The extraordinary Hungarian author Mór Jókai, also known as the ‘great storyteller of Hungary’, was born exactly 200 years ago today. Already as a boy he was blessed with a fertile imagination and was deeply intrigued by the arts.

For Presidents Day 2025, here is our website’s subjective ranking of the top 10 best and bottom 10 worst Presidents to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.

Visitors to the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography can immerse themselves in the rich traditions, superstitions, and customs of the carnival season this Saturday. The event will showcase Hungary’s unique folk heritage, including Busó traditions, mask carving, folk music, and interactive exhibitions.

‘Politically, however, it is not impossible for a state to decide that it would be better, both for children and for the country, to give schools freedom to develop educational approaches that follow liberal education principles, whether within the state system or outside it, especially if evidence can be gathered to show the beneficial effects it is having.’

‘Americans need a new vision. They need to see what the pro-life movement has been offering all along, but with new emphasis. As Vance demonstrates, the playbook for really moving past Roe is reintroducing young people to the beauty—and feasibility—of getting married, raising children, and deriving comfort and pride from family life.’

In recent decades, Europe has faced many challenges, one of which is the demographic crisis. The ageing and declining population, labour shortages and emigration pose a major challenge for almost all European countries. The importance of demographic trends cannot be overestimated, as they will have a major impact on Europe’s future position.

‘Although Miklós Murányi (Menachem Meron) was an important figure in the post-Holocaust recovery and one of the leading Zionist rabbis of the transitional years, his life story remains relatively unknown. The following presents Murányi’s activities during the transitional years (1945–1950), with particular focus on his writings published in the bulletin edited by the Újpest Jewish community.’

Winter is a perfect time for discovering Hungary’s hidden beauties. Although we are nearing the end of winter, there is still some time to visit some of the country’s gems on cooler days. Do not let the cold hold you back—wrap up warm and set off to explore Hungary’s fascinating winter destinations!

The 15th Coffee Bar Bazaar promises an unforgettable experience for coffee enthusiasts this weekend at the Millenáris B Hall. With a record number of exhibitors, unlimited tastings, workshops, coffee championships, and unique flavour pairings, the festival is set to be a must-visit event for lovers of specialty coffee and craft beverages.

Nobel laureate Krausz Ferenc has been awarded the prestigious Semmelweis Budapest Award for his contributions to scientific research. Recognized for his pioneering work in infrared molecular fingerprinting, Krausz emphasized the importance of personalized and preventive medicine, highlighting the need for further research to bring this technology into practical application.

Before the resolution got passed by the City Council in Worcester, Massachusetts, a trans activist speaking in favour seemed to make a threat, saying: ‘If you say that you’re afraid of Trump and that’s why you don’t want the city to be a safe space for trans people, you’d better prepare for trans people to make this a very unsafe space.’

With support from Hungary’s National Film Institute (NFI), a series of new documentaries will explore topics ranging from Hungarian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics to the influence of social media, the life of a renowned puppeteer, and a pilgrimage through Europe’s ancient cities.

Only 39 per cent of Americans have a favourable view of President Joe Biden, while 57 per cent have an unfavourable view of him, according to a new poll by Gallup. His net favourability rating of negative 28 points is by far the worst among the five living Presidents, a whopping 26 points below the second least popular of them, Donald Trump.

The University of Debrecen is launching an innovative, elective course titled Modern Artificial Intelligence, designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to AI concepts, principles, and real-world applications. Open to students, faculty, and staff, the 13-week programme is accessible to participants without prior technical knowledge.

Budapest’s Puskin Cinema will screen a selection of iconic films by Milos Forman, the legendary Czech New Wave director and two-time Academy Award winner. Throughout February and March, audiences can enjoy seven of his most renowned works, showcasing his artistic evolution.

Budapest is set to introduce a metrobus system aimed at providing fast, frequent, and transfer-free connections between the outer districts and the city’s metro lines. Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced the project on Monday, highlighting its potential to make public transport a more attractive alternative to cars.

