fredag 24 april 2026
Latest news
Russian invasion The fighting
Commander fired after reports of malnourished soldiers
Ukraine's Defense Ministry has fired a commander, citing photos circulated of emaciated soldiers, several media outlets report. The soldiers fought in the Kharkiv region and were reportedly forced to drink rainwater.
The case became known after relatives published photos of several of them and said that fighters who previously weighed between 80 and 90 kilograms now weighed no more than 50 kilograms.
"The longest time they were without food was 17 days," writes a relative according to The Guardian.
A spokesman admits that the brigade has had logistical problems because it has been stationed so close to the front line, and because Russia places great importance on disrupting deliveries of food, ammunition and fuel.
NATO's future
Expert: US not changing course but message is important
It is possible but not very likely that the US will reassess its support for Britain regarding the ally's claim to the Falkland Islands. This is what Garret Martin, a researcher in foreign and security affairs at the American University in Washington DC, told the Argentine newspaper La Nación.
According to internal Pentagon emails, it is a possible way to punish Britain for not being seen as helping the US enough in the Iran war. If the Trump administration takes such a step, it would be a severe blow to US-British relations, says Martin.
However, it is not very likely that it would happen in the near future, he says.
- But the message in itself is very significant.
Both Britain and Argentina claim the territory, which is located outside the Latin American country.
The same email mentions the exclusion of Spain from NATO as a possible punishment, according to Reuters.
Middle East Crisis Peace Talks
Iran's Foreign Minister Arrives – Kushner and Witkoff Participate for the US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has landed in Islamabad, Reuters reports, confirming earlier reports that he is traveling to the Pakistani capital.
Tehran says the focus of the trip is "bilateral issues" but does not mention the US in this context. At the same time, the White House announces that Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet with Araghchi.
- We hope that it will be a constructive conversation that brings us closer to an agreement, says spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
The meeting is expected to be held on Saturday.
Middle East crisis Oil market
Trump Extends Exemption – Oil Prices Turn Down
Oil prices turned on their heels and fell 2-3 percent in the early afternoon. This after the Trump administration extended an exemption for maritime transport of oil, fuel and fertilizer in the US by 90 days, Bloomberg reports.
At 1:35 p.m., fuel oil was down 1.8 percent and US WTI oil was down 2.6 percent from reaching its highest levels since the ceasefire came into effect earlier on Friday, according to the FT.
The exemption, which would otherwise have expired on May 17, is intended to make it easier for foreign-flagged ships to transport goods between US ports. The US Jones Act of 1920 usually requires that goods transported by sea between US ports be carried on US ships, a requirement the exemption now removes for a number of energy-related assets.
– This extension provides both predictability and stability for the US and global economies, White House spokesman Taylor Rogers told Bloomberg.
After the rally – oil at its highest level since the ceasefire
Oil prices are now at their highest levels since the US and Iran first agreed to a ceasefire in early April, writes the FT.
In the wake of the stalemate in the Persian Gulf and the stalled peace talks, oil has risen by more than 18 percent this week. On Friday, oil was up by as much as 2.3 percent, above $107 a barrel, while WTI oil is trading at $97 a barrel.
Deutsche Bank analysts note that uncertainty in the Middle East continues to linger.
“Tensions between the US and Iran show no signs of abating while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed,” the bank writes.
UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo believes that investors should expect continued high oil prices as long as flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain limited, writes Bloomberg.
Economy
Musk's Space Ventures
Sources: Heavy Investors Shun Anysphere Round
Before the potential $60 billion deal between SpaceX and Anysphere became known, the AI company tried to raise billions in a capital round. At that time, the company was turned down by several experienced tech investors, sources tell The Information.
According to the site, venture capital firm Iconiq and other investors who recently invested billions in OpenAI and Anthropic declined to participate at a valuation of $50 billion. Doubts about whether Anysphere's AI tool Cursor can compete with rivals like Anthropic's Claude Code are one of the reasons.
– There is so much concern about Anthropic right now among investors, says a fund manager who recently
Middle East crisis Economic effects
SAS: Fuel alarm exaggerated – summer travel not in danger
The energy agency IEA warns that Europe risks running out of jet fuel within six weeks. But SAS believes that this picture is incorrect, writes DI.
Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, head of communications at SAS, believes that the summer is not in danger as the situation looks now and points a boot at the alarms that she believes are creating unnecessary concern among customers.
– We have enough fuel at the stations we fly to and fly to them as planned, she says.
AB Volvo's future
Volvo grows in North America: "Is probably the beginning of the journey"
Truck giant AB Volvo is growing in the prioritized North American market. In the first quarter, Volvo and its subsidiary Mack each had market shares of 8.5 percent – up from 7.2 and 6.9 percent a year ago, respectively. The long-term goal is to jointly control 25 percent of the market.
CEO Martin Lundstedt tells EFN in a comment on Friday's quarterly report that he believes the development can continue.
– This is probably the beginning of the journey, especially on the Mack side.
met Anysphere's management.
The flood of reports
Volvo's order intake strengthens – raises the forecast
Volvo's sales and operating profit are coming in slightly worse than expected and decreased by 9 and 20 percent respectively in the interim year. This is evident from this morning's fresh report.
The adjusted EBIT result, however, increased by nearly 4.7 percent.
At the same time, the truck giant smashes the order intake by 62,755 new trucks, compared to the expected 57,600. This corresponded to an increase of 14 percent.
"We have adjusted our truck market forecasts for Europe and Brazil slightly, while we are keeping the North American forecast unchanged," CEO Martin Lundstedt states in the report.
US may review UK claim to Falklands
Updated 14.52 | Published 13.52
The reason: A leaked US email about how the British should be punished for their role in the Iran war.
– Sovereignty lies with us, says British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman.
Quick version
Spain and Britain have made it difficult for the United States during the Iran war, the Pentagon believes. An internal email reveals options for how they should be punished for this, a source told Reuters.
For Britain, it could mean the United States reassessing its diplomatic support for British overseas territories, such as the Falkland Islands, which are also claimed by Argentina.
Britain initially did not grant the United States permission to use its air bases to attack Iran. And Prime Minister Keir Starmer is a "coward" for not wanting to join the war, according to US President Donald Trump.
“Sovereignty lies with us”
The 1982 war between Argentina and Britain over the islands left hundreds of soldiers dead on both sides before the Argentine military dictatorship finally surrendered.
Argentina has continued to assert its right to the de facto self-governing island nation ever since. As recently as April 2 – the anniversary of the start of the war – the country’s President Javier Miel reiterated the country’s demand for complete sovereignty over the territory, which in Argentina is known as the Malvinas.
Britain, for its part, claims the islands as its own. They stand by that, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday, Sky News reported.
“The Falklands have previously voted overwhelmingly to remain an overseas territory. We have always supported the right to self-determination,” the spokesman said, adding:
“Sovereignty lies with us.”
Wants to get rid of Spain
That it will be the US that leaves NATO, as the country's President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted, is not an option according to the internal email.
Instead, Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has made himself known as one of the war's biggest opponents, could be kicked out completely.
Sánchez announced early on that the Spanish military bases of Rota and Morón were not allowed to be used for operations against Iran because the war is not supported by the UN.
Reuters has been in contact with the Pentagon about the email. Despite everything the US has done for NATO, the allies have not been there for them, according to press secretary Kingley Wilson.
- The War Department will ensure that the president has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations, he says.
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