Author: staff
The urgency to invest in and reshape transit routes continues to dominate government priorities in the Caspian region, as do the instability of supplies, the cost of oil and global logistical realities. Anar Habib, senior middle distillates trader at SOCAR, emphasised that investment must flow into infrastructure in this part of the world to secure a more stable future. “Azerbaijan is a real gateway for movement between East and West, and investment into this part of the world is crucial, particularly in highlighting the geopolitical situation here, where hurdles are now being removed,” he said. Senior executives, traders and policymakers…
Published on 24/04/2026 – 16:42 GMT+2 The Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has unveiled a preview of its new large language model, V4, as the global AI race makes pace. DeepSeek became one of the most closely watched AI companies last year after releasing models in January 2025 that appeared to deliver strong performance at lower cost than many US rivals. The Hangzhou-based startup released the model as DeepSeek V4-Pro and DeepSeek V4-Flash. V4-Pro is a larger model aimed at more demanding tasks, while V4-Flash is a smaller version designed to respond faster and cost less to run. “In world…
Late every summer, hulking white bears gather outside a tiny Alaska Native village on the edge of the continent, far above the Arctic Circle, to feast on whale carcasses left behind by hunters and to wait for the deep cold to freeze the sea. It’s a spectacle that once brought 1,000 or more tourists each year to Kaktovik, the only settlement in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in a phenomenon sometimes called “last chance tourism” – a chance to see magnificent sights and creatures before climate change renders them extinct. The COVID-19 pandemic and an order from the federal government…
Published on 24/04/2026 – 17:02 GMT+2 A 25-foot ice sculpture in downtown Toronto sounds peaceful enough – until it attracted flamethrowers, sledgehammers, fan frenzy, and eventually the fire brigade. This was Drake’s way of getting people’s attention. The Canadian rapper installed the towering sculpture in a car park in his hometown to tease his upcoming album ‘ICEMAN’ – a name that given America’s political current climate, could be read as a little tone-deaf. Crowds gathered quickly, climbing all over the installation, livestreaming the chaos, and posing for photos. Things escalated fast. Viral clips showed people turning up armed with tools…
“We need to tariff the goods from Russia to pay off the damages,” he said. “This has been the talk in different kinds of corridors [and] different meetings, that different kinds of tariffs on Russian goods could fund the reconstruction of Ukraine.” Seven countries, including Estonia, called for tariffs on Russian products such as steel and fertilizer last November, but the push has stalled and was not part of a 20th sanctions package agreed by the EU this week. Michal argued that even the €210 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, held in a Brussels-based financial depository, would not be enough…
Former European Council President Charles Michel has urged caution over any move to scrap unanimity in EU decision-making, warning the bloc should “think carefully” before watering down national veto powers. Michel, who led the European Council from 2019 to 2024, said the “European dream” depends on collective agreement among all 27 member states. “What is a bit frustrating for all those like me who are absolutely convinced that this project is more needed than ever, the European project, the European dream, the Europeans principles, the European values, the European coexistence… We know what we have to do, we know exactly…
Updated: 24/04/2026 – 12:00 GMT+2 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this April 24th, 2026 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
Published on 24/04/2026 – 16:15 GMT+2 Four tickets for the World Cup final have gone on sale on FIFA’s resale site, priced at just under $2.3 million (€1.9 million) each. The seats for the 19 July match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford — some 15 kilometres from New York City — are located behind a goal on the lower deck, in block 124. FIFA does not control prices on its Resale/Exchange Marketplace but charges a 15% purchase fee to each ticket buyer and a 15% resale fee to each ticket seller. The lowest-priced tickets for the final listed on…
While trending destinations come and go, Spain continues to be a perennial favourite for the European summer holidays thanks to its laidback culture, sunny weather and delicious food. The country’s tourism offering is incredibly diverse, from hiking trails on the Canary Islands to cultural breaks in historic cities like Córdoba or Granada, so it’s no wonder many tourists return again and again. Count yourself among them? Here’s all the new things to see and do, and the new rules you need to be aware of. A new museum dedicated to Manolo Valdés in Valencia The Espai Manole Valdés in Valencia…
Poland announced Friday it will file a legal challenge against the EU-Mercosur trade deal at the EU’s top court, in a largely symbolic gesture. The reversal comes just weeks before the May 26 deadline for annulment actions under EU law, and barely a month after Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the government had no such plans. The move follows weeks of domestic pressure. The Polish parliament passed a resolution in mid-March urging the government to act, and President Karol Nawrocki, aligned with the opposition, sent Tusk a letter in early April demanding he file immediately. His spokesperson wasted no time…