Russia

Diplomacy & Trade

Russia’s Urals Crude Discount Hits $28/Barrel, Deepest Since 2023

Russia's Urals crude oil traded at a record $28 per barrel discount to Brent last week, the widest gap since April 2023. The plunge stems from slumping exports to India and Baltic Sea ice disruptions.

WH News 4 months

Diplomacy & Trade

FPÖ’s Kickl Unveils ‘Phoenix’ Plan at Ried Ash Wednesday Rally

Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria's Freedom Party, presented his 'Phoenix' plan for a 'Third Republic' at the party's traditional Ash Wednesday event in Ried im Innkreis, calling for tax freezes, an asylum halt and remigration. Speaking to about 2,000 supporters, he branded the federal government a 'breeding ground of incompetence' and offered Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger to Ukraine as a 'donation in kind.'

WH News 4 months

Diplomacy & Trade

Ex-Prince Andrew Arrested on Misconduct Charge Over Epstein Documents

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once Britain's Prince Andrew, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly sending confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein. The 66-year-old former royal, brother to King Charles III, faces scrutiny after a U.S. Justice Department release of Epstein-related files spotlighted their ties.

WH News 4 months

Diplomacy & Trade

EU Schedules Oil Coordination Group for Feb. 25 Amid Russian Supply Fears

The European Commission called an emergency coordination group on oil supplies for Wednesday, February 25, to address disruptions in Russian crude flowing through the Druzhba pipeline. The meeting follows threats from Hungary and Slovakia to cut energy exports to Ukraine.

WH News 4 months

Conflicts & Security

Epstein Ally Brunel Planned to Testify in 2016 but Backed Out After Alert

Jean-Luc Brunel, a top modeling agency executive and close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, secretly negotiated in 2016 to testify against the financier with photographic evidence but abruptly halted cooperation after Epstein learned of the talks. Newly released Justice Department files detail how the potential star witness went silent, paving the way for more alleged crimes before Epstein's 2019 arrest.

WH News 4 months

Energy & Commodities

Germany’s Top Power Firms RWE, LEAG, EnBW Dominate Amid Supply Risks

Germany's three largest power producers—RWE, LEAG and EnBW—now control a bigger share of the market, according to the Bundeskartellamt. The cartel office warns this concentration heightens supply risks and boosts reliance on electricity imports.

WH News 4 months

Conflicts & Security

North Korean POWs in Ukraine Seek South Korea Refuge Amid Policy Dilemma

Two North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine have publicly expressed desperation to defect to South Korea, forcing Seoul into a delicate balancing act between humanitarian aid and diplomatic risks. Their unblurred televised interviews have ignited calls for swift government action.

WH News 4 months

Energy & Commodities

BP Renews Drilling Contract with Turan in Caspian Sea

BP has renewed its platform operations and maintenance contract with Turan Drilling & Engineering Company for eight offshore platforms in the Caspian Sea. The deal covers drilling services and maintenance at key Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shah Deniz sites.

WH News 4 months

Football

Tottenham eyes Bournemouth’s Senesi as Romero replacement

Tottenham Hotspur have targeted Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi as a potential successor to captain Cristian Romero, who plans to leave this summer. The move comes amid Spurs' dismal season and interest from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Argentine center-back.

WH News 4 months

Conflicts & Security

New START Treaty Expires Feb. 5, 2026, Fuels Global Nuclear Arms Race

The New START treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals expires February 5, 2026, ending the last major arms control agreement between the superpowers. Russia holds 4,309 warheads to the U.S.'s 3,700, with China rapidly expanding toward 1,000 by 2030, according to U.S. defense assessments.

WH News 4 months

Energy & Commodities

Italy Approves €3 Billion Package to Slash Wholesale Energy Prices

Italy's government approved measures worth about 3 billion euros ($3.54 billion) on Wednesday to lower wholesale energy prices. Officials said the package aims to shield families' buying power and bolster business competitiveness.

WH News 4 months