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☆ Hungary's Orban erects billboards vilifying EU's von der Leyen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUDAPEST, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hungary's ruling party unveiled billboards vilifying European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Monday, the first time it has made her a personal target in a campaign similar to one against her predecessor that angered Brussels. The billboards, erected overnight to launch a campaign for next June's European parliamentary election, depict Von der Leyen alongside Alex Soros, the son of liberal Hungarian-born financier George Soros, a perennial target of hostility from Orban's Fidesz Party. Soros is Jewish and some critics view the central role he plays in Fidesz propaganda as evidence of anti-Semitism, which Fidesz strongly denies. Similar billboards showing Von der Leyen's predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker alongside the elder Soros drew a rebuke from Brussels in 2019. Orban sent out a survey on Friday to Hungarians asking whether the EU should allocate more funds to Ukraine or grant it membership.

Persons: Ursula Von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Alex Soros, George Soros, Soros, Von der, Jean, Claude Juncker, Orban, Krisztina, Peter Graff Organizations: Fidesz Party, Jewish, Fidesz, EPP, Thomson Locations: BUDAPEST, Brussels, Hungarian, Hungary, Europe, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Hungary needs to change the EU, not leave it, Orban says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Orban again reiterated his government's opposition to starting talks with Ukraine about its accession to the EU. "Correcting the mistaken promise (by Brussels) to start talks (with Ukraine about EU membership) will also be our task, as Ukraine is light years away from the EU now," Orban said, adding that he would fight off attempts by the EU to settle migrants in Hungary. Ukraine, which applied to join the EU days after Russia's invasion in February 2022, sees membership as a top priority. The question of starting accession talks with the country will be on the agenda at an EU summit next month. With Hungary clambering out of an inflation crisis, nationalist Orban has this week started campaigning heavily for European parliamentary elections due next June.

Persons: Victor Orban, Johanna Geron, Viktor Orban, Orban, Krisztina, Kirsten Donovan, Mike Harrison Organizations: European Union, of, Caribbean, REUTERS, Rights, Fidesz, Ukraine, EU, Hungary, Thomson Locations: Caribbean States, Brussels, Belgium, Hungary, Europe, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Hungary's Orban seeks to stir support with survey questioning EU policies, Ukraine membership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"A breakaway from the voter base has started (...) this campaign aims to stop that," Zoltan Novak, a political analyst at the Centre for Fair Political Analysis think tank said. Another survey by pollster Median also showed a 5 point decline in support for Fidesz between February and October. The questions in the survey portray the EU as favouring Ukraine over Hungary, one of its own members. Earlier this week, Orban said the bloc's strategy of sending money and military aid to Ukraine had failed, and that he opposed starting membership negotiations with Kyiv. His government has taken a different stance on Ukraine than the rest of the bloc, refraining from providing arms and criticising EU sanctions on Russia, although it has eventually backed all the sanctions so far.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Orban's, Orban, Zoltan Novak, Boldizsar, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, Fidesz, pollster, EU, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: BUDAPEST, European, Ukraine, Hungary, Russia

☆ Sweden's NATO bid delayed in Turkish parliament
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Huseyin Hayatsever | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsANKARA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs commission delayed a vote on Sweden's NATO membership bid on Thursday in a further setback to the Nordic country's hopes of joining the Western alliance after 18 months of waiting. "For all of our lawmakers to approve Sweden's NATO membership, they need to be fully convinced. While there is no clear timeframe on approving the purchase request for the F-16s, Ankara has linked the issue to Sweden's bid. Some analysts say Turkey's parliament could fully ratify the bid by a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Nov. 28-29. While NATO member Hungary has also not ratified Sweden's membership, Turkey is seen as the main roadblock to Sweden's accession.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fuat Oktay, Tayyip Erdogan's, Oktay, Erdogan, Finland's, Burak, Ali Sahin, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer, Christina Fincher Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, Rights, Nordic, Kurdistan Workers, European Union, AK Party, White, Sweden's, Thomson Locations: Rights ANKARA, Turkish, Swedish, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Turkey, embargoes, United States, Stockholm, Canada, Netherlands, Ankara, Brussels, Gaza, Moscow, Russia, Hungary, U.S, Hungarian, Budapest

