in a Friday radio interview Viktor Orbán announced a new economic stimulus programme, centred around three key measures: providing affordable housing, increasing wages, and supporting small businesses. The Hungarian prime minister underlined that Hungary cannot rely on Brussels to help the EU overcome the competitiveness trap; thus, the country must concentrate on its own priorities.
At an informal meeting of the ministers of EU Member States responsible for employment and social policy in Budapest, Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy of Hungary stated that even an 85-per-cent work force participation rate is achievable in Hungary ‘if the internal labour market reserve can be mobilized’.
A pro-Trump business owner named Anthony Constantino decided to put up a 100-foot wide ‘Vote for Trump’ sign on his roof in Amsterdam, New York. The Democrat mayor of the city issued a complaint, so Constantino was ordered to cover it up by a judge. However, the same judge reversed her decision shortly after, so the sign could stay and even be lit up at night.
‘Hungary is Kazakhstan’s reliable friend, a fraternal state and a strategic partner,’ Chairman Yerlan Koshanov said during his recent Budapest visit, during which the Kazakh lower house of legislature Mazhilis and the Hungarian National Assembly signed a cooperation agreement.
‘Instead of looking for explanations as to why this terrible thing happened, I suggest that we respond to death with life and fulfil everything that was not given to them, to those who died on 7 October. The murderers robbed them of their dreams, their hopes and their future; we have only one answer: let’s stand up together for them!’, Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities said at the Dohány Street synagogue commemoration in Budapest.
Minister of Finance Mihály Varga of Hungary shared with a reporter what was on the agenda of the ECOFIN meeting in Luxembourg. The recovery of Europe’s economy, aid to Ukraine financed by loans, climate finance, and the upcoming World Bank and IMF meeting were the topics discussed by Europe’s top financial leaders.
In a video posted to his Facebook page, Fidesz MP and communications director Tamás Menczer said that Prime Minister Orbán had warned in his report after his peace mission in July that the Russo–Ukrainian war would soon escalate, and that turned out to be the case. He also stated that only Donald Trump’s victory could bring peace swiftly to Eastern Europe again.
The crackdown on antisemites has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the government of infringing on free speech and conflating legitimate political expression with antisemitism. Notably, the German police have been actively disrupting pro-Palestinian gatherings for some time now. For example, a recent conference in Berlin was shut down after authorities raised concerns that speakers might incite violence or express antisemitic sentiments.
‘At the end of this struggle, we will turn Paris around, reclaim Warsaw, and become the largest political force in Europe. Then we will take control of Brussels politics and restore Europe to greatness—strong, prosperous, and free once again,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized in his speech at Matteo Salvini’s League rally.
Most major international sportsbooks give President Trump and Vice President Harris the same odds for victory in the upcoming US Presidential election, while traders on the decentralized prediction market Polymarket think Donald Trump is the slight favourite—this is where we are right now, less than 30 days away from the final decision.
Trains will start commuting on the new Belgrade-Szabadka railway line on 24 November, President Vučić of Serbia has announced, which will reduce the travel time between Budapest and Belgrade to 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average returned 12.26 per cent annually on average under President Trump’s four years in office, as opposed to the 9 per cent average annual growth under President Biden, as per the closing of the last quarter. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 Index, comprising 1.950 smaller-cap companies, still has not returned to its all-time high recorded in November 2021.
Alexandra Szentkirályi, president of Fidesz in Budapest, announced the party’s eight-point plan aimed at reforming governance in the capital. The proposals focus on curbing the mayor’s decision-making powers, improving public services, and streamlining the city’s committees to save costs and better represent the people of Budapest.
From the spring of 2026 Budapest will welcome 70 state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, low-floor, fully electric buses to its transport fleet, as announced by the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK). The buses will operate primarily on key routes crossing the city’s central areas, significantly enhancing the city’s commitment to green and sustainable public transport solutions.
Polish MEPs Anna Brylka and Tomasz Buczek from the Konfederacja party have officially joined the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, further strengthening the faction led by Viktor Orbán. With their addition, the group now comprises 86 members from 13 countries, and aims to unite right-wing forces in the EP to challenge the dominant centre-right and centre-left factions.
