Author: Jean-Baptiste Chastand

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is wheeled in on a gurney, in the hospital emergency ward, in Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), May 15, 2024. JAN KROSLáK / AP Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was targeted by a gunman while attending a public event in Handlova, Slovakia. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Fico sustained multiple gunshot wounds, with one in the abdomen. The attack, labeled as an “attack on democracy,” shocked the nation and raised concerns about the security of political figures in the country. The attacker, a 71-year-old man with a complex profile, had displayed conflicting ideologies, ranging from anti-violence…

Xi Jinping’s latest European tour has taken him to Serbia and Hungary, where he is met with warm welcomes from leaders who have shown a critical stance towards the West. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have embraced a pro-China rhetoric, with no mention of China’s human rights record or trade policies. Instead, the focus is on strengthening economic ties and attracting Chinese investments in key sectors. Major investments Hungary, in particular, has emerged as a favored destination for Chinese companies, with major investments in electric vehicle manufacturing. Chinese firms like CATL and BYD have set…