Puskás Akadémia achieved an amazing 3–3 draw away to Fiorentina in the Conference League qualifying round on Thursday. The Hungarian side, relatively new to the European stage, is now in a promising position for next week’s return leg.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary upon the recommendation of Viktor Orbán. Under Vučić’s presidency, relations between the two countries have significantly advanced, as evidenced by the improved situation of Hungarians in Vojvodina, substantial infrastructural developments, and close cooperation in the areas of migration and energy.

In 2015 Dániel Balogh followed his dream and moved to Iceland to work. The Hungarian restaurateur, who began his journey in the Northern country as a chef, has now opened his own food truck. Together with his Icelandic partner, he sells lángos in a fairytale setting at the foot of the Sólheimajökull glacier.

Recent statements by Hungarian government officials suggest that the threat to Hungary’s energy supply is being addressed. In July, Kyiv decided to cut off supplies from Russia’s Lukoil to Hungary. Since then, intensive negotiations have commenced, and Hungarian oil giant MOL now appears to be in a position to guarantee the security of Hungary’s oil supply.

Alongside students from 14 other countries, a Hungarian student is participating in a scientific expedition to the Arctic, sponsored by Russia’s Rosatom. The expedition aims to equip participants with a broad range of knowledge about the northernmost region of our planet. On 17 August Levente Varga raised the Hungarian national flag at the North Pole, which he described as the experience of a lifetime.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér has addressed the European Commission’s concerns regarding the extension of the Hungarian National Cards programme to Russia and Belarus. In a letter sent to Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Pintér emphasized that Belarusian and Russian guest workers arriving in Hungary would undergo thorough screening to ensure compliance with EU regulations and would not pose a threat to the national security of Schengen member states.

The Hungarian economy could grow by 2 per cent this year, a downward revision from the 4 per cent forecast at the end of last year. This adjustment is attributed to the population’s caution in spending, which is only gradually diminishing after last year’s high inflation. Nevertheless, consumption growth is driving the Hungarian economy this year, even though the savings rate remains at a historically high 15 per cent. Márton Nagy noted that while investment and exports are exerting a negative impact on growth, sectors such as retail sales, tourism, and services are contributing positively.

‘We have to create a cultural environment where wokeness is marginalized as the lunacy that it is,’ Russian-British satirist Konstantin Kisin stated in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.

‘If we try to rewrite history, we’re going to get a wrong idea of why things went wrong and why things happened the way they happened,’ former Bild editor-in-chief Kai Diekmann remarked in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. In the discussion, Diekmann delved into the dangers of cancel culture, the state of media freedom in the Western world, and the importance of Viktor Orbán’s peace mission.

The iconic McDonald’s at Budapest’s Nyugati Railway Station has reopened after over six months of renovation work that cost 1.8 billion HUF. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful McDonald’s outlets in the world, the renovation was carefully designed to preserve its unique and historic features.

Hungary’s first Hilton hotel outside Budapest has opened in Debrecen. According to the city’s mayor, László Papp, the new hotel was created in appreciation of the touristic appeal of the city. In fact, tourism figures for the first half of 2024 have already surpassed those of last year’s record-breaking year, giving cause for optimism. Interestingly, Hilton Budapest, which opened in 1977, was the first Hilton on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain.

Donald Trump’s campaign team has accused EU Commissioner Thierry Breton of election meddling after he sent a letter to Elon Musk, stating that Musk had a duty to censor potentially ‘harmful content’ on X ahead of Musk’s interview with the former US president. To make matters more embarrassing, it has emerged that Breton did not even inform Ursula von der Leyen of his actions.

The project, known as the ‘Icebreaker of Knowledge,’ aims to promote science and nuclear energy technologies, identify and support talented young individuals, develop their skills, and provide career guidance. The participants of the expedition, coming from 14 different countries, will engage in a variety of activities, including scientific lectures, experiments, and master classes. They will also learn about the unique flora and fauna of the Arctic and the infrastructural developments along the Northern Sea Route.

