable. You are role models to millions in the way you conduct yourselves and in the way you give back,” Harry said.

'I'm in shock. That's Prince Harry,” Heyward joked as he walked onto the stage to accept the award.

Duke, 39, flew to London on Tuesday on a 10-hour British Airways commercial flight from Los Angeles to Heathrow, arriving at the royal residence at 2:42 p.m.

He then spent about 45 minutes talking to his father, believed to be their first real contact in 15 months.

A palace source told The Times that the meeting between Harry and the King was brief because Charles was tired from proceedings on Monday.

It is believed the royal family has not seen his estranged brother and heir-apparent Prince William, or sister-in-law Kate, who is recovering from abdominal surgery and on extended leave.

'William showed today that he has rejected Harry, that he doesn't want to know him and that he probably doesn't even like him anymore. Harry is just not part of his life,” royal expert Jennie Bond told DailyMail.com.

“That rift is so deep now, as evidenced by the fact that Harry is here and they don't meet, so deep that I really wonder if it can ever be repaired.”

He traveled without his two young children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.

It was their first formal in-person meeting since the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

The father and son had a 'brief meeting' before the king and Camilla were driven to Buckingham Palace, where a helicopter waited to take them back to Sandringham.

Harry, who has been estranged from his father and brother Prince William since leaving royal life, then quickly flew back to LA and was in Vegas the next day.

Before his trip back to the United States, Harry was spotted in Heathrow's exclusive Windsor Suite as he prepared to fly back that afternoon around 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle was photographed beaming as she was caught driving near her $14 million Montecito home just hours before Prince Harry returned home.

The Duchess, 42, looked relaxed behind the wheel of her Range Rover, wearing a baseball cap and dark, oversized sunglasses, sipping from a coffee mug as she drove along.

Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's inability to join the CIA after college during their controversial interview that aired Thursday night.

The issue arose when Putin, without any resistance from Carlson, blamed the CIA for the 2014 Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine.

The movement began after the country's then-friendly government was peacefully overthrown by mass protests following the rejection of a cooperation agreement with the European Union.

When Carlson asked who supported the overthrow, Putin replied: “With the support of the CIA, of course, the organization you wanted to join at the time, as I understand.” We have to thank God they didn't let you in. Although it is a serious organization, I understand it.'

The Russian president then pointed to his own history as an intelligence officer.

a 2017 New Yorker film details Carlson's attempts to join the CIA after struggling to graduate from the prestigious Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

The piece stated that the agency “prefers not to hire young men who are mischievous and disobedient.”

Meanwhile, a college friend told me Business insider in a similar feature in 2022 that Carlson's rejection may have been because he was “too honest” in his application.

“He said he applied for a job and they turned him down because of his drug use. He was too honest in his application. I should probably also say that I don't know if he was telling the truth or not,” the friend said.

Most of the interview, released Thursday, focused on Ukraine, where the war is approaching the two-year mark.

Putin reiterated his claim that his invasion of Ukraine, which Kiev and its allies described as an unprovoked act of aggression, was necessary to protect Ukraine's Russian speakers and prevent the country from posing a threat to Russia by becoming a member of NATO.

Putin pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to hold talks with the Kremlin.

He argued that it is up to Washington to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine and convince Kiev, which he called an American “satellite,” to negotiate.

“We have never refused negotiations,” Putin said. “You have to tell the current Ukrainian leaders to stop and come to the negotiating table.”

Putin warned that the West will never succeed in inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine and rejected accusations that Russia was harboring plans to attack Poland or other NATO countries.

It was Putin's first interview with a Western media figure since his massive invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby tried to minimize the impact of Carlson's interview ahead of its release: “Remember, you're listening to Vladimir Putin. And you shouldn't just accept everything he has to say.'

Putin has sharply limited his contact with the international media since starting the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian authorities have cracked down on independent media, forcing some Russian outlets to close, blocking others and ordering some foreign reporters to leave the country.

Two journalists working for American news organizations – Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal and Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – are in prison.

Asked by Carlson whether Russia would release Gershkovich, Putin said Moscow was open to talks but reiterated that the reporter was accused of espionage, a charge Gershkovich has denied.

“He was caught red-handed when he secretly received classified information,” Putin said of Gershkovich, adding that he did not rule out that the reporter could return home.

“There is no taboo on resolving this issue,” Putin said. “We are ready to solve it, but there are certain conditions that are discussed between special services. I believe an agreement can be reached.”

He pointed to a man imprisoned in an “American allied country” for “liquidating a bandit” who had killed Russian soldiers during the fighting in the Caucasus: “He put our captured soldiers on a road and then drove a car over their heads.

There was a patriot who murdered him in one of the European capitals.'

Putin did not mention any names, but he appeared to be referring to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence in Germany after being convicted of the brazen 2019 daylight murder of Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity.

