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☆ Viktor Orbán meeting offers preview of Trump’s 2nd-term strongman idealizations
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump sees Orbán as the kind of strongman – unencumbered by legal and political restraints – that he’d like to be. Ahead of his meeting with the former president, Orbán endorsed Trump’s views on Ukraine, in what will have been music to Putin’s ears and will have added to alarm in Kyiv about what a second Trump term would mean. “It is not gambling but actually betting on the only sensible chance, that we in Hungary bet on the return of President Trump,” Orbán told an economic forum on Monday, Reuters reported. In a statement, Biden’s campaign rebuked Trump for meeting “Hungarian dictator Viktor Orbán, notorious for eroding his own country’s democracy and cozying up to Vladimir Putin (sound familiar? Much of Europe is already recoiling in horror over the possibility of a second term for Trump.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump, isn’t, Biden, CNN’s Betsy Klein, Trump, – unencumbered, Orbán, Vladimir Putin –, laud Orbán, he’s, ” Trump, –, ” Orbán, “, ”, Joe Biden’s, Putin, castigate Trump, ’ ” Biden, didn’t, ” Biden, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Biden, GOP, Trump, Conservative Political, NATO, European, EU, Reuters, Republicans, Republican Locations: Hungarian, United States, Orbán, Florida, Russian, Ukraine, New Hampshire, Hungary, Sweden, Kyiv, Russia, American, Europe, Budapest

☆ Netflix's 'Supersex': Where Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi is now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewNetflix's latest biopic "Supersex" is a fictional re-telling of the life of Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi. Siffredi, whose real name is Rocco Antonio Tano, told The Independent that the new series is roughly 70% accurate. AdvertisementAlthough Siffredi is still alive, the series ends with his first retirement from the porn industry in 2004. Lorenzo Tano, Rocco Siffredi, Rosa Caracciolo and Leonardo Tano attend the red carpet for the screening of "Supersex" at Berlinale 2024 on February 22, 2024 in Berlin. Rocco Siffredi attends the Premiere of "Rocco."

Persons: —, Rocco Siffredi, Siffredi, Rocco Antonio Tano, Rosa Caracciolo, Ernesto Ruscio, Alessandro Borghi, Rosza Tassi, Tassi, Rosza, Lorenzo, Leonardo, Leonardo Tano, Lorenzo Tano, Andreas Rentz, I've, XBiz, Natale, Rocco, Pierre Suu Organizations: Service, Independent, Business, Cannes, Netflix, AVN, Academy, Venice Film, Daily Locations: Ortona, Italy, Paris, Hungarian, Cannes, France, Spanish, El, Budapest, Hungary, Berlin, Venice

☆ Automation helps insulate Rohlik from a bruising 2023 for the grocery delivery sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewInvestors couldn't get enough of grocery delivery startups during the pandemic. Rohlik is on a pathway to profitability and has broken even in several key cities, CEO Tomas Cupr told Business Insider. Advertisement"The online grocery industry didn't have the best year in 2023, but we're still growing, which is super positive," Cupr told BI. At least 19 grocery delivery startups were operating across Europe at the height of the market. "The grocery delivery market remains a challenging area in Europe.

Persons: —, Tomas Cupr, Cupr, we've, Turkey's, Germany's, Nalin Patel, Jan Hammer Organizations: Service, Venture, Business, Ventures Locations: Europe, Prague, Czechia, Hungary, Munich, London, Paris, Budapest, Vienna, Istanbul, New York

☆ A complete timeline of Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +53 min

AdvertisementNovember 2016: Holland and Zendaya appear in their first-ever joint cover, for The Hollywood ReporterZendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. March 2021: Holland describes Zendaya as 'very sensible and humble'Zendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. November 17, 2021: Holland and Zendaya comment on their relationship going publicZendaya and Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." February 18, 2022: Tom Holland denies reports that he bought a new house in London with ZendayaTom Holland in February 2022. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it.

