The Hungarian–Turkish Cultural Season has concluded with a prestigious gala concert held in Ankara, Türkiye, on 12 December. The season commemorated the 100th anniversary of Hungarian–Turkish diplomatic relations and featured more than 150 cultural, culinary, and scientific programmes.

Hungary will face Armenia, Ireland, and the winner of the Portugal–Denmark Nations League quarter-final in the group stage of the European qualification round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Hungary have not made an appearance at the World Cup since 1986.

Vladimir Putin has reportedly endorsed the Christmas ceasefire proposal by Viktor Orbán. Reflecting on the peace mission and Hungary’s EU Presidency, the Hungarian prime minister stated: ‘We have opened the door, and meaningful negotiations can now begin.’

Time Magazine awarded its Person of the Year title, which has been given out since 1927, to Donald Trump after his great comeback victory in the 2024 US presidential election despite unprecedented challenges. This is the second time he has received the title after 2016, making him one of the 15 individuals to win it more than once.

According to Századvég’s December survey, Hungary’s ruling coalition, Fidesz–KDNP, continues to lead confidently in party preferences, while Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar’s approval ratings have suffered a significant decline amidst recent controversies.

This week’s Orbán interview on public radio showcased Hungary’s proactive approach to fostering peace, navigating global changes, and ensuring domestic stability. As the government looks to implement the 2025 budget, its commitment to supporting Hungarian families and maintaining sovereignty remains unwavering, the PM declared.

On the morning of 12 December, in a true Christmas spirit, the US Embassy in Budapest posted a video on X and YouTube criticizing the Budapest–Belgrade railway project, insinuating that Viktor Orbán is making secret deals with China. Our reaction.

After meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Tuesday and having a lengthy phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Wednesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary travelled to Ankara, Türkiye to continue discussions about the potential peace in the Russo-Ukrainian war with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye this time.

Four Hungarian students achieved silver medals at the Romanian Master of Informatics (RMI), a renowned international programming competition held in Bucharest from 27 to 29 November 2024. Competing among 190 students from ten countries, their success highlights Hungary’s promising talent pool.

The conference is dominated by negotiations on a global drought prevention system, both in terms of implementation and financing. This is particularly necessary because the frequency and intensity of climate damage, specifically drought, which is also a major issue in Hungary…has increased by nearly 30 per cent since the turn of the millennium, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people.

The 118th meeting of the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) was hosted in Budapest, Hungary last week, as part of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The leaders of the pharmaceutical industry discussed pressing issues such as regulation, international cooperation, and shortages of medicines at the event.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia as a conclusion to Hungary’s EU Presidency. However, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the proposal outright, stating: ‘There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine.’

After meeting President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss prospects for peace in Ukraine. Orbán also travelled to Türkiye to engage in talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with peace efforts as a central topic of discussion.

A recent survey by BNP Paribas Cardif and Medián reveals that most Hungarians view artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to improve work efficiency. While workforce changes are anticipated in the near future, optimism prevails among employees about AI’s impact.

The meeting between President-elect Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds significant importance for strengthening Hungarian-American relations. Yet, a key aspect of the talks has been largely overlooked by much of the press: the future of Hungarian–American space technology cooperation.

Bryan Leib, who is in the running to become the next US Ambassador to Hungary, has called on his potential predecessor David Pressman to remove the speech he made right before the US election results came in, titled ‘Hungary’s gambling problem’; stating that ‘this type of political theater and activism is unacceptable.’

Hungarian tourism is thriving, with a record-breaking year in visitor numbers and accolades for the country’s gastronomy. Liszt Ferenc Airport is Europe’s fastest-growing hub, and the government continues to invest in the sector’s future, signalling sustained growth.

The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) is revitalizing one of Miskolc’s iconic hotels, blending heritage with education. Set to open for students in the 2027–2028 academic year, the new centre aims to inspire and support the city’s brightest young minds.

Hungary aims to elevate its universities to the global elite, building on its cultural and academic strengths, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the handing over of the new facilities of the Budapest University of Veterinary Medicine.

In a survey by Daily Mail and J.L. Partners, one of the most accurate predictors of the result of the 2024 US presidential election, incumbent President Joe Biden was ranked as the worst among nine recent Presidents by 1,006 registered voters. Biden’s term was plagued by low approval ratings, constant questioning of his mental acuity, and, not least, a historically controversial pardon for his son.

Hungary’s vocational education sector is undergoing transformative growth with significant teacher salary increases, expanded student support, and major infrastructure investments, underscoring the government’s commitment to future-ready skills and opportunities.

Subsequent to the anti-government rebels’ rapid advance that made President Bashar al-Assad depart from Syria, the Austrian government is planning to halt the processing of current Syrian asylum applications and to reassess previously granted asylum statuses. Additionally, family reunification programmes for Syrian refugees have been suspended.

For the first time since Donald Trump’s great comeback victory in November, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary and President-elect Donald Trump of the United States have met in person at the famous Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The Prime Minister has also held talks with the world’s richest man, Elon Musk at the event. This is the third time PM Orbán has visited President Trump’s famous estate this year.

The Hungarian Constitution Protection Office has initiated a national security investigation into the opposition news portal Magyar Hang and opposition leader Péter Magyar over their dissemination of a false news story alleging that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was staying in Hungary after he fled Syria.

In his remarks at the University of Nyíregyháza on Friday Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó noted: ‘The West seems willing to fight until the last Ukrainian youth with the possibility of lowering the conscription age’, adding that the Ukrainian nations’ future is at risk.

The Hungarian Women’s National Handball Team secured their spot in the semi-final of the 2024 European Women’s Handball Championship by beating national rivals Romania 37–29 in Group I of the main round in Debrecen, Hungary. Hungary have won all six games in the tournament so far; and have made it to the semi-final for the first time in 12 years.

Hungary’s creditworthiness received a boost as Fitch Ratings upgraded its outlook on Hungary’s IDR from negative to stable, and reaffirmed the country’s investment-grade rate. This aligns with Moody’s and S&P’s recent positive evaluations, reflecting strong investor confidence and robust economic fundamentals.

Syrian insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus, ending Bashar al-Assad’s rule. As the Syrian president fled the country, Hungarian opposition media outlet Magyar Hang claimed his plane landed in Budapest. The outlandish allegation was swiftly denied by Budapest Airport and the government, with even the news website later admitting that the claim was baseless.

Budapest’s communal transportation company BKV, as per its tradition since 2015, will put in service a special festive fleet of vehicles for the holidays this year as well. Starting today, 6 December, running until 23 December, it will include Santa Clause-themed buses, trolleys, and trams. Passengers will have to pay no extra fee to board these special rides.

In his regular Friday morning radio interview, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed Hungary’s foreign policy and economic priorities. Orbán underscored that without the involvement of the Biden administration, there would be no war in the EU’s neighborhood. He also praised the peace-promoting efforts of Pope Francis, whom he met this week during a visit to Vatican City.