Hungarian animated documentary Pelikan Blue, directed by László Csáki, won Best Feature Film at the 32nd Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, marking another international success for the nostalgic, real-life story of freedom and forgery.
A spy war has erupted between Hungary and Ukraine, with both countries expelling diplomats amid allegations of espionage and political subversion. At home, Hungarian officials now suspect the opposition’s actions—including a controversial leak by Péter Magyar—may be tied to Ukrainian intelligence efforts to destabilize Prime Minister Orbán’s government.
Polish MP Dariusz Matecki has issued an appeal to the Hungarian people, warning them not to fall victim to the same ‘Eurocratic’ takeover that destroyed Polish sovereignty. In an open letter posted on X, Matecki—currently facing politically charged prosecution in Poland—urged Hungarians to resist EU interference in the parliamentary elections in 2026.
‘Rasso (also known as Rath) comes from the world of legend, as the Bavarian leader who repeatedly defeated the Hungarians and who, at the end of his life, went on a pilgrimage and founded a monastery…his tomb became a popular pilgrimage site even without official canonization, with a register of miracles kept between 1444 and 1728 recording more than 12,000 miraculous healings.’
‘The name “Leo” is a name rooted in tradition. The first Pope Leo, St. Leo the Great, who reigned from 440 to 461, was a contemporary of St. Augustine of Hippo and is known for his zeal for the unity of the Church and orthodoxy, as well as his affirmation of the Petrine primacy and the restoration of ecclesiastical discipline.’
‘At the next meeting, the recruit brought 35 names, but aside from the list, he provided no descriptions of them whatsoever—even their ages were given only approximately. For some, he didn’t even write out the full name.’
As global urbanization and demographic shifts reshape societies, generational labels like Gen Z and Baby Boomer attempt to explain cultural divides. Yet these terms often fail to capture the complex, region-specific forces shaping identity, values, and social behaviour in an increasingly interconnected world.
‘This is the essence and political aim of cancel culture that the Democratic Party has carefully crafted. Silence dissenters, promote only the ideas we agree with, and destroy everything else. The result is an anti-intellectual culture of citizens, either unwilling or too afraid to listen to or immerse themselves with ideas they may initially disagree with.’
‘I also loved music and singing, but my very busy parents didn’t notice my talent—they only paid attention to my sister’s beautiful voice. Back in Hungary, before we fled, she studied opera singing with a teacher while attending the Szent László High School in Kőbánya, Budapest. I loved listening to her and longed to have a voice like hers…It was only much later that it turned out I did.’
‘…the ideas of Pál Kecskés on education and pedagogy are fundamentally rooted in Christian social theory, which seeks to envision an ideal society from a Christian perspective. His reflections remain relevant today, in a time when individuals…have perhaps never had a greater need to understand education and formation as inherently social processes.’
In Hungary, students take a so-called ‘érettségi’ (maturity) exam at the end of their high school education, which serves as both their SAT and GED in the American context. These exams take place in early May every year—students are taking their exams as we are writing this article.
On Transport Culture Day this Sunday, BKV and the Hungarian Transport Association invite visitors to the Szentendre Urban Public Transport Museum for a free event featuring simulators, rare vehicles, and educational programmes highlighting safe and sustainable mobility.
Hungary’s top scientific network, HUN-REN, and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) have signed a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration in research, innovation, and education across key technological fields.
At a press conference on Thursday, President Trump revealed that the first country to sign a new trade agreement with the US under his second term is the United Kingdom. Per the new deal, the US will have a baseline tariff of 10 per cent imposed on the UK, with certain exceptions, such as UK-made steel. Meanwhile, the UK will drop its tariffs on US goods from 5.1 to 1.8 per cent.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unveiled an ambitious, anti-war 2026 budget plan focused on protecting Hungarian families, pledging massive spending on pensions, family assistance, and energy price reductions, while introducing further steps to rein in inflation and regulate retail pricing.
Since taking office in December 2023, Donald Tusk has been dismantling the pillars of Poland’s rule of law. While international media have focused on politically charged prosecutions of former officials, one aspect of this vicious campaign remains largely untold: it involves serious rights abuses, psychological torture, and intimidation directed at civil servants.
‘As Alasdair MacIntyre warned in After Virtue (1981), when moral language collapses, only emotion remains. Uncomfortable Truths is a call to restore clarity and courage. Travis Brown’s film reminds us that resisting falsehood begins not with outrage, but with the quiet strength to speak truth when it is most unwelcome.’
White smoke signalled history in the making: the Catholic Church has elected its first American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, emerged from the conclave with a call for peace and dialogue. A veteran of Latin American ministry and Vatican leadership, he inherits a Church reshaped by Pope Francis—and still deeply divided.
As the second Trump administration passed its first 100 days in office, statements by US officials signalled that Washington might withdraw from peace talks in Ukraine due to the lack of tangible progress. But is President Trump truly turning his back on Kyiv and Moscow—and if not, what comes next?
In a significant political and personal development, Ferenc Gyurcsány, former Prime Minister of Hungary and leader of the Democratic Coalition (DK), has announced his resignation from all political positions and his withdrawal from public life. Concurrently, he and his wife, Klára Dobrev, have decided to divorce after nearly three decades of marriage.
Visit Hungary has shared that the 5 millionth foreign tourist of the year arrived in Hungary on 6 May, which is the earliest date to cross that milestone on record. Overall, there has been a 6 per cent increase in the number of foreign tourists year-on-year.
Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has published an audio recording—hyped as capable of toppling the government—featuring Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky discussing the army’s need to prepare for potential conflict. While the recording falls far short of expectations, it reveals much about Magyar himself and how detached from reality he appears to be.
French indie studio Sandfall Interactive’s debut title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has captivated the gaming world, selling over two million copies within 12 days and earning accolades from critics and even President Emmanuel Macron.
Hungarian schools must now display information about the NMHH’s Internet Hotline, helping students and families report harmful online content. The initiative aims to expand awareness of the service through posters and digital resources in institutions.
Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday night, signalling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church. Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the outcome.
India launched airstrikes into Pakistani territory on Wednesday night, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Named ‘Operation Sindoor’, the strike is the most significant cross-border attack since the two nations last went to war—raising fears of a wider conflict in the region.
Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation has presented its annual Oeco-Index, an objective and comprehensive indicator of economic development. According to the index, Hungary ranks 18th in the European Union and 35th globally, outperforming countries such as China, Russia, and Italy.
From 22–24 May, the 9th Night of Artefacts Festival will offer over 100 programmes at 70 locations in Budapest, giving visitors rare access to restoration labs, artist studios, and science-themed exhibitions blending art with innovation.
The Budapest-based think tank Center for Fundamental Rights has listed the five greatest accomplishments of the first 100 days of Presdent Trump’s second term, such as the closing of the border, or dismantling USAID—read more to find out the rest of the list!
Illegal migration to Europe is set to rise further, Hungary’s top security advisor György Bakondi warned, pointing to the return of smuggling gangs at the southern border and highlighting weaknesses in EU border control measures.