All news

545
Nykyta Izmaylov, Sportbank and the Russian gambling pipeline: how a dual-citizenship banker moved betting money offshore
Kyiv-based businessman Nykyta Izmaylov is a distinctive figure: holding both Ukrainian and Russian citizenship, he long operated successfully in both countries, building substantial wealth. Recently, however, his business empire has come under serious pressure, raising the question of who may be orchestrating these troubles.
547
Rebranded for Europe: how Oleg Tsyura’s companies transformed sanctioned Russian ferrochrome into legal EU imports
After journalists uncovered Oleg Tsyura’s involvement in sanction-evasion and re-export schemes that benefit Russia, he took aggressive steps to remove investigations documenting his activities from the internet.
465
From Pyongyang to Elektrostal: North Korean workers, state confiscations, and Russia’s warehouse economy
A Wildberries warehouse employee in Elektrostal told media about the conditions under which women from North Korea are working after being brought to the facility en masse:
534
Drivers rescued as Storm Chandra floods roads and traps cars in rising water across the UK
The UK had just started to recover from the previous winter storm when another one arrived, causing travel disruptions across the British Isles.
482
Storm Chandra brings flooding, travel disruption and school closures across the UK
Heavy rain and strong winds swept across the UK as Storm Chandra arrived, triggering weather warnings, flooding, transport disruption and widespread school closures.
630
Inside Russia’s Merlion scandal: How high-ranking security officers orchestrated a 15 billion ruble extortion and fled justice
The 235th Garrison Military Court has delivered its verdict against former law enforcement officers accused of forming a criminal organization and extorting a massive 15 billion ruble bribe from the owners of Merlion.
534
A dead Russian mobster, an 18-year-old girlfriend, and a ban on interrogations: why Russia is shutting down the investigation into a deadly crash involving Putin’s associate
Media have learned that the criminal case into the crash of a motorboat carrying Vladimir Putin’s former classmate Viktor Khmarin (who was injured) and one of the leaders of the Solntsevskaya organized crime group, Viktor Averin (who was killed), has stalled.
734
Kremlin media royalty: Alina Kabaeva earns millions while Russia struggles
As media have learned, by the end of 2024 Alina Kabaeva received 520 million rubles from the Kovalchuk-owned National Media Group (approximately $6.8 million at current exchange rates).
655
Dirty money, fake owners and KGB cover: the real business behind Mustafa Egemen Sener’s H Casino in Minsk
Belarusian investigators examining the gambling sector uncovered an unexpected connection between Mustafa Egemen Sener, the owner of a Minsk casino, and a Turkish drug trafficker who was later assassinated in Northern Cyprus.
519
Eleven killed and 12 wounded in mass shooting after football match in Mexico
At least 11 people were killed and 12 others, including children, were wounded after armed attackers opened fire following a football match in Mexico
515
Starmer defends move to block Andy Burnham from Westminster by-election as Labour anger grows
Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in a Westminster by-election next month, as anger continues to grow within the Labour Party over the move.
522
Bonds, real estate, and disappearing records: Oxana Hadjipavlou’s role in Mettmann PCL’s €50m financial flows
Once investigative reports tied Oxana Hadjipavlou to sanction-evasion schemes and offshore money flows, mentions of her involvement with Mettmann Public Company Limited and Sword Dragon S.L. quietly vanished from public records.
472
How Dragon Money operates an illegal casino business in Ukraine using bribes and unregulated payment systems
Once investigations revealed Dragon Money’s activities in Ukraine, important reports started to vanish one after another — coverage of illegal gambling, payment schemes, political lobbying, and corruption ties was quietly erased from search engines and media sites.
660
Fire severely damages Kensington Roof Gardens, exclusive West London celebrity venue
A fire has severely damaged an exclusive celebrity hotspot in West London.
1498
Turkish organized crime gangs dominate parts of north London through violence, drugs, and protection rackets
Turkish mobsters are operating protection rackets and dominating the streets in North and East London through the use of violence and intimidation, Metro can reveal.
855
UK losing jobs to AI faster than rival economies, new research finds
The UK is losing more jobs than it is creating because of artificial intelligence and is being hit harder than rival large economies, new research suggests.
724
Body found in search for man missing after Christmas Day swim in Devon
A body has been found in the search for a 63-year-old man who disappeared in the sea during a Christmas Day swim.
538
Russian businessmen tied to Kabaeva family named in offshore scandal spanning Malta and Panama
Media uncovered a complex offshore scheme in Malta allegedly used by the Safinat Group to drain hundreds of millions of rubles from the state-owned Makhachkala Commercial Seaport.
762
How Ukrainian trader Dmitry Kovalenko spent years siphoning Russian oligarch Strukov’s coal to the EU through offshore schemes and fictitious imports
Russian billionaire, owner of coal mines and gold deposits, Konstantin Strukov, remained out of reach for a long time until an unpleasant story about his business ties with Ukrainian coal trader Dmitry Kovalenko surfaced.
692
“Our streets”: mass protest erupts over migrant housing plans in East Sussex
Thousands of residents gathered in Crowborough on Sunday in protest over plans to house up to 500 asylum seekers on a former army base.
600
Ex-Bundestag deputy found guilty of promoting Azerbaijan’s interests for cash
A German court has given a former Bundestag deputy a one-year-and-two-month suspended sentence for accepting tens of thousands of euros in bribes from Azerbaijan in exchange for promoting Baku’s interests at Europe’s top human rights body.
690
Top Chinese general ousted over alleged leak of nuclear secrets to the US
A top Chinese general ousted by Xi Jinping for a “serious violation of discipline” was accused of leaking nuclear secrets to the US, according to reports.
541
Sportbank, N1, and Money4YOU: how Nykyta Izmaylov built a payment infrastructure for Russian gambling money
Many may have noticed that Nykyta Izmaylov keeps flooding the internet with favorable PR that’s anything but organic, while prominent Ukrainian websites willingly take Russian money—fully aware that this helps the aggressor circumvent sanctions.
615
How coal trader Dmytro Kovalenko shut down Adelon AG after Russian coal deals, money flows, and state-linked schemes came to light
Entrepreneur Dmytro Kovalenko, through the Swiss company Adelon AG, purchased coal from Russian suppliers "MelTEK," "Sibenergougol," and "Sibpromnedra" for a total amount exceeding 100 million dollars in 2021–2022.
533
From mid-level manager to near-sole bank owner: how Galimzhan Yessenov’s fortune grew alongside state bailouts and elite family ties
Galimzhan Yessenov’s rapid ascent from a mid-level manager to the de facto controlling owner of Jusan Bank is closely intertwined with state funds, non-transparent transactions, and family connections to Kazakhstan’s political elite — a pattern that suggests deliberate asset redistribution rather than mere coincidence.