‘In recent years, relations between Middle Eastern and Central European countries have become increasingly close in the fields of investment, renewable energy, education, and technological cooperation. Under the “Eastern Opening” policy of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, ties were significantly strengthened with non-Western countries…’

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in his annual address at the Bálványos Summer Free University, known as Tusványos, warned of the growing threat of a potential world war. He also outlined Hungary’s neutrality doctrine, comprising five key pillars aimed at keeping the country out of armed conflict.

In its ‘Beyond the Óperencia’ series, Magyar Krónika is looking at the meeting points of America and Hungary, and at Hungarians in America, from penniless peasants to political emigrants and soldiers of fortune. In this part, let’s look at the adventurous life of Sándor Asbóth, a Hungarian emigrant, who came to a tragic end.

The 2025–2026 season of the Hungarian football league has just started: Újpest FC beat Diósgyőr 3–1 at home in the first game, with a great performance from Újpest striker Krisztofer Horváth.

At Tusványos 2025, leaders of Hungarian communities gathered to discuss ethnic minority rights, diaspora engagement, and regional geopolitics. From Ukraine’s demographic crisis to Serbia’s improving ties with Hungary, the National Policy Roundtable highlighted shared struggles and progress, featuring Deputy Prime Ministers Zsolt Semjén of Hungary and Barna Tánczos of Romania.

A united European army remains an illusion, argued Hungarian and regional experts at Tusványos. Citing historical, political, and structural obstacles, panellists instead urged member states to focus on NATO, develop national defence industries, and prepare for a shifting global security landscape.

‘But even if the numbers were accurate, one must ask: Is high consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs really something Hungary should aspire to? And this leads us to another fundamental weakness of the AIC indicator: it assumes that all consumption is inherently good.’

Hungary and France are expanding their cooperation across nuclear energy, defence, and agricultural policy, with strong alignment on national sovereignty and opposition to EU budget plans that would reduce support for European farmers.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described the Tusnádfürdő event as a welcome political escape and announced he would unveil key elements of Hungary’s long-term strategy, while also expressing sharp opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership and criticizing Brussels.

Szeged’s Botanical Garden welcomes visitors this weekend with the Lotus Days festival, showcasing Central Europe’s largest blooming Indian lotus population alongside a colourful mix of Asian music, dance, crafts, and cultural programmes.

Hungary’s quest to make history in men’s water polo fell just short, as the national team lost 15–13 to Spain in the World Aquatics final in Singapore. Despite a late-game lead, Zsolt Varga’s squad could not hold off the reigning European champions. A win would have secured Hungary a record fifth world title—cementing its legacy as water polo’s undisputed giant.

Former US Ambassador to Hungary has published an opinion piece in The New York Times, comparing the supposed authoritarian power grab by President Trump to that of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary—certainly not the first such piece in a Western mainstream media publication. Bryan Leib has responded.

On 14 September, Szeged will host the E Street Parade, Hungary’s largest e-mobility event, featuring cutting-edge electric vehicles, extreme race cars, and insights into the future of sustainable transport, all in a dynamic, family-friendly setting.

As the war in Ukraine drags on, experts at Tusványos warned that a definitive peace is unlikely. Panellists debated whether the conflict will freeze like others in the post-Soviet space, and what that means for Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future.

Budapest welcomed 10 per cent more tourists during the week of headline concerts by Guns N’ Roses, Jennifer Lopez, and Lionel Richie, with hotel occupancy and local guest numbers also seeing a major spike, according to Visit Hungary.

The Ukrainian legislature fast-tracked a new bill that would put the Ukrainian independent anti-corruption agencies under the purview of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, an appointee by President Zelenskyy. The move sparked concerns over conflicts of interest—people took to the streets to protest in Ukraine, and EU officials have spoken out about it as well.

‘In an age where a phone tells better time than any Rolex, watches are thriving—not despite their obsolescence, but because of it. They are beautiful, technical, embodied objects in an abstract and disposable world. They are the final adornment, the last private ritual, the culture of time made visible—and kept close to the skin.’

The US has returned a priceless 17th-century manuscript stolen from Budapest to Hungary. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the gesture a milestone in cultural restitution and praised the renewed Hungarian–American partnership.

At a panel discussion at Tusványos 2025, Hungarian MP Zsolt Németh shared his hopes on how the second Trump administration could bring about ‘Pax Americana 2.0’. This and other important questions were discussed by him, Carlos Roa, Botond Csoma, and Zsolt Szilágyi.

Will Brussels dictate the future of Europe, or can member states reclaim control? A high-profile panel at Tusványos, including Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Bóka and Rod Dreher, criticized the EU’s centralization drive, arguing that the European Commission now holds more power than many national governments.

At Tusványos 2025, global thinkers from all around the world, from Lebanon, the UK, and Hungary, discussed the decline of liberalism and rise of post-liberal democracy. Speakers like Balázs Orbán, Lord Frost, and Philip Pilkington argued that Western liberalism failed to deliver its promises, while others stressed the need to protect traditional values.

Hungary has refused to comply with the EU’s migrant quota system, citing national security concerns and growing public dissatisfaction across Europe. György Bakondi warned that Brussels’s approach ignores the realities faced by member states.

‘Bilateral relations between the United States and Hungary have swiftly moved forward and considerably improved since Trump returned to office on 20 January 2025…This is consistent with Trump’s emerging second-term foreign policy, which prioritizes realist engagement with other countries based on shared interests.’

Hungary has issued its largest-ever sovereign bond in China, raising 5 billion renminbi on the domestic Chinese market. The deal drew strong investor demand and supports Hungary’s financial reserves amid global uncertainty.

‘Russian responsibility in this failure is becoming increasingly clear,’ said Zsolt Németh, referring to the failed peace talks in Ukraine during the opening of the 34th Bálványos Summer Free University. At the same event, State Secretary for National Policy Lőrinc Nacsa also delivered remarks, emphasizing that the Hungarian government stands for Hungarians both beyond and within its borders.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD remains fully committed to its factory project in Szeged, Hungary, and has not altered its production plans, government commissioner István Joó confirmed in response to recent media speculation.

Two Hungarian films—Orphan by László Nemes and Silent Friend by Ildikó Enyedi—have been selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, marking a rare dual presence for Hungarian cinema at the prestigious event.

The Hungarian men’s water polo team defeated reigning Olympic champions Serbia in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Singapore, taking a crucial step towards making history by aiming to secure a record fifth world title—an achievement no other country has managed. In the final, the men’s team will face Spain, while the Hungarian women’s team will take on Greece on Wednesday.

Artificial intelligence is transforming tasks rather than wiping out jobs, and younger generations are leading its adoption. A recent survey shows over half of 18–29-year-olds in Hungary already use AI in work or studies, mostly via ChatGPT.

Hungarian families with children spend far more on telecom services than childless households, mainly due to increased use of streaming and mobile subscriptions, according to the latest survey by the National Media and Communications Authority.