Persons: —, Tom Holland, Zendaya, they've, Sony Pictures Entertainment Holland, Peter Parker, Holland, didn't, I've, He's, Con Tom Holland, Albert L, Ortega, Laura Harrier, Liz, Tony Revolori, Flash Thompson, Jacob Batalon, Ned Leeds, ove, hank y, hank, ove y 'all!, hanks, eing, hy, H, ada, ike, huck, Tom Hol, le tag ove, g the, Hol, MJ', ake, hal l, taki, as h, Rob K, ate fame, abou, ..ha, lea, Kev, edd, Josh Flor, birt, rie, stor, Ric, aske, Tom H, ed then, hal, ong, winn, Q, iva, riva, ory, oba, Fran, and S, Jacob, him ", nic, Eric C, y, 2022:, enda y, Kelly, siti, ted, Hunter, Marc, Marin, inger, his ap, Rajan, Ze, kee, enjoy,, "I wa, stu, shou, olly, ing each o, I love, It's, Elvin R odrig, bert Downey Jr. an, Harry, l ove, bec, Room,", enda, fini Organizations: Service, Sony, Business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Marvel, America, Hollywood, San Diego Comic, Con, San Diego Convention Center, ust, pla, imi, ucc, MTV, ppr, a pl, Norton, rac, eas, CP, ACP, Fr, rit, acc, klan, ely Locations: Holland, Zendaya, ife, uman, pla, Hol, " he, sens, nsw, pula, India, Italy

☆ Dubai wants to build the biggest airport in the world. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Miquel Ros | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 63 million more travelers than the world’s current busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, handled in 2022 and nearly 100 million more than Dubai International. philipus/Alamy Stock PhotoThe recent Dubai Air Show, held at a purpose-built venue at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2023, offered some intriguing hints about what’s ahead for DWC – and some insights into Dubai Airports’ long-term strategy. “We have prioritized expansion and investments at DXB to meet our customers’ requirements and plans,” Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, tells CNN. Changing the business modelNew artist renderings haven't been released in a decade, but Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths says the team will soon be working on ambitious new designs. It will have capacity for 185 million passengers per year, or almost seven times the number it handled in 2022.

Persons: Al Maktoum, it‘ll, that’s, Hartsfield –, let’s, DWC, ’ Al Maktoum, DWC –, ” Paul Griffiths, ”, Griffiths, ” Griffiths, “, haven't, Paul Griffiths, “ We’re, Mohammed bin Rashid, Nadine Itani, Abu Dhabi’s, Foster Organizations: CNN, Al, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World, Dubai Airports, Dubai International, Al Maktoum International, Hartsfield, Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International, Emirates Cargo, UAE, ‘, ’ Al Maktoum International, Dubai Air, Dubai, AFP, Traveller, Emirates, University of Surrey, Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International, Partners, Sharjah International Airport, Air, Riyadh Air Locations: Budapest, Al Maktoum, Dubai, Dubai’s, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Emirates, England, India, Middle, Europe, Qatar, Muscat , Oman, Bahrain, Gulf, Kuwait, British, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya recall meeting ‘terrifying creature’ Austin Butler on ‘Dune: Part Two’ set
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Recalling her first day on set in Budapest, Zendaya told CNN in a recent interview that arriving to see an in-character Butler filming one of his scenes “was quite jarring.”The “Euphoria” star added that it was her first time “properly meeting and getting to know” Butler. “But it was also funny because once you get to know Austin, you see that he’s obviously very warm and very kind. From just five seconds ago, being this terrifying creature, and then being like, ‘Hey, how are you? Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. PicturesIn the end though, Chalamet said that while his fight sequences with Butler required a lot of work, it turned out well. “But it was a dream.”In “Dune: Part Two,” – which comes from Warner Bros. Pictures, owned by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros.

Persons: Denis Villeneuve’s, Timothée, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Anya Taylor, Joy, Austin Butler, Butler –, Oscar, Elvis ” –, Zendaya, Butler, “, ” Butler, ”, Austin, Chalamet, Wonka, Timothee Chalamet, Niko Tavernise, – Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, Stellan, Glossu Rabban, Dave Bautista, Butler’s Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Pictures, Warner Bros . Pictures Locations: Budapest, LA, Hungary

☆ Kate Winslet is a blast in 'The Regime' — but critics say it's not the next 'Succession'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"The Regime'" is HBO's latest bet on Kate Winslet, who helped carry miniseries like "Mare of Easttown" to critical acclaim. But according to critics, the series doesn't entirely live up to Winslet's excellent performance. But while critics praised Winslet's acting, many noted that if you're looking for more "Succession," this isn't quite it. Matthias Schoenaerts and Kate Winslet in "The Regime." Miya Mizuno/HBOThe show's ensemble cast is underusedIn addition to Winslet and Schoenaerts, "The Regime" has an ensemble cast with several acclaimed actors.