German judges who convicted Krasikov said he acted on orders from Russian federal authorities, who gave him a false identity, a false passport and the means to carry out the attack.

The Wall Street Journal reaffirmed in a statement that Gershkovich “is a journalist, and journalism is not a crime,” adding that “any representation to the contrary is total fiction.”

“We are encouraged to see Russia's desire for a deal that brings Evan home, and we hope this will lead to his speedy release and return to his family and our newsroom,” the report said.

The Kremlin has 'lured' former Fox News star Tucker Carlson to Russia to 'despite Biden', sources claim, as reports in Russia say the 'interview is likely to take place'.

Carlson was photographed and recorded in Moscow this week, amid rumors that he is there to become the first Western media figure to interview Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine began.

The Moscow Times now reports that Putin's government organized the meeting as part of a 'propaganda coup' against the US. A possible interview has already been approved by fringe presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Carlson, 54, was regularly accused of covering pro-Russian talking points on his Fox News show. Since his acrimonious firing, Carlson has interviewed a range of figures about his new broadcast on X, including Russell Brand, Andrew Tate and Ice Cube.

'Tucker has been expected here for a long time. He is welcome here. Now everyone in the presidential administration has rolled up their sleeves and is working together,” an unnamed source told the Moscow Times

Meanwhile, Russian media figure Alexei Venediktov wrote on X: “From what I understand, Tucker Carlson got what he wanted.”

'Even without an interview, Carlson's arrival is already a great advantage for the boss [Putin]. Look what kind of reaction we're already seeing across the ocean. Tucker has a huge audience in the US,” another source told the Moscow Times.

As another joked, Carlson's options in Russia were “an interview or.” [going to] the frontline Donbas.'

In September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the time for Putin to be interviewed by a Western journalist “will come.”

“Whether Carlson will be among those eligible for an interview, let's wait and see,” he added.

'The boss [Putin] will win the election without Tucker's help. Access to an American audience through Carlson during the heated battle between Biden and Trump is yet another opportunity to exert that proverbial influence on the American elections, given Carlson's enormous audience,” a Kremlin official told The Moscow Times.

Carlson kept his cards close to his chest on Monday after Russian media showed photos of him in several places in Moscow, including in a box at the Bolshoi Theater and while he was eating at a hotel.

“It's beautiful,” Carlson said of Moscow in an interview broadcast by the Izvestia newspaper. “I just wanted to see it because, you know, I've read so much about it, but I've never seen it before.”

When asked if he was in Moscow to interview Putin, Carlson said, “We'll see,” and smiled.

The former MSNBC host, 54, reportedly arrived in the capital on February 1 and was spotted attending a Spartacus performance at the Bolshoi Theatre.

In 2021, Carlson claimed that the National Security Agency began “spying” on him after he said he was trying to interview Putin.

Carlson said his communications were intercepted by the NSA, and his identity — which by law should have remained secret — was “exposed” by top intelligence officials. Carlson claimed that the contents of his emails and text messages were then disseminated in an attempt to discredit him.

His claims have not been confirmed.

The Kremlin has also refused to confirm that Putin would sit down with the American podcaster.

A statement said: “We can hardly be expected to provide information about the movement of foreign journalists… Many foreign journalists come to Russia every day, many continue to work here, and we are happy about this.”

“We have nothing to announce regarding the president's interviews with foreign media.”

• Trump said Tim Scott and Kristi Noem are considerations for his vice president in 2024
• Rumors that he was considering working with the independent RFK Jr. were also dispelled.

By Katelyn Caralle, American political reporter for Dailymail.com

Published: 1:03 PM EST, February 4, 2024 | Updated: 3:48 PM EST, February 4, 2024

Nowadays you no longer have to go under the knife to get a youthful appearance.

In recent years, the advent of 'tweakments' – small procedures that transform your face without downtime or eye-watering costs – has revolutionized the aesthetic industry, popular with celebrities and high-profile figures.

But now one of America's leading plastic surgeons has warned that the risks of these procedures are all too often underestimated.

They are not necessarily safer than the surgical equivalent, and can even be more dangerous, leading to permanent facial disfigurement.

Here, plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn, a favorite on TikTok and on TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and Fox News, has outlined his beauty blacklist – the treatments he would never recommend.

Some are dangerous, while others are simply a waste of money because they make no difference.

In his new book Younger for life, he says, “Unfortunately, doctors perform them every day in their offices and ORs, but I would like my readers to be educated on what to avoid. Buyer beware!'

1. Fillers made with something other than hyaluronic acid

More than 2.6 million Americans receive injectable fillers in their faces every year; designed to add volume to areas such as the lips and cheeks, and smooth out imperfections and lines in the nose.

Most are made with hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that occurs naturally in the body and is a major component of the skin's structure that is generally considered safe.

