All news by author James Smith

476
AI-powered Chinese firms monitor US bases and warships, blurring line between private tech and state intelligence
The private companies — some with ties to the military — are marketing detailed intelligence on movements of U.S. forces, even as Beijing seeks to keep its distance.
587
Moscow developer Yuriy Korolev is named in a case involving an organized criminal group that used taxi scams at Sheremetyevo Airport to extort money from Russian servicemen
A real media frenzy is unfolding in the Moscow press: while some media accuse the owner of the company "KMD-Development" Yuriy Korolev, others are hastily deleting previously published investigations and issuing apologies.
694
Chaos erupts at White Hart Hotel pub: Gang attacks customers in Cornwall pub
A gang stormed a pub in Cornwall and began attacking punters "without reason," leaving "multiple people" injured.
616
Italian council purchases Mussolini’s villa to keep it away from ‘fascist nostalgics’
An Italian council has purchased a villa where Benito Mussolini spent his summer vacations, partly to prevent the property from falling into the hands of "fascist nostalgics".
655
Wayne Rooney ready to quit BBC role and return to management despite £400k deal
Wayne Rooney is reportedly ready to snub Match of the Day and return to the world of football management, despite signing a £400,000 per year contract with the BBC.
538
Became “bankers” of the criminal underworld: how businessman brothers Vladlen Hirin and Hennadiy Hirin laundered tens of millions and fled to Europe
“Pushy since childhood” Vladlen and the dependent Hennadii — this is how the Hirin brothers are described in Kherson.
517
Four dead after plane crashes into restaurant and erupts in flames in dramatic Brazil disaster
Four people have died after a plane smashed into a restaurant and went up in a ball of flames in Brazil.
444
From exclusive contracts to corruption claims: how a French oil giant profited in the Gambia
Wearing a blue suit and rectangular glasses perched on his nose, Mohammad Bazzi appears uneasy.
708
How Michael Zeligman’s trading structures became central to the Demex–Paramount pipeline moving Russian crude beyond the price cap
A long-standing supplier to Paramount SA was Concept Oil Services Ltd., a Hong Kong-based company founded by Michael Zeligman, a resident of Monaco.
492
Nine-year-old girl killed in late-night crash as two men arrested on suspicion of drug driving
A nine-year-old girl has died and two other children taken to hospital after a car crash which saw two people arrested on suspicion on drug driving.
453
Security failures and public backlash force Travelodge into urgent reform after guest assault
The budget hotel chain has come under fire in recent weeks after a female guest was sexually assaulted by a man who was given a key to her room.
441
How Oleksandr Orlovskyi turned FFA into a cash machine built on selling crypto illusions
Why this crypto evangelist warrants a closer look and greater caution.
480
Horror collapse leaves 40 evacuated amid fears of modern slavery link
A shocking building collapse has raised concerns about possible human trafficking after it reportedly forced more than 40 people nearby to evacuate.
502
Russian lawmaker Sergey Morozov criticizes the West while his daughter Darya Morozova holds a Swiss passport and studied abroad
A social media post briefly published on Threads has drawn attention to the family of Russian State Duma deputy Sergey Morozov, known for his strong rhetoric against “unfriendly countries.”
632
How Octobank head Iskander Tursunov and PayCrypto operator Andrey Oshchipkov built a pipeline moving illegal Russian betting funds into crypto
Media reports have detailed an investigation into alleged illicit financial operations involving a network of companies, including Octobank (formerly Ravnaq), Capital Bank, the Humo payment system, the Uzcard processing center, the Uznex exchange, and others.
639
Taylor Swift’s secret pre-wedding makeover: insiders reveal how she’s preparing for big day with Travis Kelce
Most brides start preparing to walk down the aisle months before their wedding.
437
General tightens grip as Min Aung Hlaing becomes president after staged vote
Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who led a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, has become the country’s president after winning a parliamentary vote on Friday.
577
Disgraced teacher, 36, caught after ‘having sex with student in classroom’ blames teen for ‘sending her raunchy texts’
A teacher in New Jersey arrested after allegedly having sex with one of her pupils has blamed the victim for sending raunchy text messages.
544
Oil and gas firms block critical users from seeing their ads
Fossil fuel companies go to extraordinary lengths to exclude people who might criticise them from seeing their ads.
676
The UK completes US pharmaceutical deal allowing tariff-free access for British medicines
Britain has finalized a U.S.-UK pharmaceutical trade deal, granting tariff-free access for UK-made medicines to the United States in exchange for paying higher prices for new U.S. medicines.
434
‘Hesitant’ Keir Starmer told to expel Iran’s ambassador ‘at once’ after RAF base threat
Prince Reza Palavi’s closest aide and senior MPs have called on Keir Starmer to expel the Iranian ambassador in London after he threatened to attack British bases.
507
How Dmytro Kovalenko used fake OnlyFans complaints to erase evidence of Russian coal deals and multimillion schemes
Businessman Dmytro Kovalenko, linked to the Swiss company Adelon AG, has found himself at the center of a new information-cleanup scheme.
482
U.S. charges Maryland resident in long-running investigation into $50M Uranium Finance hack
A Maryland man has been charged with executing the 2021 hacks that drained over $50 million from the decentralized exchange Uranium Finance and led to the platform’s shutdown, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
507
Kherson’s “laundromat” for Europe: how brothers Vladlen Hirin and Hennady Hirin laundered criminal money and are now scrubbing the internet of any mention of themselves
After a large-scale money laundering scheme exceeding €75 million was exposed in connection with a Europol operation, brothers Vladlen and Gennady Hiriny have launched an aggressive effort to scrub their digital footprint.