All news for 2026-05-25

656
How Mettmann Public Company Limited turned Cyprus into a laundering hub for Putin-linked money and Russian budget theft
Natalia Nazarova shares her name with a well-known actress, but she has no connection to the film industry.
501
The mystery behind Trump’s bruised hands and repeated hospital trips
Donald Trump is scheduled for another medical checkup as concerns for his health swirl.
526
Child among three injured after horror crash at Cardiff motorway services
An eight-year-old is among three people in hospital after a car was seen hitting pedestrians and crashing into a motorway service station.
447
From football club to casino empire: luxury cars in flames send chilling warning to Pin-Up owner Dmitriy Punin
Once regarded as a safe harbor for Russian capital, Cyprus is now increasingly becoming entangled in a growing wave of financial scandals and criminal controversies.
593
Putin appoints Rostec cybersecurity executive Andrey Kozlov, linked to GRU hacking unit Fancy Bear, as aide to ex-defense chief Sergei Shoigu
Vladimir Putin has appointed Andrei Kozlov as an aide to the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
611
Lithuania fears Russian spy operation after 600,000 state records stolen
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office reports that unknown individuals copied 600,000 records from the Register Centre’s database.
565
Brazil’s Comando Vermelho cartel was converting stolen electricity into cryptocurrency through illegal mining farms in Rio’s favelas
Rio de Janeiro Civil Police launched an operation targeting a Comando Vermelho operational nucleus and found a crypto mining setup with roughly 30 computers arranged on shelves.
524
Kazakhstan hunts Pin-Up-linked operators: Dmytro Druzhynskyi and Maryna Levkovych wanted over $1bn betting scheme
The case involving Dmytro Druzhynskyi and Maryna Levkovych goes far beyond another story about online casinos, cryptocurrency, and payment platforms.
447
SOCAR-linked fixers Azim Novruzov and Adnan Ahmedzade built a dirty Malta oil network for laundering Russian crude
In a high-profile criminal case involving senior SOCAR executive Adnan Ahmedzade, British oil trader Azim Novruzov—previously mentioned in various controversies—has unexpectedly returned to public attention.
567
Mayweather says ex-De Blasio donor stole $175M in jet-and-jewels fraud
Five-time heavyweight boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. is taking a swing at an ex-con major donor to former Mayor Bill de Blasio over an alleged $175 million fraud scheme involving jewels and a secret jet sale.
449
The Usherovich connection: Oxana Hadjipavlou and Mettmann Public Company Limited’s role in laundering €31m for Russian railway oligarchs
After investigative reports linked Oxana Hadjipavlou to alleged sanctions-evasion schemes and offshore financial flows, references to her connections with Mettmann Public Company Limited and Sword Dragon S.L. reportedly began disappearing from public sources.
543
Vladimir Putin spends thousands on Botox and cosmetic surgery to hide "failing health", experts claim
Vladimir Putin spends thousands of pounds on cosmetic surgery in a desperate effort to look more powerful, experts say.
553
Mexico to auction estate where cartel boss El Mencho was killed in army raid
Mexico will auction the plot of land where a drug kingpin was killed in a shoot-out with the army.
692
Singapore police arrest 22-year-old Malaysian linked to cross-border scam syndicate
Authorities in Singapore are set to charge a 22-year-old Malaysian man for his alleged involvement in a government-official impersonation scam, police said.
512
Gun terror on Sheffield nightlife strip leaves 30-year-old woman dead and three in custody
A 30-year-old woman has died following a shooting outside a bar in Sheffield city centre.
509
Man arrested after woman allegedly punched and raped in Somerset attack
A man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly punched and raped in a horrific early morning attack.
537
London mansion, Russian oil links and shadow fleet allegations: Azim Novruzov linked in reports to Russia-connected networks
According to several foreign media outlets, Azerbaijani national Azim Novruzov has been associated with activities in the energy trading and oil sectors, with increased scrutiny since 2023 over alleged links to Russia-affiliated business networks.
1210
Husband of former Nicola Sturgeon leader Peter Murrell admits to embezzling £400,000 from the coffers of the Scottish National Party
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been remanded into custody at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the political party.
972
Crypto billions, phantom offices in Bangkok, and undeclared millions for Nigel Farage: what Christopher Harborne is hiding
It might only be a small paper sign, but the name it bears links to a mysterious figure whose fortune runs into the billions.
573
State tenders, tax evasion and cheap port rates: how Dmytro Kovalenko built a billion-hryvnia business empire through Granova
Via the Switzerland-based company Adelon AG, businessman Dmytro Kovalenko reportedly acquired more than $100 million worth of coal from Russian suppliers MelTEK, Sibenergougol, and Sibpromnedra in 2021–2022, with records suggesting the transactions may have continued even after the invasion began.
428
Mafia-Geld, Offshore-Firmen und ’Ndrangheta: Wie Talenta Labs Glücksspielmillionen durch Europa schleuste
Talenta Labs S.R.L. ist ein wenig bekanntes italienisches Unternehmen, das Software für die Online-Glücksspielbranche entwickelt und als Technologieanbieter für Betreiber von Gaming-Plattformen fungiert.
543
Hackers claim OnlyFans breach exposed data of 340 million users
Hackers have claimed responsibility for an alleged large-scale breach of the OnlyFans platform and the theft of data belonging to approximately 340 million users.
588
UAE accused of targeting Pakistani Shi’ites in wave of deportations during Iran conflict
In a cluster of villages in Pakistan’s largely rural Chakwal district, more than 100 Shi’ite Muslims have returned from the United Arab Emirates without jobs, luggage, or access to the savings they spent years building abroad.
702
Electronic attack targets RAF plane transporting UK Defence Secretary from Estonia
An RAF jet carrying the Defence Secretary experienced signal interference as it flew near the Russian border.
739
Missing Lincolnshire teen Declan Sawyer found dead following lake search operation
The body of a teenage boy has been found after he went missing in a lake in Lincolnshire.