As Brazil takes the helm of BRICS in 2025, Indonesia has officially joined the group as a full member, marking a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration among emerging economies and advancing the priorities of the Global South.
To celebrate the reopening of the Hangdóm, Hungary’s House of Music is hosting an audiovisual festival from 14 to 19 January. Featuring premieres, returning favourites, and artist discussions, the programme showcases cutting-edge 360-degree films and installations.
Poland has taken over the EU presidency from Hungary, but representatives of the Hungarian government were deemed ‘not welcome’ at the ceremony marking the start of the Polish presidency last Friday in Warsaw.
Starting January, Vodafone Hungary will operate under the new name One Magyarország, marking a major rebranding in the telecom sector. The Vodafone HU network will be renamed One, with integrated services uniting the operations of Vodafone, Digi, and others.
György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Hungary, talked about the trends in illegal migration across Europe in the past year on the morning show of a major commercial channel. He shared that nearly 16,000 illegal border crossers and 132 human smugglers were apprehended at the border by Hungarian authorities in 2024.
Five-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast and Holocaust survivor Ágnes Keleti was the oldest living Olympic champion in the world. She was awarded the Athlete of the Nation honour by the Hungarian government in 2004. She sadly passed away at the age of 103 on Thursday, just a week before her birthday.
According to media reports, Hungary permanently lost access to €1 billion in EU funds at the end of last year. However, Minister of EU Affairs János Bóka of Hungary vowed that ‘as long as Hungary has a national and sovereign government, it will not lose a single euro cent’ and that ‘Hungary will use all legal and political means to obtain the remaining funds’ in a Facebook post.
85-year-old István Győrkös has been convicted of murdering police officer Péter Pálvölgyi, who was conducting a search of his property in Bőny, Hungary in October 2016. According to press reports, Győrkös, who claims the killing was an accident, has now sued the Hungarian government for alleged violations of his right to due process and a fair trial.
The high-profile clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool ended in a scoreline very dear to Hungarian football fans, 3–6, to Liverpool. Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai scored a goal and made an assist during the victory solidifying the Reds’ place on top of the Premier League table for Christmas.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in his year-end interview with M1 News, expressed cautious optimism about peace in the Ukraine war, reflecting on three challenging years marked by conflict, economic upheaval, and diplomatic struggles. He shared his vision for a resilient Hungary ready to seize opportunities in 2025.
After publishing a fake news report, alleging that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had fled to Hungary, critical-of-the-government media outlet Magyar Hang became the subject of a national security investigation. Rather than taking responsibility for its actions, the outlet has responded with accusations of dictatorship and inflammatory attacks against the government in a public statement.
As the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU concludes, even EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a frequent critic of the Orbán administration, has praised its achievements at a press conference. She highlighted the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal, expanding the Schengen Area to Romania and Bulgaria, and progress on the Western Balkan EU expansion.
In October 2024 Hungary saw a surge in wages, with the average gross income rising by nearly 13 per cent compared to last year. This growth, coupled with low inflation, marks the 14th consecutive month of significant real wage increases.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the importance of swift economic action and strategic calm in addressing the challenges facing Hungary and Europe. From advancing peace efforts to pushing for reforms, he detailed his vision in an interview with Kossuth Radio.
Former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski has been granted political asylum in Hungary. Romanowski is currently the subject of a European arrest warrant for alleged misappropriation of funds. Chief of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás stated that there is a possibility Poland may not ensure a fair trial in his case due to political considerations.
Hungarian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar gave an exclusive interview to Breitbart, during which he discussed the prospects for economic and trade relations under Donald Trump’s second presidency. He revealed that, as he learned during a series of meetings in Florida, US companies are ready to invest in Hungary on a scale comparable to the significant Asian investments the country has recently attracted.
Mateusz Morawiecki, the former Polish prime minister and candidate for the presidency of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), has pledged to enhance the role of nation-states in the EU. He envisions a more sovereign Europe built on collaboration and reform.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Budapest defines itself in opposition to Brussels, aiming to transform the EU’s direction in the coming years. At a summit in Brussels, Orbán called for migration control, lower energy prices, and a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine.
Starting 1 January 2025, Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) will become the 75 per cent owner of Inforádió, marking a strategic partnership aimed at combining the station’s media expertise with MCC’s intellectual resources.
After rejecting his Christmas ceasefire proposal, Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly criticized Viktor Orbán for his mediation efforts between Kyiv and Moscow. The Hungarian prime minister responded firmly: ‘We won’t respond to any provocation.’
The Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union, under the Hungarian presidency, has agreed on the general approach to have EU Member States better align their criminal laws on migrant smuggling. Out of the 380,00 illegal border crossings recorded in 2023, about 90 per cent were facilitated by smugglers, according to Europol.
‘One of the key lessons of the exercise is that no situation is predetermined. Soldiers must respond to diverse scenarios with discipline, as every soldier is responsible not only for themselves but also for their comrades and the entire community,’ summarized Lieutenant Colonel Tibor Dancs, commander of the 31st rotation of the Hungarian KFOR contingent.
The Hungarian National Assembly has approved changes to electoral laws, including the redistribution of constituencies, optional ballot envelopes, and revised candidate withdrawal deadlines. These measures aim to align with demographic trends and streamline voting procedures.
Since the Budapest City Council did not elect a Deputy Mayor in their November session, Capital Government Commissioner Botond Sára is taking the municipal government to court for failing to comply with its legal obligations. Sára has also raised concerns over the city budget, saying that Budapest is ‘nearing bankruptcy’.
A recent Századvég poll reveals that 77 per cent of Hungarians believe Donald Trump, upon assuming office in 2025, could end the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. The findings highlight strong public support for peace initiatives, aligning with Hungary’s diplomatic efforts.
Donald Trump’s pick for national security advisor, Mike Waltz, stated in a recent interview that the President-elect’s team will take a hard look at Viktor Orbán’s Christmas ceasefire proposal. Last week the Hungarian prime minister concluded his second peace mission in six months, presenting a truce initiative and a large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó was critical of his counterparts in other EU Member States for still pushing for arms supplies instead of negotiating a ceasefire, in a Facebook post he shared as he set off to attend the last EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Hungarian EU presidency. Earlier, he also revealed in a radio interview that President Zelenksyy of Ukraine refused to have a phone conversation with PM Orbán.
The Druze, a group historically loyal to the Assad regime in Syria, are facing growing threats due to the collapse of the central government and the deteriorating security situation. The Druze religious leadership in Israel is also very concerned about the fate of the Druze across the border, because jihadists in many Druze communities, mainly in Damascus and northern Syria, have already started demanding that the Druze hand over their weapons.
Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė was disqualified from the Super Worlds 2024 – Functional Fitness Championships in Budapest for wearing a shirt mocking Russia. Her case has reignited the debate over whether politics should have a place in the world of sports.
Hungary beat France 25–24 in the play-off for third place at the 2024 European Women’s Handball Championship in Vienna, Austria. This is the fourth bronze medal Hungary have won in the competition, after 1998, 2004, and 2012. Right back Katrin Klujber from Ferencváros finished as the top scorer of the tournament.