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Viktor Orbán’s battle for EU funds reveals existential clash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

It’s not just about the money. Since Brussels turned the EU funding tap down to a trickle, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has begun putting through wide-ranging reforms to reopen the faucet for billions of euros earmarked for Hungary.Some officials say money from Europe is the only real tool to enforce democratic norms — but whether such reforms are possible under the current government remains an open question.The Hungarian prime minister loves to talk big, presenting himself on the international stage as a leading voice in conservative Christian politics.But at home, his power rests on a far more basic concept: patronage.Want a contract to build a road? A project for your village? A license for a radio station? A job for your struggling grandkid? For many Hungarians, the answer to these questions leads, directly or indirectly, to the ruling Fidesz party. Orbán has won loyalty from a host of businesspeople, small-town politicians, television personalities and even ...

Rishi Sunak talks tough on China — but defense plan may not satisfy hawks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

SAN DIEGO — He’s happy to describe China as a major challenge to the world order, but Rishi Sunak will stop short of formally designating Beijing a “threat” when the U.K. unveils its updated defense strategy on Monday. As he flew to meet his U.S. and Australian counterparts in San Diego, California, to sign a major submarine deal, a move prompted by concern over China’s growing assertiveness on the world stage, the British prime minister was eager to talk up the “epoch-defining challenge” posed by what he characterized as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “authoritarian” regime.But Britain’s Integrated Review (IR), which sets out the government’s defense priorities and will be unveiled Monday afternoon by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in the House of Commons, will not go as far as China hawks wanted. Those hawks, including Sunak’s immediate predecessor, Liz Truss, have pushed for Beijing to be officially labeled a “threat.” Asked why he was stopping short, the prime minister ...

France pushes protectionism in Ukraine defense plan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

As Russia’s war in Ukraine puts a heavy strain on EU arms, there’s infighting in Brussels over how best to reload.The latest skirmish is focused around a procurement fund intended to ramp up production of arms in Europe.POLITICO has learned that key committees in the European Parliament — namely, the committees for industry, the internal market, and the subcommittee on security and defense — have clashed over the fund, formally known as European Defense Industry Reinforcement Through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). It holds €500 million for now, with the possibility to grow.A French-led group in the Parliament is vying to keep the joint defense purchase pot within the borders of the European Union — which opponents are deriding as a power grab for France.Currently, a compromise text seen by POLITICO leaves the door open to spending outside the EU. It says non-EU companies may be involved “provided that this does not contravene … the security and defense interests o...

Stay silent on human rights to strike deals, Gulf states tell UK

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

LONDON — Shut up about human rights if you want to make deals in the Middle East. That’s the warning from a gulf state minister ahead of trade negotiations due to begin Monday, as Britain seeks to deepen economic ties in the region. In an interview with POLITICO, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the U.K. and other Western countries must “separate politics from trade and the economy.” The warning follows critical reporting on human rights abuses in the region during December’s World Cup in Qatar.British ministers are in talks with the UAE and the five other Middle Eastern countries which make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) trade bloc about a potential trade deal, as the U.K. seeks new partners in the wake of its departure from the European Union. Speaking to POLITICO in London, Al Zeyoudi said the U.K. must “tone down” standard human and workers’ rights provisions in trade deals “if they want more market access and m...

Britain’s think tanks are getting into tech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak isn’t the only tech geek in SW1. Britain’s ideas factories have clocked tech policy now drives decisions across government and they want to join the party.As Britain’s political parties mull their policies ahead of an election expected next year, and British lawmakers grapple with how to boost economic productivity, the think tank sector is hoping tech policy ideas catch their attention.Over the past 12 months a raft of think tanks have hired dedicated science and technology point people, with a growing number of researchers now working on innovation issues from how to regulate artificial intelligence to what the U.K.’s research and development tax regime should look like.The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the government advisory outfit set up by the former Labour Party British prime minister, now has more than 60 people working on tech policy on issues from digital governance to life sciences, artificial intelligence to digital infrastructure.The...

