Viktor Orban's anti-Ukraine election gambit

Kate Adie introduces stories on the Hungarian elections, the Kurdish fighters readying to fight Iran, the Nigerian farmers working under armed guard, the Philippines fuel crisis, and how tourists are staying away from Jerusalem's holy sites. Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban is facing a tough reelection battle, with the opposition centre right Tisza party ahead in the polls. During the campaign, Orban's Fidesz party has stoked fears about the malign influence of Ukraine and the EU. Nick Thorpe reports from Budapest. On the Iraq-Iran border, Kurdish forces are gathering in preparation for a potential ground war in Iran, though there is caution about joining US forces, as Kurdish leaders say they were abandoned by the US coalition in Syria, despite thousands giving their lives to help defeat Islamic State. Jiyar Gol met them at their mountain base. In Borno State in northeast Nigeria, farmers have to tend to their fields under armed guard because of the threat posed by Islamist militants. Ijeoma Ndukwe travelled to Maiduguri, where she met farmers hit by the pervasive threat of violence. The Philippines became the first country to declare an energy emergency after fuel prices more than doubled since the Iran war began. Suranjana Tewari met transport drivers in Manila, who are struggling to make a living. And in Israel, the closure of holy sites due to the heightened security threat caused by the war with Iran has led to disappointment among local business owners as the droves of tourists who typically visit at this time of year have decided to stay away, reports Sebastian Usher. Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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Viktor Orban's anti-Ukraine election gambit is an episode from From Our Own Correspondent Podcast by BBC.

This episode is 28:35 long.

This episode was published on Apr 4, 2026.

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