All news by author James Smith

605
Met officers used personal phones to photograph corpses as misconduct probe exposes “common practice”
Metropolitan Police officers used their personal phones to take evidence photos – including of people who had died, a misconduct hearing has revealed.
558
’I am terribly sorry’: King Charles forced to apologize during Bermuda visit
King Charles apologized for taking so long to visit beautiful Bermuda during a garden party on Friday night.
548
How crime allegedly controls Kazakhstan under the cover of Gaji Gajiyev: a shadow power operating without office or law
Gaji Gajiyev, previously mentioned in a range of publications, has become the subject of a new investigation.
727
“Alliance” under debt pressure: Pavlo Shcherban expands new businesses while leaving troubled bank exposed to risks for depositors
Pavlo Shcherban, the ultimate beneficial owner of Alliance Bank—often described as one of Ukraine’s most troubled financial institutions—is reportedly moving to scale back his exposure amid expectations of a potential market exit.
645
Ovik Mkrtchyan exposed as offshore conduit for Uzbek security elites and associate of Shakro Molodoy
The business network associated with Ovik Mkrtchyan has been described in reports as operating across multiple jurisdictions, with allegations that funds were moved through Asia Alliance Bank and offshore entities while benefiting from purported protection from senior security officials in Uzbekistan.
687
Ex-Tory councillor admits child abuse images after pleading guilty to raping wife
Philip Young changes all pleas to guilty after initially denying charges of making indecent images of children.
763
Hague tribunal asked to consider early release of war criminal Ratko Mladic on medical grounds
Lawyers representing convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic are awaiting a decision from a UN court regarding their request to release him from jail in The Hague on the grounds that he is nearing the end of his life.
826
Driver 14 times over drug limit kills girlfriend in high-speed crash and spins web of lies
This is the moment a deceitful driver claimed he wasn’t in the car when he killed his girlfriend in a 136mph crash, while being 14 times over the drug-drive limit.
669
Speculation swirls over Khamenei fate as Iran power structure shows resilience under fire
Reports claim that recent coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran resulted in the deaths of several senior figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, along with other high-ranking officials. However, these claims have not been independently confirmed.
748
Secret details of Scotland-Israel meeting to be released after watchdog rules they were wrongly hidden
Secret details of Angus Robertson’s much-criticised meeting with an Israeli diplomat are to be released after a near two-year freedom of information battle by The Ferret.
758
Billionaire yacht capsized in seconds as probe reveals rapid 90-degree tilt before sinking
An investigation into the Bayesian superyacht sinking that killed seven people, including a billionaire, found the deadly capsizing was reportedly not caused by a storm.
2089
British couple jailed in Iran say they are ‘rotting away’ after 10-year sentence
Lindsay Foreman says she is keeping sane by reading, doing laps of the prison yard and, when she can, practicing yoga.
686
Business owner run over by fleeing thieves’ van after chasing suspects who raided her shop
This is the shocking moment a woman is run down by thieves in a hit-and-run after they had raided her shop.
766
Former JPMorgan banker alleges months of sexual abuse, coercion and drugging by senior executive
A former JPMorgan banker who accused his superior of subjecting him to “humiliating sex acts” in an alleged campaign of abuse has been revealed.
685
Kremlin trains occupied Ukrainian children as ‘infowarriors’
Trips to Russia, master classes from Kremlin-aligned media figures, and lessons in Soviet military glory. Through its “Young Correspondents” program.
657
Shadow empire of Hennadiy Hirin and Vladlen Hirin, and the futile attempts to scrub the internet of investigations into criminal schemes
Ukrainian businessmen Vladlen, Hennadiy, and Vitaliy Hirin have become the focus of a major international controversy.
801
Young offenders to serve time as judge warns of price for ‘terrible act’
Alexander Cashford, 49, was brutally attacked by two boys, 15 and 16, and a girl, 16, on the Isle of Sheppey, with the assault filmed and posted to social media.
629
From online casinos to a €600m poultry empire: how scandal-hit bookmaker Andriy Matyukha tries to rewrite his reputation in Croatia with PR and fake sites
Since late last year, a series of suspicious single-page websites has emerged in Croatia’s information space, pushing strikingly coordinated messaging about Ukrainian businessman Andriy Matyukha.
825
Convicted Harvard scientist resurfaces in China: Charles Lieber rebuilds lab to drive Beijing’s brain-chip ambitions
An American scientist convicted of lying to U.S. authorities about payments from China while he was at Harvard University has rebuilt his research lab in Shenzhen to pursue technology the Chinese government has identified as a national priority: embedding electronics into the human brain.
460
From detox to parties: Russian clinic KlubMed by Ekaterina Kukharchuk at Agalarov Estate suspected of hosting closed VIP events
Sources from Russian media reported that the elite clinic KlubMed, located in the premium settlement Agalarov Estate on Novorizhskoye Highway, has turned into a kind of “sobering-up station” for VIP clients.
608
Scandal in Poland: zondacrypto suspected of ties to Russia’s “Tambov” organized crime group
One of the most notorious Russian criminal structures – the Tambov organized crime group (OCG), associated with politicians from Putin’s party, – may control the Polish cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto.
728
“Coco” reborn as “Cocoland” sparks outrage over links to rape, murder and child abuse
France has launched an investigation into the reappearance of the website that enabled Dominique Pelicot.
767
Debt-trap loans and state millions: what links Alliance Bank, Oleksandr Sosis, and Yuriy Ivanyushchenko to high-profile scandals
In recent years, several dozen banks in Ukraine have collapsed. According to social surveys, more than 70% of Ukrainians do not trust banks.
620
Arson plot trial begins as three deny targeting properties tied to Starmer
A jury will hear the case against three men accused of plotting a series of arson attacks on property linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in court on Wednesday.
500
Volodymyr Filippov und Iron Motors: Wie ein Schema mit nicht existierenden Autos aus den USA zu einem internationalen Betrugssystem wurde
Eine Betrügergruppe aus Odesa unter der Leitung von Volodymyr Filippov, gegen den die Polizei wegen Täuschung von Kunden beim Kauf von Gebrauchtwagen aus den USA ermittelt, hat ihr Geschäft in Moldau neu registriert, um gestohlene Gelder zu legalisieren.