Budapest faces a worsening drug crisis, with drugs cheaper and more accessible than ever, warns Alexandra Szentkirályi, leader of the Fidesz–KDNP faction in the capital city’s municipal assembly warned in a video posted on social media. She expressed harsh criticism of the city’s drug strategy, describing it as ‘pro-drug’ and covert drug liberalization, urging an immediate overhaul.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri on charges of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the decision, stating that Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits Hungary.
‘Europe must break out of this echo chamber, find its place in its relationship with Asia, and recognize that it is part of the Eurasian region. It must leverage all the advantages this position offers, because without doing so, we cannot compete with other global power centres,’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned at the Eurasia Forum in Budapest.
‘It’s nice that a relatively small Central European country like Hungary could be in some ways a sort of laboratory for these kind of family policy experiments so that we could identify which policies had the most significant impact and which ones fell short of delivering the expected results,’ Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Jay W Richards highlighted in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
A newly published book unveils the rich history of Budapest’s iconic Várkert Bazaar. Chronicling its construction, transformation, and restoration, the book celebrates a landmark that has become a vibrant cultural and diplomatic centre. While you may not be able to read the book as for now it is only available in Hungarian, remember: if you happen to be in Budapest during the winter holidays, the Várkert Bazar is a must see!
‘The fact that the Ukrainians are both stretched out and exhausted, foreseeing their eventual defeat on the battlefield to the Russians, the use of ATACMS will extend the war into next year, at least until when Donald Trump takes over the reins in Washington. The new president would thus be historically blamed for losing Ukraine to our old Soviet adversary.’
The National Media and Infocommunications Authority’s Internet Hotline has made combating online abuse a priority with its autumn campaign, focusing on intimate image exploitation, grooming, and cyberbullying. This year’s campaign, supported by influencers like Pamkutya and the Mélylevegő Project, effectively reached younger audiences via social media and video-sharing platforms.
As Christmas approaches, experts warn of heightened cybercriminal activity and increasing online fraud. Representatives from financial, law enforcement, and victim support organizations highlighted the growing risks and prevention strategies at a conference in Budapest.
‘Trump 2.0 is a huge opportunity. Of course there are risks. Of course there will be things the administration does which I will disagree with. But the big picture is what matters. His victory is a victory for conservative forces across the world, a victory for foreign policy realism and for getting our means in line with resources.’
The Court of Justice of the European Union began its hearing on Hungary’s child protection law this week. Hungary faces opposition from 16 EU member states and the European Commission, which have labelled the law as ‘anti-LGBTQ’. A ruling against Budapest could carry significant and unforeseen implications for the future of the European Union.
‘I arrived in Hungary in September 2011…In the meantime, I visited Eger, Lake Balaton, Szekszárd, and Tokaj. It was then that I visited the Disznókő (Pigstone) vineyard in the Tokaj wine region for the first time, not suspecting of course that I would one day work with them. Anyway, I liked the wines and the Tokaj cellars…Today, one of my favourite styles of wine is Tokaji Aszú.’
Balázs Orbán, the political director to the Hungarian prime minister, has penned a detailed opinion piece on the achievements of the Hungarian EU presidency thus far. And there have been plenty: the successful hosting of two Budapest summits, the adoption of the Budapest Declaration, and the expansion of the pro-peace camp—all of which Hungary has influenced directly or indirectly.
Katalin Moldovai’s first feature film, Without Air, garnered both the Youth Jury Award and the prestigious Golden Debut prize at the 3Kino Festival in Prague, a showcase for the latest films from the Visegrád countries.
‘The EU can draw inspiration from global leaders like the United States and China. Both nations are integrating economic growth with environmental sustainability—whether through the American Inflation Reduction Act or the latest iteration of China’s Five-Year Plan. These strategies emphasize harmony between development and sustainability. The EU should adopt a similar approach.’
The World Science Forum (WSF) 2024 begins today in Budapest, focusing on the intersection of science and policy amidst global transformations. Hosting nearly 500 scientists and policymakers from over 100 countries, the event features discussions, awards, and exhibitions.
