Israel has recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, a 56-year-old hostage of Hungarian origin, from Gaza. Weiss was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack. His wife and daughter, once hostages themselves, were freed last November and later visited Hungary.
Hungarian authorities are launching a new nationwide drug prevention programme targeting schools, warning that traffickers have begun infiltrating educational institutions. The initiative, backed by police and civil groups, starts in September.
‘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.
Irish rap group Kneecap announced the cancellation of its sold-out US tour as member Liam Ó hAnnaidh faces terrorism charges in London. The decision comes weeks after Hungary banned the band from performing at Budapest’s Sziget Festival.
A new flashpoint in Polish–Ukrainian ties emerged after President Karol Nawrocki proposed outlawing Bandera symbols, branding them equal to Nazi insignia. While Warsaw frames the bill as historical justice, Kyiv condemned it as a hostile act, warning of consequences for bilateral relations.
Hungary’s media and telecoms authority is prioritizing artificial intelligence, space communications and quantum technologies, highlighting their growing role in the future of infocommunications while strengthening national and international cooperation.
A 22-year-old man identifying as a woman opened fire at around 200 children from Annunciation Catholic School attending mass at their church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children, aged eight and ten, were killed, while 17 others were injured. The shooter killed himself on the scene.
Hungary has banned the Ukrainian commander linked to the latest strike on the Druzhba oil pipeline, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó condemning the attack as a grave assault on sovereignty and warning of serious consequences.
Ferencváros fell agonizingly short of the Champions League, beating Qarabağ 3–2 in Baku after losing the home tie, but still losing 5–4 on aggregate. Goals from Joseph, Varga, and Tóth sparked hopes of a miracle comeback, yet a late save denied the equalizer. Fradi still get to play in the Europa League this season.
Hungary’s armed forces have gained a unique new capability with the arrival of Special Operations Craft–Riverine (SOC-R) boats in Budapest. Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky hailed the vessels as a major step in military modernization.
Famed American political commentator Dave Rubin was one of the featured speakers at CPAC Hungary 2025 back in May. Now, he has released a documentary about his second visit to Budapest, Hungary, on his popular YouTube channel.
Hungarian Prime Minister’s security chief György Bakondi criticized the EU’s migration policy, calling it a failed approach that fuels crime, terrorism, and social tensions. He urged for national-level action to protect Europe’s security and values.
The Hungarian airline is planning to open a hub at Tel Aviv airport, but Israeli competitors may easily stand in its way. Executives of El Al have even lodged a complaint directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu against Wizz Air’s expansion.
‘From a regional perspective, Hungary and neighbouring states remain attentive to Ukraine’s enhanced arsenal and the parallel debate over US-supplied armaments. At the same time, Ukraine’s military actions have intensified, with recent strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline, a vital energy artery supplying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.’
According to an internal memo obtained by the Hungarian news site Index, the opposition party TISZA is planning to implement a three-bracket, progressive tax system if elected in next year’s Hungarian parliamentary elections. MP for the governing Fidesz party István Hollik has reacted to the leak.
Hungarian-owned Autent Solutions Ltd has received 330 million forints in non-refundable EU-backed funding to further develop its energy-efficient industrial cooling technology, aiming to cut energy use and reduce carbon footprints.
Hungary is emerging as a top European tourist destination, with 8.2 million visitors in H1 2025 generating 18.9 million nights, as reported by the tourism industry news site Travel and Tour World. Budapest draws crowds with its baths and nightlife, while rural areas and wine regions grow.
‘According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the conflict is a religious war against radical Islamist ideology, not a territorial one. Western leaders like Macron, she said, fail to grasp this. In her view, Hamas fights against universal Western values, leaving Israel with no choice but to defend itself.’
As peace talks gain momentum, Russia demands Ukrainian neutrality and security guarantees from global powers, including UN Security Council members. China, despite denying plans for peacekeepers, remains open to diplomatic involvement, aligning with Xi Jinping’s earlier principles for ending the war.
Hungary’s growing electricity demand and the need for stable, round-the-clock energy production make nuclear power indispensable, argued former President János Áder in his latest podcast, joined by energy expert Attila Aszódi.
A young American was stabbed in the face early Sunday in Dresden after intervening during harassment on a tram. Police briefly held a Syrian man before releasing him for lack of evidence, while the attacker remains at large. The case fuels controversy amid Germany’s migrant crime debate and AfD’s rise.
Hungary is not in a dead end, but outdated foreign policy thinking has reached one, Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political advisor, argued. He rejected claims that opposing Brussels has left Hungary isolated within the EU.
Tensions escalated after Zelenskyy warned that the ‘fate of the Druzhba pipeline’ hinges on Hungary’s stance toward Ukraine’s EU bid. FM Szijjártó hit back on X, urging Kyiv to stop ‘threatening Hungary,’ while Ukrainian FM Sybiha told Budapest to ‘diversify’ and not lecture the president.
‘A diplomatic solution is necessary to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. While the specifics are not yet fully developed, some plans are already publicly known.’
Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station will undergo a four-week renovation starting Monday, described as this year’s largest maintenance project. The works will cause major traffic changes, with trains rerouted to other stations.
‘Hungary, too, was forced to be part of the Soviet bloc when Soviet troops entered the country in 1945. Three years later, the future Cardinal and Primate of Hungary, József Mindszenty, opened the Marian Year to entrust, like King St. Stephen, the fate of Hungary to the intercession of the Blessed Mother…’
On 23 August, Europe observes the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes. The European Network Remembrance and Solidarity’s (ENRS) campaign ‘Remember. 23 August’ highlights intergenerational trauma and courage in the face of oppression, offering expert insights, short films, and educational resources.
‘He emphasized that the goal of military operations, however, is not bloodshed, but to eliminate armed threats with as few civilian casualties as possible. Yet, according to the panellists, Western media often distorts this, replacing the complex reality of war with oversimplified narratives.’
A Russian missile strike on Mukachevo (Munkács) on 21 August injured 23 and marked the first hit on Transcarpathia in the war’s three years. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pledged medical support from Hungarian hospitals and stressed that peace efforts must continue to protect ethnic Hungarians.
Hungary and Slovakia have urged the European Commission to act after repeated Ukrainian strikes hit the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia, a key supply route for both countries. The latest attack has halted deliveries for at least five days.