Viktor Orban and the Palatial Hapsburg Manor He Says He Doesn’t Own
Hungary’s long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing mounting political pressure ahead of an April 12 election as a sprawling estate in his home village becomes a flashpoint for opposition claims of corruption.
For Iran, Oil Sales Continue Despite Sanctions and War
Illicit Iranian oil shipments continue to move through Asian waters toward China, generating a critical revenue stream for Tehran and helping Beijing build large crude stockpiles despite sanctions and heightened regional conflict.
Hungary Returns Armored Vehicles to Kyiv but Keeps Seized Ukrainian Loot
Hungary returned two seized armored bank vehicles to Ukraine on Thursday but continued to hold cash and gold worth about $82 million as part of an alleged money-laundering investigation.
European Defense Giant Failed to Disclose NATO Corruption Ban
European defense company Czechoslovak Group failed to tell investors before its January stock market debut that a Spanish ammunition subsidiary had been suspended by NATO’s procurement agency amid a widening corruption investigation.
To Russia, With Postage: How to Ship Banned Goods from Berlin to Moscow
A German logistics company has exploited gaps in European postal and customs rules to move sanctioned goods from Germany to Russia, undermining the EU’s effort to choke off supplies to Moscow.
Hungary Calls for Russia Sanctions Lift, Mulls Keeping Seized Ukrainian Funds
Hungary has shifted from opposing a new EU sanctions package targeting Russia to calling on its fellow EU member-states to lift all restrictions on Moscow’s fossil-fuel industry.
Kyrgyzstan Poised to Challenge EU Over Potential Russia Sanctions
Kyrgyzstan is prepared to take the European Union to court if Brussels imposes sanctions on the Central Asian state over allegations it has helped funnel restricted goods to Russia.
EU’s Pandemic Recovery Fund May Have Lost €5 Billion to Fraud
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is facing a sharp rise in suspected fraud linked to the EU’s pandemic recovery fund, with estimated losses tied to the program approaching €5 billion, Follow the Money reported, citing figures in the office’s annual report released Monday.
Peter Mandelson Faces Anti-Fraud Probe Over Epstein Revelations
Peter Mandelson is facing scrutiny from the EU anti-fraud office after the European Commission asked investigators to examine his conduct during his tenure as the bloc’s trade commissioner.
Cyber Sanctions Target Kremlin on Anniversary of Ukraine War
Western governments marked the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine with new measures targeting the Kremlin’s revenue streams and enabling networks, despite stalled efforts by the EU to approve a broad sanctions package.