‘For István Käfer, one of the elements that has historically united both Slovakia and Hungary is, surprisingly, the language. Bálint Balassi, for instance, a crucial figure in Hungarian renaissance poetry, wrote his works in Hungarian, but he knew Slovak very well, which greatly influenced his thinking and language use. Cardinal Péter Pázmány also had a significant influence on the development of the Slovak language, by not only allowing, but encouraging its use in Catholic prayers.’
On 20 November 2024 Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, was officially welcomed at the Lion Courtyard of the Royal Buda Castle Castle by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This event marked the start of Tokayev’s three-day official visit to Hungary. The Kazakh leader was accompanied by government ministers and representatives of Kazakh businesses, highlighting the significance of bilateral relations between the two nations.
The Danube Institute organized a prominent conference addressing the geopolitical tensions and opportunities for collaboration in the increasingly significant Indo-Pacific region. During the event experts from nations with interests in the region examined its future prospects through two panel discussions.
‘For Hungary, Clement’s tenure offered little tangible support during one of its darkest eras, while his broader legacy includes the catastrophic Sack of Rome, the expansion of Protestantism, and the Anglican schism. Today, he is remembered not as a leader who rose to the challenges of his time, but as a figure whose reign epitomized the turbulence and contradictions of the Renaissance papacy.’
In response to the growing number of reports of party political and ideological bias in Hungarian universities, the Foundation for Transparent Journalism has launched the ‘Transparent Education’ initiative. The project includes the development of guidelines, workshops, and a hotline for students to report such cases.
The 26th Hungarian Real Estate Development Award celebrated the finest developments of 2024, with the Liget Budapest Project winning its top prize. Recognizing projects across 12 categories, the competition highlighted innovation, sustainability, and cultural heritage.
The Art Weekend Budapest (AWB) returns this weekend with 36 free contemporary art programmes across 32 venues. Centred around the theme of movement and gesture, the expanded festival includes exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, and new locations, serving art enthusiasts across Budapest, in Eger, and beyond.
The second Budapest Ballet Grand Prix concluded with a dazzling gala at Müpa, celebrating winners from 31 countries. The event showcased Hungary’s rich dance heritage while fostering international talent and artistic collaboration.
At the World Science Forum in Budapest former President of the Republic János Áder highlighted a groundbreaking Hungarian methodology designed to replace GDP as the primary measure of economic performance. The new approach accounts for the environmental and social costs of economic activity, thus offers a transformative vision for evaluating progress.
A newly published book unveils the rich history of Budapest’s iconic Várkert Bazaar. Chronicling its construction, transformation, and restoration, the book celebrates a landmark that has become a vibrant cultural and diplomatic centre. While you may not be able to read the book as for now it is only available in Hungarian, remember: if you happen to be in Budapest during the winter holidays, the Várkert Bazar is a must see!
The National Media and Infocommunications Authority’s Internet Hotline has made combating online abuse a priority with its autumn campaign, focusing on intimate image exploitation, grooming, and cyberbullying. This year’s campaign, supported by influencers like Pamkutya and the Mélylevegő Project, effectively reached younger audiences via social media and video-sharing platforms.
‘I arrived in Hungary in September 2011…In the meantime, I visited Eger, Lake Balaton, Szekszárd, and Tokaj. It was then that I visited the Disznókő (Pigstone) vineyard in the Tokaj wine region for the first time, not suspecting of course that I would one day work with them. Anyway, I liked the wines and the Tokaj cellars…Today, one of my favourite styles of wine is Tokaji Aszú.’
Katalin Moldovai’s first feature film, Without Air, garnered both the Youth Jury Award and the prestigious Golden Debut prize at the 3Kino Festival in Prague, a showcase for the latest films from the Visegrád countries.
The World Science Forum (WSF) 2024 begins today in Budapest, focusing on the intersection of science and policy amidst global transformations. Hosting nearly 500 scientists and policymakers from over 100 countries, the event features discussions, awards, and exhibitions.
A new exhibition, Rubik 80/50 — Fifty Years of Magic, has opened in New York’s TriBeCa district. Celebrating 50 years of the Rubik’s Cube and its inventor Ernő Rubik’s 80th birthday, the exhibit offers a dynamic journey through the legacy of a global icon.
