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Podcast: Hungary elects: what is at stake and who is likely to win?

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Podcast: Hungary elects: what is at stake and who is likely to win?

Sunday, 12 April 2026 will be a crucial day for the European Union as Hungarians head to the polls for parliamentary elections.

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Hungary’s current prime minister, Viktor Orbán, leader of the eurosceptic Fidesz party, will be challenged by Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party and a former member of Orbán’s own party.

To better understand what’s at stake for Budapest and Brussels, Brussels, My Love? sits down with Sandor Zsiros, Euronews’ EU correspondent who hails from Hungary.

Orbán vs Magyar

With 16 years in power, Orbán is Hungary’s most veteran politician in recent history.

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According to Zsiros, his popularity is largely due to his political identity. “Orbán is a populist in a way that he always considers what people want,” Zsiros explained. “And, he’s a real power politician who is willing to fight his enemies in an extremely brutal way,” he continued.

Zsiros described how toxic the political campaigning leading up to the election has been. “This is not a real traditional political campaign; it’s a war, they want to destroy each other,” he explained.

Orbán’s main competitor in the election is Peter Magyar, leader of the increasingly popular Tisza party.

Defining the ideological line of Tisza is not easy: “There are a lot of liberal people, a lot of conservatives, also a bit of leftists, but generally the party orientation and the personality of Péter Magyar are very much right-wing conservative traditionalist,” Zsiros said.

In the European Parliament, Magyar’s party sits with the European People’s Party, the alliance of Europe’s centre-right parties while Fidesz is part of the far-right group Patriots for Europe.

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One of the main differences between Orbán and Magyar lies in their approach to the EU.

Magyar’s party is pro-European and seeks to restore Hungary’s access to EU funds frozen over rule-of-law concerns. It also pledges to reduce ties between Budapest and Russia. By contrast, Orbán’s party has taken a more eurosceptic stance and maintains relatively close relations with Russia.

The outcome of this election will be crucial as it will impact the balance of power in the EU and influence many decisions, including the EU’s stance on Ukraine.

To find out more about these crucial elections, listen to this episode of Brussels, My Love? and follow our live blog on Sunday, 12 April.

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Additional sources • David Brodheim, sound editor and mixer

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Olivia Rodrigo Announces Massive ‘Unraveled’ Tour Dates

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Olivia Rodrigo Announces Massive ‘Unraveled’ Tour Dates

Olivia Rodrigo has announced dates for “The Unraveled Tour,” a huge 65-date run across North America, Europe, and the UK. The tour supports her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” out June 12, 2026 via Geffen Records.

Promoted by Live Nation, the global tour kicks off Friday, September 25 in Hartford, CT at PeoplesBank Arena and features multi-night plays in cities around the world including Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Vancouver, Oakland, Las Vegas, Stockholm, Paris, Milan, and more.

Opening acts include Devon Again, Die Spitz, Grace Ives, The Last Dinner Party, and Wolf Alice will join Olivia on select dates. Full dates appear below.

Rodrigo is set to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” tonight (April 30), and will make her hosting debut with double duty on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend on May 2.

American Express is partnering with Olivia Rodrigo for the tour. Eligible American Express Card Members will have access to Amex Presale Tickets for the North America, Europe and UK dates starting Tuesday, May 5 at 12pm local time through Wednesday, May 6 at 10pm local time, while supplies last. Presale dates and times vary by show.

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NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: The general onsale will begin Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

EUROPE TICKETS: For Europe dates, fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

UK TICKETS: For UK dates, tickets will first be available via an O2 presale beginning Tuesday, May 5 at 10am local time. Fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album or by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those who already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

VIP: The Unraveled Tour will also offer VIP packages and experiences.

SILVER STAR TICKETS: Olivia Rodrigo will once again offer Silver Star Tickets on her upcoming tour, with a limited number of $20 USD tickets (or local currency equivalent, plus taxes where applicable) available at a later date. Originally introduced during the “Guts” world tour, the program is designed to make attending shows more accessible and affordable for fans. Tickets must be purchased in pairs, with a maximum of two per order. Seats will be assigned together, with locations revealed on the day of show at venue box office pickup. Ticket locations may include limited view, lower and upper levels, as well as floor seating.