Persons: —, Kate Winslet, Winslet, Elena Vernham, she's, — Vernham, Herbert Zubak, Matthias Schoenaerts, Will Tracy, Winslet's, Daniel Fienberg, Beast's Coleman Spilde, Gregory Lawrence, Miya Mizuno, Judy Berman, Marina Fang, Carly Lane, Lawrence, elucidations, Alexandre Desplat's, Fienberg, Stephen Frears, Jessica Hobbs, Alexandre Desplat, Caryn James, Oscar, Spilde, HuffPost's Fang, Andrea Riseborough, Schoenaerts, Agnes, Hugh Grant, Martha Plimpton, Judith Holt, Guillaume Gallienne, Danny Webb, David Bamber, Henry Goodman, Paste's Elijah Gonzalez, Andrea Riseborough's Organizations: Service, The, French Dispatch, Budapest Hotel, Daily, HBO, State Locations: Austria

☆ Hungary votes to approve Sweden's NATO membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, as Hungary remains the last NATO member to not ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO, on (Photo by Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Hungary on Monday voted to approve Sweden's NATO accession bid, ending months of diplomatic negotiations and finalizing Stockholm's membership almost two years after it first applied to join the military alliance. Hungarian lawmakers voted in favor of Sweden's membership after overcoming long-standing opposition from governing party members led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Scandinavian country will become the 32nd NATO member, coming under the fold of Article 5 of the treaty, which vows that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them. Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 — at the same time as Finland — in a historic overhaul of its policy of military non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While a vast majority of NATO members backed Stockholm's bid from its early days, Orban was resistant amid Swedish criticism over Hungary's democracy.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Viktor Orban, Balint Szentgallay, —, Orban Organizations: Swedish, Hungarian, NATO, Getty Images, Monday, Finland —, Gripen Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Europe, Swedish

☆ Sweden clears final hurdle in bid to join NATO after Hungary approves accession
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | Stephanie Halasz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Of the 194 members of parliament who voted, just six rejected Sweden’s accession. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Sweden will join the alliance now that all allies have approved Sweden’s bid to join. As NATO states, Finland and Sweden will enjoy the protection granted under Article 5 of the treaty that established the alliance – which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack against all. While most NATO members quickly approved Finland and Sweden’s applications, Hungary and Turkey held out for some time. Video Ad Feedback Turkish parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership bid 01:05 - Source: CNNShortly after the Turkish vote, Orban told NATO chief Stoltenberg that his government would also support Swedish membership.

Persons: CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Ulf Kristersson, Viktor Orban, Sweden’s, ” Kristersson, Jens Stoltenberg, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Orban, Stoltenberg, Putin, Luke McGee, Lauren Kent Organizations: CNN, NATO, Stockholm, Swedish, Gripen, “, United, Russia, Ukraine, Union, EU, Sweden’s, Budapest, Kyiv Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Swedish, “ Sweden, Sweden, United States, Atlantic Treaty, Eastern Europe, Russia’s, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Stockholm, EU, Europe, Israel

☆ Hungary’s Parliament Approves Sweden’s NATO Bid After Stalling
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Hungary’s Parliament voted on Monday to approve Sweden as a new member of NATO, allowing the Nordic country to clear a final hurdle that had blocked its membership and held up efforts by the military alliance to isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine. The measure passed after a vote of 188 for and only 6 against in the 199-member Parliament, which is dominated by legislators from the governing Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. On Friday, after his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, made a visit to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, Mr. Orban declared the end of a monthslong spat with Sweden over its membership of NATO. Hungary had been stalling for 19 months on ratifying Sweden’s admission, a delay that had puzzled and exasperated the United States and other members of the alliance, raising questions about Hungary’s reliability as a member of the alliance.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Ulf Kristersson, Orban Organizations: NATO, Nordic, Fidesz Locations: Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Budapest, Hungary, United States

