‘With the raging war in Ukraine, Russia’s recent incursions into NATO airspace in Poland, Estonia, and Denmark, and the rising worries of war in the Pacific, one would probably imagine that the tone of the conference would be somber and serious. However, it was anything but.’
Leader of the far-right Hungarian opposition party Our Homeland, László Toroczkai has announced in parliament that he will challenge the result of the 2026 parliamentary election regardless of outcome. Since Facebook deleted his page in 2019 and hasn’t reinstated it despite a Hungarian ruling, he feels his party is being unfairly disadvantaged.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that low taxes are the best economic policy in an interview with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressing tax cuts as key to wage growth and competitiveness while rejecting EU-driven tax hikes.
Democrat Jay Jones admitted sending texts describing the murder of former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family, sparking a political firestorm. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance condemned the remarks as disqualifying, with Trump endorsing Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares ahead of the November election.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his cabinet resigned less than 12 hours after being sworn in, setting a record as the fastest collapse in the history of the Fifth Republic. The debacle marks Macron’s third failed government since the July 2024 snap election, deepening France’s political crisis.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed claims that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a Russian ‘Trojan horse’ in the EU, calling the accusations ‘nonsense’ and ‘absurd’ in an interview with opposition channel Partizán. She stressed Orbán has always pursued Hungary’s interests, often clashing with Brussels but also seeking compromise.
The right-wing ANO party, led by Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, won by far the most seats (80) and the largest share of the popular vote (34.5 per cent) in the Czech parliamentary election held this weekend. However, they still need to find coalition partners to form a government. During his first term in office, PM Babiš had a close relationship with PM Viktor Orbán of Hungary.
President Donald Trump has tapped Benjamin Landa, a businessman active in Jewish communal life, as the next US Ambassador to Hungary. Landa’s nomination follows months of speculation and comes after Pressman’s departure, with diplomat Robert Palladino currently serving as interim head of mission.
‘The central allegation is that Pegasus was acquired illegally…In 2017 Deputy Minister of Justice Michał Woś transferred funds from the Justice Fund to the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA). The opposition and the Supreme Audit Office deemed this unlawful, claiming that the CBA may only receive money from the state budget. However, there is no legal basis for such exclusivity…’
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Viktor Orbán as a leader defending national interests in Europe, declaring that if such forces grow stronger, ‘Europe will be reborn.’ Speaking at the Valdai Club in Sochi, he also attacked the EU’s migration policies, while boasting that Russian forces hold the strategic initiative in Ukraine.
40 years after its historic circumnavigation, the legendary St Jupát sailboat has been fully restored and relaunched on Lake Balaton. Visitors can explore the vessel and join a 700-day series of events celebrating the daring voyage of Nándor Fa and József Gál.
A Yom Kippur terror attack at a Manchester synagogue left two dead and several wounded, shocking Britain’s Jewish community. Hours later, a pro-Palestine protest erupted in London near Downing Street, where clashes broke out and one demonstrator declared: ‘I don’t give a f*** about the Jewish community right now.’
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok paid an official visit to Kazakhstan, where he was awarded the country’s highest state honour, the Order of Friendship, in recognition of the close ties between the two nations. Talks focused on strategic cooperation in energy, trade, and logistics.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated that Hungarians want to stay out of the war and reject Ukraine’s EU membership. Following the EU summit in Copenhagen, he launched a signature drive to reinforce public opposition to Brussels’ war strategy.
Hungarian champions Ferencváros beat the Belgian side KRC Genk 1–0 away from home in the UEFA Europa League league phase, and are now sitting on four points in two games. Barnabás Varga scored the winner, which was his 12th goal of the season already. However, he also missed a penalty in the second half.
German authorities have launched an investigation into Die Linke’s Hanover youth branch after the group posted a sticker showing AfD co-chair Alice Weidel in crosshairs with the words ‘aim here’. The image, condemned as an incitement to violence, follows recent posts by the same organization celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
‘Politically-involved people in the West will encounter different problems in their own national landscapes, but they may find they have a lot to learn from the failures, successes and general proceedings in other countries.’
An event honouring the life and legacy of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was held at the Danube Institute in Budapest. Institute President John O’Sullivan, who worked closely with Thatcher as a policy advisor and speechwriter, was joined by a number of distinguished guests who shared personal memories and reflections on the enduring impact of the Iron Lady.
‘This is precisely the power of diplomacy. Minsk’s example demonstrates that authoritarian regimes respond to smart diplomacy. The leaders of such countries also react to incentives—be it better trade deals or a bit of international spotlight.’
Hungary has signed its longest-ever liquefied natural gas supply deal with French energy giant ENGIE, securing 4 billion cubic metres of LNG between 2028 and 2038. The government says the agreement strengthens national energy security amid global uncertainty.
Hungary cannot be circumvented with legal manoeuvres to open Ukraine’s EU accession process, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Copenhagen ahead of an informal EU summit, insisting any enlargement must follow the same rules and warning that fast-tracking Kyiv risks drawing the EU into war and draining funds.
Eva Vlaardingerbroek and Gerald Grosz warned in Budapest that mass migration has devastated Western Europe, praising Hungary as a rare bastion of safety and identity. Vlaardingerbroek called it ‘the only country left in Europe that represents what Europe was,’ while Grosz described it as ‘the safe Europe as we knew it.’
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland called the Russo–Ukrainian war ‘our war’ at the Warsaw Security Forum, prompting a sharp rebuke from his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán, who warned that neither Hungary nor the EU is at war with Russia and accused Tusk of endangering European lives.
A new poll shows that two-thirds of Hungarians oppose an EU-backed ban on Russian oil and gas, despite the Tisza Party adding it to its programme. While most Tisza supporters back the move, nearly all Fidesz voters reject it.
The American streaming giant Netflix is currently under fire on X for the creator of one of their animated programmes making denigrating comments about Charlie Kirk’s death. As it turned out, the same cartoon also promoted transgenderism to children. Elon Musk has also chimed in, announcing that he is cancelling his Netflix subscription because of the controversy.
From 1 October, mothers with three children in Hungary are exempt from paying personal income tax. The measure could benefit around 250,000 women, leaving families with hundreds of thousands of forints more each year.
From a cheating scandal in the Naval Academy in 1994, through an insider trading scandal, to a nepotism scandal in 2025—Congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is really making the Democrats sweat in the once deep blue New Jersey. Can Republican Jack Ciattarelli take advantage of the scandals and win the race in the Garden State?
‘“At LUPS, we educate those who will dedicate their careers to serving the homeland in national security, diplomacy, or public administration,” Rector Dr Gergely Deli emphasized in his opening address. “For this, our students need the broadest possible understanding of the world…The new research centre provides a platform and serves as a bridge between Hungary and the Turkic countries.”’
Hungary’s return to space is not only a possibility but also a duty, said government commissioner Orsolya Ferencz on Space Research Day, stressing that the HUNOR programme is a national mission that must inspire the next generation of scientists.
Hungary may see a double-digit minimum wage increase next year, though the planned 13 per cent rise looks unlikely, Economy Minister Márton Nagy said in Budapest. Talks are ongoing between employers, unions, and the state over the final figure.