Defeat

Incoming PM Péter Magyar accuses Fidesz-linked figures of trying to shield their wealth from accountabilityAlong the banks of the Danube, news that the Viktor Orbán era had come to an end set off an hours-long party. The joy echoed across Hungary as people traded hugs and high-fives. For some, however, the landslide loss set off a frantic scramble.Private jets allegedly laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Orbán’s 16 years in power have steadily been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad, sources have told the Guardian. Meanwhile, high-level figures close to Orbán have been looking into US visa options, hoping to find work at Maga-linked institutions. Continue reading...

• The New York Mets lost 2-1 in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs, extending their losing streak to 11 games, matching their longest skid since 2004. • The defeat capped a winless 0-6 road trip for the Mets, who have not lost 12 straight since 2002. • Despite the struggles, Mets players emphasized they are still 'fighting for each other' amid the mounting losses.

• Georgia Tech softball (28-23, 9-11 ACC) defeated No. 10 Virginia Tech (38-7, 12-5 ACC) 6-2 on Saturday night in Blacksburg, Virginia, marking the program's highest-ranked true road win in history. • The victory was Georgia Tech's first top 10 win and third top 25 victory of the season, demonstrating significant progress for the Yellow Jackets. • The Yellow Jackets remain in Blacksburg to conclude the ACC conference road series against Virginia Tech on April 19.

As Orbán is rejected, there is cautious optimism new leader can restore ties – but issues such as EU accession loom largeLike many Ukrainians, Oleh Kupchak was delighted when Péter Magyar won Hungary’s election last weekend, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power. “We were euphoric. Everyone was following the results closely. There were toasts,” said Kupchak, who has visited Budapest several times. “We didn’t love Orbán,” he added.Ukraine celebrated Orbán’s landslide defeat in a series of jokes and memes. Several likened him to the Star Wars character Jabba the Hut, and shared an image of Orbán fleeing from a drone. Others portrayed him sitting on a bench in Russia, alongside Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin former president Viktor Yanukovych, and his exiled Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. Continue reading...

Individuals such as Matt Goodwin and Lord Frost benefited from largesse of self-styled ‘illiberal democracy’UK politics live – latest updatesThe last 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s rule have been kind to a number of British political figures – from the Tory peer David Frost to Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin and James Orr.All benefited from largesse extended by the self-styled “illiberal democracy” established by the Hungarian leader’s ruling Fidesz party, which took a particular liking for those on the harder right of British conservatism. Continue reading...

• New York Yankees lost 7-1 to the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, reverting to offensive struggles after a prior 11-run win. • Angels slugged back-to-back-to-back home runs in the first inning off Ryan Weathers by Mike Trout, Jo Adell, and Jorge Soler, with five solo homers total. • Weathers allowed five runs and five hits over five innings, striking out 10; first pitcher since 1893 to yield four homers and 10 strikeouts in five or fewer innings.

Péter Magyar’s stunning victory in Hungary is a boost for liberal democracy. But don’t bank on similar upsets in upcoming European electionsWhen future historians come to write about the stunning electoral overthrow of Viktor Orbán on 12 April 2026, let’s hope they devote at least footnotes to zebras and golden toilet brushes. The zebras were spotted by drones on the sprawling grounds of a countryside palace belonging to Orbán’s extended family. The 72 gilded toilet brushes were said to have been bought at a cost of almost €10,000, for a lavish renovation of Hungary’s central bank. For Orbán’s opponents, such excesses became symbols of the rampant corruption among cronies of Orbán’s ruling party Fidesz, which drained Hungary’s economy and earned the country the worst ranking on the crookedness league tables in the EU, as Ashifa Kassam and Flora Garamvolgyi reported.In the end, it was disgust with corruption and how that corruption affected people’s livelihoods that were the main factors behind Sunday’s election rout. But the landslide achieved by Peter Magyar’s Tisza party – despite an electoral system designed to favour Fidesz – suggests that these eye-popping details were merely the last straws for a population desperate to reclaim their country as a functioning democracy. Continue reading...

• Cole Reinhardt scored his second goal with 1:50 left to lead the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night. • Reinhardt and Mackie Samoskevich scored in the first period for a 2-0 lead, with Quick making 14 saves in his retirement finale after 19 seasons and three Stanley Cups. • The win spoils Jonathan Quick's last NHL appearance as the three-time champion announced his retirement beforehand.

