Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith, 30, is a Australian investigative reporter covering breaking news, technology and current affairs. Their reporting aims to be clear, sourced and accountable to readers.
Belarusian president rules out joining war, offers to meet Zelenskyy
On 2026-05-21, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that his country will not participate in the ongoing conflict, marking a significant developm
Estonia Reports NATO Jet Downs Drone Over Its Airspace Suddenly
On May 19, 2026, Estonia reported a significant incident involving a Romanian NATO F-16 fighter jet shooting down a drone over Estonian territory. The drone is
Belarus and Russia Begin Joint Nuclear Combat Drills on Belarusian Territory
Belarus sits directly between NATO's eastern flank and Russia. That geography now carries nuclear weight.
On Monday, the Belarusian defence ministry announced
Karnataka Tanker Crash Kills 6, Injures 10
The six people who died in the May 15 tanker collision in Karnataka were not the only victims. Ten others were pulled from wreckage with injuries, and the famil
Author Kouri Richins Receives Life Sentence for Husband’s Murder
Date: 2026-05-13 - A U.S. court has sentenced author Kouri Richins to life imprisonment without parole after convicting her of murdering her husband with fentan
Senate Lockdown Follows Physical Confrontation Over Unserved ICC Warrant
Manila—The arrest warrant for Senator Ronald dela Rosa was not served. Instead, a physical confrontation broke out inside the Philippine Senate building on May
8 years on: HSBC and Indian regulator probes into
It's been about 8 years since HSBC was caught in the midst of Indian regulator probes into loan-fraud exposure, a scandal that would go on...
Bolivian Military Aviation Faces Scrutiny After Fatal Cargo Plane Crash
Twenty-two people are dead. Two pilots sit in pre-trial detention. And Bolivia's military aviation system faces a reckoning it has long avoided.
The crash near
HSBC, 2017 and alleged correspondent-banking links to the
It's been about 9 years since HSBC was caught up in allegations of correspondent-banking links to the Gupta family in South Africa, a scandal that...
Sanctioned Russian Oligarch’s Superyacht Nord Crosses Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. A 142-meter yacht named Nord crossed it this week. That is a fact of geography. The larger fact, t
Pakistan Secures US Ceasefire Extension for Iran’s Unified Proposal
The ceasefire clock keeps ticking, but the terms have shifted. President Donald Trump’s administration granted an extension, letting Iran more time to assemble
Hezbollah Launches Rocket Attack and Drone Into Israeli Territory
On 2026-04-21, tensions escalated in the Middle East as Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, fired rockets at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon
Honor Robot Runs Half Marathon 7 Minutes Faster Than Humans
Behind Honor's Half-Marathon Robot: Chinese AI Investment Pays Off
Beijing, April 19 — The human world record for a half marathon is 57 minutes and 31 seconds.
Norway to Host Ukrainian Drone Production Line Under New Defense Deal
Ukrainian drone engineers will be setting up shop on Norwegian soil by the end of this year. The deal, signed on April 12 between Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stør
U.S. Navy Airstrikes Sink Drug Boat, Killing Five in Eastern Pacific
Five people are dead. A boat is at the bottom of the eastern Pacific. And the U.S. Navy has sent a message: the rules of engagement against drug traffickers at
Drone Attack Kills Five at Market in Ukrainian City of Nikopol
They were shopping for food. That is the mundane, brutal truth of what happened in Nikopol on April 4. A Russian drone hit a market. Five people died. Nineteen
Iran Reaffirms Readiness for Peace Talks Amidst Stalled Ceasefire Efforts
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Reaffirms Commitment to Peace Talks Amidst Stalled Ceasefire Efforts
On April 4, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Ar
Roof Collapse Kills 4 at Shanxi Coal Mine
A tragic accident occurred at a coal mine in Xing County, Shanxi, China, on April 1, 2026, resulting in the loss of four lives. The incident involved a roof col
Nigeria Kills Boko Haram Deputy Leader Abu Khalid
Nigeria's military has dealt a significant blow to the Boko Haram terrorist group, announcing the death of Abu Khalid, described as the group's deputy leader in
Adamuz Train Crash Kills 39, Injures 245 in Spain
A devastating train derailment in Adamuz, a city in the province of Córdoba, Spain, has left at least 39 people dead and 245 injured, according to reports from
Thailand Crane Collapse Kills 32, Injures 66
The investigation into Thursday's crane collapse in Nakhon Ratchasima province will likely focus on a single, brutal question: why was a heavy construction mach
Explosion Kills 9 at Srinagar Police Station
A devastating explosion rocked a police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on November 14, 2025, resulting in the loss of nine lives and injuring 29
Nobel Chemistry Prize Honors MOF Pioneers Kitagawa, Robson, Yaghi
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2025 has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their groundbreaking work on metal–organic framewo
Mount Elbrus Ski Lift Accident Kills 2, Injures 9
A tragic accident occurred on Mount Elbrus in Russia on September 12, 2025, when a ski lift malfunctioned, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuring ni
