The Prague Post - Politics

Trump says US reinstates Iran blockade, will be 'paid' for guarding Hormuz

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States was reinstating its blockade of Iranian ports and "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz, where it would levy charges on shipping.

Trump says US 'taking over' Hormuz as fighting with Iran flares

The United States is "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz and will be paid for protecting it, US President Donald Trump declared on Monday, as Washington and Tehran once again fought over the vital waterway.

Oil prices surge on US-Iran attacks, tech shares tank

World oil prices surged Monday as a fresh flare-up between the United States and Iran rattled investors, while a selloff in chipmakers sent South Korea's stock market plunging.

Taliban says 'no oppression' of Afghan women after dress crackdown

Afghanistan's minister in charge of vice and virtue defended on Monday the crackdown on women's dress code in the western city of Herat, saying it protected "dignity" and dismissing criticism as propaganda.

UK unveils plan to ban Iran Revolutionary Guards: ministry

The UK government announced plans on Monday to ban Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat to national security, alongside an Iran-linked group accused of a series of attacks against the Jewish community.

France's Macron says Europe will defend freedom at all costs

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Europe was ready to defend itself and freedom with "blood" if necessary, before a meeting of Ukraine's allies to reaffirm support for Kyiv and step up pressure on Russia.

‘Almost like gold’: water debate rages on Italy’s Aeolian Islands

Without natural drinking water, residents of Italy's Aeolian Islands are mulling whether to build more desalination plants that will also cater to the large number of tourists, or continue bringing in water by ship.

Middle East rocked by heaviest attacks since Iran-US ceasefire

The Middle East has been rocked by US and Iranian attacks of a scale unseen since an April ceasefire, as fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz threatened to derail efforts to permanently end the war.

EU, UK hit Russia with joint sanctions over cyber attacks

The European Union and Britain targeted Russia Monday with coordinated sanctions over cyber attacks in Europe, accusing Moscow's FSB intelligence agency over involvement in digital strikes.

Kenya's goons: a world of political violence and desperation

Kenyan politicians are hiring armed thugs for as little as $4 per day, as poverty and ruthless political competition threaten to unleash uncontrollable violence ahead of elections next year.

Oil prices spike on fresh US-Iran attacks, tech hammers on stocks again

Oil prices jumped more than four percent on Monday after another flare-up between the United States and Iran that threatened their already fragile truce, while South Korean stocks plunged as tech firms were hit by a fresh rout.

US hits Iran as Gulf states targeted in flareup over Hormuz

The United States struck Iran Monday for a second day running, drawing Tehran's reprisals against US allies in the Gulf as the foes battle over the status of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Protected but deported anyway, as Trump goes after 'dreamers'

Jose Contreras felt safe from deportation under a program launched years ago under Barack Obama, but the Trump administration expelled him anyway.

US strikes Iran as Gulf states targeted in flareup over Hormuz

The US military on Sunday said it had launched a new wave of attacks against Iran, after renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz saw several of Washington's Gulf allies targeted by incoming fire.

Fresh attacks hit Iran, Kuwait as Tehran and US square off over Hormuz

Fresh attacks rocked Iran and Kuwait on Sunday evening as Tehran and Washington squared off over the Strait of Hormuz, offering contradicting statements as to whether the vital waterway was open to traffic.

Spain ex-PM draws criticism with 'xenophobic' remark on French team

Spain's conservative ex-prime minister Mariano Rajoy faced criticism at home and in France Sunday after saying the neighbouring country's national football team had "no French players".

Israel elections to be held on October 27: parliament

Israel will hold national elections on October 27, the last date allowed by law, its parliament said on Sunday, with the vote widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership since the Gaza war erupted.

Zelensky orders new PM in major government reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a major reshuffle of the government on Sunday, proposing the replacement of the prime minister and the heads of some law enforcement agencies.

Iran declares Hormuz strait closed, US military insists traffic flowing

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was closed on Sunday while the United States insisted it remained open, after the confrontation over the vital waterway again sparked US and Iranian strikes.

Ukraine's Zelensky orders government reshuffle, new PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a major reshuffle of the government on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and the heads of some law enforcement agencies.