Stunning loss of rightwing populist in Hungary carries symbolic and psychological significance for US politicsFor US Democrats seeking rays of light in the dark landscape of Donald Trump’s authoritarian onslaught, illumination has arrived from the unlikely source of Budapest.Viktor Orbán’s stunning defeat in Hungary’s general election – ending 16 years of unbroken rule for his governing Fidesz party – carries symbolic and psychological significance for American politics out of all proportion to the central European country’s modest size and distance from the US. Continue reading...

Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule has come to an end after the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won the Hungarian election by a landslide. Orbán quickly conceded after what he described as a ‘painful but unambiguous’ election result. All eyes are now on Magyar to see how Hungary’s relationship with the EU and Nato could change after years of strained relations.Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian’s European community affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam Continue reading...

• Florida Gators rode a hot start, scoring all 13 runs in the first four innings to beat No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs 13-7 on April 12, 2026, securing the series win. • Hayden Yost hit two home runs while Ethan Surowiec drove in five RBI and hit a homer for the Gators. • The victory improves Florida to 7-1 against top-10 teams and 6-1 vs. top-five foes, marking their ninth win in last 11 SEC series.

Win for Tisza party ends rightwing populist’s 16-year grip on power and will likely reshape country’s relationship with EUHungary election liveHungary’s opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, has won the general election, ending leader Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power, in a result that is likely to rattle the White House and reshape the country’s relationship with the EU.Less than three hours after polls closed on Sunday, Orbán conceded defeat after what he described as a “painful” election result. Continue reading...

• Jaylen Brown erupted for 35 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 113-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 2026, claiming the season series sweep. • The win improves Boston's record and strengthens their position in the Eastern Conference standings amid tight playoff races. • Brown's dominant performance highlights the Celtics' depth as they prepare for postseason challenges in the NBA playoffs.

• The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-105 on Tuesday at Chase Center in a defensive battle. • Draymond Green discussed key adjustments the Warriors made with Steph Curry on the floor during postgame interviews. • The victory showcases Golden State's continued competitiveness in the Western Conference standings.

• Federal judges blocked Trump administration actions that canceled asylum appointments for hundreds of thousands of migrants and terminated temporary legal status for up to 900,000 immigrants, ruling the administration acted unlawfully. • A federal judge threw out a Justice Department lawsuit against Denver and Colorado sanctuary laws, determining the federal government cannot override state and local decisions on resource allocation. • Judge Leon ruled Trump cannot restructure the White House ballroom without Congressional authorization, stating the president is a "steward" of the building, not its "owner"—a decision Trump disputed on Truth Social.

• No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated No. 1 Texas Longhorns 7-4 on April 4, 2026, securing their first series victory over a top-ranked team since 2016. • Jena Young hit a crucial three-run home run, powering Alabama past Texas in a key SEC matchup. • The win strengthens Alabama's position in college softball rankings and highlights their momentum heading into conference play.

• No. 3 ranked Oklahoma (36-3, 9-1 SEC) dominated Kentucky (22-17, 1-12 SEC) with a 10-2 victory at home in Norman, utilizing seven two-out runs and two long balls to secure the win. • Oklahoma's aggressive two-out hitting strategy proved effective, with the team capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the game against Kentucky's struggling SEC squad. • The victory extends Oklahoma's strong 2026 season as a top-3 national contender, maintaining their position as one of the SEC's elite baseball programs.

• The No. 4-ranked University of Georgia baseball team overcame a hitless start through four innings to beat Georgia State 14-9 at Foley Field on Tuesday. • Georgia exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, securing the comeback victory after trailing earlier in the game. • The Bulldogs, known for one of the nation's most potent offenses, demonstrated their resilience in the high-scoring contest.

Dinesh Gourisetty has been called a ‘pedophile supporter’ for providing court reference for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a childFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, says the man who defeated Moria Deeming for the top spot on the party’s upper house ballot is “not welcome” on her team, after it was revealed he wrote a court character reference for a friend convicted of grooming a 15-year-old girl.Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community, defeated Deeming on Sunday in a preselection vote for the party’s candidates for the western metropolitan region at the upcoming November election. Continue reading...