☆ Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban lauds new phase with Sweden ahead of vote on its NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Jennifer Hauser | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his country had opened a new phase with Sweden during a joint press conference with Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson on Friday as Budapest prepares to ratify Stockholm’s long-delayed NATO bid. Orban, who said last week that the Hungarian Parliament would vote on ratification on Monday, met with Kristersson on Friday and announced at the press conference that Hungary had bought four fighter jets from Sweden. “Being members together in NATO we [will be] able to reconstruct the full trust towards each other,” Orban added later. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in 2022 and Finland joined NATO in April 2023 – doubling the alliance’s border with Russia. But Sweden’s bid was mired in challenges.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Ulf Kristersson, Orban, Kristersson, “, ” Orban, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Katalin Organizations: CNN, Swedish, Budapest, NATO, Russia, Gripen, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, European Union Locations: Hungarian, Sweden, Hungary, Ukraine, Finland, Russia, Turkey

☆ Orban Gives Green Light to Sweden’s NATO Bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary on Friday declared an end to a monthslong spat with Sweden over the expansion of NATO, saying that a visit by his Swedish counterpart had rebuilt trust and paved the way for the Hungarian Parliament to vote on Monday to ratify the Nordic nation’s membership in the alliance. “We are ready to fight for each other, to give our lives for each other,” Mr. Orban said at a joint news conference in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, with the visiting Swedish leader, Ulf Kristersson. Hungary has been the last holdout in endorsing Sweden’s NATO membership. The sudden warming of relations between the two countries followed a decision by Sweden to provide Hungary with four Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets in addition to the 14 its air force already uses, and a promise that Saab, the maker of the warplanes, will open an artificial intelligence research center in Hungary. Hungary had been stalling for 19 months on ratifying Sweden’s admission to NATO, a delay that had puzzled and exasperated the United States and other members of the military alliance.

Persons: Viktor Orban of Hungary, Mr, Orban, Ulf Kristersson Organizations: Friday, NATO, Swedish, Nordic, Gripen, Saab Locations: Sweden, Budapest, Swedish, Hungary, United States

☆ Carl Lewis calls proposed format change in long jump an April Fools’ joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A proposed format change could shake-up the long jump at major track and field competitions, but will the idea take flight? That’s the big question for those involved in athletics right now, notably nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. The new format, which has been put forward by World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon, could see athletes jump from a take-off zone, rather than a take-off board, essentially doing away with foul jumps. “The long jump is the most difficult event in track and field,” Lewis said in a separate post. Judges inspect the take-off board at the 2012 London Olympics.

Persons: Carl Lewis, Jon Ridgeon, ” Ridgeon, ”, Sawyers, Andrej Isakovic, we’ll, “ You’re, ” Lewis, Lewis, Jazmin Sawyers, Franck Fife, ” Sawyers, you’ve, Ivana Španović, Tim Hutchings, ” Hutchings, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, World Athletics, Getty, ’ ” CNN, Athletics Locations: Budapest, AFP, British, European, Serbian

☆ Navalny's Widow Joins EU Foreign Ministers as Ukraine War Nears Two-Year Mark
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The widow of Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's nemesis who died in an Arctic prison last week, joins EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, days before the two-year mark of Russia's war on Ukraine. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesNavalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, rose to prominence campaigning against corruption in Putin's Russia. The ministers are due to discuss military support for Ukraine and what would be the European Union's 13th package of sanctions against Moscow since it unleashed a full-scale invasion of its neighbour on Feb.24, 2022. Inside the EU, Germany has blocked replenishing a military fund used to supply Ukraine saying Berlin was contributing too much compared to other members. One senior EU diplomat said they believed it "will be able to make it in time" and agree the new punitive measures for Feb.24.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, Yulia Navalnaya, Putin, Josep Borrell, Navalnaya's, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Ukraine, Moscow, NATO, Kremlin, EU, Washington Locations: Russian, Brussels, Ukraine, Munich, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Putin's Russia, Siberia, United States, Europe, U.S, EU, Germany, Berlin, Hungary, Budapest, Kyiv, London, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania

