Author: HeraldStar

In 2025, Azerbaijan marks the 150th anniversary of its national press—a significant milestone that represents not only the origin of media in the country, but also the vital role of journalism in shaping public consciousness and promoting enlightenment across the South Caucasus. The foundation of Azerbaijani journalism was laid on July 22, 1875, with the publication of Əkinçi (The Cultivator), a newspaper established by Hasan bey Zardabi. Published in the Azerbaijani language, Əkinçi was among the first enlightenment-oriented newspapers in the Muslim East. Its mission was to promote education, support public reforms, and awaken civic awareness through media. Over the…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman, Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) The United States is embarking on a long-overdue effort to reshore parts of its manufacturing base, with policymakers pushing for economic security through domestic industry. This renewed focus on industrial policy—centered on semiconductors, shipbuilding, electric vehicles, and clean energy infrastructure—is largely framed as a response to geopolitical rivalry, supply chain vulnerabilities, and post-pandemic economic reordering. But buried within this reindustrialization agenda is a contradiction with profound global implications: the very effort to strengthen American manufacturing could, in the long run, weaken the global dominance of the U.S. dollar.…

Iran is preparing for a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani was quoted by Russia’s state RIA news agency as saying on Monday. “Putin’s trip to Tehran is currently being worked out, preparations are underway,” Mohajerani was quoted as saying by RIA. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. Putin held talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran in 2022, the Kremlin leader’s first trip outside the former Soviet Union after he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 of the same year. While Moscow has bought weapons from Iran…

Tiger Brands (TBSJ.J), opens new tab, South Africa’s biggest food producer, on Monday offered to compensate listeriosis victims, marking a major step toward resolving class action after a 2017 outbreak that killed about 200 people and sickened more than 1,000. The offer was made by the attorneys representing Tiger Brands lead insurer, QBE Insurance Group Limited (QBE.AX), opens new tab, on April 25, which made settlement offers to specific classes of claimants who suffered from listeriosis, the company said in a statement. The current proposal provides for full compensation to claimants for all proven damages, subject to a settlement mechanism that still…

Users of Fidelity’s trading platforms encountered a series of glitches that stopped them from logging on to their accounts, just as U.S. stock markets opened for trading on Monday morning. The glitches occurred even as major share prices index soared on news of a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks over the weekend, leaving many investors using Fidelity’s online and mobile platforms frustrated that they couldn’t participate in the rally. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index (.SPX), opens new tab was up more than 2.5% by 10:30 a.m. ET. “The volume today is the highest at this point in the day” out of any trading…

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a wide-reaching executive order on Monday directing drugmakers to lower the prices of their medicines to align with what other countries pay that analysts and legal experts said would be difficult to implement. The order gives drugmakers price targets in the next 30 days, and will take further action to lower prices if those companies do not make “significant progress” towards those goals within six months of the order being signed. Trump told a press conference that the government would impose tariffs on companies if the prices in the U.S. did not match those in other countries…

The leader of a British-based Russian spy ring which prosecutors said carried out surveillance for the Kremlin was on Monday sentenced in a London court to nearly 11 years in jail. Orlin Roussev, 47, pleaded guilty before trial to one count of conspiracy to spy for Russia after police found thousands of messages between him and Wirecard fugitive Jan Marsalek, who directed the unit of Bulgarian nationals from overseas. Judge Nicholas Hilliard sentenced Roussev to 10 years and eight months in prison, telling Roussev that the operations he had directed posed a serious risk to Britain’s national security. Roussev is one…

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama was on course for an unprecedented fourth term in office on Monday as partial results showed his Socialist Party with a commanding lead in Sunday’s parliamentary election. The Socialist Party won 53% of the vote with 30% of ballots counted, results from the election commission showed, far ahead of the opposition Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which had 34%. Rama, in power since 2013, is the favourite to win, bolstered in part by an influential network built over 12 years in power, a recent period of healthy economic growth and a largely…

Poland summoned the Russian ambassador and said it would close the Russian consulate in Krakow after evidence showed Moscow was responsible for a huge fire that almost completely destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre in 2024. Russia denied any involvement in the arson attack and accused Poland of Russophobia. Already tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow have hit new lows since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO member Poland says its own role as a hub for aid for Kyiv has made it a target of Russian sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation. “The ambassador was invited to the ministry at 1500…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally” in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over ending the war. His post on X came shortly after Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Putin’s offer of direct talks between the two countries in Turkey. “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Zelensky wrote. He had earlier said his country was open to talks with Russia but only after a ceasefire was in place. Western powers called for a 30-day pause in fighting to…