In recognition of her accomplishments in organizing the feminist Congress in Budapest, Schwimmer was asked to join the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in its London office as a press secretary. Soon after her arrival to the United Kingdom World War I broke out, where Hungary and the UK found themselves in opposing trenches. Shaken by the news of war, Schwimmer committed herself to bringing together feminist and pacifist leaders to stop the bloodshed.
The BudapestGO app is set to become more user-friendly with new features, including streamlined access to schedules, a dark mode option, and improved in-app communication. The improvements to BudapestGO are part of the ongoing efforts of the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) to assess user satisfaction and implement updates that reflect customer needs.
No-till farming is more than an erosion control method—it’s a gateway to improved soil health, enhanced water retention, and healthier food production. Former Hungarian President and Chairman of the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation János Áder and agricultural expert Ferenc Berend discussed this transformative technique on the Blue Planet podcast.
An outdoor photo exhibition titled Photo Trail has opened at Budapest’s City Park Promenade, showcasing Hungary’s rich wildlife. Targeting children, the exhibit features 81 stunning images selected from the Hungary 365 photography competition entries.
The Budapest Ballet Grand Prix, an international ballet competition organized by the Hungarian Dance Academy, kicks off today. Hosted at the National Dance Theatre and Müpa Budapest, the event brings together young talents from across the globe for a week of artistic excellence.
‘Hungarian Jews were generally known for their assimilated and law-abiding nature. By and large, they saw themselves as loyal Hungarian citizens and followed the law of the land to the letter. This was part of a well-rehearsed strategy on the part of their leaders. Between the emancipation of Hungarian Jewry and its nearly complete annihilation, Hungarian Jewish leaders experienced various levels of antisemitism. For most of their history, they could and did turn to the state authorities to ease their suffering. This strategy, useful during the previous decades, turned self-destructive in 1944–45.’
‘The importance of the Orthodox rite of St Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the 2,300-metre Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, also known as Horeb) in the Sinai Peninsula grew only after the loss of Jerusalem in 1187 and the fall of the Latin states in the Holy Land in 1291…It is the oldest monastery in the world to have survived in this way, where, among other things, the oldest 4th-century Greek-language manuscript of the Bible, the Codex Siniaticus, has also been preserved.’
Policies such as pro-family tax cuts, housing programmes, child benefits etc., all resulting in a kind of family income system that aims to reduce the harm inflicted on families by a Ricardian conception of the economy (which, obviously, cannot be completely overthrown, since we cannot go back to the lifestyle of preindustrial societies), should become a vital part of conservative policies, and should be seen as such in the modern conservative movement, as Allan Carlson pointed out in his Third ways.
Hungary’s National Tree-Planting Day, scheduled for 1 March 2025, aims to see over 100,000 trees planted nationwide. The 10 Million Trees NGO, launched in 2019, is calling on citizens, organizations, and institutions to unite in this significant reforestation effort.
What drives creativity? A thought-provoking roundtable brought together experts from diverse fields to explore the meaning of creation, the challenges of collaboration, and the personal and collective forces that shape innovative work.
A riveting roundtable discussion brought together champions of sports, science, and mentorship to explore the multifaceted nature of perseverance. From athletic triumphs to breakthroughs in behavioural research and youth development, the panellists shared lessons on resilience and success.
This year’s Highlights of Hungary Awards celebrated three outstanding Hungarian achievements: the preservation efforts of Levente and Tímea Gáll, the compassionate work of the Hungarian Hospice Foundation, and the artisanal excellence of Szabi the Baker. The winners each received 2 million forints and national acclaim for their dedication to community, tradition, and humanity.
The Netflix series Mary, set to be released on 6 December, has come under fire following antisemitic attacks on social media after the unveiling of its first trailer this week. Users have expressed outrage because Mary, who was Jewish, is portrayed by an Israeli actress, and several cast members are Israeli.
On 20–23 November Budapest will once again host the World Science Forum (WSF), organized by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This year’s theme centres on the connection between science and policy during global transformations, gathering leaders from around the world.
‘On our part, we doubt that “history of ideas” as a methodologically coherent discipline existed in Hungary between the two world wars…Nevertheless, their work is undoubtedly a prime example of an attempt at the creation of a conservative-oriented social science. The history of ideas is, in fact, a philosophy of history that takes into account factors that transcend matter, and through a specific research methodology is able to grasp and evaluate the processes that take place “behind” the surface of purely material social phenomena.’