Over this past weekend that saw the 20 August celebrations and the grand opening of the Budapest World Athletics Championships, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with the leaders of several countries, creating a one-off diplomacy summit in Hungary.

The energy cooperation between the two countries will gain a new dimension as gas supplies will soon also originate directly from Turkey, following the finalisation of an agreement between MVM and Botas for the purchase of 275 million cubic metres of gas next year.

As all the Danube bridges were destroyed by the retreating Germans, tram service could start again between the two sides of the city over Liberty Bridge only on 20 August 1946.

Ádám Schmidt called attention to the championships’ mascot, Youhuu the Hungarian racka sheep, a lovable and entertaining character. He also mentioned that, for the first time in the 40-year history of the world championships, short films about the athletes will be shown to the audience before certain events.

During a ceremony held in commemoration of the foundation of the state where high state awards were conferred, Chief of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás stated that as Hungary is celebrating the 1023rd birthday of its nationhood, the nation must take stock of its history. He also added that the anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state is an apt occasion to express gratitude to those who, with years of effort, have served their communities, big or small, through exceptional achievements.

At an extraordinary press conference, the minister referred to this event as a great collective success for all Hungarians, highlighting that Budapest is now ready to host one of the world’s largest sporting events thanks to environmentally friendly, sustainable, and large-scale sports infrastructure developments.

The Prime Minister stated that both the European and Hungarian economies are influenced by the Russo-Ukrainian war. If the war were to end, both economies could show their ‘better side.’

The 92-year-old Munkácsy Prize-winning painter, while building upon the legacy of his Nagybánya predecessors, has also reflected on the historical tragedies of the 20th century in his art.

For the government, the successful fight against inflation is a key issue as it aims to restore the previous trend of continuous wage growth, disrupted by the protracted war and the misguided sanctions.

Tamás Kádár proudly announced that the total attendance of Sziget this year was estimated at over 420,000. He added that although it is less than last year, the company cannot complain.

From the tram stops of lines 1, 2, and 24, a few minutes’ walk from Müpa will get spectators to the northern and main entrances of the National Athletics Centre. The Ráckeve (H6) and Csepel (H7) suburban railway lines are also excellent choices, and several buses serve the nearby Közvágóhíd stop as well.

Hungarian Ombudsman Ákos Kozma urged his Austrian counterpart Gaby Schwarz in a letter sent earlier this week to help find a solution to the conflict around the Ágfalva–Schattendorf border crossing.

Earlier this year, referring to a fresh decree, the Ukrainian police removed Hungarian flags from several public institutions in the town, including the Hungarian-language secondary school. Furthermore, without any justification, its director was dismissed overnight. On 15 August, Marija Pauk, an ethnic Ukrainian with no connection to the Hungarian community or the school was appointed to lead the institution.

In 1881, the Hungarian State Railways started building the new railway station at a changed location, near Kerepesi Road, at present-day Baross Square. The construction of the Central Passenger Hall was overseen by Gyula Rochlitz, an architect and MÁV supervisor whose designs were also used for the construction of the Hungarian State Railways headquarters on Andrássy Avenue and the first Danube connecting bridge.

Tibor Helényi’s legacy as a Hungarian artist extends far beyond the borders of his home country. His iconic Star Wars and RoboCop posters have become symbols of their respective franchises’ global impact, reflecting his ability to capture the essence of stories through visual simplicity.

The exhibition centres on the founding members of the Pest Workshop, a group that was actively engaged in screen-printing from 1971 to 1988, thereby constituting a defining artistic community of that era.

In the latest episode of the Blue Planet podcast, Hungarian company Waterscope’s patent called the ‘smart hydrant’ was discussed. The invention allows the collection of data in places where it would otherwise be impossible, due to lack of electricity or signal.

Under the patronage of the International Geographical Union, the English-language competition, held for the 19th time, saw participation from 52 countries and 200 students. Four Hungarian secondary school students from Budapest performed outstandingly and were awarded four medals.

According to László Kövér, Hungarians ‘cannot shy away from the challenge today to protect our families and our nation, our Christian culture and way of life, while also cooperating with all fellow nations in the Carpathian Basin and Europe to contribute to the triumph of the culture of life in Europe.’

Thanks to a spectacular and comfortable transport solution, spectators will also be able to travel to the venue of the Budapest Athletics World Championships by boat from Batthyány Square. The organisers, committed to offering unique experiences to the athletics enthusiasts arriving in the Hungarian capital, will set up several fan zones in the centre of the city, along the route of the street races.

Government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi noted on public radio that inflation decreased to 17.6 per cent in July, representing a 2.5 per cent decrease compared to the previous month, and a 0.9 per cent decrease in food prices. On an annual basis, the combined effect of multiple government measures has practically cut the inflation of food prices in half, she stressed.

Among buyers from abroad, Germans are the most active. Of transactions facilitated by real estate agency Otthon Centrum, 30 per cent of foreign buyers came from Germany, followed by Slovaks and with Romanians in the third place.

The online survey, carried out on sample of a thousand Hungarian employees aged between 18 and 65, revealed that nine per cent of respondents have the flexibility to choose working mostly from home, with physical presence required on certain days.

On 2 and 3 September, collections from 39 brands will be showcased at Millenáris Park, featuring creations not only from 24 Hungarian fashion designers, but also from Ukrainian, Romanian, Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Serbian creators. The event places importance on presenting regional brands alongside local ones, which is reinforced by the presence of international press, influencers, and buyers.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Hungary has been conducting regular surveys to gain valuable insights into the evolving needs of Ukrainian refugees returning to their homeland. The organisation’s quarterly Crossing to Ukraine reports shed light on crucial aspects of this complex situation.

In terms of spectators, the championship will be the largest sports event in Hungary of all time. Also, in the history of world championships in the sport, never before have so many athletes participated in a single event as they will now.

The Sziget Festival will last six days, until 15 August, on the Óbuda Island in Budapest. Performers from sixty-two countries will arrive at approximately forty venues, and the audience will come from over a hundred countries.

An article published by the Spanish online news portal ABC reveals that the influx of German retirees relocating to Hungary has surged by a remarkable 25 per cent. The article, referring to an undisclosed German newspaper, characterises Lake Balaton and its vicinity as a ‘fresh safe haven for conservative retirees.’

Spread across 76 hectares, this year’s festival was set up in three weeks. The maximum daily capacity is 90,000 people, including both festival staff and attendees, making Sziget the country’s tenth largest city for the six days of the festival. The main stage was constructed in ten days, with a floor area of over a thousand square metres and a six hundred square metre LED wall serving as its backdrop.

As every year, the Cake of Hungary is selected ahead of August 20, with those attending the holiday events being the first to taste the creations of Hungary’s best pastry chefs. The competition this year was won by the torte named Tipsy Fig Respectus of the Levendula és Kert (Lavender and Garden) cake shop from Szigetszentmiklós, located on Csepel Island. Essential ingredients of the cake include Aszú wine, figs and honey.