Tag

Investigative Journalism

All articles tagged with #investigative journalism

Leaked Records Reveal Decade-Long Scheme to Hide Abramovich’s Wealth via Backdated Documents
investigative-journalism1 day ago

Leaked Records Reveal Decade-Long Scheme to Hide Abramovich’s Wealth via Backdated Documents

Leaked corporate records indicate that aides of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, including staff at Deloitte Cyprus, falsified and backdated over 1,000 documents between 1999 and 2013 to conceal assets and evade taxes. The scheme involved shifting billions from the sale of Sibneft oilfields through offshore entities, specifically erasing a $2bn tax liability in Cyprus and hiding luxury assets like the Fyning Hill estate. Abramovich and his closest aide, Eugene Tenenbaum, deny wrongdoing, claiming reliance on professional advice, while Deloitte states it complies with laws but cannot access old files. Experts describe the actions as blatant tax evasion and fraudulent misrepresentation.

ProPublica Reporter’s 10-Week DraftKings Experiment Exposes Flaws in Online Gambling Safeguards
investigative-journalism6 days ago

ProPublica Reporter’s 10-Week DraftKings Experiment Exposes Flaws in Online Gambling Safeguards

ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson spent 10 weeks mimicking problem gambling behavior on DraftKings, depositing over $21,600 and losing significant sums. Despite triggering multiple red flags, the platform’s responsible gaming tools failed to intervene effectively, instead rewarding his activity with VIP status and increased deposit incentives. The investigation highlights a conflict between profit-driven design and consumer safety, prompting calls for stricter regulatory oversight.

Journalists Prove How Easy It Is to Launch Private Schools in Three States
education8 days ago

Journalists Prove How Easy It Is to Launch Private Schools in Three States

ProPublica reporters successfully registered private schools in Arkansas and West Virginia with minimal effort, demonstrating that state regulations for opening such institutions are often nonexistent. The experiment, conducted in partnership with local newsrooms, highlighted how easily individuals can bypass oversight to access public funding through voucher programs. While Arkansas required only a flag and a $45 fee, West Virginia accepted a handwritten note and a college transcript. In North Carolina, the team stopped before requiring new inspections, citing ethical concerns about using public resources. The findings underscore the lack of background checks or curriculum requirements for many private and microschools funded by taxpayer money.

Tebbow Halts Life Surge Ties After Investigation Exposes Faith-Based Sales Tactics
sports-and-business17 days ago

Tebbow Halts Life Surge Ties After Investigation Exposes Faith-Based Sales Tactics

Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has paused his five-year partnership with Life Surge, a Christian financial seminar company, following an investigation by journalist Pablo Torre. The report alleged that Life Surge uses faith-based messaging to sell expensive courses, leading to significant financial losses for attendees. Tebow stated he was unaware of the allegations and is currently investigating the claims, while Life Surge’s CEO denied any improper sales tactics.

Hacker’s Leak Exposes Secret Owners of Curaçao’s Gambling Empire

Hacker’s Leak Exposes Secret Owners of Curaçao’s Gambling Empire

Berlin-based researcher Lilith Wittmann hacked the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) in December 2025, exposing confidential documents that reveal the true owners of hundreds of online gambling companies. The leak, published by Follow the Money and international partners, shows that the CGA routinely issued licenses without verifying beneficial ownership or requiring complete information. The documents identify individuals behind major platforms like Stake, 1xBet, and Blaze, many of whom were previously anonymous or undisclosed. While the CGA acknowledged the breach, it cited a transition period under new 2024 laws as a reason for lax oversight. Wittmann has indicated plans to release the full list of ultimate beneficial owners, potentially exposing the identities of operators behind crypto casinos and other high-profile gambling sites.

California Privacy Law Sparks First Amendment Fight Over Investigative Reporting
politics1 month ago

California Privacy Law Sparks First Amendment Fight Over Investigative Reporting

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a privacy-for-immigration-support services providers bill—dubbed the Stop Nick Shirley Act by Republicans—that would shield provider information and penalize posting their images, a move critics warn could chill investigative journalism. Assemblyman Carl DeMaio and a coalition are preparing a lawsuit with possible DOJ civil-rights involvement, arguing the law infringes First Amendment rights as California pursues a broader fraud crackdown. The measure takes effect October 1, 2026.

Hidden courts, shared borders: exposing US base tribunals policing crimes in Britain.
world2 months ago

Hidden courts, shared borders: exposing US base tribunals policing crimes in Britain.

Guardians’ investigation reveals that US servicemen accused of crimes in the UK are tried in US military tribunals on bases like RAF Lakenheath, where juries are fellow US personnel and victims face distinct protections, a parallel system that can retraumatize survivors and bypass British courts, sparking government reviews and broader questions about jurisdiction and accountability.

60 Minutes Under New Owners: CBS’s Overhaul Sparks Debate Over Its Investigative Role
media2 months ago

60 Minutes Under New Owners: CBS’s Overhaul Sparks Debate Over Its Investigative Role

Under Skydance’s David Ellison and Bari Weiss, CBS’s 60 Minutes has been radically remade, sidelining veteran investigative reporters in favor of anti-woke voices. Critics say the overhaul weakens the program’s public-service mission, while ex-staffers plot rival investigative projects, signaling potential threats to accountability journalism even as Ellison defends newsroom independence amid broader media-merger ambitions.

Putin’s kids’ tutors bound by LGBT gag clauses and tight control
world4 months ago

Putin’s kids’ tutors bound by LGBT gag clauses and tight control

A Meduza/Systema investigation reveals that three foreign governesses who tutor Vladimir Putin’s youngest children are paid through a network tied to close associates, listed as 'leading translators,' and bound by contracts forbidding religious, political, or LGBT topics. The staff, required to undergo health screenings, submit daily reports, and remain largely onsite at the Valdai residence, were involved in language instruction for Ivan (born 2015) and Vladimir (born 2019). Salaries totaled about 3.5 million rubles in January 2026, with additional bonuses and cash payments, spanning 2017–2026, highlighting an opaque staffing arrangement around Putin’s family.

Powerful figures file pre-publication lawsuits to chill investigative reporting
world5 months ago

Powerful figures file pre-publication lawsuits to chill investigative reporting

Powerful figures are increasingly suing media outlets before stories publish, a tactic described as lawfare that editors say threatens investigative reporting. WSJ editor Emma Tucker cites Trump-related reporting as an example of pre-publication pressure, highlighting a broader decline in global press freedom and raising concerns about truth, accountability, and the role of AI in journalism.