☆ Are these the most beautiful coffee shops in the world?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( David Tran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The Budapest Café is one of many eye-catching businesses featured in “Designing Coffee: New Coffee Places and Branding,” a coffee table book — no pun intended — that puts the world’s most photogenic, eccentric cafés and roasters on display. Its "bright, playful design and color palette transform a former dental office into a bustling and vibrant bakery café," Kingston writes in "Designing Coffee." In an increasingly competitive coffee industry, coffee shop owners are putting thoughts into how their spaces are designed. Across its ambience and menu, the Genovese Coffee House in Sydney offers Australian consumers an "espresso" ticket to Mediterranean café culture. Anson Smart/Genovese Coffee House/Courtesy gestaltenElsewhere, Genovese Coffee House (pictured above) in Sydney, Australia drew inspiration from Italian coffee culture.

Persons: James Morgan, they’re, Wes Anderson, Lani Kingston, Kingston, Mikhail Loskutov, Yuh Nguyen, Luca Rinaldi, Jamie Yelo, Urbain, Jin Weiqi, Marco Pinarelli, Julius, Damir Otegen, Karin Pasterer, Hernan Taboada, Carlos Artalejo, Xavier Alexander, Alexander, ”, “, ” Alexander, ” Kingston, David Dworkind, ” “, ’ ”, Fritz, K Kim, Angela Wijaya, Fritz Coffee, Ben Hamilton, Anson Smart, “ It’s Organizations: Budapest Cafe, CNN, Portland State University, Melrose, Rupertinum, Salzburg's Museum of Modern Art, Kingston, Fritz Coffee Company, Coffee House, Genovese Coffee, Coffee Locations: Budapest, Chengdu, China, Odessa, Ukraine, Hanoi, Vietnam, Milan, Italy, Taipei, Taiwan, Montréal, Canada, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Central Highlands, Kyiv, Ukraine's, Hong Kong, Forme, Beirut, Lebanon, Almaty, Kazakhstan, Salzburg, Austria, 220GRAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Caffettiera, Montreal, Asia, Seoul, South Korea, Belfast, Los Angeles, California, Sydney, Australia

☆ Hungary Can Soon Ratify Sweden's NATO Bid, PM Orban Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The Hungarian parliament can ratify Sweden's NATO membership when it convenes for its new spring session later this month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told his supporters on Saturday. "It's good news that our dispute with Sweden will soon be settled," Orban said. "We are going in the direction that at the start of parliament's spring session we can ratify Sweden's accession to NATO."

Persons: Viktor Orban, " Orban Organizations: NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungarian, Sweden

☆ I traveled to 4 European countries via train, and I made 3 major mistakes along the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In early February, I went on a two-week trip to Europe, on a mission to travel to six countries — including four of them by train. Here are three major mistakes I made along the way, and what you can do to avoid them. While some train rides — like the one from Venice to Rome on the Italian train company Trenitalia — were empty, others were packed. Many European train routes have multiple stops, and passengers simply get on and off the train. At boarding, hundreds of passengers scrambled for a seat, while I struggled to hoist my massive bag up the train.

Persons: —, Marielle, Trenitalia Organizations: Service, Union, China Railway, SBB, Swiss, Südtiroler Platz Locations: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Europe, Zurich, Rome, Freiburg, Breisgau, Innsbruck, Venice, Thailand, Laos, China, Vientiane, Swiss, Buchs, Southeast Asia, Budapest

