The large-scale restoration of Budapest’s Buda Castle District has reached another key milestone, with several historic buildings reconstructed to their original splendour. The government-led Hauszmann Programme continues to revitalize the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Philadelphia Eagles defeated Kansas City Chiefs in an unexpectedly one-sided game on Sunday in New Orleans at Super Bowl LIX. From Donald Trump’s historic attendance at the biggest American sporting event of the year to Kendrick Lamar’s controversial halftime show, we have compiled the most memorable moments of the night.
Hungary’s minimum wage and guaranteed skilled labour wage have increased, directly impacting around one million workers and influencing wages across multiple sectors. The government has outlined a long-term plan for continued wage growth, ensuring a cumulative increase of over 40 per cent in three years.
‘Yesterday, we were the heretics. Today, we are the mainstream. Once, we were dismissed as the past; today, we are the future,’ Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán declared in his speech at the Patriots for Europe (PfE) EP group’s summit in Madrid. Over the weekend the most prominent figures of the European right gathered in the Spanish capital under the banner ‘Make Europe Great Again’ (MEGA) to deliver a clear message to the Western mainstream: they are more than ready to take over Brussels.
The Budapest-based Committee of National Remembrance (NEB) and the Krakow-based Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) held a joint event in Budapest, Hungary on 7 February to commemorate and recant the brutal atrocities committed by the Red Soviet Army during World War II in the two Eastern European countries.
‘Debates connected to the culture war, including even on such amorphous issues as the West’s slide into spiritual nihilism or the loss of its inner will, are directly relevant to international politics and even international security. Western strategic thinkers must take these issues into account just as analysts in Beijing or Moscow do. To do otherwise would be a potentially dangerous mistake.’
‘Whereas in pre-modern Western culture pride and self-respect were derived from involvement in family, community, work and religion, individuals are nowadays left with nothing but their individualism and inner experiences…When this is insufficient, many people attempt to find their salvation…in materialism and consumption, which have become the primary culturally accepted forms of meaning.’
‘The Criminal Code now stipulates that sexual crimes against people under 18 shall never lapse. To make the legal consequences of these heinous crimes even more severe, people convicted of imprisonment for such crimes shall not be released on probation. Perpetrators of these crimes will not be able to obtain parole, reintegration custody, or a certificate of good conduct.’
‘Another important point is that the goal of scouting is character development, not religious education…We’re aware that the world has changed, so expecting every scout to be religious and attend church isn’t realistic. But we do integrate faith in God into our scout work.’
‘The Ministry of Security, like other Eastern European services, kept a tab on almost every workspace and its “characters of interest” through the pervasive use of civilian informants. “Anti-state activity” was not necessarily stifled with apparent repression; the “black car” did not necessarily come for “wrongdoers”, but they were relentlessly bullied into submission by making the everyday life of them and their families unbearable.’
‘Hungary remains a major source of electricity and fuel for Ukraine and has carried out its largest humanitarian operation to date, hosting around one million Ukrainian refugees. Furthermore, the Prime Minister himself has stated that it is in Hungary’s utmost interest to always have a viable Ukraine between Hungary and Russia…’
‘One of the lasting memories of Trajan’s campaign in Dacia is the bridge he built across the Danube to facilitate the march of his armies. The first permanent stone bridge on the Danube was built between Turnu Severin in Romania and Kladovo in Serbia, which was 1127 metres long and designed by the greatest architect of the time, Apollodorus of Damascus origin.’
‘For me, this isn’t about politics. It’s about the young girl who gets up at 5 in the morning for training, hoping that one day her hard work will be enough…This executive order is a step toward ensuring that female athletes—past, present, and future—don’t have to question whether their chances are truly equal.’
‘Across the Atlantic, MAGA eagerly awaits the rise of MEGA, seeing in the European right a responsible and reasonable partner—unlike those who have cooperated with and been funded by the globalist elite. There will likely never be a better moment for MEGA to emerge.’
