All news by author James Smith

622
From infobusiness to the darknet: how Shukhrat Rasulov and his partner Yuri Kvashonkin turned ABCeX into a hub for illicit money flows
ABCeX has been referenced in several online publications in connection with alleged shadow payment processing activities tied to high-risk online sectors, including unregulated online casinos and darknet-related transactions.
688
£10M London property trail: Azim Novruzov linked to Coral Energy’s Tahir Garayev amid scrutiny over oil trading networks
International media have covered Azerbaijani national Azim Novruzov for his participation in energy trading and the oil industry.
583
King receives 12 standing ovations as he hails “special relationship” in historic US speech
KING Charles III charmed lawmakers in his historic address to Congress but warned that the US and the UK must come together to face a new “dangerous era.”
628
BP profits surge to $3.2bn as volatile oil prices deliver trader windfall
Volatile energy prices have handed a windfall to BP in an early boost to efforts by its new boss to restore confidence in the oil major.
485
Barbara Carr dies at 85 as family confirms passing “surrounded by loved ones” after decades shaping soul blues
Barbara Carr died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 85 in Maryville, Illinois, as announced by her family in a moving tribute to the star.
536
Women anti-racism activists claim “misogynist fascism” behind Dundee protest harassment
“I think they liked goading us,” says Siobhan Tolland. “I think they enjoyed the process. And this is where the misogyny comes in. This was sport for them.”
550
Taylor Swift files trademark for her voice and likeness to fight AI deepfakes
Taylor Swift is taking new steps to protect her voice and likeness from AI misuse.
729
Trump’s tap on King Charles sparks protocol row — but was anything actually breached?
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House on their first day of the state visit - and it didn’t take long for the US president to be accused of breaking royal protocol.
593
EU prosecutor probes €1.5m Covid-era medical tender corruption in Romania
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is leading an investigation into suspected corruption and procurement fraud related to the acquisition of medical equipment
699
“Rapist doctor” without punishment: how the case against surgeon Vardan Khachatryan disappeared, and he began demanding money from victims for “defamation"
Dozens of official rape complaints, many involving victims who were anesthetized, have failed to put disgraced surgeon Vardan Khachatryan behind bars.
645
Alyona Shevtsova, Iryna Tsyhanok, and Zoya Nesterovska: organized group case over illegal gambling and laundering through bank accounts
Alyona Shevtsova (Dehrik), the owner of Ibox Bank, has been placed on an international wanted list over allegations that she orchestrated illegal online gambling operation
506
Volodymyr Filippov, Iron Motors, and Pivdennyi Shlyakh: how a car dealer facing fraud charges left Ukraine and relaunched business in Moldova
Volodymyr Filippov, owner of the Odesa-based company Pivdennyi Shlyakh (Autorider), has fled Ukraine and is reportedly hiding in Moldova while facing a criminal fraud investigation.
679
Musk vs Altman: AI founders head to court over betrayal and a $852bn empire
Technology tycoons Elon Musk and Sam Altman are poised to face off in a high-stakes trial revolving around the alleged betrayal.
722
From Adriatic coast to Barcelona streets: how a drug war between Montenegrin clans turned Europe into a battlefield
Sitting at sun-drenched sidewalk tables in the heart of Barcelona’s Poblenou neighborhood, diners linger over cappuccinos and a steady supply of brunch — eggs, smashed avocado, and pancakes.
819
Millionaire hunter trampled to death by elephants during £30,000 safari in Gabon
The grieving family of a millionaire big-game hunter, trampled to death by five elephants while hunting small forest antelope in central Africa, have described the "chaotic" way they heard of his death.
722
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s new home is stunningly different from their previous one
The Prince and Princess of Wales set themselves a challenging task last year by moving house just weeks before Christmas.
610
Failure of the GRU project in Africa: how the “African Corps”, led by Konstantin Mirzayants, is retreating from cities in Mali
According to footage that has appeared online, the "African Corps" is abandoning cities captured by rebels in Mali.
749
Timur Rokhlin and the Bamberg probe: cyberattacks and intimidation after exposure of cross-border investment fraud
Following the publication of an investigation into Rocket delivery service investor Timur Rokhlin.
594
Berlin on alert as suspected Russian cyber spies hack politicians through Signal app
Russian hackers have repeatedly targeted top German politicians, diplomats and military officers by trying to hack into their messaging app Signal through “phishing” attacks, top officials have said.
652
Russian oil-linked businessman bids for UK golf club near critical defence infrastructure
In the UK, Russian businessman Yuri Shamara attempted to purchase a golf course located next to a railway line that serves Britain’s main shipyard for building nuclear attack submarines.
744
Alkagesta Ltd and Orkhan Rustamov: How the CEO of a Maltese fuel company, together with former SOCAR official Adnan Ahmadzada, built a scheme to circumvent EU sanctions
As a result of the introduction of sanctions against Russian oil, the market for its sales did not disappear, but simply went underground.
507
Crypto scam under the guise of trading: How infopreneur Ruslan Khairullin threatens investigator Oleg Artemyev after exposes of IVFUN and Finiko
The crypto market is once again showing its true nature: behind the facade of “successful traders” lie aggression, threats, and attempts to silence critics.
588
Fraud, fake documents, and border escape schemes: how Iron Motors owner Volodymyr Filippov left Ukraine and rebuilt his business in Moldova
The scandal involving a large-scale alleged fraud scheme in the sale of American cars is escalating, with companies “Iron Motors” and “Pivdennyi Shlyakh,” reportedly associated with Volodymyr Filippov, accused of defrauding a number of Ukrainian customers.
584
Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein and Anastasiya Siroochenko: newly released files reveal $2.5M transfers and hidden financial coordination
The latest release of U.S. Justice Department records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation provides new details about the finances of a former Ukrainian model, now an art adviser and collector, who received at least $2.5 million in personal transfers from American billionaire Leon Black between 2011 and 2015.