Julius Randle and RJ Barrett lead Knicks past Lakers 112-108 to snap losing streak

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

And the award for best duo goes to Julius Randle and RJ Barrett.A day after their ugly performance on the same Los Angeles court, Randle and Barrett combined for 63 points as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday by beating the Lakers, 112-108, as the Academy Awards unfolded 15 minutes away in Hollywood.Randle controlled the first half with 25 of his 33 points. Barrett took over in the second half and finished with 30 points.Together, they carried the offensive load without the injured Jalen Brunson, as the Knicks avoided a late collapse after Josh Hart buried two clutch free throws with five seconds remaining. Hart’s shots gave the visitors a four-point lead — and halted an 8-0 run from the Lakers — which helped the Knicks (40-30) keep pace with the Nets (39-29) for fifth in the East. The Lakers (33-35), playing without LeBron James, couldn’t continue their three-game winning streak. Isaiah Hartenstein was another Knicks hero while grabbing 10...

‘Everything’ wins best picture, is everywhere at Oscars

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

By JAKE COYLE (AP Film Writer)LOS ANGELES (AP) — The metaphysical multiverse comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” wrapped its hot dog fingers around Hollywood’s top prize Sunday, winning best picture at the 95th Academy Awards, along with awards for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis.Though worlds away from Oscar bait, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s anarchic ballet of everything bagels, googly-eyed rocks and one messy tax audit emerged as an improbable Academy Awards heavyweight. The indie hit, A24’s second best-picture winner following “Moonlight,” won seven Oscars in all.Fifty years after “The Godfather” won at the Oscars, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” triumphed with a much different immigrant experience. Its eccentric tale about a Chinese immigrant family – just the second feature by the Daniels, as the filmmaking duo is known – blended science fiction and alternate re...

Michelle Yeoh wins best actress award, making Oscar history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michelle Yeoh has won the Academy Award for best actress and made history all at once.The Malaysian-born actor became the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress on Sunday for her multifaceted performance in the multiversal “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” “I have to dedicate this to my mom and all the moms in the world because they are really the superheroes and without them none of us would be here tonight,” she said. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibility. This is proof that dreams dream big and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re past your prime.”Yeoh’s victory comes almost 90 years after Luise Rainer, a white actor, won the same category for donning “yellowface” to play a Chinese villager in “The Good Earth.”As a nominee, Yeoh was the first in the category who identified as Asian. Merle Oberon, who was nominated ...

Malaysian ex-PM Muhyiddin hit with seventh graft charge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin pleaded innocent Monday to a seventh corruption charge, this one alleging he received illegal proceeds of 5 million ringgit ($1.1 million) that was banked into his political party.Muhyiddin is Malaysia’s second leader to be indicted after leaving office and has denied wrongdoing. He slammed the case as “organized political persecution” to embarrass him and crush his Islamic-dominated opposition ahead of state elections. He denied abusing his power to award contracts to selected ethnic Malay contractors in return for bribes, and to approve an appeal by a business tycoon on the cancellation of his tax exemption.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rejected accusations that the charges were politically motivated. The anti-graft agency and the attorney-general’s chambers, whose chiefs were previously appointed by Muhyiddin, have denied there was political interference in the investigation and prosecution proces...

Brendan Fraser wins best-actor Oscar in career comeback

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:43 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brendan Fraser has won the best-actor Oscar for “The Whale,” a transformative role in which he revived a career that was once so bright.“I started in this business 30 years ago and things didn’t come easily to me,” said Fraser, breathing heavily. “I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgement.”Fraser was one of five first-time nominees in the category, the first time that had happened since 1935. Fraser beat out Austin Butler of “Elvis,” Colin Farrell of “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Paul Mescal of “Aftersun,” and Bill Nighy of “Living.”Fraser figures the role of Charlie, a 600-pound reclusive gay English teacher who tries to restore his relationship with his teenage daughter, found him at the perfect time.Any earlier in his career and Fraser has said he wouldn’t have had the life experience or heartache to authentically play a character who lives with sadness, pain and life-threatening obesity.Fraser’s portrayal earned him standing ovations at ...