As expected, the ‘chat’ between former US President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Elon Musk has gone viral. The interview, broadcast live on X on Monday evening, US time, has garnered over 168 million views by the time of writing. The discussion spanned a wide range of topics, including inflation, the border crisis, and the Democrats’ foreign policy. Trump, of course, did not hold back in his criticism of his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

The ninth Kurultaj traditional tribal assembly took place in Bugacpuszta amidst great interest over the weekend. ‘These traditions are not merely entertainment; they form the basis of our identity. They provide an opportunity for both present and future generations to learn about and respect the lifestyle, culture, and values of our ancestors,’ State Secretary for Bilateral Relations Boglárka Illés emphasized in her opening speech at the event.

Hungary has increased its contribution to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) programmes fivefold over the past six years and will contribute €32 million to European space research next year. Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner Responsible for Space Research, emphasized the important role of youth in Hungarian space activities on the closing day of a rocket-building student camp on Sunday.

The cancellation of American singer Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna due to a terror threat has once again highlighted the serious consequences of Brussels’ flawed migration policy. Balázs Orbán, the political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, emphasized the need for a fundamental change in the Western attitude towards the future of our society and culture to protect our children.

The recently adopted amendment to the Bulgarian education law is very similar to the Child Protection Act introduced by the Hungarian government in 2021, which prohibits the dissemination of harmful LGBTQ and gender propaganda in educational institutions. The Hungarian child protection law is one of the reasons why Brussels is withholding EU funds from Hungary, and the European Commission is expected to take similar action against Bulgaria.

A recent opinion poll has revealed that the majority of Hungarians would not have allowed Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete in the Olympics. However, Hungarian society is divided on how to address the participation of intersex athletes in the competition.

Levente Magyar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, discussed Ukraine, China, and relations between Budapest and Washington at the White House on Thursday. Relations between the two allies have deteriorated significantly under Joe Biden’s presidency, both parties agreed to halt and improve this decline.

As the confrontation between the United States and China intensifies, the question of whether decoupling is achievable in practice could not be more timely. According to David Harvilicz, it is indeed possible, and he outlined a three-point plan of action in that regard at this year’s National Conservatism Conference in Washington.

The director of the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee claims that the ‘Zionist lobby’ is trying to break controversial boxer Imane Khelif’s spirit in what he calls an ‘attempt to stop an Arab or Muslim girl from rising in the ranks of female boxing’. Khelif made headlines after allegations emerged that she has XY chromosomes, a characteristic of biological males, while competing in the 66 kg women’s category at the Paris Olympics.

The European Commission will not convene a consultative forum on the dispute between Ukraine and EU members states Hungary and Slovakia over the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine. Brussels’ reasoning is that there is no immediate threat to the energy security of these two countries due to Kyiv’s decision to halt the supplies. These developments indicate that the European Commission has blatantly sided with a non-EU member against two member states, jeopardizing their energy security.

The international community has been watching events in the Middle East with bated breath for days, as Iran could attack Israel at any moment. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó reportedly informed his Israeli counterpart of Tehran’s intention to attack on Monday evening.

In the process of international expansion, many fundamentally successful businesses and start-ups falter. What is the reason and how can companies successfully break into foreign markets? These were the questions addressed in a vibrant panel discussion on the second day of this year’s MCC Feszt.

Hungarian military force development is currently taking place in several dimensions: rearmament, real estate and infrastructure development, and transformation of the HDF’s organizational culture. On the second day of this year’s MCC Feszt, Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky gave a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Hungarian armed forces, future plans, and why he considers Hungary a military nation.

‘At the moment, there seem to be many priorities, ranging from transgender issues to the fight against climate change. However, the focus on making the European Union a competitive, attractive place to do business and fostering the best or most innovation in the world is lacking,’ former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz pointed out in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.

The situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly tense, with escalatory developments taking place one after the other. This week, Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in a precision strike. In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered a direct attack on Israel.

Liberal POLITICO has once again attempted to discredit Hungary with fake news regarding a joint EU declaration on the Venezuelan elections. The Brussels-based outlet, citing anonymous sources, reported that Hungary vetoed the joint EU resolution. However, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry quickly rebutted the allegation.

The Hungarian economy grew by 1.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, remaining above the EU average. The countries of the eurozone are expected to continue weakening, especially the German economy, which is not a good sign for Hungary. Considering the data, there is a more urgent need than ever to boost the EU’s competitiveness, which is a key priority of the Hungarian EU Presidency.