☆ US Is 'Confident' Sweden Will Soon Join NATO - US Envoy to Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The United States is "confident" that Sweden will soon be a member of NATO, the U.S. ambassador to Hungary said on Thursday, adding he had been assured by the Hungarian government that Budapest would not be the last to ratify the bid. Relations between Budapest and Washington have soured because of Hungary's foot-dragging over the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession and also over Prime Minister Viktor Orban's warm ties with Moscow despite the war in Ukraine. "I have been repeatedly assured at the senior-most levels of this government that Hungary will not be last to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO," Ambassador David Pressman said. Sweden's NATO membership is still pending ratification by Turkey and Hungary. Orban's Fidesz was expected to submit the bill to parliament on Tuesday, but it has been delayed.

Persons: Viktor Orban's, David Pressman, Orban, Vladimir Putin's, Pressman, Putin, that's, Krisztina, Gareth Jones Organizations: NATO, Fidesz Locations: BUDAPEST, United States, Sweden, U.S, Hungary, Hungarian, Budapest, Washington, Moscow, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Beijing

☆ ‘Succession’ star Brian Cox wears faux leather trousers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In the five years Brian Cox played vitriolic media mogul Logan Roy in HBO’s boardroom drama “Succession,” viewers mostly saw him on-screen in a navy business suit and burgundy tie. Brian Cox's camel-hued leather trousers have caused a stir online. “I wish this app would stop showing me Brian Cox in those leather trousers and loafers,” added another. More recently, Joe Jonas has been praised online for his rotating selection of leather pants in red, brown, black and silver during the latest Jonas Brothers tour. Lo and behold, two decades on, everyone’s favorite faux-CEO is bearing his calves — and more besides — in leather trousers on prime-time television.

Persons: Brian Cox, Logan Roy, Venk Modur, Cox, Waystar, Jasmine Chongo, Lowry, Jimmy Fallon, Brian Cox's, Todd Owyoung, Roy, ”, Modur, Freddie Mercury’s, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presely, Joe Jonas, Jonas Brothers, horsebit loafers, “, Anne Hollander, New York Times — Organizations: CNN, Scottish thespian, HBO, Warner Bros, NBC, Getty, Cox’s, New York Times, General Electric Locations: Budapest, America

People walk past the new headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Canary Wharf, London, Britain, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Alishia Abodunde/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Move follows Hungary govt exit from Erste unitGovt raising financing for airport transactionExit 'good news' for sector's stability -EBRDBUDAPEST, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is selling its 15% stake in Erste Group Bank's (ERST.VI) Hungarian unit back to the Austrian group after the Hungarian government's recent exit from the bank, a top EBRD official told Reuters. Austrian lender Erste said on Friday it was repurchasing a 15% stake in its Hungarian subsidiary, currently held by Hungarian state-owned Corvinus International Investments. Francis Malige, EBRD managing director of financial institutions, said the investment had been designed to help the Hungarian bank recapitalise while supporting a positive relationship with the authorities. "We received a call notice from Erste last Friday and are proceeding with the sale of our stake to the group, based on terms agreed during our 2016 investment."

Persons: Alishia, Viktor Orban, Marton Nagy, Francis Malige, Malige, Orban, Gergely Szakacs, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, REUTERS, Erste Group, Reuters, Economic, Budapest Airport, Austrian, Erste, International Investments, Erste Bank, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, Hungary, Erste, BUDAPEST, Austrian, Hungarian, Erste Bank Hungary

☆ Late Israel equaliser puts Swiss Euro 2024 qualification on ice
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The unbeaten Swiss moved top of Group I, with 16 points from eight matches, but only ahead of Romania on goal difference. Israel are third on 12 points with all three countries having two games left. Vargas came within inches of doubling his tally five minutes after his goal when he thundered a shot off the crossbar. As a result, Israel play four games in the space of nine days to complete their qualifying campaign. The Swiss face Kosovo in Basel on Saturday and then complete their campaign away in Romania on Tuesday.