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OLIVIA RODRIGO’S FUND 4 GOOD: Fund 4 Good is a global initiative that supports community-based nonprofits to build an equitable and just future for all women and girls. Past donations supported organizations championing girls’ education, reproductive rights, and the prevention of gender-based violence. A portion of Olivia’s proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the fund.

THE UNRAVELED TOUR 2026/2027 DATES:

Fri, Sep 25—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+

Sat, Sep 26—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+

Tue, Sep 29—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+

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Wed, Sep 30—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+

Sat, Oct 3—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+

Sun, Oct 4—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+

Wed, Oct 7—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+

Thu, Oct 8—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+

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Sun, Oct 11—Chicago, IL—United Center+

Mon, Oct 12—Chicago, IL—United Center+

Thu, Oct 15—Boston, MA—TD Garden+

Sat, Oct 17—Boston, MA—TD Garden+

Wed, Oct 21—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+

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Thu, Oct 22—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+

Mon, Oct 26—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+

Tue, Oct 27—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+

Thu, Oct 29—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+

Fri, Oct 30—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+

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Sat, Nov 7—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^

Sun, Nov 8—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^

Wed, Nov 11—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^

Thu, Nov 12—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^

Sun, Nov 15—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^

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Mon, Nov 16—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^

Thu, Nov 19—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^

Fri, Nov 20—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^

Mon, Nov 23—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^

Tue, Nov 24—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^

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Tue, Dec 1—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^

Wed, Dec 2—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^

Mon, Dec 7—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^

Tue, Dec 8—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^

Fri, Dec 11—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^

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Sat, Dec 12—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^

Tue, Dec 15—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^

Wed, Dec 16—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^

Sat, Dec 19—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^

Sun, Dec 20—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^

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Tue, Jan 12—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Wed, Jan 13—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Sat, Jan 16—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Sun, Jan 17—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Thu, Feb 11—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

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Fri, Feb 12—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Mon, Feb 15—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Tue, Feb 16—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Fri Mar 19—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~

Sat Mar 20—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~

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Tue Mar 23—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~

Wed Mar 24—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~

Thu Apr 1—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~

Fri Apr 2—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~

Mon Apr 5—London, UK—The O2~

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Tue Apr 6—London, UK—The O2~

Thu Apr 8—London, UK—The O2~

Fri Apr 9—London, UK—The O2~

Fri Apr 23—Paris, France—La Defense Arena=

Tue Apr 27—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=

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Wed Apr 28—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=

Sat May 1—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=

Sun May 2—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=

Support:

+ Wolf Alice

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^ Devon Again

# The Last Dinner Party

~ Grace Ives

= Die Spitz

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Rubio warns China after Panama ship detentions, calls hemisphere sovereignty ‘non-negotiable’

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Rubio warns China after Panama ship detentions, calls hemisphere sovereignty ‘non-negotiable’

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that “the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable” after the U.S. and regional allies accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships in a dispute tied to canal port control.

In a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. said China’s actions targeting Panama-flagged vessels were a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and infringe on regional sovereignty, framing the dispute as a broader strategic test over control of one of the world’s most critical commercial arteries.

While the Panama dispute centers on shipping detentions rather than a physical blockade, critics increasingly view it alongside battles over other strategic choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, as part of a widening contest over whether Beijing or Washington will shape the rules governing global trade and energy corridors.

IRAN’S $800M OIL SMUGGLING SCHEME USES TANKERS POSING AS IRAQI SHIPS TO DODGE BLOCKADE

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Containers and cranes at the Port of Balboa at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, Feb. 25, 2025. 

The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court decision earlier in 2026 to invalidate the legal framework behind Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking the Panama Canal, a choke point that handles roughly 5% of global maritime trade. 

U.S. regulators have monitored nearly 70 Panama-flagged vessels detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters — a surge American officials say appears designed to retaliate against Panama and pressure global shipping.

