DOJ Opens Investigation Into NYC Coffee Shop Over Anti-Goldman Social Media Post 
US Mobilizes Aid After Powerful Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
US Delivers $13M Autonomous Maritime Drones to Philippines 
Lebanon Pushes Ahead With Israel Talks Despite Iran-U.S. Deal Impact 
ICC Judges Sue Trump Administration Over Sanctions, Calling Measures Unlawful 
Marco Rubio Seeks Gulf Support for U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Amid Regional Concerns 
Pelosi Discloses Major Intel and Uber Call Option Purchases Worth Up to $6 Million 
Trump Orders DOJ Investigation Into Exxon, Chevron Over High Gas Prices 
NATO Chief Tries to Ease Trump Alliance Dispute 
Bessent Says U.S. Must Strengthen Supply Chains and Economic Security 
Peru Election Dispute Deepens as Roberto Sanchez Rejects Runoff Results 
White House Seeks $1.4 Billion to Combat Growing Ebola Outbreak 
US Seeks Gulf Support for Iran Peace Deal Amid Regional Tensions 
Crimea Power Outage After Ukrainian Drone Attack, Russian Authorities Say 
Russia Signals Frustration Over Unfulfilled U.S. Commitments After Alaska Summit 
U.S. Reviewing Potential F-35 Fighter Jet Sale to Turkey Amid S-400 Dispute 
The executive branch of the European Union has now sought to block $7.5 billion in funding for Hungary. The move to do so comes as Hungary is accused of corruption, making this the first case under a new sanction.
The European Union’s budget commissioner Johannes Hahn said the European Commission proposed to suspend a third of the funds that are allocated for Hungary from the bloc’s shared budget, which is worth $1.1 trillion, $7.5 billion.
The $7.5 billion makes up for five percent of Hungary’s estimated 2022 GDP, and EU member countries have three months to decide on the proposal by the executive.
“It’s about breaches of the rule of law compromising the use and management of EU funds,” said Hahn. “We cannot conclude that the EU budget is sufficiently protected.”
Hahn cited the irregularities in Hungary’s public procurement laws and the insufficient protections against conflicts of interest, weaknesses in public prosecution, and other flaws in anti-graft measures.
While Hahn said that Hungary’s latest pledge to address the criticisms of the bloc was a step in the right direction, it must also translate into new laws and practical measures before the EU would be reassured.
Hungary said Saturday that its lawmakers would vote in the coming week on a series of measures that aim to ease the dispute. The new measures are expected to include establishing independent anti-corruption watchdogs to monitor the use of EU funds and steps to increase transparency in the legislative process.
Hahn said he was “confident” that reforms in Hungary would be made, describing such a move as a “game-changer.”
Last week, Hungary was angered following a vote made in the European Parliament declaring that the country was no longer a “full democracy” and that the bloc needed to take action. The parliament voted 433 to 123 on the resolution.
The resolution described Hungary as “a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” that is in “serious breach” of the bloc’s democratic institutions.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about the country’s constitutional and electoral processes, judicial independence, potential corruption, media, religious, academic freedoms, and LGBTQ freedoms.
