In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika will be looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, we will take a look at Sándor Bölöni Farkas’ life and travelogue, Journey to North America, which was the first to introduce the New World to the Hungarian public.
‘The losses and military failures suffered by the Tatars, most of which occurred in Hungary, are rarely mentioned among the reasons for their unexpected withdrawal from Central Europe…Since Hayton’s best-selling work in Europe attributed the stopping of the Mongols to the Austrian prince, the heroic resistance of the Hungarians was almost completely forgotten.’
This Sunday, Christians celebrate Pentecost, marking the Holy Spirit’s descent upon the disciples 50 days after Easter. As one of Christianity’s most important feasts, Pentecost signifies the birth of the Church and the spreading of the Gospel.
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony halted public transport for ten minutes to protest PM Orbán’s supposed draining of the city finances. He blames a state-imposed ‘solidarity contribution’, while the national Fidesz government blames the liberal city leadership’s poor fiscal management and claims the order to halt public transport was illegal.
They were close friends and allies only a week ago, now they are bitterly feuding with each other: US President Donald Trump and the world’s richest man Elon Musk cannot seem to agree if the new spending bill reduces or increases the deficit.
Researchers at the University of Szeged have uncovered a new layer of plant immunity: guard cells not only close pores to block pathogens but also produce defensins—antimicrobial proteins—triggered by jasmonic acid. The finding could lead to eco-friendly crop protection methods using plants’ own defences.
Hungarian influencer Stefi Déri has proposed a debate between Bryan Leib and former US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman. Pressman often criticized Hungary, drawing frequent rebuttals from Leib. While Leib has accepted the challenge, Pressman has yet to respond.
Hungary’s Chief Medical Officer has issued a second-level heat alert across the entire country from Thursday to Sunday night. With temperatures rising well above seasonal norms, health authorities urge citizens to take precautions to avoid heat-related risks.
On 4 June, Hungary marks the Day of National Unity, commemorating the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, which redefined the country’s borders and left millions of ethnic Hungarians outside the nation’s territory. The day honours shared identity beyond borders.
Glenn Fahey, Catherine L’Ecuyer, János Setényi, and Avrum Tomer have discussed the benefits and drawbacks of using new technology, primarily AI, in the public education system to teach our children on Day 2 of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium’s Budapest Budapest Summit on Technology and Society.
‘ART CORNER is an ongoing project by Hotel Clark and Leo Bistro that brings art into everyday life, in a relaxed and welcoming setting. The Last Romantics is a perfect example of this mission: an exhibition that honours the past, embraces the present, and offers classical beauty to every visitor.’
‘Hungary views Uzbekistan as an important partner in Central Asia, while Tashkent, in turn, sees Hungary as a potential “entry point” into the EU economic space. Key drivers of future growth could include the development of production and logistics chains in pharmaceuticals and agriculture, as well as the promotion of Uzbek textiles, agricultural goods, and other products in the Hungarian market.’
‘In June 2024 Hungarian eco-activists participated in the International Environmental Camp in Samarkand, organized by the Zamin Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Ecology, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, and other partners. This event strengthened the ties between the youth of both countries, laying the groundwork for a new generation of environmentally responsible leaders.’
‘As someone who is politically homeless, I have no interest in producing propaganda for any government or its leader. But I do believe Hungary’s policies—particularly its border fence and stringent asylum processes—offer a compelling case study in slowing mass immigration, especially from Islamic-majority countries.’
Major bookmakers are already taking bets for the winner of the 2028 US presidential election. According to the odds, Vice President JD Vance is the favourite right now, followed by, surprisingly, a third term by President Trump.
‘The story of Cardinal Kung is that of a faithful shepherd—a saintly figure who refused to renounce God and His Church, despite the consequences of a life sentence imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Three months before his arrest in 1955, then-Bishop Kung stood by his clergy and the faithful in China, rejecting numerous offers of safe passage out of the country.’
Preserving native species and biodiversity is essential in slowing the spread of invasive species and minimizing their damage, emphasized former President János Áder and ecologist László Garamszegi in the latest episode of the Blue Planet podcast.
The first Termez Dialogue brought together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from Central and South Asia to discuss regional connectivity, peace, and development. Held in the historic city of Termez, the forum emphasized shared heritage and the urgent need for cooperation on trade, infrastructure, and stability across the region.
‘It is important to understand the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s place in the intricate interplay of local and international as well as sacred and profane interests that often seems to govern every important decision in the Holy Land. Pious pronouncements…from Europe and elsewhere abroad almost invariably collapse under the weight of the sheer complexity of local realities…’
‘[Elvira Valentini] had always been interested in the flora of the Balkans…She thought that in Fiume, after teaching, she would explore the countryside and continue her scientific work. But that was not to be. A few months later, war broke out, and her family called Elvira home, asking her to stay there. The shot fired in Sarajevo thus marked not only the beginning of the First World War, but also the end of an ambitious Hungarian woman’s scientific career.’
In the most lopsided scoreline in the history of the finals of the primary European club competition, Paris Saint-Germain beat Internazionale 5–0 in Munich, Germany. Transylvanian Hungarian István Kovács refereed the historic game.
‘The Beginning of the World also responds to our emotional needs. It skillfully brings together personal experience, scientific arguments, and the fears and doubts we all have. It gives space to the human aspect. But it also offers us the chance to transcend, at the level of action, our everyday weaknesses, both individual and human.’
‘Overall, it is clear that Kraus was a religious Israeli Hungarian publicist who rightly earned the communist dictatorship’s ire. To hinder his activities, a covert procedure was launched, and his conversations and correspondence were monitored both directly and indirectly; in other words, he was treated as an enemy of the regime for decades.’
In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us look at the story of Mihály Fabriczy Kováts, whose name is even commemorated on a plaque in Charles Town, West Virginia.
CPAC Hungary 2025 continued on its Day 2 with speeches by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó of Hungary and by one of the most anticipated guests at the event, the leader of the German AfD party Alice Weidel.
Political director to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Balázs Orbán sat down with US political commentator Dave Rubin for a brief discussion during CPAC Hungary 2025. Their conversation focused on Hungary’s distinctive conservative approach to key issues such as border protection, the war in Ukraine, and also touched upon the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.
The fourth annual CPAC Hungary is currently taking place in Budapest, Hungary, the first under the Presidency of Donald Trump in the United States—’the Age of the Patriots’, as the organizers refer to it. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary delivered the keynote speech for the illustrious event.
Hungary’s media authority has awarded over 127 million forints to support new TV content, while issuing fines to TV2 for misclassifying the Rise of the Raven series and to Hír TV for volume regulation violations. Further investigations into TV2 are underway.
Budapest’s House of Music received a special prize at the European Museum of the Year Award in Poland, praised for its visitor-focused innovation, interactive exhibits, and community-building role in promoting music culture for all generations.
Budapest Zoo kicks off its Evening Walks series this Thursday, offering visitors exclusive behind-the-scenes access to animal care areas, including the vet clinic, Shark School, and exotic bird nursery—led by expert keepers after regular hours.