The atrium of the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, Belgium, the old headquarters of the Council, is hosting an exhibition of great Hungarian inventions in honour of the Hungarian presidency. The items on display include Ányos Jedlik’s dynamo, Dávid Schwarz’s airship, and, of course, Ernő Rubik’s Rubik’s Cube.

Hungary’s largest-ever village tree planting initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, has reached a new milestone as 6,000 trees are to be planted this autumn across 317 communities. With 56,000 trees planted since 2020, the project aims to boost Hungary’s green areas and support climate resilience.

From 29 November to 1 December, Art Weekend Budapest will bring art lovers on guided tours through more than thirty venues across the city, with a central theme exploring movement and motion. Free 15-20 minute exhibitions and talks await visitors along multiple daily routes, all marking the opening of Advent with creativity.

Protestants played an irreplaceable role in the formation of Hungarian literary language, as well as in the renewal of the language. It is no coincidence that Ferenc Kölcsey, who wrote the Hungarian National Anthem in 1823, was a student at the Reformed College in Debrecen for many years, just as it is no accident that it was in the same Debrecen, known as the Calvinist Rome, that the Hungarian National Assembly—headed by Lajos Kossuth, who hailed from a Lutheran small noble family—proclaimed the dethronement of the House of Habsburg on 14 April 1849.

On the eve of Reformation Day we are publishing the last instalment of our eight-part series on how the garments worn by Calvinist pastors evolved over the past five hundred years. Part VIII looks at the types of garments worn by Protestant ministers between the interwar period and the present day.

A recent study by Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) reveals that nearly half of teenage girls feel less attractive due to the idealised images they see on social media. The study, examining the social media habits of 13-16-year-olds, points to the need for fostering media awareness to help young people navigate online influences.

As part of a year-long Hungarian-Turkish cultural season, large-scale murals featuring Hungarian heritage and inventions were unveiled in Türkiye, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation announced. The artworks, located in Istanbul and Kocaeli Province, depict both the mythical Csodaszarvas and famed Hungarian inventions, symbolizing the countries’ shared cultural ties and history of innovation.

While President George W Bush enjoyed a record-high 90 per cent approval rating in the wake of the tragic 9/11 attack in 2001, his support dropped to just 25 per cent by October 2008. This was due to the eventual unpopularity of the Iraq war, but mostly, due to the 2008 financial crisis. Illinois Senator Barack Obama narrowly defeated former First Lady Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, then handily won the 2008 election to become the first black President in US history.

‘Throughout the seminar, one of the central themes that dominated the discussions, panels, and the overall atmosphere was the dichotomy between optimism and pessimism in how we confront reality. As conservatives, we often lean toward pessimism, but this isn’t entirely accurate, as deep within, we possess a profound desire for hope.’

In September, Hungary’s tourism sector saw continued growth, with nearly 1.5 million guests spending 3.6 million nights across the country, a rise from the previous year. Driven by a 5.8 per cent increase in international visitors, tourism revenue surged by 20 per cent, bolstering both Budapest and rural regions, according to official data.

On 1 November the National Heritage Institute will host All Saints’ Day events at the Fiumei Road Cemetery, with choral concerts, a special Mass, and extended hours. Visitors can place candles on the graves of notable Hungarian figures, with maps and candles available at the Info Point.

‘The most important distinguishing feature of the Hungarian national ethos and Hungarian nationalism, according to Joó, is that the Hungarian nation’s leitmotif of Steppe origin survived the foundation of the Christian state, and even survived the Middle Ages, synthesizing it with Christianity. In Western Europe, however, a very different kind of nation-building took place. Charlemagne’s brief attempt at empire-building, i.e. his efforts to renew the Roman Empire on a Christian–Germanic basis, essentially quickly failed.’

Budapest Airport, managed by VINCI Airports, has introduced nine new routes in its winter schedule starting 27 October, expanding travel options for Hungarian and international passengers with new destinations in Spain, France, and beyond. This increase, including new long-haul connections, underscores Budapest’s growing appeal as a winter destination.

Dr Jordan B Peterson has recently had a public discussion with evolutionary biologist Dr Richard Dawkins, one of the most prominent figures of the popular atheist movement of the early 2000s. The two philosophers touched on subjects such as Jesus Christ’s birth of a virgin mother and his resurrection, the philosophical foundation for the modern scientific enterprise, and many more intriguing questions.

