Latest news

Middle East Crisis  Houthi Rebels
Sources: Houthi rebels may start charging in the Red Sea

The Iran-linked Houthi rebel group is considering imposing fees on all commercial ships passing through the Red Sea, sources in the region told Reuters.

The idea reportedly came directly from Iran in connection with the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The idea is to try to normalize fees at sea and thereby increase pressure on the United States, the sources said. At the same time, Chinese ships are reportedly exempt from the fees.

The Yemeni government has been reached by the same information, Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told AFP. He calls it a “dangerous escalation.”

The passage has become especially important given the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Such penalties are expected to meet strong resistance from European countries and the Gulf states. 

Russian invasion  The world's response
Zelenskyj visits Poland – after the row over units

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has visited Poland for the first time since the diplomatic conflict between the countries earlier this year, reports the Kyiv Independent.

The visit is described by the newspaper as an attempt to stabilize the strained relations.

The conflict broke out in early summer after Zelenskyj decided to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

The UPA is accused of killing around 100,000 Poles during World War II. The decision prompted Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip Zelenskyj of the country's highest decoration, the Order of the White Eagle.

The change of power in Hungary
The honeymoon is over – Magyar loses after the Polgár affair

After a flying start as Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Magyar has suffered his first clear setback. In new polls, support for both Magyar and his party Tizsa is falling, reports Euractiv.

The decline is linked to the handling of the presidential role. After kicking out the Orbán-friendly president, Magyar quickly nominated chess queen Judit Polgár, who shortly later declined.

The nomination process was heavily criticized. During the election campaign, Magyar said that the people would choose their president and promised that parties would no longer nominate “reliable comrades in smoke-filled rooms” for president.

Experts describe the incident as Magyar’s first big mistake.

“The honeymoon is over,” political analyst Gábor Török told Euractiv.

The problems with mass tourism
Sources: EU wants to restrict Airbnb

The EU Commission is preparing new measures that will give cities greater opportunities to restrict short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb, writes Bloomberg.

The background is the growing housing crisis in Europe. In this way, the EU wants to improve access to housing and curb price developments.

A common methodology for identifying areas with housing shortages and a framework for which restrictions can be considered proportionate are to be presented. The aim is to give local authorities stronger legal support when regulations are challenged in court.

The proposal is expected to be presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in conjunction with