“China has used Iran to destabilize the Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy,” China expert Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions in Panama fit a broader global pattern in which China uses economic leverage, trade pressure and regional partners to expand influence while condemning similar tactics from Washington.

Chang said Beijing is now facing growing resistance as the U.S. increasingly moves not only against China directly, but also against governments and geopolitical flashpoints he argues have strengthened Beijing’s hand.

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“Trump apparently decided that he would counter this sly tactic by taking China’s proxies — Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran — off the board,” Chang said.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE BILL TO REPURCHASE PANAMA CANAL AFTER TRUMP RAISES CONCERNS OF CHINESE CONTROL

An aerial view shows the port of Rodman in Panama City Jan. 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

He also framed pressure on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a larger strategic effort aimed at both Tehran and Beijing.

“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a two-fer, starving Iran’s regime and shaking China’s already fragile economy,” Chang said. “Trump is using energy to reorder the world.”

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Chang also accused Beijing of hypocrisy over trade.

“China’s Communists invented hypocrisy. Nobody does hypocrisy better than the Chinese Communists,” he said, arguing China long benefited from a global trading system it increasingly weaponized for geopolitical purposes.

“The elemental truth is that China started this cycle of action and retaliation,” Chang said. “If China had not threatened America, America would not have leaned on Panama. If America had not leaned on Panama, China would not have detained Panamanian vessels.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

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China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, with its foreign ministry arguing U.S. criticism reflects Washington’s own strategic ambitions around the canal.

China’s foreign ministry called the statement on Wednesday “entirely baseless and misleading”, said it would take steps to safeguard China’s interests in Panama, and accused the United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.

“China also urges the relevant countries not to be deceived or exploited by malevolent forces,” added Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Reuters contributed to this article.

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Belgium reopens the nuclear door in high-stakes deal with Engie

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Belgium reopens the nuclear door in high-stakes deal with Engie

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The Belgian government will partner with the French energy giant to revive nuclear power in its energy mix as soaring electricity prices, driven by ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty in the Middle East, have already pushed the country’s inflation to 4% in April.

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Belgium’s plans to phase out nuclear energy by 2025 were partly derailed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which drove a surge in natural gas and electricity prices.

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While the idea of revoking the 2003 Belgian law to shut down all nuclear reactors faced resistance from the Greens, the Belgian parliament repealed it in May 2025.

With a new energy crisis already driving electricity prices up by more than 50% and uncertainty over the duration of the Middle East crisis, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever unveiled on Thursday a deal with Engie to conduct feasibility studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear power plant and the halt of decommissioning activities.

“This government opts for secure, affordable, and sustainable energy. With less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” De Wever said on Thursday.

The deal signed on Thursday aims to reach an agreement on the takeover of the nuclear fleet by 1 October, but it remains unclear how much Belgium will pay for this nuclear renaissance.

Belgium boasts seven nuclear reactors: four at Doel in East Flanders and three in Tihange in Wallonia. Two of these are still operational: Doel 4 and Tihange 3. Their operating licenses were recently extended until 2035, but amid vulnerabilities exposed by the energy crisis, the government may consider extending them further.

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“With this, the Belgian government assumes responsibility for the country’s long-term energy supply, with the aim of developing a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience, and socio-economic prosperity,” reads the press statement from the Belgian government and Engie.

Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet dubbed the government’s decision a “coherent political vision” which will ensure cheaper energy prices and a reliable supply, while strengthening Belgium’s strategic energy autonomy.

“Less than a year after the law enabling the return of nuclear energy in Belgium came into force, this momentum is already materialising through our determination to regain control of our assets and capabilities,” Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet told Euronews.

In 2024, under Alexander de Croo’s government, Belgium hosted a landmark nuclear summit, drawing eleven EU countries to back a declaration to boost nuclear energy.

Two years later, Paris hosted the nuclear summit, with numerous nations in attendance pledging to deploy small modular reactors to counter energy price volatility and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that phasing out nuclear power was a “strategic mistake”.

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