In parallel with its energy initiatives, Veolia has focused on addressing the growing concern surrounding PFAS contamination in water systems in Hungary. On 17 October 2024, during its Deep Dive – New Solutions for Water conference in Oroszlány, Veolia announced ambitious revenue goals of €1 billion by 2030 aimed specifically at PFAS treatment technologies. The event showcased a comprehensive global strategy for combating these pollutants, which are increasingly recognized as a significant public health threat.

‘Armenia, according to the hagiographical account of the monk Agathangelos, is considered to be the first Christian nation when in the year 301 A.D. the Armenian King Trdat III was baptized by St. Gregory the Illuminator. Yet, if one is to accept legend as history in that Armenia was the first nation to officially accept Christianity, then Ethiopia, based on what is written on the 8th chapter in the Acts of the Apostles, has a better claim to that title.’

The UK government has confirmed that from June 2025 single-use vapes will be banned in England and Wales. The legislation aims to target environmental waste and counteract the products’ growing appeal among youth.

The construction of Hungary’s New National Gallery in Budapest is expected to start in 2025, with the goal of transforming the revitalized City Park into one of Europe’s most sophisticated cultural quarters. The new institution is planned to open within the decade, showcasing Hungary’s commitment to a forward-looking cultural renaissance.

‘Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy will undoubtedly be of paramount importance in the future, so teaching it, rather than letting children find harmful, addictive or otherwise destructive content themselves online is going to be the biggest challenge of protecting our youth.’

Newly elected Budapest District XII Mayor Gergely Kovács has vowed to remove the local Turul monument, which is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of World War II, due to its connection to fascism. However, Minister of Construction and Transportation János Lázár prevented him from doing so by placing the statue under historic monument protection.

Budapest continues to dominate the list this year, with only one school outside the capital—Lovassy László Gymnasium in Veszprém—breaking into the top ten at tenth place, consistent with previous years. Schools excelling in foreign language instruction, especially bilingual institutions, tend to hold an advantage in the rankings, though other criteria like exam performance remain key.

The world premiere of the ten-part Rise of the Raven (Hunyadi) TV series was held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France at MIPCOM, one of the most important annual events for the film, television and streaming industry. The sold-out screening was attended by the series’ creators as well as Hungarian and international stars and producers.

‘The post–1989 period has not been free from debates and conflicts on how Hungary could and should assert its national interest while integrating into the Western order. The Left has been anxious about not integrating into and aligning with the “developed” West fast enough, while Conservatives have feared the loss of tradition, identity, and national consciousness in the melting pot of accelerating globalization.’

Coincidentally, on the Hungarian national holiday of 23 October, the English club Liverpool featuring Dominik Szobszlai faced off against the German side RB Leipzig with Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán in their starting line-up in the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool won the game 1–0. This was the first time both sides in a UCL game featured Hungarian internationals since December 2006.

Tibor Kapu and Gyula Cserényi, the two selected participants of the Hungarian to Orbit (Hunor) astronaut programme, are undergoing training at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre for the upcoming Ax-4 mission. In a recent interview on Hungarian public radio they shared insights into their rigorous preparation.

While many news outlets had already called the crucial swing state of Florida for Vice President Al Gore on election night 2000, it was eventually Texas Governor George W Bush who got those 25 electoral votes. After two recounts, the second stopped partway through by the Supreme Court, the final tally had Bush up over Gore by just 537 (!) votes in the state, getting him the presidency.

The Museum’s autumn festival in Budapest, from 25 to 27 October, will feature family activities, guided tours, folk performances, and craft workshops, showcasing Hungarian folk traditions and cultural heritage.

As part of the New Economic Action Plan, the government has begun consultations on stricter Airbnb regulations in Budapest to address the city’s housing crisis, the Ministry for National Economy announced on Monday. The measures aim to curb rising rental prices and ensure affordable housing for residents.

By December, an additional 125,000 Hungarian students in grades 5 and 9 will receive laptops as part of a government programme aimed at enhancing digital education and reducing social inequalities, with a total budget of 32 billion forints, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Bence Rétvári announced in Budapest on Monday.

The Hungarian national team ranked among the top performers at the Sudoku and Logic Puzzle World Championships held in Beijing, China. Hungary will host the next championships in Eger in 2025.