Hungarian public media is actively participating in this year’s Marriage Week, aiming to reach audiences of all ages. Under the slogan ‘Talk for Your Marriage!’, television and radio channels will feature discussions, expert insights, and personal stories to emphasize the value of commitment and communication in relationships.
A fatal shooting in Brussels’ Anderlecht district on Friday morning, likely linked to a territorial dispute between rival drug gangs, has left one person dead, Belgian prosecutors reported. The incident follows a series of violent clashes in the city, raising concerns over escalating gang-related crime.
Budapest Zoo’s Biodome is set to transport visitors back to the Mesozoic era with a new interactive dinosaur exhibition. Running from mid-February to the end of March, the event will feature life-size animatronic models, VR adventures, film screenings, and expert lectures.
The violent far-left group Antifa attacked the perceived attendees of the commemoration of the siege of Buda two years ago on 10 February 2023. In order to prevent another incident like that from taking place, there will be an increased police presence in Budapest between 6 February and 12 February.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán predicts a strong and prosperous year, promising new opportunities for families and pensioners. Speaking on public radio, he discussed economic support measures, the significance of sovereignty, and his government’s stance on migration and international political influences.
Poland’s Constitutional Court has initiated legal proceedings against PM Donald Tusk and his associates, accusing them of attempting a coup d’état by using executive power to undermine the judiciary, dismantle opposition media, and suppress political opponents. The announcement comes amid the presidential campaign, ahead of one of the most pivotal elections in May—one that will not only determine Poland’s future but also have far-reaching consequences for Europe.
Hungary has been invited to participate in the US development policy review, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations. The US has pledged to end funding for Hungarian opposition groups and revive cooperation on aid for persecuted Christians.
The same author for Vox published the same article comparing President Trump’s ‘authoritarian’ ways of governing to that of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán back in 2018, and another piece about the parallels between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and PM Orbán in 2022. Just last July we reviewed an oddly similar piece by The Atlantic as well.
‘My life very often turned out completely differently than I had planned. History intervened several times; for example, World War II, the final phase of which I experienced in Hungary as a child aged 8–9; the communist dictatorship that followed; and then, the 1956 revolution and freedom fight and its suppression that I had to flee from.’
‘Socialists and liberals are afraid of losing power, and for some time now they have been blaming political opponents for influencing electoral processes or government agendas through external forces. This is indeed what has happened: but it is not the conservatives who have to be blamed; it is the leftists themselves who claim to be acting in the name of a “greater good”.’
In an interview with Fox News, Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó cautioned against underestimating US President Donald Trump’s dealmaking skills concerning the recently announced Gaza plan. Szijjártó drew a parallel to the skepticism that initially surrounded the Abraham Accords, which nonetheless succeeded in bringing a new dimension to life in the Middle East.
The Hungarian government has announced new measures to support pensioners and rural communities, including the expansion of a home renovation programme and the continuation of the 13th-month pension. These initiatives aim to improve living standards and boost economic activity in smaller towns.
Elon Musk asked his 216 million followers on X if his new DOGE agency should ‘audit the IRS’, the US government agency tasked with collecting tax revenue from US residents. Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority voted yes, and Musk seems to take ‘the voice of the people’ seriously, as he demonstrated with the unbanning of Donald Trump on his platform back in November 2022.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has called for urgent reforms to ensure the survival and efficiency of the United Nations. During his visit to New York, he emphasized the need for decentralization, cost-cutting, and a focus on global challenges.
Hungary reaffirmed its commitment to responsible space policy at a space industry event in Budapest, co-organized by the Ministry for National Economy and the European Space Agency. The event focused on space debris and sustainability, bringing together experts, researchers, and industry leaders.
Some of the largest Western mainstream media outlets have been caught red-handed in the growing scandal surrounding USAID, with POLITICO, The New York Times, and others accused of receiving funding from the controversial agency. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for ‘uncovering and putting an end’ to USAID’s foreign interference.