With President Trump’s executive order last week, the United States officially has a Department of War again, for the first time since 1947. On that occasion, let’s take a look at the most famous men to serve in the office of Secretary of War before the incumbent Pete Hegseth.

‘Discussions about returning to a gold-based currency system have become even more pertinent as the BRICS nations are admittedly trying to end their reliance on the US dollar as the global reserve currency.’

‘In [Ige-mige], readers are confronted with cultural and religious tensions, party strife, infrastructure that can hardly be called rudimentary at all, and the fatal combination of Mediterranean laxity, which then leads to the capricious despotism of bus drivers and endless queues.’

‘Given the sexual curiosity of people today, especially among the youth, there is a pressing need for the Church’s shepherds to speak with clarity on such matters. Regrettably, what we often witness is the ostrich effect at the very best—or rather, the application of the legal maxim: “Qui tacet consentire,” that is: “In their silence, they give consent.”’

‘Archbishop Béla Witz visited me and asked me to bring the Holy Right Hand back to Hungary when we travelled to Salzburg. At first, fulfilling this request seemed impossible. But since I am well aware of what St Stephen’s Day means to Hungary, and how closely the presence of the holy relic is tied to its intimacy, I decided to help.’

Krisztián ‘Krúbi’ Horváth has told his audience: ‘After we hang him, I’ll give a healing kiss to his belly’ at his concert in Budapest, Hungary, referring to PM Orbán. Previously, another Hungarian hip hop artist staged a mock assassination at one of his concerts, while opposition candidate Péter Magyar had sung about imprisoning Fidesz politicians instead of answering a reporter’s questions.

Hungary were up two goals in the first 15 minutes away from home in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland. However, after a red card for goal scorer Roland Sallai, Ireland managed to equalize in the 93rd minute, making it 2–2 and eventually tying the eventful game.

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 continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who intervened just in time when the American public and the press were almost on the brink of war.

‘Later that same year, on 11 November, Perényi renewed his oath as Guardian of the Crown at Székesfehérvár, pledging loyalty to both the crown and the retainers stationed in the castle. After Ferdinand’s coronation, the crown was kept at Visegrád. However, in 1529, following the castle’s capture, it fell into the hands of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.’

‘80 years after its publication, the message of the novella seems to have lost none of its relevance. Among the challenges of modern governance around the world, numerous phenomena remind us of the dynamics described by Orwell…The rule of law, autonomous institutions, and transparency are not merely theoretical concepts, but safeguards against autocracy.’

‘Cottee defended cover stories and evasions as part of his work. “Maybe there isn’t a real story at all,” he mused. Hugo Martin wondered aloud if Cottee had found more questions than answers. He admitted that he had, but insisted that the point was to map motives and evasions rather than to hammer out a grand theory.’

Brain Bar 2025 returns to Budapest on 18–19 September, promising two days of world-class speakers and bold debates at the House of Music Hungary. From Ben Lamm’s plans to resurrect the dire wolf to Geoffrey West’s theories on universal growth laws and Tibor Kapu’s insights into space, the festival will explore the future of science, society, and humanity.

The stock price of the American clothing and accessories retailer American Eagle jumped a remarkable 37.96 per cent after CEO Jay L Schottenstein announced that the sales generated from its ad campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney have ‘exceeded expectations’. At the time of its release, marketing experts denounced it for its lack of diversity.

‘The Kuomintang (KMT)—sole ruling party of the country during its rule from 1927 to 1949—and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had been engaged in armed conflict since 1927. The warring parties had to halt the hostilities and temporarily unite with each other against Japan’s invasion of China in the Second Sino–Japanese War (1937–1945).’

Hungarian Post has issued a commemorative stamp honouring the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Programme, unveiled on Wednesday in Budapest. Featuring the Csodaszarvas constellation and the motto ‘Hungarian to Orbit 2025’, the stamp celebrates Hungary’s role in space research. Officials highlighted its symbolic power in inspiring future generations and uniting the nation through science.

American education entrepreneur Jeremy Wayne Tate has recently taken to the social media platform X, and called for Hungary’s income tax exemption for mothers to be implemented in his home country of the United States as well.

For the first time in history, a Hungarian has signed with a Major League Baseball team: 16-year-old catcher Márkó Moura will join the San Diego Padres. Hailed as a rising talent with a powerful arm and sharp game sense, Moura continues a family legacy that began when his grandfather introduced baseball to Hungary in the 1990s.

‘Pope Pius X, for us Catholics, is perhaps best remembered for his battle against modernism within the Church when he promulgated his Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907). He is also considered the “Pope of the Eucharist”…Yet, less well known is his crusade for peace and his remarkable political insight, through which he foresaw the outbreak of World War I…years before it erupted.’

‘Historians believe that the find indicates the important role of the region in Central European trade in the Middle Ages, and that the treasure could have been the savings of a merchant who buried it during a time of crisis.’

Foreign tourism at Lake Balaton rose 17 per cent after Hungary’s state holiday, boosted by the return of MotoGP. The race weekend brought fans from across Europe, driving record guest nights and hotel revenues alongside the Zamárdi Strand Festival.

Hungarian National Team captain Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning free-kick goal from 32 yards out for Liverpool in a crucial league game against Arsenal in the English Premier League over the weekend. That goal ultimately decided the game for defending champions Liverpool, who won 1–0.

Budapest renewed its roads, bridges, tram lines, and public transport fleet over the summer. Mayor Gergely Karácsony said the works had been scheduled during the school break to minimize disruption and ensure smoother operations by autumn.

‘No Western country has found a lasting way out of demographic winter. France, once considered the European model for its family-friendly cultural and social policies, has nonetheless seen a decline from 2.0 children per woman in 2010 to around 1.7 in 2023. Sweden and the Nordic countries, long heralded as champions of work–life balance and gender equality, are following the same path…’

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 section, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, whose creative press campaign helped Grover Cleveland become President of the United States.

In Budapest, Hungarian space pioneers Charles Simonyi, Bertalan Farkas, Tibor Kapu, and Gyula Cserényi reflected on the challenges of space travel and the future of research, highlighting Hungary’s past and present contributions to global space exploration.

‘Climate change does not affect all groups in society equally…women and other marginalized communities often suffer disproportionately from its impacts. This statement applies particularly to countries of the Global South, where some communities are increasingly exposed to climate impacts, which threaten their livelihoods, health, and safety, and further deepens existing gender inequalities.’

‘Hungarian folklore has particularly preserved the memory of Mihály Dobozi, a minor nobleman of Fejér County. Fleeing with his wife, Ilona, his horse faltered beneath the double burden. His wife implored him to kill her rather than allow her to fall into Ottoman hands. Dobozi, with a heavy heart, fulfilled her plea and then fought to the death himself.’

‘When people raise the flag, they are not only showing love for their country—they are also raising a flag about concerns that political elites have long ignored. From the failures of multiculturalism and the impact of uncontrolled immigration to the double standards in policing, ordinary citizens in England are using this symbol to say: enough is enough,’ Professor Frank Furedi has opined.

Budapest Central European Fashion Week returns 1–7 September with more than 50 events, from runway shows and sustainability workshops to culinary programmes, art collaborations, and international conferences on fashion’s future.

‘By connecting historical roots, pre-Christian customs and modern cultural practices, the Perbenyik St Stephen Days serve as a living bridge between Hungary’s past and present. Although Upper Hungary is now part of Slovakia, the festival reflects enduring national identity and the cultural unity of Hungarians across borders.’