Hungary

EU leaders on Wednesday weighed a response to suspicions of Russian meddling ahead of June elections in the bloc, with several states pushing for sanctions targeting "malign activities" by Moscow.

Brussels has issued escalating warnings about Russia sowing disinformation ahead of the polls, and seeking to weaken Western support for Ukraine as it fights off Moscow's invasion.

In a recent release of the Authoritarian Populism Index 2024, Bulgaria emerges as a focal point for understanding the intricate interplay of political ideologies shaping Europe's landscape. Published by Timbro and EPICENTER, the index, presented in Bulgarian by the Institute for Market Economics, offers a comprehensive analysis spanning decades of electoral dynamics.

A scheduled conference of far-right European politicians, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former British MEP Nigel Farage, was abruptly halted by police in Brussels. The intervention, ordered by one of the municipal mayors in the Belgian capital, sparked controversy and condemnation from various quarters.

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Tuesday Serbia's manoeuvring space regarding a proposal to admit the so-called Kosovo to the Council of Europe (CoE) was very small, but noted that "the truth and justice are on our side."

In a move drawing attention across Europe, Bulgaria's pro-Russian, Eurosceptic, and nationalist "Revival" (Vazrazhdane) party is set to host a conference in Sofia, titled "The New Leaders of Europe." Gathering representatives from nine countries, the event aims to unite nationalist parties under a common banner and shape the future political landscape of the continent.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's popularity is surprisingly higher in Bulgaria than in his own country or neighboring Slovakia, according to a March survey conducted by the "Ipsos" agency for "Euronews". While only 32% of Hungarians express a positive opinion of Orbán, nearly four out of ten Bulgarians have a favorable view of him.

Tennis enthusiasts anticipate an exciting showdown as Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria's top-ranked player, gears up to commence his campaign at the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters today. Retaining his ninth position in the latest ATP rankings, Dimitrov enters the tournament with a formidable track record, ready to showcase his prowess on the court.

As speculation swirls around the potential return of former US President Donald Trump to the White House, a recent report from the Washington Post suggests that if elected, Trump may exert pressure on Ukraine to cede Crimea and Donbas to Russia.

BELGRADE - Serbia's external goods trade in January-February totalled 10.55 bln euros, which is a 0.6 pct increase y-o-y, according to figures released by the national statistical office.

Goods exports were worth 4.661 bln euros, rising by 3.2 pct y-o-y, while imports totalled 5.888 bln euros, declining by 1.3 pct y-o-y.

European prosecutors are delving into allegations of corruption surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine negotiations between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, according to a report by Politico.