• Third-seeded Illinois beat Houston 65-55 in the South Region semifinals of the NCAA Tournament on March 26, 2026, in Houston. • David Mirkovic led Illinois with 14 points and 10 rebounds, as the team showcased strong defense to eliminate last year's national runner-up. • The win advances Illinois (27-8) to its 11th Elite Eight, facing ninth-seeded Iowa on Saturday to determine a Final Four participant.

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 25, 2026, that President Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran does not accept military defeat. • The US is closely tracking efforts to secure oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian threats. • This escalation threat underscores Trump's strategy to force Iran into capitulation, potentially prolonging the conflict without regime change.

The government has launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s but peers voted to move fasterHouse of Lords pushes for Australian-style social media ban for under-16sGood morning. It is going to be a busy political news day, but potentially quite a mixed and messy one. Keir Starmer is in Helsinki for a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (the northern European military pact – the Nordics, the Baltics, the Dutch and the UK), and he has already been speaking to the media. In the Commons it is the last day before the Easter recess, which means it is “take out the trash day” – the trash, in this case, being government announcements that have to be reported to parliament (so they can’t be announced during the recesss), but which have been held back because they’re moderately embarrassing (or sometimes just too dull). There are 24 written ministerial statements (full list here). Few, if any, of these are likely to produce big headline stories, but there should be a lot here for people interested in the workings of government.And, with the parliamentary session also about to end soon (the new king’s speech is expected to take place on Wednesday 13 May), the government is also trying to get all its bills onto the statue book. And it faced a new problem last night after peers voted for a second time to insert a clause into the bill committing the government to an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s.Obviously we’ll study that ruling very carefully, but I’m absolutely clear that we need to go further.The status quo isn’t good enough. We need to do more to protect children. Continue reading...

One Nation leader says voters ‘want to get rid of the Labor party, by all means’ but rejects possibility of formal power-sharing partnershipFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson says One Nation wants to work with the Liberals and Nationals – including on preferences deals – to defeat Labor and has offered to prop-up a future minority Coalition government.But Hanson ruled out forming an official coalition with the two conservative parties, declaring she will never agree to an arrangement “where I will be told what I can say, what I can do”. Continue reading...

Labor’s Peter Malinauskas secures at least 32 seats while Pauline Hanson’s party outpolls Liberals and could become de facto oppositionOne Nation will win at least one South Australian lower house seat, and is leading in a handful of others, as the Liberals consider “sobering lessons” from Saturday’s thumping election loss to Labor.One Nation’s electoral success came as federal MP Barnaby Joyce downplayed racism and bigotry accusations against the party before likening a ban on migration from Muslim countries to buying cattle “that just don’t work”. Continue reading...

• No. 11 seed Texas upset sixth-seeded BYU 79-71 in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, advancing in the NCAA Tournament first round. • Matas Vokietaitis led Texas with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while BYU's AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points in the loss. • The victory sets up potential second-round matchups as the tournament progresses to Saturday games.

• Portland Trail Blazers beat the Indiana Pacers 127-119 in NBA action on March 18, 2026, extending Indiana's losing streak to 15 consecutive games. • Ivica Zubac led the Pacers with 18 points in the loss, as the team prepares for a two-game road trip starting Saturday in San Antonio. • This defeat highlights Indiana's ongoing struggles late in the season, impacting their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

• Minnesota Timberwolves beat Phoenix Suns 116-104 on March 18, led by Julius Randle's 32 points and Bones Hyland's 22 off the bench amid Anthony Edwards' knee inflammation absence. • Rudy Gobert grabbed 19 rebounds while Devin Booker scored 34 for the Suns; Timberwolves improved to 7-4 without their All-Star guard, who will miss 1-2 weeks. • The win keeps Minnesota competitive in the tight Western Conference race, 1.5 games behind third-place Lakers.

The war is deeply unpopular, and the spike in oil prices will mean long-term high prices across the board for AmericansDonald Trump is still high on the capture of Nicolás Maduro. The easy abduction of the Venezuelan president didn’t just grant Trump control of the nation’s oil and critical minerals resources. It allowed him to throttle the government of Cuba by denying it access to energy, raising the tantalizing prospect that he might bring down a communist regime that has annoyed Washington since 1959.Trump is confident that his joint venture with Israel in Iran will do just as well. The barrage of Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel and Iran’s Arab neighbors has done nothing to change Trump’s mind that he can win, regardless of how he defines “winning”. Continue reading...