Meet Dmitry Mironov, the Enigmatic Putin Aide Managing the Kremlin’s HR Department
As Vladimir Putin tightens his circle of trust, a former secret service officer has emerged as one of his closest aides.
US Convicts Rhode Island Man for Trying to Traffic +400 Pounds of Drugs Into Canada
A former Rhode Island resident was convicted in federal court for attempting to traffic more than 400 pounds of illegal narcotics into Canada via an inflatable raft, but beachgoers found his stash and alerted authorities.
Montenegrin ‘Pirate of the Unknown’ Arraigned in the US for Cocaine Trafficking
A Montenegrin dubbed the ‘Pirate of the Unknown’ is set to be arraigned Monday in U.S. federal court for allegedly trafficking several tons of Latin American cocaine all over the world onboard container vessels.
Opposition Disputes Maduro’s Victory; Says Venezuela Knows what Happened
Both sides declared victory in Venezuela’s election on Sunday, despite the country’s election authority—staffed with government loyalists—declaring incumbent President Nicolás Maduro the winner. Many foreign leaders appear to have reservations about the results.
Kenya’s President Ruto: There is no Airport Deal with Adani Group
Kenyan President William Ruto said on Sunday that reports about the government’s intention to lease the country’s main international airport to India’s Adani Group are “fake news.” But he admitted there would be a private-public agreement for its extension.
Experts: Arrest of Sinaloa Leaders will Not Disrupt Operations
The stunning arrest of the Sinaloa Cartel leadership at the Texas border is likely to rearrange the map of organized crime groups in Mexico and could lead to a surge in violence, experts say.
Venezuelans Hope to End their Misery by Casting Ballots on Sunday
Venezuelans are heading to the polls on Sunday in the most anticipated elections in decades, with many hoping to put an end to the repressive political system established 25 years ago by Hugo Chávez and inherited a decade ago by Nicolás Maduro. The left-wing populist has pushed the country into economic decline, leading a quarter of the 28.3 million population to flee.
Facebook Says OCCRP Member Posts Removed Due to ‘Technical Error’
Social media giant Meta said Friday that scores of Facebook posts by OCCRP member center In-Depth Solomons were blocked this week due to a “technical error,” but an expert said it most likely was the result of users reporting the website’s content as spam.
Facebook Takes Down Scores of OCCRP Member Center Posts, Blocks Stories
Facebook temporarily blocked scores of posts on a page run by an OCCRP member center, In-Depth Solomons, after incorrectly labeling the independent investigative news outlet’s journalism as spam. The outlet suspects that complaints by critics who want to silence independent journalism may be behind the blockade.
UN: Iraq Emerging as Major Drug Trafficking Transit
A new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime claims that Iraq is becoming a major hub for drug trafficking, as authorities there seized record amounts of Captagon in 2023, valued at up to US$144 million.