Persons: Israel, Shon Weissman's, Ruben Vargas, Edimilson Fernandes, Weisman’s, Fernandes, Noah Okafor, Vargas, Sean Goldberg, Dor Turgeman’s, Turgeman, Yann Sommer, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: European Championship, Kosovo, Swiss, Palestinian, Hamas, Romania, Puskas Academy Arena, Thomson Locations: FELCSUT, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, Romania, Israel, Kosovo, Budapest, Andorra, Basel, Cape Town

☆ Hungary seeks EU action over Bulgaria's new fee on Russian gas transit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, July 8, 2020. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Hungary has asked the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over a new fee it has imposed on Russian gas transit shipments, EU affairs minister Janos Boka said in a post on Facebook on Friday. Bulgaria introduced the new transit fee of about 10 euros per MWh of Russian gas last month, prompting strong criticism from Hungary and Serbia. "Today I have sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria without delay," Boka said. He has asked the EU executive to call on Bulgaria to suspend the fee until the procedure is completed, he added.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Janos Boka, Boka, Krisztina, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia, Europe

☆ Hungary's Orban says EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on as he attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, stressing this was Hungary's "clear stance" on the issue. EU countries' leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the Commission's recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions. "Membership talks must not be started, this is the clear Hungarian stance," Orban said, adding that Brussels "owed Hungary money." Investors have been eyeing Budapest's talks with Brussels over the EU funds very closely.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Johanna Geron, Nationalist Orban, Orban, Budapest's, Krisztina, Jason Neely, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, EU, Ukraine, Hungary, Budapest

But some worry the aid could be blocked by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has touted his ties with Moscow and objected to similar support in the past. Asked for comment, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said that any financial aid to Ukraine should be separate from the EU budget. "The issue of money for Ukraine will be solved one way or another, Kyiv will get EU support," the official said. BILLIONS AT STAKELast year, Hungary vetoed a similar proposal to give 18 billion euros in financial assistance to Ukraine in 2023. EU officials told Reuters last month that they were looking at unlocking at least some of that money as the bloc seeks to win Orban's vote for Ukraine.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Valdis Dombrovskis, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Heavens, Toby Chopra Organizations: Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, European, Hungary's, EU, Trade, Ukraine, Hungary, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Moscow Ukraine, BRUSSELS, BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Moscow, EU, Budapest, Russia

☆ Wizz Air narrows profit forecast on difficult operating conditions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wizz Air's aircraft is parked on the tarmac at Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, August 18, 2022. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 9 (Reuters) - European budget carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ.L) on Thursday narrowed its annual profit forecast below analyst expectations, citing continuing macroeconomic uncertainty and difficult operating conditions. Wizz Air was also one of the main airlines hit by issues with RTX (RTX.N) engines this year and had said it would face a capacity reduction as a result. That knocked its net income guidance for the financial year to between 350 million euros and 400 million euros ($374.7 million to $428.2 million), down from 350 million to 450 million euros. The budget carrier posted operating profit of 522.9 million euros ($559.8 million) for the six months to Sept. 30, compared with a loss of 63.8 million euros a year earlier.

Persons: Wizz, Bernadett Szabo, Jozsef Varadi, Varadi, RTX, Joanna Plucinska, Yadarisa, Savio D'Souza, David Goodman Organizations: Ferenc Liszt International, REUTERS, Wizz, Aerospace, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, London, Bengaluru

If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine's EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. "Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal," the country's president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move. The Commission said the EU should also begin membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina once a long list of extensive conditions are met. In 2020, Britain was the first country to ever leave the EU, a major setback for European integration following World War Two.

Persons: Yves Herman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Maia Sandu, von der Leyen, enlargements, Andrew Gray, Yuliia, Olena, Alexander Tanas, Gabriela Baczynska, Nick Macfie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Moldova, Bosnia, Georgia, BRUSSELS, KYIV, Hungary, Kyiv, Hungarian, Budapest, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi, Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Britain

☆ Fact Check: Altered, miscaptioned images of Cristiano Ronaldo in pro-Palestinian video
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A video showing mostly altered photographs and miscaptioned videos of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is being shared online alongside claims that the images reflect his support for Palestinians. A Facebook post published on Oct. 27, 2023, sharing the video compilation that lasts over one minute had more than 21,000 views at the time of publishing. The caption reads: “Cristiano Ronaldo Full support palestine.”Reuters ImageIn the first video clip of the circulating compilation, Ronaldo is framed by a poster and map overlaid on the video and he says: “We know that you have been suffering a lot. @SavetheChildren.”The compilation of the miscaptioned images then continues to show a variety of suggestive clips and images. The videos and images in the video compilation pre-date the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and many are altered or miscaptioned.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, “ Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Don’t, Jawad El Yamiq, “, Lorca, ”, Lionel Messi, Read Organizations: Ronaldo’s, Canada, Palestinian, Reuters, FIFA, TNT Sports, Lorca, Palestine, Observers, Palestinian Football Association, Thomson Locations: Portuguese, palestine, Syria, Moroccan, Madeira, Lyon, France, Budapest, Morocco, Gaza, ”, Lorca , Spain, Israel

