Britain sets course for its own payment system
London, February 2026. The heads of the UK’s largest banks are preparing for a historic step in financial policy: the first coordinated meeting to discuss the creation of a national payments system, an alternative to the international payment networks Visa and Mastercard. The meeting, chaired by Barclays UK CEO Wim…
From legend to reality: How a “shadow fleet” turned sailors into prisoners of ghost ships
Historically, the term “ghost ship” was associated with legends of drifting vessels without crews. However, in the 21st century, it has acquired a new, far more sinister meaning. This refers not to mysterious disappearances, but to the systemic practice of abandoning seafarers by shipowners. According to the definition enshrined in…
The pre-election confrontation between Viktor Orbán and Peter Magyar for the future of Hungary
The Hungarian parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2026 could be a fateful moment not only for Hungary, which V. Orban has been leading for over fifteen years, but also for him personally. His power, authority and the system that he had built for himself for so long have faltered and…
Unequal opportunities and complexities of the electoral process in Hungary
Before Viktor Orbán came to power in 2010, Hungary was a relatively free democracy with a high level of freedom of speech and media pluralism. Freedom House in its assessments defined Hungary as “a free democracy with a high level of civil liberties and political rights”. Over the more than…
How Fico is contributing to the corrupt degradation of the Slovak establishment
After joining the EU in 2004, the Slovak government began to make great efforts to build democratic institutions and a transparent law enforcement and judicial system. In fact, this was one of the key requirements for Slovakia when joining the European Union. Slovakia, as a country that was part of…