‘From that moment onward, Catholics who remained faithful to Rome went underground…To this day, they continue to survive as an “underground” Church, which the Vatican…no longer supports. Numerous priests, nuns, and faithful continue to be imprisoned, tortured, and, in certain cases, even put to death for their refusal to submit to the CCP’s institutional church.’
The Star-Spangled Banner, originally titled ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’ was written on this day, 14 September, in 1814 by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. It became the official US national anthem in 1931.
‘Even in December 1989, with the dictatorship collapsing, state television aired rallies staged in Ceaușescu’s support—only to have them interrupted by live images of his downfall. Journalists, tightly bound to the Party, had no autonomy; their function was transmission, not inquiry. The very system designed to preserve his rule ended up revealing…the fragility of a regime built on spectacle.’
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 section, let us go on with the story of Joseph Pulitzer, whose newspaper played a leading role in stirring up readers in the run-up to the Spanish–American War.
‘Although its powers are limited, the Commission and Parliament are increasingly incorporating housing into cohesion policy and future MFF planning and are seeking new policy instruments. The goal is to ensure affordable, sustainable, and secure housing.’
‘Suddenly, a very pretty lady appeared in front of me…And she told me straight out: “On Wednesdays, you’re coming to our folk dance session. My brother will drive you back and forth.” I liked her confidence, and of course, I gladly went—after all, I loved dancing, and I had time for it.’
The suspected assassin of Charlie Kirk has been identified and apprehended by law enforcement in Utah. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was turned in by his own father. The shell casings in his rifle used in the crime had left-wing political messages engraved on them.
The University of Pécs will host nearly 250 free programmes on 26 September for Researchers’ Night, offering spectacular experiments, interactive activities, and access to normally closed research sites, highlighting science’s role in everyday life.
Hungarian schools can apply by 30 September for the 4iG Foundation’s Digital Opportunity Programme, which offers 220 high-performance laptops and teacher training to strengthen digital skills, coding clubs, and student-led projects nationwide.
Hungary’s Competition Authority is investigating three companies—the local GB Interherb, Swan Med, and the Slovenian Nutrisslim—for allegedly making false health claims about food, supplements, and cosmetics, misusing EU logos, and misleading consumers about nutritional and medicinal benefits.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, praising Donald Trump as the only leader capable of ending the war in Ukraine. Both sides stressed commitment to peace efforts and highlighted a new phase in bilateral ties, marked by US investments and energy cooperation.
Leftist MEPs blocked a one-minute silence for assassinated US conservative Charlie Kirk, sparking outrage among Patriots for Europe. Videos showed socialist chair cutting off the tribute, while right-wing MEPs protested. Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán called Kirk’s murder the result of the left’s hate campaign.
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, was sentenced to over 27 years for coup attempts and conspiracy, becoming the first ex-leader convicted on such charges. He denies wrongdoing and may appeal. Donald Trump and US officials blasted the ruling as political persecution, warning of possible sanctions.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to Poland’s sovereignty, outlined plans for deeper ties with the UAE, criticized EU leadership on war and migration, and defended low taxes and new housing support at home.
‘Kirk made his name in the very arena where conservative ideas are often least welcome: academia. To many progressive students, his campus events provided their first real exposure to conservative arguments; to right-leaning students, he offered both encouragement and a sense of belonging. Yet Kirk’s reach extended far beyond the lecture hall.’
‘Climate-washing litigation continues to raise legitimate questions about its long-term impact on corporate behaviour and climate governance. While courts increasingly strike down misleading climate claims, some warn of a counter-effect: greenhushing, in which firms reduce or obscure climate communications to minimize legal risk.’
‘A little-known Hungarian photographer, Balthazar Korab…was the one who perceived and conveyed the symbolic meaning in the World Trade Center, as he did in other iconic works of American modernist architecture. He captured a kind of capitalistic grandeur—if one may call it that—that today, when we view these images and cannot help but think of the terrible outcome, feels ominous and oppressive.’
The 25 nominees for the Highlights of Hungary 2025 have been announced. The nominees were hand-picked by five esteemed ambassadors. Public voting will be taking place between 1 October and 24 October, and the three candidates with the most votes will be awarded at the ceremony on 30 October.
At talks in Budapest with Ukraine’s Deputy PM Taras Kachka, Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó placed full blame on Kyiv for deteriorating relations, citing curtailed minority rights and strikes on the Druzhba pipeline. He declared Hungary opposes Ukraine’s EU accession, offering only a strategic partnership as a realistic path.
‘The Patriots for Europe have called the allegations and the investigation a politically motivated attempt to discredit their political community. “The use of bureaucratic instruments to discredit or dismantle political opponents is reminiscent of practices common in totalitarian regimes. We will not remain silent,” the Patriots stated in their X post.’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid tribute to slain US conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, blaming his death on the ‘hate-mongering left’. Orbán described Kirk as a ‘defender of faith and freedom’, joining Donald Trump and other conservatives in mourning the 31-year-old Turning Point founder.
Budapest and Toronto will be reconnected by direct flights from June 2026, as Air Canada relaunches its popular service with a 787-9 Dreamliner. Running until late October with four weekly flights, the route is set to serve nearly 48,000 passengers and strengthen ties with Canada’s large Hungarian diaspora.
The brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has ignited a political storm in the US, with President Donald Trump demanding the death penalty for her killer. Outrage over judicial negligence has spurred both memorial campaigns and Republican calls for systemic reform.
‘A trauma whose effects would trickle down and have devastating repercussions, especially for those who were in the formative years of their childhood when it happened. A trauma that would transform the way an entire generation would socialize and interact with the world for decades to come.’
Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, a prolific surrogate of President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and co-founder of Turning Point USA, has been shot dead at age 31 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The suspect is still at large and their identity is not known, but the killing seems to be an act of far-left extremist violence.
Ukraine’s issues with systemic corruption in its government and the deficiencies of its public administration prevent it from meeting the criteria for EU accession, and this will likely remain the case in the foreseeable future, a new study from the Center for Fundamental Rights finds. Ukraine’s premature accession hurts both Hungarian and European interests, the paper also warns.
Just after Ursula von der Leyen vowed in Strasbourg that ‘Europe is in a fight’, she now faces no-confidence motions from both flanks: Patriots for Europe will table one at midnight, citing EU weakness and escalation in Ukraine, while the Left files separately, denouncing her Gaza inaction and trade agenda.
Polish authorities say drones allegedly tied to Russia entered their airspace during strikes on Ukraine, prompting NATO talks. The timing is notable: days earlier, former president Andrzej Duda revealed Kyiv had pushed Poland to pin the 2022 Przewodów strike on Moscow. Hungary’s Orbán pledged solidarity but highlighted the need for peace, not escalation.
Hungary has signed its largest-ever gas contract with a Western supplier, securing two billion cubic metres from Shell over ten years starting 2026. Péter Szijjártó hailed the Milan deal as true diversification—adding a new route and partner to Hungary’s energy mix, which still relies on gas for one-third of its supply.
‘Bulgarian courts, relying also on constitutional jurisprudence, have rightly held that “sex” in the Constitution means biological sex. The Advocate General effectively dismisses this constitutional boundary as irrelevant, subordinating it to freedom of movement and asserting that the “authenticity” of a document lies in its consistency with subjective self-perception.’