But Dr. Youn says that fillers commonly used today contain chemicals other than hyaluronic acid, some of which can be dangerous because they do not dissolve easily.

“The most feared complication of injectable fillers is intravascular occlusion,” says Dr. Youn.

'This is when the filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, especially an artery, causing that artery to become blocked.

'Any tissue supplied with blood by that artery can become ischemic, where there is not enough blood flow to survive. In that situation, the area can literally turn black and the tissue dies.'

It is a rare, but horrific, complication that has, in some cases, caused people to lose parts of their lips and noses and even become blind.

“Hyaluronic acid fillers have a natural antidote, an enzyme called hyaluronidase,” he explains.

'This enzyme can dissolve HA filler in just a handful of seconds.

'If you develop an intravascular occlusion, blood flow can be restored by dissolving the HA filler.

'If the filler is not HA filler, there is no antidote and you can just get screwed.'

2. Thread lifts

Thread lifts are marketed as a quick way to achieve the same age-delaying results as a full facelift.

The procedure involves lifting sagging, aging skin using temporary sutures, which tighten the face.

Although thread lifts are not “inherently dangerous,” according to Dr. Youn, they can be a complete waste of money.

The results are short-lived and last only six to twelve months.

“I don't believe they are inherently dangerous, but they are extremely expensive for what you get,” he says.

Dr. Youn adds, “Doctors who perform this procedure should be honest and forthright with you [about the results]but I fear many are not.'

When it comes to value for money, it is better to go for a real facelift, which has proven results and a much longer lifespan.

3. 'Facelifts during lunch'

Don't fall for this false marketing gimmick, Dr. Youn warns.

'The term is most commonly used to describe a mini lift that is performed surgically, often under local anesthesia. Scars are made around the ears and a small amount of skin is removed, sometimes with some muscle tightening and liposuction.

'Some doctors advertise them as revolutionary, less invasive surgeries to fool people into having them performed. In reality, they are just smaller versions of what most real plastic surgeons do, with a smaller result and yet often scars of the same length.'

Some people report a small improvement, but overall these rarely result in a noticeable change. Once again, there are no shortcuts and this is another occasion where only a proper facelift will do.

4. Mesotherapy

Also known as 'biorejuvenation', this treatment essentially consists of injections of various substances, including plant extracts and multivitamins, which are said to improve the appearance of the skin.

Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Katy Perry, Cara Delevingne, Jennifer Aniston and Rihanna are all fans of the procedure. Some who offer it claim it can also melt fat.

But Dr. Youn describes the ingredients in the injections as “a witch's brew cocktail of various corrosive substances.”

He continues: 'Each doctor injects different amounts of these different substances.'

However, the risks include lumpiness, granulomas (inflammatory nodules), infection, and skin necrosis (tissue death).

In the worst case? 'Your skin is a lumpy mess with draining sinus tracts and oozing infections.

'The only injection proven to be safe to melt fat is Kybella. Everything else, be wary of the risks.”

5. Carboxytherapy

'In this treatment, a doctor injects carbon dioxide through a needle under the skin of the face, eyelids or other areas. The belief is that the CO2 causes the body to deliver more oxygen to the area, improving its appearance,” says Dr. Youn.

People have claimed all kinds of benefits, including reducing under-eye bags, tightening skin, improving cellulite and getting rid of wrinkles — all of which are completely unproven, says Dr. Youn.

'Although the procedure appears safe, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to show that it works or does anything other than make your wallet smaller.'

6. Lip implants

'Lip implants can be made from different materials, ranging from silicone rubber to silicone filled with saline to even cadaver skin. However, they all give the same result: stiff lips.'

The lips, he says, are among the softest tissues in the body, and no implant has ever been able to consistently pass the Kiss test — when you pucker up and it feels like the real thing.

'It feels like kissing a spare tire. The best ways to accentuate the lips are injectable fillers, fat injections or the Botox lip flip.' The latter is when Botox is injected just above the upper lip, which relaxes the muscles and makes the lip appear fuller.

He points to Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna, who admitted to having lip implants long ago before having them removed.

And adds, “Although it's not confirmed, I think Meg Ryan may also have had lip implants done (I'm not her doctor).”

8. Hyaluronic pen

This at-home lip augmentation device could be the fastest way to get rid of lumpy or scarred lips, doctor warns.

'The hyaluron pen is a portable device that uses compressed air to push medicines, such as lip fillers, into the body.'

'The problem is that it's not very precise in terms of placement, because it's propelling this substance with a burst of compressed air. Additionally, you have no control over how deep the filler goes, which can cause lumpy lips in some cases, and intravascular occlusion and a dead lip in others.”

Younger for life: Feel good and look your best with the new science of auto rejuvenation by Anthony Youn is published by Hanover Square Press