How Hungary’s knife-edge election could impact the US and Russia

How Hungary’s Knife-Edge Election Could Impact the US and Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has held power for 16 years. His longstanding alliances with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have made the 12 April elections a focal point for global observers. The BBC’s Europe Editor Katya Adler examined the stakes from Orbán’s hometown of Felcsút, highlighting the election’s relevance to international dynamics.

The US’s Harlem Globetrotters team visited the Vatican, where they demonstrated basketball tricks with the Pope. Meanwhile, the mother of a 16-year-old girl killed by a scrambler called her life a “living nightmare” since the incident. In Norway, Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressed regret over her past connection to late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A commercial flight from Dubai arrived in Dublin on Wednesday night—marking the first landing in days after US-Israeli attacks on Iran. An Italian fire department released footage of a wolf being rescued from beneath a bridge. Onlookers watched as the cooling tower of Germany’s decommissioned Frimmersdorf power plant collapsed.

“It’s inconceivable that the man I shared my life with could have committed these horrors,” Ms Pelicot said. Jessica and Jacques Moretti face charges of involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and negligent arson.

Storms named Marta and Leonardo caused extensive flooding in Spain, displacing thousands. Nazar Daletskyi’s family was told he died in 2022, the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russian editor Steve Rosenberg reported from the outskirts of the capital, where Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev was shot and wounded.

The BBC’s Paul Kirby covered the trial in Oslo, where Marius Borg Høiby denies rape and other serious allegations. Norway’s royal family has faced recent controversies, including Mette-Marit’s ties to Epstein. Italy’s capital now charges a €2 fee for entry to its iconic fountain, previously free to access.

Residents in Ukraine’s capital found joy in unusual places despite power cuts and freezing winter temperatures. Over 1,000 people were evacuated from homes on the Italian island due to flooding. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure left millions without power during a severe cold snap. Crowds gathered in Rome for the funeral of fashion designer Valentino, who died at 93.