‘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.
Hungary has retaliated against Ukraine’s decision to block foreign outlets by banning access to several Ukrainian sites, including Ukrainska Pravda. Minister Gergely Gulyás called Kyiv’s move censorship, arguing that silencing critical media undermines its EU bid.
Left-wing journalists in Hungary have been trying to smear Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén as someone implicated in the prostitution scandal at the Szőlő Street Juvenile Corrections Centre in Budapest, Hungary, without any basis in reality. Miklós Szánthó, the head of the Center for Fundamental Rights, has responded to the smear campaign in a fiery Facebook video.
The World Cat Federation (WCF) is a prestigious pet organization founded in 1988 that gives out its Best Cat award annually based on a point system. Over the weekend, for the first time in ten years, they held a show in Budapest, Hungary, to the delight of Hungarian cat enthusiasts.
Hungary’s automotive sector is set for a major boost as BMW opens its Debrecen plant, producing only fully electric models. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó hailed the launch as a milestone that will strengthen industry and drive economic growth.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Hungary of flying reconnaissance drones across the border, warning Budapest it was engaging in a ‘dangerous’ game. Hungary firmly rejected the claim, calling it fabricated and politically motivated. The row adds to a long list of clashes between the two uneasy neighbours.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and Slovak PM Robert Fico marked the 130th anniversary of the Mária Valéria Bridge in Esztergom, stressing Central European unity, warning against Brussels’s war agenda, and calling for peace over destabilization.
The governing PAS party has claimed victory in Moldova’s election, with the campaign overshadowed by raids, bans on opposition candidates, and accusations of meddling from both Russia and the EU. Moldovan authorities once again restricted access for voters from Transnistria, while Telegram’s CEO accused French intelligence of censorship attempts and meddling.
Hungarian Gripens scrambled from Šiauliai, Lithuania, on 25 September to intercept Russian jets near Latvia. NATO praised Hungary’s role in protecting Baltic airspace, even as Budapest faces criticism within the Alliance for its stance on Ukraine.
Hungary’s flagship international research programme, Hu-rizont, brings together Hungarian experts and global partners to tackle key social and economic challenges, with billions in funding and dozens of projects underway at leading universities.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dismissed allegations of paedophilia linked to a correctional facility in Szőlő Street as a foreign-backed disinformation campaign, while warning of legal consequences and defending his government’s policies on energy, taxes, and family support.
Slovakia’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment asserting the primacy of domestic over international law. Backed by PM Robert Fico’s government, the changes enshrine traditional values, define gender as male and female, restrict adoption rights, and give parents more control over sex education—moves likely to spark criticism from the EU.
Despite Viktoria Plzeň taking an early lead and having a player sent off in the first half, Ferencváros managed to win a point in their first UEFA Europa League league phase game of the season. Aleksandar Pešić scored the equalizer in the very last minute of the match.
Budapest is once again hosting the World Press Photo exhibition, opened on 25 September by Mayor Gergely Karácsony. Running until 9 November at the Biodome, the showcase features 42 award-winning photographers from 31 nations, highlighting stories of war, resilience, and coexistence between humanity and nature.
What is Israel planning to do after the Western recognition of Palestine? Will there be a point when Washington doesn’t back Israel further? Why has the Hungarian government become a pro-Israeli government? We spoke with the former Political Director of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the fragile situation of the Jewish state at the Danube Institute’s Geopolitical Summit in Budapest.
US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke on Wednesday about Russian energy, tariffs, and the war in Ukraine. The call came as Trump urged Europe to end Russian imports, while Budapest insists geography leaves it no choice. FM Péter Szijjártó stressed that Hungary’s energy security is a matter of pipelines, not ideology.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has defended an 82-year-old Franciscan Friar who was accosted by opposition protesters at his church. In the video shared by the Prime Minister, the demonstrators can be heard yelling at Father Pál, who is objecting to their presence right by his church.