A new exhibition, Rubik 80/50 — Fifty Years of Magic, has opened in New York’s TriBeCa district. Celebrating 50 years of the Rubik’s Cube and its inventor Ernő Rubik’s 80th birthday, the exhibit offers a dynamic journey through the legacy of a global icon.
Rejecting Balázs Orbán’s PhD thesis based on his political affiliation is akin to barring a qualified athlete from competing in the Olympics solely because of their worldview.
‘Sovereign conservatism has a moral duty to prioritize what is best for your own people. If you are not strong enough to defend your position, you are not sovereign,’ Balázs Orbán stated. The political director to the Hungarian prime minister made this remark while participating in a conference hosted by the Danube Institute focusing on the foreign policy implications of a second Donald Trump presidency.
Energy markets, trade dynamics, and technological innovation are at the forefront of global economic concerns. The second panel of the Trump 2.0 event organized by the Danube Institute brought together experts to discuss expectations on how Trump’s second term might impact economy and trade policies.
‘One of the reasons Americans re-elected Donald Trump, aside the crisis at the southern U.S.–Mexican border and the economy, was a sense of a degradation of our patriotism with identity politics vis-à-vis LGTBQ+ and Black Lives Matter agendas, to name just a couple. Any private or public disagreement instantaneously labeled one as a fascist “anti-American”. This was a failed political tactic, which the Democratic Party and most media thought would win over, by patronizing them, those they referred to as “discriminated” and “marginalized”’.
From NATO dynamics to the conflict in Ukraine and the volatile Middle East, the re-election of Donald Trump raises pivotal questions about the trajectory of international relations. In a thought-provoking event organized by the Danube Institute, experts discussed what we can expect in the future of the US foreign policy.
In recognition of her accomplishments in organizing the feminist Congress in Budapest, Schwimmer was asked to join the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in its London office as a press secretary. Soon after her arrival to the United Kingdom World War I broke out, where Hungary and the UK found themselves in opposing trenches. Shaken by the news of war, Schwimmer committed herself to bringing together feminist and pacifist leaders to stop the bloodshed.
‘If the US prioritizes its own interests, which is understandable, the EU must adopt a similar stance. Should Brussels focus on advancing external economic agendas, Europe risks falling behind in the race for prosperity and progress,’ Hungarian Ministerial Commissioner Bernadett Petri warned in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
An in-depth interview with German teacher Gergely Tóth, who went to the University of Berkeley, California 26 years ago for a doctoral program, then soon became immersed in local Hungarian community life. Since then, his voluntary work has extended from making oral history interviews to photographing objects and markers on four continents and collecting archival material of the Hungarian diaspora.
The BudapestGO app is set to become more user-friendly with new features, including streamlined access to schedules, a dark mode option, and improved in-app communication. The improvements to BudapestGO are part of the ongoing efforts of the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) to assess user satisfaction and implement updates that reflect customer needs.
‘Persecution based on one’s ethnicity is unacceptable in any form, whether directed at Jews or anyone else. However, when this persecution is carried out by foreign groups arriving illegally, exploiting state resources, and disregarding our laws and culture, every fellow European should be outraged.’
Recently Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was awarded the Supreme Order of the Turkic World. As he highlighted in his speech, the relationship between Hungary and the Turkic nations is not a thing of the past ‘but a living relationship’. Budapest’s trade with Turkic countries having exceeded 5 billion USD testifies to that.
No-till farming is more than an erosion control method—it’s a gateway to improved soil health, enhanced water retention, and healthier food production. Former Hungarian President and Chairman of the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation János Áder and agricultural expert Ferenc Berend discussed this transformative technique on the Blue Planet podcast.
An outdoor photo exhibition titled Photo Trail has opened at Budapest’s City Park Promenade, showcasing Hungary’s rich wildlife. Targeting children, the exhibit features 81 stunning images selected from the Hungary 365 photography competition entries.
‘Ultimately, COP29 will likely reaffirm what we’ve long known about global climate diplomacy: nations, despite their collective rhetoric, will prioritize their own interests. For wealthier countries in the Global North, the climate agenda offers an opportunity to entrench their geopolitical and economic dominance under the guise of green leadership.’