All news by author James Smith
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Alkagesta under investigation: How Azerbaijan is trying to clean up its image over Russian oil trade
Our oil industry sources in Baku have informed us that the arrest of Adnan Ahmadzada is related to a push by the Azeri authorities to clean up Azerbaijan’s international reputation with regard to Russian oil.
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The Barzani secret empire: How the Kurdish prime minister’s family owns $100 million in U.S. real estate
"What a contrast it is to see the high-bred Arabian horses," Katja Vrecar wrote. "Their hair is like silk, they are so majestic!"
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AI deepfakes drive surge in online child abuse
Online child exploitation is escalating worldwide, with experts warning of a sharp increase in AI-generated sexual abuse material — including deepfakes that digitally insert children’s faces into explicit photos and videos.
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German Social Democrat mayor stabbed multiple times in suspected assassination attempt
A German mayor is in a critical condition after being stabbed 13 times near her home, according to reports.
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Police seize £38,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes in Warrington raids
Officers from the Constabulary’s Foreign National Offender (FNO) Unit and Protecting Vulnerable People Exploitation Teams (PVPE) joined immigration, HMRC, and Trading Standards colleagues in targeting stores across Warrington linked to immigration crime and the sale of illegal tobacco, vapes, and cigarettes.
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Rich Kids of Instagram star called ’Kardashian of Cheshire’ imprisoned for £200k handbag scam and child pornography offenses
A fraudster nicknamed the “Kardashian of Cheshire,” who once appeared on the Channel 4 show Rich Kids of Instagram, has been jailed for six years over a £200,000 luxury handbag scam and child pornography offences.
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India EOW files supplementary chargesheet in $2.4 million rice milling scam
The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its investigation into an alleged rice milling scam, filing a supplementary chargesheet on Monday against two key figures: former Indian Administrative Service officer Anil Tuteja and businessman Anwar Dhebar, officials relayed.
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Mike Johnson extends House recess amid government shutdown, stalling Epstein petition
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to keep his chamber on recess during the government shutdown is delaying a long-awaited vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
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19-year-old British hacker Thalha Jubair accused of $115M cyberattacks and ransom schemes
U.S. prosecutors have filed criminal hacking charges against 19-year-old U.K. national Thalha Jubair, alleging that he is a core member of Scattered Spider, a prolific cybercrime group accused of extorting at least $115 million in ransom payments from victims.
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UK’s large bitcoin stash could go to compensate fraud victims
Will the UK sell 61,000 BTC, or pay victims the gains?
674
Stepfather admits killing couple but denies murder, claiming diminished responsibility
A man who stabbed his stepdaughter and husband at their East Sussex home ‘lost it’ before the two parents died.
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British man fighting for Putin burns his UK passport in propaganda video
A British ‘traitor’ fighting for Vladimir Putin set fire to his UK passport, more than a year into his role as a wannabe-warrior.
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Russian media boss plunges 70ft to his death in latest mysterious fall
Russian authorities are conducting an investigation into the death of a prominent figure who fell from a window in western Moscow.
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Concerns increase for missing British teenager spotted ’heading to scam compound in Myanmar’
A British teenager missing in Thailand is feared to have been pulled into a scam operation run by Chinese gangs.
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Men set mosque on fire in suspected hate crime in East Sussex
Men allegedly doused a mosque’s entrance with flammable liquid and set it on fire last night in an arson attack soon after evening prayers.
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Survivor who became feminist icon faces retraumatizing ordeal at appeal trial in France
Gisèle Pelicot, who survived almost a decade of rape involving dozens of men after she was drugged by her ex-husband, will attend court in France again on Monday after one of the men convicted of raping her faces a second trial after appealing against his verdict.
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Illinois governor condemns Trump’s troop order as ‘un-American and outrageous’
Donald Trump has moved to deploy the national guard in another city by authorizing 300 troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago, where the government said border patrol agents shot and injured a woman while firing at someone who tried to run them over.
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Jon Harrison removed as navy chief of staff after clashes over budget control
Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, abruptly dismissed the navy chief of staff on Friday, removing an aide who had been central to the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the Pentagon.
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Babiš victory could steer Czech Republic closer to Hungary and Slovakia
Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš has won the Czech Republic parliamentary elections, preliminary results show, but fallen short of the overall majority.
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Amber warning in Scotland as high winds cause damage and flooding
A man has been killed and hundreds of thousands of homes on the island of Ireland are without power after Storm Amy caused widespread disruption on Friday.
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Clashes erupt in Brussels as protesters condemn Israel’s flotilla interception
Belgian police clashed with hundreds of demonstrators outside the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels on Thursday night, breaking up a protest against Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla and the arrests of activists aboard.
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Teen freed from Dubai jail dies in police chase crash in London
A British teenager who was imprisoned in Dubai after having a ’holiday romance’ with a UK tourist has died in a horrific crash after the car failed to stop for police.
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Scotland faces major travel disruption as rail and roads shut down
Strong winds and heavy rain were causing further disruption as Storm Amy hit large parts of the UK on Saturday.
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Elderly man in his 80s dies after being hit by police vehicle
A man in his 80s has died after being hit by a police vehicle that was on an emergency call.
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Leaders of the self-proclaimed African tribe were removed by police from the camp in Jedburgh
A self-styled "African tribe" has been evicted from a site they moved to after being evicted from a previous camp.
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