Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was awarded the Hunyadi János Award by the Foundation for a Civic Hungary on Wednesday, with the honour presented by Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. In his speech at the ceremony in Brussels, Orbán urged patriotic forces to reclaim the sovereignty of nation-states, which he argued had been illegally confiscated by the European Union in recent years.
Hungary’s labour market continues to show remarkable strength, surpassing the European Union average in employment rates. In the final quarter of 2024 Hungary ranked sixth in employment among both men and women, reflecting consistent growth since the country’s employment turnaround in 2010.
The Hungarian oil company MOL has announced that they discovered a new oil deposit 4,100 feet (1,250 metres) below ground in Western Hungary, near the village of Somogysámson. The deposit is able to produce up to 1,200 barrels of crude oil per day.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, lasted for two months. Currently, 59 hostages are still awaiting their release as Israel has once again resorted to military action against the terrorist organization.
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary firmly rejects Ukraine’s fast-track EU accession, especially if it comes at the expense of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community. For the past ten years, Kyiv has gradually curtailed the rights of national minorities, including Transcarpathian Hungarians.
‘On the day the US temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine, Kellogg delivered a speech at CFR in Washington, DC. He emphasized that Ukraine had several opportunities to sign the US–Ukraine $500 billion Minerals Deal, including during his visit to Kyiv on 19 February and during Zelenskyy’s last trip to Washington, which is unlikely to be remembered as a successful diplomatic effort.’
‘There is a historic chance for US–Hungary relations to peak, and it depends in no small part on the two leading players. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, in the last two decades, American Democratic administrations have been explicitly hostile towards it…With the US president behind him, Orbán could be much more effective in strengthening his conservative agenda in Brussels, which until now has been an uphill struggle.’
Liu Shaoang secured third place in the 1500m final on the first medal day of the ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing on 15 March, earning China its first medal at the competition. Along with his brother, Liu Shaolin Sándor, he previously represented Hungary on the world stage, making sports history by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2018.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the timeless nature of Hungarian freedom in his speech marking the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849, while also delivering sharp criticism of the European Union and its imperial ambitions. He outlined 12 demands for Brussels, including a call for a ‘Union without Ukraine’.