Donald Trump has announced that he would appoint Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead a new federal department focused on government efficiency. The establishment of the department, promised during the presidential campaign, aims to streamline federal operations, cut excessive regulations, and curb wasteful spending.
The Student City planned to be developed with government funding in Budapest could provide thousands of new student residence places within three years, as the country’s demand for higher education housing grows. Minister Balázs Hankó discussed this ambitious project, the success of Hungarian universities, and the housing needs of young people in a recent television interview.
Addressing COP29 in Baku, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged for climate policies guided by ‘common sense’ rather than ‘ideology, panic, or alarm’. Hungary, he argued, must balance its green ambitions with sustainable economic growth.
Press reports indicate that in Donald Trump’s new administration Marco Rubio will be appointed Secretary of State, and Mike Waltz will take on the role of national security advisor. These likely appointments are promising for Hungary, as both politicians hold views on key issues—such as the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East—that align with Budapest’s foreign policy.
The United Nation’s climate change conference began on 11 November, with participants from almost 200 countries. Hungary’s focus during this year’s conference will be to protect farmers from green measures that could harm agriculture.
‘Although almost all of Hungary was covered in noxious and harmful air for the entire weekend, so too was more than half of Central and Northern Europe, with countries such as Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as Italy also being directly affected by the emanations (wherever they may have come from)….But what is the cause?’
According to press reports, the European Parliament may approve the candidacy of Hungary’s Commissioner-designate, Olivér Várhelyi, on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, the left-wing groups in the EP turned his first hearing into an ideological battle, refusing to approve his nomination on biased grounds.
As the US prepares for a presidential transition, Ambassador David Pressman may soon depart Budapest in line with protocol for political appointees under a new administration. There has been no career diplomat leading the US mission in Hungary since the 1990s.
Robbie Williams is set to return to Budapest, thrilling fans with a concert at the MVM Dome on 12 September 2025 as part of his ‘Live 2025’ world tour. Williams, no stranger to breaking records, has established himself as a powerhouse in live music. His 2006 world tour achieved a remarkable milestone, selling over 1.6 million tickets in just one day, and his three-night performance at Knebworth attracted 375,000 fans, setting an attendance record.
In a recent meeting with the Hungarian foreign minister, Slovak House Speaker Peter Žiga reiterated his government’s commitment to preserving the status quo on minority rights and stressed that, instead of restrictive policies, the Slovak government plans to enhance the quality of life for the Hungarian community in southern Slovakia. This would involve improvements to transportation infrastructure, including new roads and bridges to support regional development.
In October 1951, Zoltán Vasvári, a.k.a. ‘Zolibá’, a former Hungarian military officer, gathered the sons of many Hungarian families in his New York apartment to introduce them to Hungarian scouting. Viktor Fischer joined the first patrol in the spring of 1952, and, as he puts it, ‘the scout bug has remained’ in him ever since. A conversation about a long and fruitful life, dedicated to teaching and to the Hungarian American community of the New York area.
Hungarian Finance Minister Mihály Varga presented the government’s draft budget for next year to parliament on Monday. ‘The 2025 budget can be a budget for new opportunities, a budget for new economic policy, and a budget for peace,’ he emphasized in his speech.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán highlighted Hungary’s diplomatic rise after hosting two landmark summits, marking Budapest as a key player in European diplomacy. Orbán shared insights into Hungary’s renewed ties with the United States under President Trump, Hungary’s economic agenda, and the bold policy goals embedded in the recent Budapest Declaration.
According to information provided by Hungarian authorities, a 37-year-old Irish man killed 31-year-old US citizen Mackenzie Michalski in Budapest. The woman, who worked as a nurse, had come to the Hungarian capital for a holiday, a city she deeply loved, but never returned home.
Although less than a week has passed since the US presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump has already spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine, at least according to American media reports. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the news as ‘pure fiction’ and stressed that Putin has no specific plans to speak with Trump at present.
Rodrigo Ballester, Head of the European Studies Workshop at Mathias Corvinus Collegium, shared his perspective on the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia in a recent interview with Hungarian Conservative. Among other issues, he discussed the role of Western narratives, which often frame Georgian politics as a binary conflict between pro-Western and pro-Russian factions.
