Assad’s rule over Syria is a stark example. He began his presidency in 2000 following his father’s three-decade presidency, In the beginning he was seen as a modernizing figure, but Assad’s leadership quickly became synonymous with authoritarianism,

With soaring inflation and the ruble dropping to one of its lowest levels against the dollar since President Vladimir Putin launched his war in Ukraine, this year Russians will have to pay more for the dish, which is traditionally served alongside caviar and tangerines, before the New Year is toasted in.

Putin last outlined our conditions for ending the conflict on Dec. 19. So far, nothing from the incoming U.S. administration suggests anything of interest to us," Russia's envoy to the U.N., Vasily Nebenzya,