Iran, US trade more strikes as fighting escalates

Iran said Sunday it was closing the Strait of Hormuz and launched missiles and drones at Gulf neighbours after the US carried out a new round of strikes as their conflict escalated.

Noosha Aubel and Potsdam: The trust placed in her has been squandered

Noosha Aubel: a €33.4 million budget deficit in the state capital Potsdam, around €500,000 spent on external consultancy, revised austerity plans at the expense of children – and a shameful case involving a severely disabled toddler as part of a nursery scandal: Noosha Aubel inherited some of these crises, but the leadership deficit is now entirely her own. A 72.9 per cent share of the vote is not a mark of leadership; it is merely a vote of confidence. Noosha Aubel (50) received an exceptionally high level of this confidence in October 2025 – and has squandered it in a surprisingly short space of time. The hope for a fresh start has given way to bitter disillusionment, which is by no means limited to political opponents. After just 100 days, observers were already finding no clear direction whatsoever; in June 2026, media circles openly reported on unsettled supporters, unilateral actions and a lack of majorities. The yardstick is simple: is Potsdam functioning better? Are the finances in order, decisions properly prepared and the most vulnerable protected? So far, the answer is: no. Potsdam wanted a fresh start. It got a mayor who all too often confuses management jargon with leadership and is unable to get a grip on problems in the state capital. Added to this is a shameful scandal involving a toddler with multiple severe disabilities, for whom Aubel is personally responsible, and which raises questions about morality and decency. It is particularly shameful that media enquiries are not being answered by the head of the press office at Potsdam Town Hall, Jan Brunzlow – even though Noosha Aubel has demonstrably been contacted personally. Instead of answering the questions posed in a transparent and comprehensible manner, Brunzlow, according to the available documents, is pushing for a ‘personal conversation’, thereby apparently attempting to shift the communication into a non-public, informal setting. Should this course of action indeed contravene the applicable obligations to provide information under press law, a fundamental question arises: Is Noosha Aubel fit to hold the office of Lord Mayor of the state capital, Potsdam?

US-Iran strikes: latest developments

Iran announced it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and hit Gulf neighbours in retaliation for US strikes, further undermining efforts to salvage Middle East peace efforts.

Iran strikes Gulf neighbours after new US attacks

Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz Sunday and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours, in retaliation for new US strikes following an attack by Iranian forces on a merchant vessel that was abandoned in flames by its crew.

Bhutan battles 'existential' population crisis with birth drive

Bhutan is offering families cash incentives to have more children as the tiny Himalayan kingdom grapples with a nosediving birthrate and a growing exodus of young people seeking opportunities abroad.

US launches new strikes on Iran after container ship hit in Hormuz

Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday "until further notice" after firing on a vessel it said was taking an unauthorised route, prompting US retaliatory strikes that further undermine an already shaky ceasefire.

Russian strikes kill eight in Ukraine, officials say

Russia struck Ukraine with missiles, drones and guided bombs on Saturday, killing eight people and wounding dozens of others, officials said.

Russian strikes kill six in Ukraine, officials say

Russia struck Ukraine with missiles, drones and guided bombs on Saturday, killing six people and wounding dozens of others, officials said.

'Our land, our sky:' West Bank Palestinians fly kites in defiance of Israeli settlers

As brightly coloured kites climb above Burin, a Palestinian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, children race across a sun-baked hillside, watching their creations soar into the sky.

Iran supreme leader vows revenge for father's killing

Iran's supreme leader on Saturday vowed revenge for the US-Israeli killing of his father and predecessor, hours after President Donald Trump warned against any attempt to assassinate him.

Mediators try to salvage diplomacy after US-Iran strikes

Mediators were trying to salvage diplomacy aimed at ending the Middle East war after US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire over, with a Qatari delegation in Iran and Tehran's top diplomat travelling to Oman.

Fresh arrests hit opposition-run district in Ankara

Turkey's government pressed on with its campaign against the main opposition CHP on Saturday with dozens of arrests targeting a district in the capital Ankara that is run by the party.

The Prague Post - Politics (English)

Featured

Surrounded by militias, Sudanese fear endless cycle of war

In Ghana, one man's race to save critically endangered fish

Last news