US, 17 other countries urge Hamas to release hostages, end Gaza crisis
Washington DC, US Reuters The United States and 17 other countries on Thursday issued an appeal for Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza, but Hamas vowed not to relent to international pressure. “We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in […]
Tens of thousands march in Budapest against Orban
Budapest, Hungary Reuters Tens of thousands protested against the government of Viktor Orban in downtown Budapest on Saturday, led by a lawyer formerly close to the administration who recently launched a political movement that aims to challenge the Prime Minister. Protesters marched to parliament in the unusually warm spring weather, some of them shouting “we […]
EU countries split over nature law in latest blow to green agenda
Brussels, Belgium Reuters The European Union’s flagship policy to restore damaged nature is hanging in the balance, with a vote to pass the law on Monday cancelled after Hungary unexpectedly withdrew its support for the bill. The vote, scheduled to take place at a meeting of EU countries’ environment ministers in Brussels, was called off […]
Trump won’t give money to Ukraine if elected, says Hungary’s Orban
Budapest, Hungary Reuters Former US leader Donald Trump will not give money to help Ukraine fight Russia if he wins the presidency again and that will hasten an end to the war, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after meeting him. Nationalist premier Orban, who is backing his long-time ally’s bid to return to White […]
Sweden clears final hurdle to join NATO as Hungary approves accession
Budapest, Hungary/Stockholm, Sweden Reuters Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s NATO accession on Monday, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War. Hungary’s vote ended months of delays to complete Sweden’s security policy shift and followed a visit […]
EU’s democratic safeguards on financial aid fall short, auditors say
Brussels, Belgium Reuters EU conditions for ensuring rule of law among member states before they can receive financial aid are not strong enough to completely rule out a backsliding in democracy, the 27-nation bloc’s auditors said on Wednesday. The European Union has tightened democratic safeguards on payouts from the bloc’s shared budget in recent years […]
Tens of thousands rally against Hungary’s Orban after sex abuse pardon scandal
Budapest, Hungary Reuters Tens of thousands of Hungarians protested in Budapest on Friday at the biggest rally against Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government for years, after a sex-abuse case pardon by President Katalin Novak caused public uproar and led to her resignation. Conservative Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has sought to defuse […]
Hungarian President Novak resigns over sex abuse case pardon
Budapest, Hungary Reuters Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigned on Saturday after coming under mounting pressure for pardoning a man convicted of helping to cover up sexual abuse in a children’s home. Novak, a close ally of conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, resigned a week after her presidential pardon was first reported by local news site […]
EU agrees €50 billion in new aid for Ukraine in message to divided US
Brussels, Belgium Reuters European Union leaders unanimously agreed on Thursday to €50 billion in new aid to Ukraine, sending a message to the United States split on whether to keep backing Kyiv in its fight against Russia’s invasion. The agreement overcomes weeks of resistance from Hungary and comes amid uncertainty over the future of US […]
Hungary far-right would lay claim to neighbouring region, if Ukraine loses war
Budapest, Hungary Reuters Hungary’s far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia’s invasion, the party’s leader said late on Saturday. Our Homeland leader Laszlo Toroczkai made the remarks at a conference where the party, […]