The Danube Institute’s two-day conference on family formation and demographic decline continued with a panel discussion comparing Hungarian and American policies and perspectives on the issue. Participants agreed that the West faces a civilizational crisis but expressed hope in the Trump administration’s shift—led by Vice President JD Vance—toward a pro-family approach.

‘Maya Kadosh, Israel’s next ambassador to Hungary, has arrived in Hungary…In the coming years, the goal is to place even greater emphasis on strengthening the friendly alliance between the two countries. Welcome, Madam Ambassador!’

Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has criticized the French court ruling that bars Marine Le Pen from running for office, calling it an attempt to deprive citizens of their right to vote. The decision, he argues, weakens French democracy rather than strengthening it.

The Danube Institute’s two-day event dedicated to family formation has started with keynote addresses from Executive Director István Kiss; author and Budapest Fellow Helen Roy; Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, a descendant of the historic Habsburg family; and Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó of Hungary.

Hungary has officially adopted e-cash registers, paving the way for a paperless receipt system. Businesses can start using NAV-approved digital registers from July, bringing lower costs, simplified administration, and eco-friendly transactions.

‘Lovinger explained the weaponization of the federal investigative process, describing how the ONA and other US state bodies had been captured by lawless, self-serving individuals to whom blackmail and corruption were beyond business as usual—they were a method and a system.’

According to POLITICO, Germany’s incoming government plans to call on the European Union to withhold funds and suspend voting rights from member states deemed to be ‘misbehaving’. The news fits into a broader, coordinated campaign by pro-war forces seeking to sideline Hungary—the only country currently standing in the way of the EU’s potential escalation into open conflict with Russia.

French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen was found guilty on Monday of embezzling European Parliament funds and barred from standing in elections for the next five years. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, along with other prominent figures of the European right, expressed solidarity with Le Pen and condemned the conviction.

Retired Hungarian footballer Zsolt Lőw has been appointed as the Head Coach of the German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig on a temporary basis until the end of the season. There, he will be coaching two Hungarian internationals: goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi and centre-back Willi Orbán.

Hungary is laying the groundwork for a national space law and the establishment of a National Space Agency, as part of its commitment to expanding its space industry. The government is also working on updating its space strategy, ensuring Hungary remains a competitive player in the global space economy.

‘The honouraries of Highlights of Hungary represent all walks of life. We often say about ourselves that we are collecting highlights without any categorization. That is because the great message of the project is that everything can be done well. No matter what part of life God has put you in, you are tasked with a duty, and if you like it, you can excel in that’.

Hungary saw continued wage growth in January 2025, with the gross average salary rising to 668,100 forints, marking a 10.4 per cent increase from the previous year. Real wages have now been on an upward trend for 17 consecutive months, helping to improve purchasing power and boost economic confidence.

Hungary’s rising swimming stars shone at the NCAA finals in Washington. Hubert Kós stormed to three gold medals, including a world-record-breaking swim, and helped the University of Texas secure the NCAA team title. Zalán Sárkány retained his title in the 1650-yard freestyle, while Minna Ábrahám broke her school record in the women’s 200-yard event.

The European Commission has approved the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) for 2025–2027, allocating 1.3 billion euros to key technologies that will shape Europe’s future and technological sovereignty. The initiative will support AI development, cybersecurity, and digital skills training.

According to local media reports, President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik is currently in Moscow, where he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Interpol issued a ‘red notice’ for Dodik after he left Bosnia and Herzegovina despite an active federal arrest warrant, having visited Serbia and Israel in the past week.

‘On average, women are having one less child today than they were having in 1990…A country’s population size is being sustained when its total fertility rate reaches 2.1, but more than half of the world’s countries are below this level…In parallel with depopulation, life expectancy is on the increase, resulting in a major transformation of the age structure of societies.’

‘There were agents who tried to submit reports as meaningless as possible to avoid harming anyone, while others fully embraced their role as secret informants. “Viola” clearly belonged to the latter category—she seemed to take pleasure in reporting on her friends and acquaintances…’

‘It’s high time we tell our stories: paint them, etch them, carve them, and turn them into stained glass. The Palace of Culture in Marosvásárhely is a signal of triumph—a beautiful window into the culture of Transylvania and of Hungary. We need a shot of that cultural self-awareness and self-confidence on our side of the pond. We need some stained-glass ballads of our own…’

‘According to Prohászka, in modernity the tradition of earlier, non-atheistic ages does not die out completely, so that modernity, despite its distinctness, also draws on expressions of earlier forms of cultural life. If a positive turn is to be made, this must be grasped first and foremost.’

‘Sometimes, I’ve come across Hungarians in the most unlikely places. For example, I saw an article by a certain Rev. Laszlo LaDany from Hong Kong, who translated from Chinese to English. When I contacted him, it turned out that he had a niece in England whom my uncle and his wife were supporting.’

‘The size and distribution of the economies of the US and the EU, with economies of USD 29 trillion and USD 19 trillion respectively, have an impact on everything, so it is worth bearing these facts in mind at all times, including when the EU and its member states are negotiating more and more disputes with the US.’

Budapest witnessed rare protests in recent days, as demonstrators rallied against what they describe as a ‘Pride-ban’—an amendment to the law on the right of assembly, which imposes stricter conditions on mass events that violate the child protection law. Among the speakers was the infamous German MEP Daniel Freund, who effectively admitted that Brussels has been working for years to oust Viktor Orbán’s government, with the current demonstrations being no exception.

‘Karla’s Choice: A John le Carré Novel by Nick Harkaway (Viking, 2024) has not yet been turned into a screen drama. But it is surely only a matter of time—and when that does happen, Budapest will at last be able to play itself. A strong Hungarian storyline and realistic local detail add extra layers of enjoyment to this accomplished spy thriller.’

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has held a joint press conference with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, where he declared that both Hungary and the Vatican remain committed to pushing for peace in the Russo–Ukrainian war, and to helping persecuted Christians worldwide.

Szeged-based H-Vend Service Ltd has developed smart vending machines that can be managed remotely and operated contactlessly, thanks to EU funding. These high-tech machines feature touchless payments, AI-driven maintenance, and mobile integration, revolutionizing the vending industry.

According to the report by the Times of Malta, the Hungarian OTP Bank is the most likely bidder to acquire HSBC Malta, a subsidiary of the British multinational banking and financial services company HSBC. HSBC Malta currently has a market cap of around €550 million.

The Hungarian Institute of International Affairs presented its comprehensive study on the potential consequences of fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the European Union at a panel discussion organized by Mathias Corvinus Collegium. Experts agreed that the EU must identify alternative means of supporting Ukraine’s stabilization and long-term development beyond full membership.

Highlights of Hungary, the initiative that honours outstanding achievements by Hungarians in all walks of life, has held a celebratory event to officially kick off its 12th season. Just like in the years prior, five famous ambassadors will nominate their candidates for the awards that will be given out at the end of the season, in October this year.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused opposition parties of engaging in a ‘competition of provocations’ ahead of next year’s elections. Speaking on public Kossuth Radio, he addressed topics ranging from rural development and economic measures to European security and Hungary’s stance on war.

The Hungarian Defence Forces have expanded their arsenal with new Leopard 2A7HU tanks, Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, and thousands of modern firearms, reinforcing the country’s military capabilities. The latest additions were announced by the Minister of Defence on Friday.