Prime Minister Viktor Orbán marked the Jewish New Year by sending a letter of greetings to Hungary’s Jewish community, emphasizing the country’s role as a ‘calm and safe island’ in a world of growing challenges. Just last week, Israeli Ambassador Jakov Hadas-Handelsman met with Mazsihisz President Andor Grósz to underline the unity between the Jewish people in Hungary and Israel ahead of the upcoming Rosh Hashanah celebrations.

A survey conducted by the Center for Fundamental Rights has revealed that the vast majority of Hungarian voters expect the European Union to contribute financially to the costs of the defence against illegal migration. Nearly two-thirds of respondents also consider the European Court of Justice’s ruling against Hungary unjust, further highlighting the strong public rejection of Brussels’ migration policies.

John Tsagronis and Michelle Watson, the founders of the Corporate Statecraft programme at the Institute of World Politics, were among the speakers and panellists of the 4th Danube–Heritage Geopolitical Summit this September, when they graciously sat down with Hungarian Conservative for an interview.

The Hungarian company Proofminder has been named one of the winners of the AgVenture 2024 competition, hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The programme aims to support the development of green technologies in the agricultural and food production sectors. Proofminder’s AI-based platform and drone technology help farmers increase yields, reduce chemical use, and protect biodiversity.

By the end of October, the asphalting of the high-speed oval track at the Zalaegerszeg automotive test track will be completed, with its full operation set for May next year. In addition to high-speed trials, the new track will be suitable for stress testing of braking systems, suspensions, and cooling systems.

At the second annual MetroPOLICE Crime Film Festival in Kecskemét the Danish thriller The Boys claimed Best Feature Film, while the Hungarian short On the Lookout won Best Short Film. Mátyás Prikler received the Special Jury Prize for Best Director for his Slovak–Hungarian political thriller Power, praised for its minimalist direction and nuanced character portrayal.

The Liget Budapest Project has made history by winning three awards at the prestigious International Travel Awards in Dubai. Recognized as the World’s Best Tourism Development and Europe’s Best Family-Friendly Development, the project also saw the House of Music Hungary named Europe’s Most Attractive Tourist Attraction, affirming Hungary’s rising global tourism profile.

The 17th Korean Film Festival in Budapest will showcase twenty-three new South Korean films from 11 to 18 October at the Corvin Cinema. Highlights include the box office hit Exhuma and a special focus on environmental films. Viewers can also meet renowned production designer Cho Hwa-sung and enjoy films in their original language with Hungarian and English subtitles.

Despite spending a significant amount of time online, young people, particularly Generation Z, feel the absence of real communities, according to Zsófia Nagy-Vargha, Deputy State Secretary for Youth Affairs. Addressing the Digital Child Welfare Conference in Budapest, she emphasised the need to reduce digital dependency and promote more meaningful, in-person interactions among the youth.

The Balaton shippimg company BAHART ended its peak season on a high note, surpassing two million passengers by the end of August, a milestone attributed to new ships, a diverse programme offering, and special discounts. Bahart’s ferries and passenger ships saw record traffic, with the introduction of new catamarans and ferries boosting growth beyond expectations.

The hackathons provide an opportunity for young people to turn their ideas into reality. The transfer of entrepreneurial basics, the encouragement of innovation, and the fostering of creative problem-solving equip them with tools that can address social and economic challenges. This knowledge not only leads to individual success but also contributes to community well-being, sustainable development, and enhancing the region’s competitiveness.

According to a recent study by Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), frequent TikTok use negatively impacts the ability of young people aged 13–25 to recognize fake news. The study highlights the platform’s influence on critical thinking, revealing that extended TikTok usage diminishes the accuracy with which users assess information.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to mediate a dialogue between the United States and Russia. Following talks in New York, Szijjártó emphasized the pressing global security risks posed by the lack of communication between major powers, warning of the danger of a new Cold War and urging a return to the UN’s founding mission of fostering international dialogue.

The Hungarian Ministry of Energy has confirmed that the reduced utility prices will remain in effect during the final quarter of 2024, ensuring that Hungarian households continue to enjoy the cheapest gas in Europe. By updating the relevant regulations, the ministry aims to secure affordable and uninterrupted heating throughout the upcoming winter season.

The Day of Coffee will celebrate its twelfth edition in Hungary, offering coffee enthusiasts unlimited tastings of top-quality, specialty coffees, professional competitions, and exclusive pairings at Budapest’s Akvárium Klub. The event marking International Coffee Day is a unique opportunity to discover diverse coffee varieties, meet roasters, and enjoy interactive programmes and contests.

