Blue Heron, a Canadian-Hungarian co-production directed by Sophy Romvari, won the Best First Feature Award at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, marking a major international recognition for the young filmmaker’s debut.
In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who, as a Democratic representative from New York, could even serve in Congress, but eventually chose the ‘fourth branch of government’ instead.
‘This is not merely an educational crisis; it is a social crisis. It reflects a deeper malaise: the abandonment of tradition, the medicalization of social problems, and a growing anti-elitism that undermines teachers and trivializes excellence. But let me be clear: this is not a time for despair. It is a time for action.’
‘From the middle of the 14th century, the Ottoman advance in the Balkans shifted the front line between Christianity and Islam to European territory. By 1390 Ottoman incursions had reached the southern borders of Hungary, marking the beginning of the Hungarian Kingdom’s defensive wars, which were supported to varying degrees by international forces, including France and Burgundy.’
‘The fleshy vernacular of this new version of the Inferno forces us to slow down and see, feel, taste, smell, and almost touch the reality of our sin—as Christ did in the Incarnation. Perfect sight awaits us in paradise, but to attain it, our vision needs to be healed, one line at a time.’
‘In August 2025, the Oroszka Museum of Military History once again organized a commemoration of a major Second World War military operation, during which the battles along the River Garam were brought to life.’
‘There’s so much that can be done or can happen even if you don’t speak any Hungarian. If you’re the person in your family who cares about your Hungarian heritage but you don’t share what you know, who is going to? It’s up to you to do it.’
Following their Alaska meeting, Trump and Putin said they had reached an agreement to be presented to Ukraine and NATO. Putin called it a step toward securing Ukraine’s safety, while Trump admitted significant points still need to be negotiated.
An Austrian hunter shot a five-legged deer buck near Székkutas, Hungary earlier this month. Wild animals with an extra limb are extremely rare. In most of those rare cases, the deformity is caused by a congenital defect called polymelia.
‘Climate anxiety is not merely a side effect of climate change but a manifestation of a broader societal and emotional crisis that requires responses in environmental policy, community, family, and culture alike. Strengthening mental health support, fostering social responsibility, and enhancing community participation can shift us from passive sufferers to active shapers of the future.’
‘The core question is not only what actions we take against climate change, but how we psychologically and socially cope with the weight of a transforming world. Anxiety usually becomes paralysing when it is not accompanied by opportunities for action. Hence, from a mental health perspective, it is crucial not to frame climate change as an inevitable catastrophe…’
India plans to cap air conditioner settings at a minimum of 20°C to ease pressure on its power grid amid surging demand during intense heatwaves. With AC usage driving peak electricity load, the regulation aims to cut energy consumption, improve efficiency, and curb emissions in one of the world’s fastest-growing cooling markets.
‘Hungary chose sovereignty, and did so with courage. It’s sent a powerful message: The definition of who we are is ours to give. And in Europe, we need more Orbáns and fewer Macrons,’ Greek MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou told the audience at CPAC Hungary 2025 back in May. A clip of her speech was shared on X earlier this week and generated quite a bit of attention again.
A Newsweek op-ed by Ilya Shapiro and Charles Yockey hails Hungary’s university reform as a template for conservatives, claiming Western campuses have abandoned neutrality for ideological enforcement. They argue the foundation model ensures accountability and academic freedom across the political spectrum.
Chinese automaker BYD will expand its retail and service network in Hungary with five new dealerships opening in late 2025, strengthening its presence beyond Budapest and offering its full range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles nationwide.
Hungary’s MÁV Group has launched a nationwide station renovation programme covering more than 30 locations in 14 counties, investing 15 billion forints from its own resources and the Hungarian Village Programme to modernize rail travel.
Minister of Agriculture István Nagy of Hungary has taken part in the New Bread Celebrations in Csorna, Győr–Moson–Sopron County, Hungary, where he thanked Hungarian farmers for ‘diligence, perseverance, and dedicated work’. The day prior, his ministry announced that the summer harvest in Hungary had yielded more crops than expected.
Miskolc has launched the UrbanTech Platform in partnership with universities, research institutes, and municipalities to drive AI-powered urban innovation, digitalization, and data-driven public services across Hungary and beyond.
Trump and Putin’s Alaska summit aims to test the waters for a Ukraine ceasefire, with Russia pressing its advantage after fresh territorial gains. The US holds secondary tariff threats over Moscow, while the EU and Kyiv fight to keep their voice in any deal.
The Connexions – CEE Deep Tech Summit will bring together leading global experts in space, biotech, medtech, and cybersecurity in Budapest on 11 September, aiming to boost the international visibility of the region’s deep tech ecosystem.
Opposition protests in Serbia turned violent on 13 August in Újvidék, leaving 16 police officers and 64 civilians injured. President Aleksandar Vučić vowed to punish ‘violent offenders’ who are looking to ‘plunge Serbia into a civil war’.
This year’s St Stephen’s Day celebration promises the most spectacular fireworks in its history, with over 45,000 light and pyrotechnic effects spread across a nearly five-kilometre display area, accompanied by a drone show and light projections.
Hungary’s largest pump track has opened in Zamárdi, offering cyclists of all skill levels a new attraction on the shores of Lake Balaton. The 67-million-forint project is expected to boost tourism and promote active lifestyle.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary could cause Ukraine’s collapse within a day by cutting energy supplies but has no intention of doing so. He declared ‘Ukraine has lost the war, Russia has won,’ adding that only Western aid is delaying the inevitable.
‘This is significant because Hungary is uniquely positioned to be an asset to President Trump as he handles another crisis in the Indo-Pacific region: China and its continued threats to militarily invade Taiwan. Hungary is increasingly proving itself to be an indispensable country for China and its overall strategy in Europe, and is becoming increasingly important financially for Taiwan.’
A Forsa poll shows Germany’s AfD ahead of the CDU, 26 to 24 per cent, the biggest lead since February’s election. The result mirrors a rightward trend across Europe, with Austria’s FPÖ, France’s National Rally and Reform UK also dominating national polls.
Record-breaking heatwaves are sweeping across Europe and beyond, with temperatures nearing 40°C in parts of the continent. Scientists warn the extreme weather is a clear sign of climate change, while fires and health risks escalate across affected regions.
President Trump has been consistently underpolled in his political career. Therefore, when assessing how much of his national support he managed to retain since winning the election in November, we need to dig deeper than just looking at his approval rating. Let’s explore how the second Trump term is going, according to the numbers.
This year’s US human rights report on Hungary marks a dramatic break from the Biden years, omitting past allegations on media freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and corruption. Instead, it commends government action in several areas—a change Budapest calls a return to ‘respect’.
The Sziget Festival drew 416,000 visitors this year, a 5 per cent increase over 2024, thanks to fresh concepts, a younger audience, and diverse programming. Despite the boost, the event still fell short of profitability but showed improved results.