Hungarian Gripen fighter jets are taking part in the Ramstein Flag 24 air defence exercise in Greece, a nearly two-week training aimed at bolstering NATO forces’ capabilities and strengthening member cooperation. The exercise is a key opportunity for allies to tackle Europe’s most complex threats and showcase their commitment to NATO’s collective defence strategy.
As the WSJ noted, Vance’s calm and effective performance could bolster Republican confidence in his future within the party. His ability to advocate for Trump’s policies in a composed and persuasive manner suggests that he could be a strong contender for future leadership roles within the conservative movement.
The panellists discussed a wide variety of topics related to the war in Israel at the second International Por-Israel Summit hosted by the Center for Fundamental Rights, including the ICC arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Iran’s role in the conflict, and the potential impact of the upcoming US presidential election as well.
Since 2010 Hungary has seen its crime rates drop by more than half, a stark contrast to rising crime figures across much of Europe. At a press conference marking the tenth anniversary of the National Crime Prevention Council, Bence Rétvári, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, detailed the achievements of Hungarian law enforcement and the initiatives that have helped in preventing and combating crime.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán marked the Jewish New Year by sending a letter of greetings to Hungary’s Jewish community, emphasizing the country’s role as a ‘calm and safe island’ in a world of growing challenges. Just last week, Israeli Ambassador Jakov Hadas-Handelsman met with Mazsihisz President Andor Grósz to underline the unity between the Jewish people in Hungary and Israel ahead of the upcoming Rosh Hashanah celebrations.
A survey conducted by the Center for Fundamental Rights has revealed that the vast majority of Hungarian voters expect the European Union to contribute financially to the costs of the defence against illegal migration. Nearly two-thirds of respondents also consider the European Court of Justice’s ruling against Hungary unjust, further highlighting the strong public rejection of Brussels’ migration policies.
Minister of Transportation Miri Regev of Israel thanked the Hungarian government on behalf of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for its unwavering support for Israel since the 7 October Hamas attack at the second International Pro-Israel Summit, hosted by the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest, Hungary. Witnesses of the attack also took the stage at the event.
Iran launched a major missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, just hours after the Jewish state began a ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened a meeting of the government’s National Security Cabinet and also condemned the Iranian attack in a post on X.
The Hungarian company Proofminder has been named one of the winners of the AgVenture 2024 competition, hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The programme aims to support the development of green technologies in the agricultural and food production sectors. Proofminder’s AI-based platform and drone technology help farmers increase yields, reduce chemical use, and protect biodiversity.
By the end of October, the asphalting of the high-speed oval track at the Zalaegerszeg automotive test track will be completed, with its full operation set for May next year. In addition to high-speed trials, the new track will be suitable for stress testing of braking systems, suspensions, and cooling systems.
Atlas Intel has gotten the popular vote margins correct within 0.3 percentage points in the US in the last two election cycles. Their most recent polling data has Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris by 2.9 points in the popular vote; while their swing state polling data has him winning the election with 290 electoral votes. However, other public opinion firms have published different results.
‘Our meeting convinced me that we have every reason to hope that the will to develop neighbourly relations is mutual, and that it is common that these neighbourly relations can, over time, develop into good neighbourly relations,’ Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó highlighted following a long-awaited meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday in Budapest.
The ‘Friends of Peace’ group was established at the United Nations last Friday on Hungary’s initiative. Led by China and Brazil, the 15-member group aims to facilitate the initiation of peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine and promote the implementation of the key points of the Sino–Brazilian peace plan.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence and the HDF’s joint initiative Szeretem, megvédem! (I love it, I protect it!) started in June, looking to recruit new people into the Army’s territorial reserve units. Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky has informed the public that since the start of the programme, over 2,000 people have joined.
Viktor Orbán paid an official visit to North Macedonia, where he also attended a joint meeting of the Hungarian and North Macedonian governments. Discussions focused on the Balkan country’s EU accession and the fight against illegal migration. The Hungarian PM stated that it is in the EU’s vital interest to complete the integration of the Balkan region as swiftly as possible.