Author: staff

Published on 13/04/2026 – 18:39 GMT+2•Updated 19:06 Each year, the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas, present the LUX Audience Award. The award celebrates European cinema and aims to spark conversation amongst the European public about important societal issues. A panel selects five films to compete, but the winning film is chosen equally by EU citizens and their elected representatives in the European Parliament. This year, for the first time, all five nominated films will be subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing people in all 24 languages. About…

Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar said on Monday he is ready to take office quickly and called on the country’s president to convene parliament to form a new government “as quickly as possible,” expressing hope to succeed Viktor Orbán as prime minister as early as 5 May. Magyar held a three-hour international press conference in Budapest, taking questions on a wide range of issues. “The Hungarian people did not vote for a simple change of government, but for a complete change of regime,” he said. Below are the key points from his remarks on European affairs : Unblock EU funds…

Israel summoned Italy’s ambassador on Monday to protest after Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned what he called Israel’s “unacceptable attacks” on civilians in Lebanon during a visit to Beirut, an Italian diplomatic source said. Tajani, a senior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, visited Beirut on Monday for talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. Tajani wrote on X that he was there to “convey Italy’s solidarity following Israel’s unacceptable attacks against the civilian population.” He called for dialogue between Lebanon and Israel and a “necessary and lasting ceasefire” adding: “Another escalation like in Gaza…

The Commission will consult member countries on state aid changes this week, she said. Other measures the Commission is planning include a “toolkit,” to be released April 22, that will contain plans for gas storage filling and guidelines for temporary measures to reduce taxes on energy bills and reduce demand, von der Leyen said following a meeting of Commission officials. Demand-reduction schemes might revolve around building renovation and the renewal of industrial equipment, she said. Von der Leyen also urged lawmakers and member countries to conclude their work on the EU grids package — a plan to upgrade and expand…

Israel does not do enough to protect Palestinians from settler violence and even supports it, the Palestinian foreign affairs minister told Euronews. “The settlers are very much supported by the Israeli occupation forces (which) have an obligation to protect the occupied,” Varsen Aghabekian Shahin told Euronews 12 Minutes With interview programme. “But what we see is they either look and do nothing, or they are engaged in the actual terror attacks, and this needs to be stopped. It’s very serious,” Aghabekian said. Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has soared since the October 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attacks…

“Ukraine is the victim in this war**,”** Péter Magyar said at his first press conference after winning the Hungarian elections on Sunday, in an overt emphasis of his position on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. **“**Based on the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine has every right, and in my opinion, a government also has the duty, to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Magyar told the gathered press on Monday. Magyar yet added that, while striving for “friendly relations” with all of Hungary’s neighbours, his stance on Ukraine will not be a U-turn from his predecessor’s. For Kyiv, Budapest’s willingness to…

Ukraine’s coffers, depleted after years of war, would see a huge shortfall if the loan isn’t approved by May. While capitals hoped to resolve the issue at a summit last month, Orbán — alongside Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico — insisted the money could not be disbursed until the flow of oil was guaranteed. Leaders won’t have to meet again to unblock the loan. Magyar signaled the decision could be taken even before his government assumes office, which should take place within the month. Even if Hungary allows the loan to go ahead, it still won’t contribute. “I will discuss…

Starmer added on X: “This week the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard shipping when the conflict ends.” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform Sunday that the U.S. would be “blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the strait of Hormuz” shipping route in the Middle East. It follows the failure of the first round of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend. Starmer declined, when asked, to blame the U.S. for rising costs, instead accusing Iran of breaking international law…

Thousands of people filled Khao San Road, using water guns and buckets to soak passers‑by in what is both a celebration and a way to cool down during the peak heat of the dry season. The festival is one of the country’s most important cultural and religious events, drawing locals and tourists alike and giving a major boost to travel and tourism across the country. Beyond the capital, millions of workers and students travelled to their home provinces to mark the three‑day holiday with family rituals, making this one of the largest annual movements of people in Thailand each year.…

Here’s how the Hungarian prime minister lost his grip after 16 years in power. Orbán lost the public’s trust Orbán’s decline began in 2024, after the government pardoned the former deputy director of a children’s home who had been convicted of covering up child sexual abuse. The resulting scandal prompted Magyar — then a mid-level civil servant and Fidesz member — to stage a public revolt against the prime minister, leading thousands of protesters into the streets. His media blitz included the release of an audio recording of his wife, Judit Varga, who had just been forced out as justice…