Image This year’s women’s race was oddly slow until the last few miles. Tola had arrived in New York with questions about his fitness after he dropped out of the marathon at the world championships in Budapest this summer. When she made her marathon debut in New York last year, she went out fast before struggling to a sixth-place finish. “Sometimes,” Obiri said, “you learn from your mistakes.”She put those lessons to use in Boston earlier this year when she won her first world marathon major. By then, only Obiri, Gidey, Lokedi and two others — Viola Cheptoo, the runner-up in 2021, and Brigid Kosgei, a five-time world marathon major champion — were still in contention.

Persons: Hellen, Letesenbet Gidey, Gidey, Obiri, “, ”, Karsten Moran, Sharon Lokedi, ” Obiri, Tamirat Tola, Tola, Geoffrey Mutai’s, Jemal Yimer, Albert Korir, Peter Foley, ” Ritzenhein, Hellen Obiri, Uli Seit, Kellyn Taylor, — Viola Cheptoo, Brigid Kosgei, —, Ritzenhein Organizations: New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, Boulder, Athletics Club, The New York Times, Shutterstock, Credit, Kenya Locations: Kenya, Ethiopia, Colo, New York, Budapest, Staten Island, Boulder, Boston, “ New York, Central Park, Gidey, Paris

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — People younger than 18 have been barred from visiting this year's World Press Photo exhibition in Budapest, after Hungary's right-wing populist government determined that some of its photos violate a contentious law restricting LGBTQ+ content. The prestigious global photo exhibition, on display in Hungary's National Museum in Budapest, receives more than 4 million visitors from around the world every year. Showcasing outstanding photojournalism, its mission is to bring visual coverage of a range of important events to a global audience. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesJoumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo, called it worrisome that a photo series “that is so positive, so inclusive,” had been targeted by Hungary’s government. “How the LGBTQ minority lives is not the biggest problem in the world,” Duro told the AP.

Persons: Hannah Reyes Morales, El Zein Khoury, ”, Khoury, Viktor Orbán, Ursula von der, ” Dora Duro, ” Duro, ” Reyes Morales, “, Tamas Revesz, Morales, ” Revesz Organizations: —, World Press, Associated Press, European Union, AP, Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Philippines, Europe, Ukraine

☆ Athletics takes Pan Am spotlight but 100 metres left in shadows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While there has been a lack of quality and depth across many of the sports in Santiago, it was never more glaring than at the first day of athletics. The Pan American region has for decades produced some of the world's greatest sprinters, including Usain Bolt. Brazil's Izabela Rodrigues claimed the first gold of the athletics competition winning the women's discus while the women's long jump title went to Colombia's Natalia Linares. Chile's Lucas Nervi delighted a small but supportive opening day home crowd, taking top spot on the podium in the men's discus. "I feel happy, for the medal for my country, which is the most important thing, along with qualification," said Mesinas.

Persons: Jamaica's Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, Bernadett Szabo, Carl Lewis, Gail Devers, Don Quarrie, Ann Fraser Pryce, Felipe Bardi, Erik Barbosa, Dominican Republic's Jose Gonzalez, Usain, Noah Lyles, Brazil's Izabela Rodrigues, Colombia's Natalia Linares, Chile's Lucas Nervi, Peru's Luz Mery Rojas, Tatiana Weston Webb, Sanoa Dempfle, Olin, Peru's, Peru's Lucca Mesinas, Venezuela's Francisco, Mesinas, Weston Webb, Canada's Dylan, Chile's Pablo Nunez, Lee Kiefer, Canada's Grace Harvey, Daniela Fonseca, Jorge Campos, Brazil's Bruna Takahashi, Vitor Ishiy, Steve Keating, Miral Organizations: Athletics Centre, Rights, Athletics, Pan American Games, Pan, Games, Colombian Ronal Longa, Tuesday's, Pan Ams, U.S, Peru's Lucca, Paris, United States, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Santiago, Shelly, Colombian, Dominican, Dominican Republic, Peru, United States, Brazil, Canada

