As CEO of Aletihad News Centre, Hamad Al-Kaabi is a key figure in shaping public discourse in the United Arab Emirates. During MCC Feszt in Esztergom, he spoke to Hungarian Conservative about the deepening Hungary–UAE partnership, the role of AI in bilateral ties, and why the two countries are closer in values than geography suggests.
Rezső Erdélyi, analyst for the Hungarian Nézőpont Institute, has stated during his appearance on Hungarian public radio that the proposed meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia is a great sign of progress in peace negotiations, and that ‘the US President has achieved more in ending the Russo–Ukrainian war than the European Union has done in many years.’
Hungary’s public finances remain stable as the government pursues Europe’s largest tax reduction programme while staying committed to fiscal discipline, debt reduction, and keeping the budget deficit within its revised target.
The Trump administration is planning on ceasing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement payments to hospitals that perform sex change treatments on minors, the National Review has learnt from an anonymous source inside the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the official announcement is yet to be made.
Kyiv dismissed claims by Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó that it refused to investigate the violent death of a Transcarpathian Hungarian man at the hands of conscription officers. The Ukrainian DBR insists a criminal case is ongoing, and forensic examination did not reveal any signs of external physical abuse.
‘Europe has sent a clear signal: it will not defend its regulatory model when seriously challenged. The message has not been lost in Washington—or in Beijing. Already, the narrative of a weakened Europe is gaining traction among analysts and investors. The idea that the EU could act as a third pole in a global competition between powers has taken a direct hit.’
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reaffirmed that the essence of the ‘Hungarian dream’ lies in owning a home, not renting, while outlining the government’s family-friendly policies, the Home Start housing programme, and Hungary’s firm stance against migration in a wide-ranging radio interview.
The Museum of Ethnography in Budapest has won three Red Dot Awards in the Brands & Communication Design category, honoring its permanent collection exhibition, multimedia solutions, and the catalouge of the ZOOM exhibition.
In a major boost to US–Hungarian ties, American Airlines will relaunch its daily direct flight between Budapest and Philadelphia in May 2026. With over 3,000 weekly seats and onward connections across North America, the route’s return signals renewed interest in deepening transatlantic tourism, commerce, and cultural exchange.
The European Union’s top court has issued a ruling that could halt deportations of illegal migrants to most non-European countries, prompting outrage in Budapest. Chief Security Advisor György Bakondi called the judgment ‘pro-migration’, warning it places virtually all repatriations in legal limbo. Prime Minister Orbán’s government says it will resist such judicial activism.
The Hungarian government has launched the Invented in Hungary grant programme to support local R&D projects. While foreign investment remains key to economic growth, experts warn it can sideline domestic firms. The new scheme aims to ensure innovation funding benefits the national economy more directly.
As the deadline for sweeping sanctions on Russian oil buyers looms, President Trump is preparing to meet Vladimir Putin face-to-face. The summit is widely viewed as a final diplomatic window to prevent further escalation and avert a global economic shock. For Trump, the meeting may also serve as a moment of redemption—an opportunity to rewrite the legacy of the ill-fated Helsinki Summit in 2018.
Hungary’s AI commissioner László Palkovics says artificial intelligence is unlikely to become self-aware under its current structure and stresses that Hungary has all the key components needed to develop sector-specific AI systems powered by local data.
Writer Michael O’Shea has recently visited the Serbian–Hungarian border near Bácsalmás, Hungary, and wrote a piece about his experience for The American Conservative. One of the migrants he encountered there told him he was coming for ‘blonde women and money from the wall’.
Budapest hotels reached over 86 per cent occupancy during the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, hosting nearly 100,000 guests, mostly from abroad, as Formula 1 boosted tourism and accommodation demand across the capital and nearby towns.
Budapest moviegoers will have one last chance to see all eight Harry Potter films on the big screen in restored 4K before they are pulled from cinemas due to the upcoming TV remake, with screenings running from 7 August to 1 October.
The European Commission’s failure to appeal the Court’s ruling in the Pfizergate case highlights ongoing transparency issues in the EU. Missing texts between von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO raise questions about accountability in vaccine negotiations—questions the Commission’s vague explanations have yet to answer.
The Texas state legislature was due to have a vote on the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts. However, 57 out of the 62 Democrats in the State House fled, denying quorum to the session—they are now facing potential fines and even expulsion.
Germany’s CDU has distanced itself from MP Saskia Ludwig after she briefly greeted AfD co-chair Alice Weidel at MCC Feszt in Hungary. The party reaffirmed its strict ban on cooperating with the right-wing AfD, saying Ludwig’s actions were unauthorized and incompatible with CDU policy.
Ukrainian authorities have refused to investigate the death of József Sebestyén, a Hungarian man beaten by conscription officers, prompting outrage from Budapest. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó says the decision reveals Ukraine’s forced conscription as a state-organized practice incompatible with EU values.
‘Over a decade, between 2014 and 2024, the EU has welcomed more than 8 million asylum seekers. So it’s a bit as if the EU has admitted a new Member State that would be entirely made up of asylum seekers.’
The 31st Sziget Festival kicks off with higher ticket sales than last year, more Hungarian visitors, and headliners like Charli XCX, Shawn Mendes, and Post Malone. Organizers promise a refreshed layout and hundreds of performances from around the world.
‘The failure of African states to properly address their racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic differences provided a fertile ground for rebel groups, like al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, al-Mulathameen Brigade, and now the Allied Democratic Forces to prosper.’
Students from Bodrogkeresztúr’s Eötvös József Primary School claimed first place in their category at the prestigious 2024/2025 FIRST LEGO League world final in Hong Kong, surpassing more than 6,000 teams from around the globe.
A new study by Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority shows that Hungarian youth rarely give their smartphones a break, with daily usage patterns tied to gender, age, location, and mental wellbeing, revealing sharp contrasts between younger and older users’ habits.
‘The mass man is incapable of making authentic, personal decisions in situations of crisis or autonomy. For this reason, he requires a leader—someone who can think, decide, and act on his behalf. This leader makes the mass man aware of his power through numerical superiority and conformity, shaping modern mass states.’
Veszprém, Hungary and the Bakony–Balaton Region have been named the Sports Region of Europe 2026 by ACES Europe. Known for its handball legacy and outdoor activities around Lake Balaton, the region was recognized for promoting healthy lifestyles and community sports, building on its 2023 title as European Capital of Culture.
Despite a Bosnian court upholding his conviction and political ban, Milorad Dodik received strong backing from Hungarian leaders during a visit to Budapest on Tuesday. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called for respect for Republika Srpska’s voters and condemned what he described as a ‘legal witch-hunt’ against Dodik.
‘[Human rights NGOs] are advocates of censorship. Really, there was a takeover by the Soros Foundation of much of civil society to make them more censorial. We also know that the Soros institutions work directly with the intelligence and security agencies,’ Mr Shellenberger has told our site about his other area of expertise, free speech advocacy.
Poland’s new president Karol Nawrocki will be inaugurated on 6 August, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s ability to govern. With Nawrocki poised to wield the veto, hopes for sweeping liberal reforms are fading—and early election speculation is growing.