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 Béla Estván, who emigrated to the United States in the 1850s. The man of Austrian descent pretended to be Hungarian in order to make it easier for himself to succeed in his new homeland.
‘The Olympic Committee highlights that this arrangement has been carefully coordinated with various sports federations and includes collaborations with local clubs throughout Europe. This cooperative effort not only exemplifies excellent diplomatic relations but also a shared commitment to sports and cultural exchange.’
‘At one point, Benedek remarked that “the communists…have committed many crimes and have a lot of blood on their hands,” just like the Catholic Church—but, he added, at least the Catholics are Christians.’
Ernő Fináczy (1860–1935) was a leading Hungarian educator, historian of pedagogy, and university professor whose work shaped generations of teachers. Rooted in moral philosophy and inspired by Herbart, he emphasized education’s ethical mission and authored landmark works on the history of education still valued today.
Hungarian clubs now know their European opponents: Ferencváros will face either FC Noah (Armenia) or FK Budućnost Podgorica (Montenegro) in Champions League qualifying. In the Europa League, Paks will take on CFR Cluj (Romania), while Puskás Akadémia meet Aris Limassol (Cyprus), and Győr await Tre Fiori (San Marino) or Pyunik (Armenia) in the Conference League.
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) will adopt a new performance-based funding model, securing long-term financial support to enhance its engineering, IT, and research capacities as part of a 25-year strategic agreement with the government.
‘Sándor Sík’s life and work exemplify the integration of Christian values with modern educational principles. As a Piarist, poet, and scout leader, he emphasized love, respect, and community in his pedagogy. His contributions to scouting and education fostered moral and community-oriented development in students, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire educators and scouts.’
Three Hungarian universities now rank among the top 2 per cent globally, and 12 in the top 5 per cent, according to the latest international rankings. Despite political tension with the EU, Hungary’s education reforms show measurable academic and research progress.
Visitors interested in military history and technology can explore a wide range of exhibits on 21 June during Hungary’s Night of Museums, from secret WWII encryption tools to modern fighter jets and interactive defence tech displays.
‘Karácsony’s influence extended beyond scouting; he was also a respected teacher and writer. His works often reflected his educational philosophy and his commitment to nurturing the youth. His legacy in Hungarian education and scouting remains significant, as he played a crucial role in shaping the lives of many young people through his innovative approaches and unwavering dedication.’
Political Director for the Prime Minister of Hungary Balázs Orbán and John Mearsheimer, political scientist and Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, got together for a fascinating panel discussion at the Budapest Global Dialogue 2025, where they talked about the possible outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the differences between realist and liberal foreign policy.
On this day, 53 years ago, on 17 June 1972, five former CIA operatives broke into the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. This is the historic scandal known as Watergate that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon two years later, who remains the only POTUS in history to resign from office.
‘Tihany somehow brings peace in every season: it is a joy to see Balaton, to walk around the area, to eat delicious food together, and of course, June gives the biggest joy when you can smell the scent of lavender everywhere. This peninsula is a gem that cannot be explored enough.’
On 15 June 2025, Budapest hosted the forum Positioning Vietnamese Values Abroad in the Digital and Artificial Intelligence Era at the Hungarian Parliament. The event explored how diasporas use AI to preserve national identity and marked a deepening of cultural ties, led by the Vietnamese Women’s Forum in Europe.
In the early 1950s, Hungary’s secret police targeted the Bécsi Kapu Square Lutheran congregation in one of its most extensive church surveillance operations. Despite amateur methods and critical errors, including mistaken identity, the investigation dragged on—highlighting both the paranoia and inefficiency of Rákosi-era state security.
Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of Estée Lauder Companies and son of founder and legendary business mogul Estée Lauder of Jewish Hungarian ancestry, passed away at 92 on Saturday, 14 June.
Former President Áder János announced the upcoming Planet Budapest 2026 expo while attending an environmental competition awards ceremony, where nearly 1,000 young participants presented sustainability solutions focused on climate and water issues.
The Hungarian historical drama Királytalálkozó (The Riddle Pact) won three awards at the Vegas Movie Awards, marking a major international debut for the film that revisits the legendary 1335 summit of Central European kings.
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 explore the Kossuth emigration that made such a deep impression on American society that the ‘Hungarian cult’ was still thriving in the United States even more than ten years after the Hungarian governor-president’s tour.
‘The idea first became a plan, then a highly acclaimed, successful advertising campaign…for which they needed to find a cow…The photographer accepted the assignment and travelled all over the Alps until he found the ideal model in the Simmental Valley. The animal was painted purple under strict veterinary supervision and then photographed. It has been Milka’s advertising cow ever since.’
Hungary’s animation industry was honoured at the Annecy International Animation Festival, gaining international attention, forging new partnerships, and highlighting over a century of creative excellence in film, education, and technology.
Fehérvár FC (formerly known as Videoton), once a Hungarian football giant, has been relegated for the first time in 25 years. After public drama between its owner and the Mayor, the city municipality bought the club for the nominal fee of 1 HUF. Now under municipal control, survival—not promotion—is the goal for next season.
Despite opposition leader Péter Magyar walking on foot from Budapest to Nagyvárad (Oradea) to court voters, Fidesz remains immensely popular with Transylvanian Hungarians holding dual citizenship. A new poll by a Koloszvár (Cluj)-based research firm found that 96 per cent of them would back Prime Minister Orbán’s party in an election.
Hungary saw a major tourism boom over the Pentecost weekend, with 45 per cent more visitors at Lake Balaton and a nationwide surge in hotel stays driven by warm weather and holiday travel. Tourism revenue rose 35 per cent, hitting a record 12.1 billion forints.
After Trump’s second-term crackdown on USAID—backed by Musk’s DOGE—the Fidesz faction in the Hungarian National Assembly announced a documentary in April exposing alleged ties to local liberal groups. Now, posts about it on X are blowing up, with tens of thousands of likes fuelling fresh attention to the scandal.
Budapest’s National Athletics Centre has won two public choice awards at the prestigious Architizer A+Awards, earning global recognition for its iconic design and sustainable transformation following the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Jack Quillin, posting under the X account LA Scanner, happily shared compromising information about the whereabouts of ICE agents during the Los Angeles riots. However, once internet users shared his personal information, he quickly started begging for forgiveness and deleted his account.
Hungary’s beloved Night of Museums returns on 21 June with over 2,700 programmes at 470 venues. This year’s event pays tribute to Mór Jókai, offering a vibrant mix of literature, arts, and family-friendly activities, from concerts to card games.
Uzbekistan’s new ‘Golden Visa’ programme offers 5-year residency to foreign investors for $150,000 per family member. Aimed at boosting investment and economic growth, the initiative strengthens legal guarantees, fosters international cooperation, and reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to openness and reform.
A new four-star hotel, the TRIBE Budapest Airport Hotel, has opened just steps from Terminal 2 of Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Developed by WING and operated with Accor, the stylish new facility offers 167 rooms, a rooftop bar, and direct airport access.