NPR News: 04-12-2026 7PM EDT

Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister and close ally of both President Trump and Vladimir Putin, lost his re-election bid to opposition leader Péter Magyar, who greeted cheering crowds along the Tisza River in Budapest. Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist, campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues like health care and public transportation, and he pledged to rebuild Hungary’s relationship with the European Union and NATO — ties that frayed under Orbán. European leaders quickly congratulated Magyar. Last week, Vice President Vance had visited Hungary campaigning for Orbán.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon and a widening ground operation

Israeli airstrikes continue to target Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, but Lebanese authorities say a Red Cross paramedic was among at least 35 people killed today. NPR’s Lauren Freyer reports that Israeli airstrikes hit the Mediterranean resort city of Tyre and border villages. Israel says it is seizing territory from Lebanon to create what it calls a buffer zone where Hezbollah cannot fire rockets. The Lebanese Red Cross says one of its ambulance teams was directly targeted by an Israeli drone, killing one paramedic and wounding another. Israeli troops also fired warning shots that hit three feet from personnel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz both joined invading troops inside Lebanon. Katz said hi