The Night of Modern Factories returns for its eighth edition on 8 November 2024, offering both personal and online experiences. Organized by a nonprofit organization in collaboration with the Ministry of National Economy, the event highlights how modern technology is reshaping production processes, allowing visitors to explore cutting-edge innovations in automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 across Hungarian factories.

While the 2024 travel season continues, Liszt Ferenc International Airport is already preparing for 2025, when it will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a series of special cultural events. The celebrations will not only commemorate the airport’s history but also honour the life and work of composer Franz Liszt, whose name the airport proudly bears since 2011.

At the InnoTrans 2024 International Transport Exhibition in Berlin Hungarian state railways MÁV, MÁV-START, and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) signed a cooperation agreement to enhance passenger and freight services. The agreement aims to reduce travel times on the Budapest–Vienna route and improve collaboration in technical areas, promising a faster, more efficient rail network by 2028.

Hungary has successfully fended off a significant flood, demonstrating the nation’s resilience and preparedness, the Hungarian prime minister stated yesterday. Speaking on commercial television TV2 Orbán praised the collaborative efforts of the state, local governments, water management experts, and security forces. He also highlighted Hungary’s geographical advantage, which allowed for timely preparations.

A recent report by Germany’s Tagesschau highlighted a growing trend of Germans relocating to Hungary due to dissatisfaction with their homeland’s liberal policies, particularly concerning immigration. Germans moving to Lake Balaton cite increased safety and alignment with Hungary’s conservative values, praising Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s stance on foreign and domestic policies.

Hungarian fashion and creative brands, including established names and emerging talents, took centre stage at Milan Fashion Week’s Budapest Select presentation. Held at Casa degli Artisti, the event showcased Spring-Summer 2025 collections alongside luxury cosmetics and design products, highlighting Hungary’s growing influence in international fashion and creative industries.

In an earlier interview in the Hungarian media former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that ‘all issues in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations can be traced back to the Russian aggression’. On the other hand, he also noted the importance of Péter Szijjártó emphasizing his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what comes out of the planned meeting with Kuleba’s successor.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established in 1988 and is awarded annually by the European Parliament. It is primarily given to individuals or organizations who have made outstanding efforts in the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The prize is named after Soviet physicist, dissident, and political exile Andrei Sakharov. Thirty-four years ago the first recipient was Nelson Mandela.

The Entente Florale Europe competition, the awards ceremony of which was held on 7 September in Székesfehérvár, has been organized since 1975 with the aim of promoting European towns and cities while advocating for principles of liveability and sustainability. Hungary was the first Central European country to join the competition in 1990 and has consistently achieved excellent results since.

As part of the Researchers’ Night, visitors are invited on 27 September 2024 to discover the evolution of programmable pocket calculators and the development of handheld computers and smartphones at the John von Neumann Computer Society’s 1200-square-metre IT museum in the Szent-Györgyi Albert Agora in Szeged. Renowned private collectors, including experts from the Arithmomuseum, will deliver presentations during the event.

Solar boat races combine technological innovation, as developing solar-powered boats presents unique engineering challenges, with athletic prowess, and the solar boat team of Budapest University of Technology and Economics excels in both fields. Despite technical difficulties on home turf, the team remains optimistic about their upcoming competition in Italy.

Earlier this week several hundred members of Hezbollah were reportedly severely injured in a mysterious series of explosions in Lebanon when bombs hidden inside pagers detonated. The manufacturing of the devices was initially linked to a Hungarian company. It has since been revealed that the company is only Hungarian on paper, and it does not have a manufacturing plant in the country. In fact, the pagers have never been within Hungary’s borders.

Press reports indicated that the pagers were manufactured by a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. CEO of Gold Apollo Hsu Ching-kuang held a press conference on the matter, where he announced that the AR-924 pagers ordered by Hezbollah were manufactured under licence by a Budapest-based company called BAC Consulting Ltd. Gold Apollo has not presented the specific agreement made with BAC Consulting.

As a result of the heat island effect, temperatures in cities can be several degrees higher than in the surrounding green areas. The Hungarian Paulinyi & Partners design office, with the support of the European Space Agency, is developing solutions to combat urban heat islands using satellite data to create more liveable, cooler urban areas.

Debrecen University Rector Zoltán Szilvássy shared that researchers at the university are developing a bacteriophage (a virus that kills bacteria) that will ‘eliminate’ all antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing hospital infections locally, thereby preventing such infections in all health institutions in Debrecen in the future.