☆ Child abuse scandal rattles Orban’s image as defender of ‘family values’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Orban has long posed as a globetrotting defender of Christian values and an enemy of liberalism. But Orban’s critics say his carefully constructed image is a thin guise for a plutocratic mode of governance designed to enrich a small group of oligarchs. The scandal could also weaken Hungary’s bid to gain more influence in Brussels in the upcoming European elections. Since the scandal was revealed last weekend by Hungarian news site 444.hu, “Orban has not made an appearance or said anything. Critics argue that Orban’s proposed constitutional solution to the scandal is a symptom of his autocratic mode of governance.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Katalin Novak, Orban’s, ”, Judit Varga, Fidesz party’s, Varga, Orban, Hungary’s, “ Orban, Kim Lane Scheppele, Attila Kisbendek, Peter Magyar, “, ” Magyar, Magyar, Hungary ”, ” Orban, Critics, ” Scheppele, Hungary –, Bernadett Szabo, Scheppele, ‘, illiberal, ’ ”, Pope Francis, Eva Fodor, Fodor, Attila Kisbenedek, Zoltan Balog, Balog, hasn’t, Mark Rutte, Europe’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Fidesz, European Union, Princeton University, Partizan, State of, Reuters, Survey, Christian, Central European University, Getty Locations: Washington, Moscow, Brussels, Budapest, AFP, Varga’s, Hungary, State, Christian Europe, China, Venezuela, ”, Netherlands

☆ Explainer-What Are the Security Deals Ukraine Is Discussing With Allies?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

We need NATO membership," said Ihor Zhovkva, the Ukrainian president's foreign affairs adviser. In these supplements, we define the concrete scope, concrete things, concrete spheres. France and Germany look on course to agree security commitments with Ukraine soon. President Emmanuel Macron was expected to finalise a bilateral security commitment deal in Ukraine this month, but he postponed the trip for security reasons. Zhovkva said there was no need for Ukraine to rush to agree deals.

Persons: Tom Balmforth, Ihor Zhovkva, Zhovkva, Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's Zhovkva, Olena Harmash, John Irish, Ros Russell Organizations: Tom Balmforth KYIV, NATO, Seven, Kyiv, WHO, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Ukrainian, London, Britain, Russian, Russia, Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Denmark, France, Germany, Paris, Budapest, United States, Kyiv

☆ Hungary’s president resigns amid uproar over child sex abuse case pardon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Pierre Meilhan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hungarian President Katalin Novak has announced that she is resigning from office following mounting public criticism over her decision to pardon a man implicated in a child sexual abuse case. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the country’s capital Budapest on Friday, calling for Novak to step down. Protesters took to the streets in Hungary this week. Bernadett Szabo/ReutersNovak is a close ally of Hungary’s hardline nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán and was the former family minister. Saturday’s address was her final one as president, less than two years after she took office.

Persons: Katalin Novak, “, ” Novak, ”, Novak, Pope Francis –, Protesters, Bernadett Szabo, Viktor Orbán Organizations: CNN, Reuters Locations: Budapest, Doha, Hungarian, Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Antifascist activists gathered in Hungary's capital on Saturday to oppose an annual commemoration held by far-right groups, underscoring diplomatic tensions between Budapest and Rome over the detention of an Italian citizen in a Hungarian jail. Hundreds of activists marched through central Budapest alongside a heavy police presence, and called for “freedom for every antifascist." The demonstration came as an Italian antifascist activist is being held in a Hungarian jail for allegedly being involved in assaults against suspected participants in the Day of Honor commemoration in Budapest last year. Images of the activist, Ilaria Salis, chained and shackled at a Budapest court hearing sparked official protests by the Italian government. The case is delicate for the far-right-led government of Meloni, who has forged friendly ties with the nationalist Orbán.

Persons: —, ”, Ilaria Salis, Luca Kruczynski, “, Salis, ’, Giorgia Meloni, Viktor Orbán, Salis ’, Antonio Tajani, Carlo Nordio, Nordio, Tajani, Elly Schlein, Giorgia Meloni’s, Schlein, Colleen Barry Organizations: Nazi, Prosecutors, Hungarian, Meloni, Italy's, Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Rome, Hungarian, Italian, Berlin, Europe, Milan, Salis, Italy, Hungary’s, Salis ’ Hungarian

☆ Prague, Budapest Hold up EU Move to Sanction Violent Israeli Settlers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in December he would propose similar measures. The EU has not spelled out what the sanctions would entail but officials have said they would include bans on travel to the EU. The EU has already imposed sanctions on Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks and diplomats say more are in the pipeline. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday now was "definitely not the time" to sanction Israeli settlers, state news agency MTI reported. (Additonal reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague and Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Andrew Gray, John Irish, Josep Borrell, Israel, Peter Szijjarto, MTI, Jan Lipavsky, Jan Lopatka, Boldizsar, Nick Macfie Organizations: West Bank, West Bank ., EU Locations: John Irish BRUSSELS, PARIS, EU, Hungary, Czech Republic, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, Britain, Budapest, Czech, France, Prague

