Maureen Dowd: The Melania mystery – why did the Slovenian Sphinx relight the Epstein fire?
The US first lady’s shock statement last week took everybody – including Trump – by surprise, but what was behind it?
Viktor Orban
Hungary votes in election that could end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule
Rightwing leader trails in polls to Péter Magyar, despite support from JD Vance on recent visit
Faced with an untrustworthy US, Europe must make bold diplomatic moves
Worldview: European elites are ill-prepared for this scale of change in their relations with the US
Czech prime minister Babis backs Hungary’s Orban ahead of vote
Billionaire businessman has turned from liberal to Orban ally in Patriots for Europe EU parliament faction
Elections in Hungary: Putin’s poodle Viktor Orbán is a disgrace
If Orbán wins and continues to act as he has been doing, EU membership should be suspended
Orbán makes last-ditch appeal to voters as Hungary prepares for pivotal elections
Polls show opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar heading for landslide victory but outcome remains uncertain
Did JD Vance’s visit to Hungary help or hinder Viktor Orbán ahead of elections?
Hungarian prime minister’s party is struggling in the polls ahead of this weekend’s election
Lara Marlowe: A far-right victory in France would be a win for Putin and Trump
The RN’s challenge for the next year is to bring on board the bulk of the right, the traditional right as well as their hard core far-right supporters
The Irish Times view on the Hungarian election: Orbán on the precipice
Should he be defeated, it will be the most significant setback for the populist right in years
Orban re-election would force a rethink of how EU takes decisions
Outcome of viciously fought election in Budapest has big implications for the EU’s foreign policymaking
Move to Waterford from Budapest followed school curriculum changes in Hungary
Marton Bisztrai says school curriculum changes in Hungary prompted him to leave his homeland
Can JD Vance save Viktor Orbán from electoral defeat?
Hungary’s far-right prime minister faces his toughest challenge yet – and the Trump administration is going all in to save him
Czech Republic took in huge numbers of Ukrainians. Its new government is not so welcoming
Right-wing populist government in Prague plans to cut off military aid to Kyiv and wants restrictions on refugee 'protection' for Ukrainians
Hungary under fire after leaked audio reveals efforts to help Russia overturn EU sanctions
Recording purports to capture phone call between foreign ministers of Hungary and Russia
Election posters plaster Budapest – but Orban is nowhere to be seen
As Hungary heads toward a pivotal vote, the governing Fidesz party fills the streets with warnings about its rivals while hiding its own leader from view
EU leaders are growing tired of the Viktor Orban show
Backtracking by Hungary’s far right prime minister on €90 billion Ukraine loan deal a ‘betrayal’ of fellow EU leaders
About 4,500 woollen scarves at the heart of Ireland’s diplomacy plans for Europe
Plus: Grand Unesco plans for the Border, a ban on vegan liver and a fada where it possibly shouldn’t be in Kildare
Kremlin backs covert campaign to keep Viktor Orban in power
Vladimir Putin endorses plan drawn up by Russian consultancy that is under western sanctions
The Irish Times view on Ursula von der Leyen: overstepping her brief
Member states will not be reassured nor reform facilitated by a go-it-alone commission president
Ursula von der Leyen questions EU’s ongoing need for consensus amid divisions with Orban
EU must consider whether consensus-based decision making on foreign policy is ‘hindrance’
Pipeline row between Ukraine and Hungary escalates into diplomatic crisis
Hungary’s seizure of seven Ukrainian bank staff transporting cash ratchets up dispute between Budapest and Kyiv
Sinn Féin have forgotten a chapter in Irish history while calling for reduced Ukrainian supports
The party needs to develop grown up, logical and consistent positions on foreign policy to become a government alternative
Russia-Ukraine talks on ice as Middle East war widens
US and its allies seek Kyiv’s expertise in countering Iran’s drones
Limits on Ukraine’s army in peace deal should apply to Russia too, top EU official proposes
Zelenskiy praises Europeans who have ‘stood on the right side of history’ as Kyiv counts four years of war
Orban spoils the show of united EU front as Ukraine war enters fifth year
‘We don’t hate Ukraine’, says Hungarian minister before saying why far-right government threatened to block sanctions on Russia
McDonald defends Sinn Féin stance opposing participation in €90bn EU loan to Ukraine
‘Spending tens of billions’ of taxpayer money on more weaponry not the way to resolve conflict, says party leader