Hungarian researchers at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics have discovered a new state of matter in which liquid droplets behave like actively moving particles under an electric field. Their findings, recently published in Nature Communications, could revolutionize precision technologies.

‘Jews, he noted, had been at the forefront of radicalism, yet after four years of senseless bloodshed, they were now viewed as exploiters and capitalists. Assimilation, he argued, was not a viable path, particularly in national minority regions…Therefore, Dohány advocated for radicalism while seeking to establish Jewish cultural life within it.’

‘I picked a character—for example, Klára Andrássy or my late father-in-law, Róbert Ligeti—and just wrote out their story. Then, I had the key dates. Then, I wrote out the next one. And then I did it date by date: what was happening in spring 1941? What happened in 1942? Therefore, some chapters cover a shorter time—in 1942 and 1943—and the main story is about diplomacy in trying to change sides. But in 1944, after the Germans invaded, there were many, many stories going on and many characters,’ Adam LeBor told Hungarian Conservative.

The large-scale restoration of Budapest’s Buda Castle District has reached another key milestone, with several historic buildings reconstructed to their original splendour. The government-led Hauszmann Programme continues to revitalize the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.

Philadelphia Eagles defeated Kansas City Chiefs in an unexpectedly one-sided game on Sunday in New Orleans at Super Bowl LIX. From Donald Trump’s historic attendance at the biggest American sporting event of the year to Kendrick Lamar’s controversial halftime show, we have compiled the most memorable moments of the night.

The Budapest-based Committee of National Remembrance (NEB) and the Krakow-based Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) held a joint event in Budapest, Hungary on 7 February to commemorate and recant the brutal atrocities committed by the Red Soviet Army during World War II in the two Eastern European countries.

‘The Criminal Code now stipulates that sexual crimes against people under 18 shall never lapse. To make the legal consequences of these heinous crimes even more severe, people convicted of imprisonment for such crimes shall not be released on probation. Perpetrators of these crimes will not be able to obtain parole, reintegration custody, or a certificate of good conduct.’

‘The Ministry of Security, like other Eastern European services, kept a tab on almost every workspace and its “characters of interest” through the pervasive use of civilian informants. “Anti-state activity” was not necessarily stifled with apparent repression; the “black car” did not necessarily come for “wrongdoers”, but they were relentlessly bullied into submission by making the everyday life of them and their families unbearable.’

‘One of the lasting memories of Trajan’s campaign in Dacia is the bridge he built across the Danube to facilitate the march of his armies. The first permanent stone bridge on the Danube was built between Turnu Severin in Romania and Kladovo in Serbia, which was 1127 metres long and designed by the greatest architect of the time, Apollodorus of Damascus origin.’

Hungarian public media is actively participating in this year’s Marriage Week, aiming to reach audiences of all ages. Under the slogan ‘Talk for Your Marriage!’, television and radio channels will feature discussions, expert insights, and personal stories to emphasize the value of commitment and communication in relationships.

Budapest Zoo’s Biodome is set to transport visitors back to the Mesozoic era with a new interactive dinosaur exhibition. Running from mid-February to the end of March, the event will feature life-size animatronic models, VR adventures, film screenings, and expert lectures.

Hungary reaffirmed its commitment to responsible space policy at a space industry event in Budapest, co-organized by the Ministry for National Economy and the European Space Agency. The event focused on space debris and sustainability, bringing together experts, researchers, and industry leaders.

‘Efficient cooperation in taking down international crime is essential to the cohesion of EU Member States. This incident illustrates how the free movement of capital, goods, labour and services can be abused for nefarious purposes—and the results expected of all national police forces in countering the criminals…’

Hungary and Western Balkan countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, research, and culture, with plans for joint degree programmes, a shared innovation fund, and collaborative cultural projects. The initiatives were announced at the first Hungary–Western Balkans summit in Budapest.