Hungary’s first hybrid smart store has opened in Szeged. Operated by Coop Szeged, the shop offers traditional service by day and goes fully automated without staff after hours—providing full product access via a mobile app and self-checkout system.
Following a vote by a vast majority, Hungary can now officially withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli political and military leaders is facing growing scrutiny.
‘Whether this era will bring consolidation or rupture remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the age of managerial drift is over. In its place stands a presidency more Caesar than consul and more instinct than theory. History, once again, is taking sides—and Donald Trump appears determined to pick one first.’
Hungary’s MOL Group and MVM Group have signed a new oil trade agreement to further diversify energy supplies in landlocked Hungary and Slovakia. The deal could boost the use of alternative crude by 160,000 tons annually through imports from the Caspian region.
What is America’s interest in participating in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project? What geopolitical benefits can this economic cooperation bring? And can the US reclaim global leadership through soft power? We spoke with a prominent American political analyst at the Danube Institute’s conference on the IMEC initiative.
‘Additionally, there is significant potential to increase the export of Uzbek goods to the Hungarian market in product categories that are in demand in Hungary…This would help diversify Uzbekistan’s export structure and more fully realize the existing trade potential between the two countries.’
Budapest Zoo has lifted all restrictions imposed in March due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Visitors can once again enter the petting zoo and walk among the animals on the popular Australian Walk pathway.
A man died in Hungary after an alleged case of police brutality during a drug-related arrest. His family claims he was beaten and dragged despite severe injuries. Authorities deny wrongdoing, but a criminal investigation is underway and protests are planned in Szeged this weekend.
Recent developments in the Hungary–Ukraine spy scandal indicate that one of the exposed Ukrainian intelligence officers, Roland Tseber, had a deeply embedded network within Hungarian political and defence circles. He even organized opposition leader Péter Magyar’s visit to Kyiv last July, further raising suspicions about the Tisza party and its potential cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence.
Hungarian animation is making a major splash at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, launching the first English-language industry site, Hunimation.com, and debuting a new trailer showcasing 75 works from 24 studios.
‘Hungary is important to Uzbekistan not only as a supplier of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment but also as a source of advanced technologies and expertise. In turn, Uzbekistan has effectively established exports of goods such as agriculture, chemicals, and textiles.’
‘In my new book, I discuss Popper’s later thinking, which has been neglected. In his later thought, he proposed, first of all, a dualistic theory of the mind…He thought that we couldn’t explain or consider human behaviour simply in terms of the brain and the body. We had to consider what he called a self, acting above the brain, and causing the brain to react in various ways.’
‘The development of transit corridors and the implementation of joint logistics infrastructure projects are key strategic components of cooperation within the OTS. In this regard, the joint development of the Middle Corridor is taken into account, which allows diversifying the transit of goods from China to Europe and back.’
Hungarian companies can play a significant role in the Saudi economy as the Kingdom opens its doors to foreign players.
Wizz Air has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321 XLR, a long-range aircraft that will expand its Europe–Middle East routes. The airline plans to modernize its fleet with this fuel-efficient model, aiming for greater sustainability and capacity.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán emphasized that Hungary’s energy security relies heavily on cooperation with Turkic nations, particularly Azerbaijan, during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. He warned that EU policies have undermined stability and affordability.
‘Yet nearly two decades later, Spain appears increasingly unprepared to manage a renewed wave of migratory pressure. In 2023 alone, over 56,000 migrants arrived by sea, with more than 61,000 arrivals recorded by the end of April 2024. The Canary Islands remain the epicentre, experiencing a 140 per cent year-on-year increase.’
Goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi has announced that he will no longer be playing for the Hungarian National Team. The 35-year-old footballer is one of the few players who were in the squad for all three consecutive European Championships Hungary qualified for between 2016 and 2024.
As the Trump administration signals its intention to step back from peace talks over the war in Ukraine—pressuring Kyiv and Moscow to engage in direct negotiations—a new structure for peace efforts is beginning to take shape. In parallel, the Vatican under Pope Leo XIV is assuming an increasingly active role in the process, positioning Rome as the new epicentre of the negotiations.
‘The diarist survived the diplomat, and in his pages, the 20th century flickers to life.’
Hungarian agricultural leaders warn that Ukraine’s EU accession and EU budget reforms could slash farm subsidies by up to 25 per cent. Farmers and industry bodies rallied in Brussels to protest against plans that could merge the CAP into a broader superfund.
The Trump administration has been exercising the clause in the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the government to fine illegal migrants $500 a day for defying removal orders. As a result, a Honduran woman in South Florida, who has been in the US illegally since 2005, was given a fine of $1.82 million.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused the head of French foreign intelligence of pressuring him to silence conservative voices on his platform ahead of the Romanian presidential elections. The events feed into an already tense political climate in the country, following the annulment of the original vote’s first-round results in December 2024 due to alleged Russian interference.
What drives India’s interest in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)? Could the project boost not just economic ties but also geopolitical cooperation—and signal a shift in India’s neutral stance toward a more Western alignment to counter China? We asked a leading Indian analyst at the Danube Institute’s IMEC conference.
Hungary’s parliament has voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó says stems from concerns over what he described as politically motivated and unserious actions by the tribunal.
‘Bruno Retailleau enters the storm not as a passenger, but as a worker of the sea. The vessel he inherits is worn, with its crew divided and its purpose blurred—hic tamen fluctuat, which is enough for now.’
A new exhibition titled Forever Forward opens in Vienna’s Josephinum Museum, celebrating the life and groundbreaking research of Hungarian scientist Katalin Karikó, co-developer of mRNA vaccines and a symbol of resilience in scientific discovery.
Hungary is the first country to host leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) for a summit as an Observer State, as opposed to a Member State of the organization. The event hosted by Prime Minister Orbán will be taking place on 20–21 May in Budapest.
‘I look forward to working together on strengthening the cooperation between Hungary and Romania,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote in his congratulatory post to Romanian President-elect Nicușor Dan. The Bucharest mayor won by a landslide in Hungarian-majority counties, with more than 90 per cent of voters in Harghita casting their ballots for him on Sunday.
After premiering on Max on 16 May, The Brutalist soared to number one on HBO’s US Top 10 and remains there as of Monday. The critically acclaimed drama follows László Toth, a Jewish Hungarian architect portrayed by Adrien Brody in an Oscar-winning performance.