Europe welcomes Hungary's new Government | Midday News Bulletin 13 April 2026

Australia rules out sending ships to help in any US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz; Europe reacts to the ousting of Viktor Orban in Hungary after 16 years; Belgian Wout van Aert wins the Paris-Roubaix title.

SBS Midday Bulletin Source: AAP

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TRANSCRIPT:

• Australia rules out sending ships to help in any US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz;
• Europe reacts to the ousting of Viktor Orban in Hungary after 16 years;
• Belgian Wout van Aert wins the Paris-Roubaix title.

European leaders have welcomed the result of Hungary's elections, which has seen nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban removed from power after 16 years.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen says Hungary has chosen Europe, while Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to advance cooperation with Hungary - a marked difference to the relationship under Mr Orban.

Peter Magyar's Tisza party is projected to win more than two-thirds of all 199 parliamentary seats.

And these voters in Budapest have told SBS News they are cautiously optimistic.

MAN 1: "Now we are finally standing here in the gates of a new world, and yeah, we, we need the change. "

WOMAN 1: "So fed up with Viktor Orbán and all of his government. Like, they did not deliver in the 16 years that they was voted, but, like, in the last four years it was horrible."

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The head of the Iran Parliament’s National Security Commission, Ebrahim Azizi, has dismissed Donald Trump's declaration that a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz will begin soon.

It is not immediately clear how it might be carried out.

But Mr Azizi says it is not disappointing the peace talks in Pakistan did not result in a breakthrough - and that Iran won't bow down to threats.

"US President Donald Trump is voicing his own wishes, his dreams and demands that have never been realised and, by God’s will, will not be realised. The statements he began making just hours after the talks, saying ‘I’ll do this’ and ‘I’ll do that’ in the Oman Sea and the distant waters of the Indian Ocean, are part of that. It is natural for a defeated president to speak this way."

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Australia will not join the United States' efforts to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

After peace negotiations between American and Iranian negotiators collapsed over the weekend, President Donald Trump declared the US Navy would stop "any and all" ships from entering or leaving the key trade route.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he believes there should be a return to negotiations and open passage for shipping, according to international law.

He has told Channel Nine Australia had not been asked to help in any case.

"We've received no requests ... they've made this announcement overnight and they've done that in a unilateral way."

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The federal government has rolled out a 20 million-dollar advertising campaign, encouraging motorists to conserve fuel and drive less.

The campaign, titled 'Every little bit helps', will appear on television, radio, online channels, billboards and posters.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has told Sky News that ordinary Australians are keen to contribute to the greater good.

"Many Australians want to do what they can to help and this is really a Team Australia moment where all of us can do our little bit and every little bit helps."

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Expectations are mounting that there will be significant changes to the NDIS included in Labor's next federal budget, due to be delivered on May 12.

Labor senator Helen Polley has urged colleagues to consider means testing the scheme, suggesting recipients who can afford it should be required to pay a co-contribution.

The Prime Minister has ruled out the idea of means testing.

But he has told the Sydney Morning Herald that significant reforms are required to make the program sustainable and bring spending under control.

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Eight people whose selfless courage helped save lives during the Bondi stabbing rampage will be honoured with special awards.

Frenchmen Damien Jean Guerot and Silas Despréaux have been named on the Australian Bravery Decoration honours list for confronting the attacker and using metal bollards to try to stop his rampage, along with Detective Inspector Amy Scott who shot Joel Cauchi dead, and security guard Muhammad Taha.

Two Commendations for Brave Conduct have been awarded, one to Nurse Catherine Molihan, who assisted at the scene, and Noel McLaughlin, who alerted other bystanders to the threat.

Two posthumous bravery awards have also been given, one to the second security guard Faraz Tahir, and the other to Ashlee Good who charged the attacker to protect her infant daughter in a pram.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn says recipients are being recognised for their "determined response in unspeakable and horrific circumstance".

"Every one of them showed strength, and profound courage, as they placed the safety of others above their own. Their acts of bravery reflect the best of us, and remind us of the valour, compassion and service that are enduring and present across our communities."

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To sport and in cycling news,

Belgian Wout van Aert has beaten world champion Tadej Pogacar to win the Paris-Roubaix title.

Victory for Pogacar would have completed the set of the five one-day 'Monument' races, adding to his four Tours de France, Giro d'Italia and two road world titles.

But Van Aert thwarted Pogacar's attacks on the cobbles and wrapped it up with a trademark burst of speed in the final straight on the Roubaix Velodrome.