Ukraine’s issues with systemic corruption in its government and the deficiencies of its public administration prevent it from meeting the criteria for EU accession, and this will likely remain the case in the foreseeable future, a new study from the Center for Fundamental Rights finds. Ukraine’s premature accession hurts both Hungarian and European interests, the paper also warns.
Despite Hungary taking the lead, and two great headers from Barnabás Varga, Hungary have lost to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 3–2 at home. However, with Ireland also losing in Armenia, Hungary are still well positioned to take second place, and have their chance in the play-offs to win World Cup qualification for the first time in 40 years.
With President Trump’s executive order last week, the United States officially has a Department of War again, for the first time since 1947. On that occasion, let’s take a look at the most famous men to serve in the office of Secretary of War before the incumbent Pete Hegseth.
‘Discussions about returning to a gold-based currency system have become even more pertinent as the BRICS nations are admittedly trying to end their reliance on the US dollar as the global reserve currency.’
‘Antisemitic hatred, both online and offline, impacts not only Jewish communities abroad but also Israel’s security. The drastic rise in hate crimes requires comprehensive institutional protection.’
Prime Minister François Bayrou of France has lost the vote of no confidence he called on himself, with the motion passing 364–194, triggering the collapse of the government. He served for less than a year in office. The leader of the left-wing La France Insoumise party has also called on President Emmanuel Macron to resign.
Poland’s 2023 election is a warning for Hungary in 2026, as Péter Magyar and his TISZA Party follow the same globalist path as Donald Tusk, risking unpopular policies such as higher taxes, new research from the Hungarian-Polish Freedom Institute claims.
Krisztián ‘Krúbi’ Horváth has told his audience: ‘After we hang him, I’ll give a healing kiss to his belly’ at his concert in Budapest, Hungary, referring to PM Orbán. Previously, another Hungarian hip hop artist staged a mock assassination at one of his concerts, while opposition candidate Péter Magyar had sung about imprisoning Fidesz politicians instead of answering a reporter’s questions.
Hungary were up two goals in the first 15 minutes away from home in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland. However, after a red card for goal scorer Roland Sallai, Ireland managed to equalize in the 93rd minute, making it 2–2 and eventually tying the eventful game.
PM Viktor Orbán praised Hungary’s Home Start mortgage programme, calling it a success for young buyers, before slamming TISZA’s plans to increase the income tax. Branding candidate Péter Magyar “Little Rooster”, Orbán warned of chaos within the opposition TISZA party and urged Hungarians to resist their tax hikes with 219 days until elections.
The stock price of the American clothing and accessories retailer American Eagle jumped a remarkable 37.96 per cent after CEO Jay L Schottenstein announced that the sales generated from its ad campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney have ‘exceeded expectations’. At the time of its release, marketing experts denounced it for its lack of diversity.
MCC Brussels warns the EU is twisting opinion polls to justify more central power. The latest Eurobarometer shows ‘support’ for new EU revenues, but critics say the biased survey masks the truth: citizens weren’t asked if they’d actually accept higher taxes in exchange.
A recent piece by The Wall Street Journal points out that right-wing populist parties are leading the polls in all three of the largest European economies: Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement national in France, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the United Kingdom, and Alice Weidel’s Alternative für Deutschland in Germany. What is behind this phenomenon?
Hungary’s FM Péter Szijjártó defended his recent Beijing visit, stressing bloc forming harms Hungary’s interests. He urged East-West cooperation, citing Hungary’s success as a bridge between economies. He highlighted Chinese investment, noting Hungary drew 31 per cent of Europe’s total last year, calling ties a ‘true success story’.
Talk of the Democratic Party’s extinction has surged since Trump’s 2024 win, fueled by party registration drops and the looming census set to take away electoral votes from blue states. But history shows that, since 1856, both Democrats and Republicans have survived long losing streaks, electoral setbacks, and predictions of demise—proving that in US politics, fortunes can shift fast.
American education entrepreneur Jeremy Wayne Tate has recently taken to the social media platform X, and called for Hungary’s income tax exemption for mothers to be implemented in his home country of the United States as well.
At a campaign event, TISZA Party Vice Chair Zoltán Tarr said: ‘I won’t tell you everything, because if I did, we would fail,’ referring to the party’s plans. TISZA’s PM candidate, Péter Magyar, urged journalists to hear the full context—then admitted he hadn’t listened to the full discussion himself.
Hungary launched its Home Start home ownership programme, offering fixed 3-per-cent mortgages with just a 10-per-cent down payment required. Eligible first-time buyers rushed to apply, with thousands filing on day one. Officials hailed the record demand, as banks competed with discounts and extended hours to meet the surge.
At the Tranzit Festival, Director General for the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó and Hungarian Ambassador to the United States in Washington, DC Szabolcs Takács have discussed opposition leader Péter Magyar’s candidacy for Prime Minister in Hungary; as well as US–Hungary relations under the presidency of Donald Trump.
Hungarian National Team captain Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning free-kick goal from 32 yards out for Liverpool in a crucial league game against Arsenal in the English Premier League over the weekend. That goal ultimately decided the game for defending champions Liverpool, who won 1–0.
‘When people raise the flag, they are not only showing love for their country—they are also raising a flag about concerns that political elites have long ignored. From the failures of multiculturalism and the impact of uncontrolled immigration to the double standards in policing, ordinary citizens in England are using this symbol to say: enough is enough,’ Professor Frank Furedi has opined.
A 22-year-old man identifying as a woman opened fire at around 200 children from Annunciation Catholic School attending mass at their church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children, aged eight and ten, were killed, while 17 others were injured. The shooter killed himself on the scene.
Ferencváros fell agonizingly short of the Champions League, beating Qarabağ 3–2 in Baku after losing the home tie, but still losing 5–4 on aggregate. Goals from Joseph, Varga, and Tóth sparked hopes of a miracle comeback, yet a late save denied the equalizer. Fradi still get to play in the Europa League this season.
Famed American political commentator Dave Rubin was one of the featured speakers at CPAC Hungary 2025 back in May. Now, he has released a documentary about his second visit to Budapest, Hungary, on his popular YouTube channel.
According to an internal memo obtained by the Hungarian news site Index, the opposition party TISZA is planning to implement a three-bracket, progressive tax system if elected in next year’s Hungarian parliamentary elections. MP for the governing Fidesz party István Hollik has reacted to the leak.
Sándor Wekerle served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary in three non-consecutive terms between 1892 and 1918, in the dual monarchy era of Hungarian history. He was the first man who did not come from a noble ancestry to serve as Prime Minister. Today is the 104th anniversary of his death.
Hungary is emerging as a top European tourist destination, with 8.2 million visitors in H1 2025 generating 18.9 million nights, as reported by the tourism industry news site Travel and Tour World. Budapest draws crowds with its baths and nightlife, while rural areas and wine regions grow.
According to the Cook Political Report, the Republican Party is favoured in many more Congressional races in the 2026 midterm elections than the Democrats, 215 against 202. If President Trump’s party were to be able to hold onto their majority in the House, it would defy the trend for midterm elections in the 21st century.
On 23 August, Europe observes the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes. The European Network Remembrance and Solidarity’s (ENRS) campaign ‘Remember. 23 August’ highlights intergenerational trauma and courage in the face of oppression, offering expert insights, short films, and educational resources.
Bryan Leib, Senior Fellow at the Center for Fundamental Rights, has recently posted to X, advocating that the proposed trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and President Putin of Russia should take place in Budapest, Hungary.