☆ Norway’s Ingebrigtsen family is ripped apart by allegations of ‘aggression and physical punishment’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Such was the case for Gjert Ingebrigtsen, who was the coach to three of his seven children: Henrik, Filip and Jakob, the one who raced to Olympic gold in Tokyo two years ago. Because he’s anxious and he has nerves and he responds by getting irritated and angry about the little stuff.”CNN has contacted representatives for the Ingebrigtsen brothers for further comment. Team Ingebrigtsen, a documentary series first aired in 2016, has shed light on the family dynamic, particularly the father-coach relationship between Gjert and his sons. “I would say that after the royal family, I think they are the most famous family in Norway,” said Folvik. In two separate statements, the federation said that it wants to create a “safe environment” for athletes and made reference to comments made by the Ingebrigtsen brothers in the media.

Persons: Timothy Cheruiyot, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, Henrik, Filip, Jakob, ” Henrik, ” Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Matthias Hangst, “, Elden Advokatfirma, ”, Terese Braut Våge, ” John Christian Elden, Filip Ingebrigsten, Michael Steele, Martin, Gjert, Norway’s, ’ Henrik, Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Hovland, ” Herman Folvik, it’s, Team Ingebrigtsen, Narve Gilje Nordås, Narve, Nordås, Sam Mellish, – Organizations: CNN, Kenyan, Tokyo, CNN Sport, New York Times, VG, Team, Norwegian Athletics Federation Locations: Tokyo, Berlin, Norway, Budapest, Hungary

☆ One dead, eight injured as car carrying migrants crashes in Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A crashed car carrying migrants is seen near Asotthalom, Hungary, near the Serbian border, October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - One person died and eight people including four children were injured in Hungary near the Serbian border on Friday when a car carrying migrants crashed with a truck, authorities said. Renata Papp, mayor of Asotthalom village where the accident occurred, said on Facebook the car driver, a smuggler, was lifted from the wreckage by another smuggler and whisked away in another car. The migrants, predominantly from the Middle East and Afghanistan, enter Hungary from Serbia despite a steel fence that Prime Minister Viktor Orban had built after the 2015 migration crisis that rocked Europe. Reporting by Krisztina Than and Krisztina Fenyo; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stringer, Renata Papp, Jozsef Hanga, Viktor Orban, Krisztina, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Asotthalom, Hungary, Serbian, Serbia, Balkans, Slovakia, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Europe

BRUSSELS (AP) — It was a good thing Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session. They didn't come back to the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine again before Friday's closing day of the summit. With Ukraine funding in jeopardy in the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy is looking to leave the financial lifeline to Europe open. “If we don’t help Ukraine, then what is the alternative, really,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said. Why do you think that you’re safe then?”Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has the answer.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Robert Fico, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, Anton Siluanov, Zelenskyy, “, ”, Boris Pistorius, Kaja Kallas, Leo Varadkar, Putin, ” ___ Geir Moulson, Sylvie Corbet, Justin Spike Organizations: Ukrainian, European Union, EU, U.S ., Ukraine, Russian, U.S . Congress, IRIS, ” Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, EU, Slovak, Germany, France, Slovakia, neigboring Hungary, Zelenskyy, Kyiv, Russian, United States, Brussels, Estonian, Russia, Berlin, Paris, Budapest, Hungary

Overall EU support for Ukraine has totalled almost 83 billion euros since Russia invaded in February 2022, the Brussels-based executive European Commission said this week. Slovakia's Robert Fico, attending his first EU summit since being appointed for his fourth term as prime minister on Wednesday, adopted a similar line. Orban has also said he would not endorse in its current form the proposed EU budget revision, which includes the 50 billion in new aid for Kyiv. Fico said there was endemic corruption in Ukraine and demanded that any new EU aid include guarantees that the funds not be misappropriated, according to a statement from his office. "The questions are, what type of aid and how it is used, how we are sure, the European Union is sure, that this aid is used efficiently," he said.