Hungary blocks €90bn EU loan to Ukraine days before war anniversary
Loan was agreed in December by EU leaders as a lifeline for Kyiv
As Europe eyes a two‑speed Union, Ireland worries about being left in the slow lane
Latest ‘enhanced co-operation’ proposal opens the door to controversial two-track EU
The Irish Times view on the US and Europe: Marco Rubio’s political trap
In Munich, Rubio gave full voice to the new US doctrine of great power geopolitics
Poland divided over relations with Trump administration
Marco Rubio praises Trump-friendly leaders of Hungary and Slovakia, while Warsaw wrestles with internal tensions over US ties
EU tones down criticism of Viktor Orban ahead of election
European Commission wary of giving longtime Brussels antagonist ammunition during campaign
Trump-friendly Hungary and Slovakia ‘key components’ of US-EU relations, says Rubio
‘Woke, decadent Europe not facing civilisational erasure,’ says European Union foreign policy chief
The miracle of Budapest: How Troy Parrott’s heroics may have dented Viktor Orban’s re-election hopes
Republic of Ireland striker’s late goal ended Hungary’s campaign, punctured a government myth and may dent Orban’s re-election hopes
Ireland’s contributions to Ukraine ‘well below’ aid given by smaller EU states
Internal correspondence from top official acknowledges State has provided comparatively less help to Ukraine than other EU allies
Fast-tracking Ukraine: why Europe is wary of bending rules for EU entry
Behind public words of support, national governments have concerns such as corruption, the impact on agriculture and freedom of movement
Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ claims global reach – but power rests with one man
A fledgling club of autocrats, strongmen and monarchs is taking shape as the US president tries to recast the global order
Ukraine’s entry into EU a guarantee against future Russian attack, von der Leyen says
Greenland ‘can count’ on political and financial support from Europe, says commission president
Hungary grants asylum to former Polish minister amid abuse of power investigation
Zbigniew Ziobro allegedly ran criminal group and abused his position through misuse of resources from fund for victims of crime
EU funding deal for Ukraine: dissenter Hungary joined by Slovakia and Czech Republic
A tear that Hungary’s premier, Viktor Orban, has spent years pulling at in the EU tent has just got bigger
The €90bn question: will Belgium sign up to frozen assets plan for Ukraine?
Emerging from this summit empty-handed would be hugely damaging to Europe’s standing in new world of ‘wars and predators’
Peace process for Ukraine closer than at any time since start of Russian invasion, says Merz
European leaders say proposed security guarantees agreed with US include a Ukrainian peacetime army of 800,000 troops and European-led military support force
EU bypasses Orban veto on plan to fund Ukraine loan using frozen Russian assets
Changes to Russian sanctions rollover tees up bloc leaders' summit next week
Advocates for Europe’s values are hard to find in asylum debate
Centre ground continues to shift rightward on migration policy
EU leaders face big choice on vital aid for Ukraine
European Commission warns Ukraine could be at risk of losing the war if crucial financial support not provided
Putin hosts Hungary’s Orban for talks on energy and Ukraine
Russian president ‘would welcome’ Russia-US summit with Trump in Budapest
Trump gives Hungary exemption from Russian energy sanctions
Year-long exemption is a sign of the close affinity between the two leaders
Kyiv ready for peace talks but will not withdraw troops first, says Zelenskiy
Ukrainian and European officials to meet to discuss details of a ceasefire plan
EU red lines can be elastic when necessary
Short of options, Europe is forced to consider creative and politically hazardous ways to keep funding Ukraine
Hungary’s ‘Viktator’ eyes pre-election boost from US-Russia strongman summit
Orban’s nationalist government says Putin need not fear arrest over war crimes allegations
László Krasznahorkai could not be more timely Nobel laureate in world of conflict
Hungarian author, a critic of communism and Viktor Orbán alike, is devoted to art of writing
The Irish Times view on the Czech election: Prague’s Trump returns
Andrej Babiš claims he will drain the Czech political swamp
Populist Czech election winner Babis faces fringe demands to secure parliament majority
Billionaire’s Ano party took 34.5% of vote, ahead of current PM’s centre-right coalition on 23.4%
Czech billionaire set to return to power after election win
Populist Andrej Babis has pledged to undo years of austerity and curb military aid to Ukraine
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Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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