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Villeneuve doesn’t feel like he came back to Arrakis for “Dune: Part Two.” In his mind, he never left. Photos You Should See View All 21 Images“We all walked at the beginning into this project feeling confident,” Villeneuve said. “Dune: Part Two” cost a reported $122 million to produce and is arriving in theaters not a moment too soon. Christopher Nolan recently compared it to “The Empire Strikes Back.” Villeneuve demurred, but the internet went wild. “I think that’s the way movies will survive.”

Persons: — Denis Villeneuve doesn’t, ”, Frank Herbert’s, David Lean, Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, ” Villeneuve, Greig Fraser, they’d, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, Paul, Jessica, Rebecca Ferguson, Villeneuve, Chalamet, “ Denis, ” Chalamet, “ It’s, Josh Brolin, Sicario, Gurney Halleck, Coen, I’ve, ” Brolin, it's, “, he’s, Hans Zimmer, ’ ” Villeneuve, it’s, Christopher Nolan, ” Nolan, Herbert Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press Locations: Arrakis, Budapest, Wadi Rum, Abu Dhabi, ”, Hollywood

☆ Yaroslava Mahuchikh: ‘When I see Russian athletes …. I see every city destroyed,’ says Ukrainian high jumper
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Mahuchikh won her first world championship title in August, then successfully defended her Diamond League Final victory in September. That’s often a source of anxiety for Mahuchikh, especially when Russian attacks target the eastern city. This year’s Olympics, Mahuchikh believes, will enable Ukrainian athletes to promote a message of peace, though perhaps inevitably, the Games have also become entwined in geopolitics. However, international federations have the first say on whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can qualify for the Olympics. “When I see Russian athletes … I see every city destroyed, every life that was destroyed by Russian people, by the Russian Federation,” she says, adding that she would find it “difficult” to compete against athletes from Russia and Belarus.

Persons: Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Mahuchikh, “, ” Mahuchikh, –, Ben Stansall, itinerancy, ”, ‘, it’s, ’ ”, General’s, Kirby Lee, Vadim Guttsait, Greg Baker, shouldn’t, …, Emmanuel Macron, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Guttsait, Karsten Warholm, Duplantis, Puma – Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Diamond League, Paris Olympics, Getty, Department, USA, Reuters, Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, Games, Olympics, Athletics, Ukrainian, Russian Federation, IOC, Millrose, Puma Locations: Ukraine, New York, Glasgow, Budapest, AFP, Europe, Dnipro, That’s, “, ’, ’ ” Dnipro, Russia, Belarus, Xiamen, China, Paris, Belarusian, Russian, Silesia, Poland, Tokyo, Cottbus, Germany

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani of China captured their third straight diving world title in women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard on Wednesday. At the Hamad Aquatic Centre, the synchronized silver went to Australia's Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney in 300.45. Chang has now won four synchronized 3-meter world titles, also taking the 2017 championship while partnered with Shi Tingmao. The 30-year-old now has three world championships over her illustrious career, along with gold and silver medals at the Olympics. It was the 16th world medal for Cunha, who has reached the podium in eight straight championships going back to 2011.

Persons: — Chen Yiwen, Chang Yani, Sharon van Rouwendaal, Logan Fontaine of France, Australia's Anabelle Smith, Maddison Keeney, Britain's Scarlett Mew Jensen, Yasmin Harper, Krysta Palmer, Alison Gibson, Chen, Chang, Budapest . Chang, Shi Tingmao, Van Rouwendaal, Chelsea Gubecka, Brazil's Ana Marcela Cunha, Cunha, Fontaine, Marc, Antoine Olivier, Italy’s Domenico Acerenza, Hungary's Kristóf, Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri, ___ Organizations: Doha Old Port, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Olympics, Chelsea, France Locations: DOHA, Qatar, China, Doha, Netherlands, Fukuoka, Budapest ., Perth, Australia

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