Persons: Fico, Orban, Olaf Scholz, Slovakia's Robert Fico, Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Denkov, Jan Strupczewski, Phil Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer, Tassilo Hummel, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Miranda Murray, Gabriela Baczynska, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukraine New, Union, EU, Ukraine, European Commission, Russia, Kyiv, European Union, European, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine New Slovak, Ukraine BRUSSELS, Russian, Hungary, Slovakia, Brussels, Russia, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY Hungary, Budapest, Bratislava, European Union

☆ 'Positions Not Matching Yet' as EU Leaders Fight for Slice of Budget Pie
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The bloc's executive proposed that member states chip in more to the shared coffers to provide 50 billion euros to Ukraine and spend another 15 billion on migration. Budgetary decisions require unanimity and divisions were on display on Thursday as the bloc's 27 national leaders arrived for a summit in Brussels. On the bloc's eastern flank, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that - beyond supporting Ukraine - joint spending should grow for improving EU defence capabilities. Lithuania said 50 billion euros for Ukraine was not enough. Orban's comments come as his government is trying to unlock billions in aid envisaged for Hungary in the EU budget but blocked by the European Commission over rule of law concerns.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Kyriakos, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Orban, that's, Ireland's Leo Varadkar, Olaf Scholz, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Tassilo Hummel, Rene Maltezou, Jan Strupczewski, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: European Union, EU, Belgian, European Commission, Diplomats Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Estonian, Lithuania, Greece, East, Africa, Budapest, Hungary, Austria, Western Balkans, Germany

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Prime Minister Viktor Orbán compared Hungary's membership in the European Union to more than four decades of Soviet occupation of his country during a speech on Monday commemorating the anniversary of Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet revolution. Yes, it happens that history repeats itself,” Orbán said at the event, from which all media were excluded except Hungary's state media. “We had to dance to the tune that Moscow whistled,” Orbán said of Hungary's days in the Eastern Bloc. On Monday, Orbán said that while the Soviet Union had been “hopeless,” he believed that governance in the EU could be reformed through an European Parliament election scheduled for June 2024. “Moscow was irreparable, but Brussels and the European Union can still be fixed,” he said.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, “, ”, Vladimir Putin’s, Putin Organizations: —, European Union, “, Soviet, Red Army, Eastern Bloc, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Soviet, Veszprem, Brussels, Moscow, Hugnary's, Budapest, Ukraine, Beijing, United States, “ Hungary, Russia, Soviet Union, “ Moscow

[1/5] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks as he arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium December 10, 2020. Hours after he spoke, thousands rallied in Hungary's capital Budapest, a liberal stronghold that has largely opposed Orban's agenda. Some voiced fears that Hungary might end up leaving the EU under his rule, a prospect Orban has repeatedly dismissed. Brussels is only a bad contemporary parody," Orban said in a speech in the western town of Veszprem carried exclusively by public television. "Moscow was beyond repair, but Brussels and the EU can still be fixed," Orban said, adding that current leaders of the bloc failed to protect Europe's safety, freedom and wellbeing.

Persons: Viktor Orban, John Thys, Orban, Hungary's, " Orban, Vladimir Putin, Gabor Sebo, Gergely Szakacs, Ed Osmond, Ros Russell Organizations: Pro, EU, U.S, Wood & Company, Thomson Locations: Hungarian, Brussels, Belgium, Budapest, BUDAPEST, Hungary, Hungary's, Moscow, Veszprem, U.S, China, Ukraine, Europe, Russia, EU

☆ Australia’s Kaylee McKeown makes swimming history as she breaks 50m backstroke world record
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Australia’s Kaylee McKeown broke the women’s 50m backstroke world record on Friday to become the first person to simultaneously hold the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke world records. The world record is the 22-year-old’s third of the year and completes a hat trick of backstroke records for McKeown. David Balogh/Getty ImagesMcKeown is the first Australian to hold the 50m backstroke world record since Sophie Edington set it in 2008. It makes up for some disappointment for McKeown after she missed out on the 50m backstroke world record by just 0.04 seconds last week in Athens. World Aquatics first started keeping track of 50m world records in 1997.

Persons: Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, McKeown, China’s Liu Xiang, “, ” McKeown, David Balogh, Sophie Edington Organizations: CNN, Olympic, Olympics Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Athens, Fukuoka, Japan, Paris

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