Budapest’s holiday spirit will come alive on 15 November with the opening of two cherished Christmas markets: the Advent Basilica at St Stephen’s Square and Vörösmarty Classic Xmas at Vörösmarty Square. Both markets will feature festive décor, local artisans, Christmas delicacies and cultural programmes for all ages.
Visit Hungary has launched a nationwide winter tourism campaign offering 20 per cent discounts at over 300 locations for guests paying with SZÉP cards. Running from January through February, the campaign promotes winter travel across Hungary, highlighting the country’s natural beauty, wellness spas, culinary offerings, and winter activities, reaching audiences through television, social media, and online platforms.
One of the most pressing issues in enhancing the competitiveness of Europe is the need to optimize defence spending. Europeans now spend much more on defence in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with ten European NATO members set to reach the 2 per cent of GDP spending threshold by the end of 2024. However, developing and acquiring modern weapon systems of cutting-edge technology demand an exponential level of spending for development and production, which can hamstring the capabilities of nation-states if they want to fit out their armies fully with domestically produced equipment, from building tools to jet fighters.
‘According to Dutch intelligence, Iran has used Moroccan Dutch gangsters to eliminate two “enemies of the state” abroad, but it also actively protects clan leaders. Between 2019 and 2021, during the time of the trial of a Moroccan clan chief, a key witness’ brother was killed, followed by his lawyer and finally a crime reporter who was covering the case. And what about antisemitism? Dutch Jews have been sounding the alarm for years.’
In a recent interview with The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yacov Hadas-Handelsman argued that as opposed to its frequent portrayal as an anti-democratic and antisemitic country, the reality about Hungary is quite different. He highlighted the Orbán government’s steadfast support of Israel at international forums and the fact that Hungary is one of the safest countries in the world for Jewish people.
The campaign at Varna was one of the most important campaigns launched to repel the Turks, and it needed little to succeed…Varna opened the way to Byzantium, and thus nothing could prevent the Ottoman siege and fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Disney has confirmed that a brand-new Star Wars trilogy is in development, promising fans an entirely new storyline unconnected to the iconic Skywalker Saga. Written by X-Men producer Simon Kinberg, the trilogy marks a new direction for the franchise. Read our article for more information and also to learn about the Hungary-related curiosities in the Star Wars universe.
Vadrózsa Dance Ensemble is the most prominent non-professional folk dance ensemble in Hungary. With 40 dancers and five musicians, the main mission of their American tour, which included five stops (New York, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Boston, and New Brunswick) was to showcase the diversity and virtuosity of the Carpathian Basin’s folklore through a fresh, youthful approach.
‘It is a strange tale to trace how the first communist group was dominated by Italian communists who cut their teeth in the partisan resistance forces whilst the largest Italian delegation in its present-day incarnation is mostly made up of MEPs from a party which until recently could not decide whether they were right-wing populist Eurosceptics or liberal Eurofederalists.’
At the informal European Council meeting in Hungary, the leaders of the member states adopted the Budapest Declaration, which focuses on measures to boos the EU’s competitiveness. The decision was announced by Viktor Orbán, who highlighted that there is a strong consensus on the need to ‘make Europe great again’.
In an outlandish article in the Washington Examiner, Tom Rogan cautions Donald Trump that Viktor Orbán is playing him for a fool and is merely attempting to advance the interests of China and Russia through their close relationship. The author clearly fails to grasp the fact that Viktor Orbán has always prioritized Hungary’s interests when dealing with China and Russia, something that, as opposed to the short-sighted pundit, President-elect Trump is well aware of.
The Tamási Thermal Spa, heavily damaged by fire three years ago, is set for a major restoration, funded by nearly 5 billion forints in government support. The extensive renovation, scheduled to conclude by autumn 2025, will bring state-of-the-art upgrades to the spa.
During an informal summit of the leaders of EU countries in Budapest on Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Europe to redefine its capabilities, empower member states, and invest in strategic resources. Addressing a range of pressing challenges, Meloni emphasized the need for European self-sufficiency and resilience.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed Hungary’s political and economic stance in light of recent global shifts, Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, and pressing EU issues. Emphasizing Hungary’s unique approach focusing on national interests, Orbán highlighted forthcoming opportunities for the country.