The Star-Spangled Banner, originally titled ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’ was written in this day, 14 September, in 1814 by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. It became the official US national anthem in 1931.

‘Even in December 1989, with the dictatorship collapsing, state television aired rallies staged in Ceaușescu’s support—only to have them interrupted by live images of his downfall. Journalists, tightly bound to the Party, had no autonomy; their function was transmission, not inquiry. The very system designed to preserve his rule ended up revealing…the fragility of a regime built on spectacle.’

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 section, let us go on with the story of Joseph Pulitzer, whose newspaper played a leading role in stirring up readers in the run-up to the Spanish–American War.

The University of Pécs will host nearly 250 free programmes on 26 September for Researchers’ Night, offering spectacular experiments, interactive activities, and access to normally closed research sites, highlighting science’s role in everyday life.

Hungarian schools can apply by 30 September for the 4iG Foundation’s Digital Opportunity Programme, which offers 220 high-performance laptops and teacher training to strengthen digital skills, coding clubs, and student-led projects nationwide.

‘A little-known Hungarian photographer, Balthazar Korab…was the one who perceived and conveyed the symbolic meaning in the World Trade Center, as he did in other iconic works of American modernist architecture. He captured a kind of capitalistic grandeur—if one may call it that—that today, when we view these images and cannot help but think of the terrible outcome, feels ominous and oppressive.’

The 25 nominees for the Highlights of Hungary 2025 have been announced. The nominees were hand-picked by five esteemed ambassadors. Public voting will be taking place between 1 October and 24 October, and the three candidates with the most votes will be awarded at the ceremony on 30 October.

‘A trauma whose effects would trickle down and have devastating repercussions, especially for those who were in the formative years of their childhood when it happened. A trauma that would transform the way an entire generation would socialize and interact with the world for decades to come.’

‘Bulgarian courts, relying also on constitutional jurisprudence, have rightly held that “sex” in the Constitution means biological sex. The Advocate General effectively dismisses this constitutional boundary as irrelevant, subordinating it to freedom of movement and asserting that the “authenticity” of a document lies in its consistency with subjective self-perception.’

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.’

‘In [Ige-mige], readers are confronted with cultural and religious tensions, party strife, infrastructure that can hardly be called rudimentary at all, and the fatal combination of Mediterranean laxity, which then leads to the capricious despotism of bus drivers and endless queues.’

‘Given the sexual curiosity of people today, especially among the youth, there is a pressing need for the Church’s shepherds to speak with clarity on such matters. Regrettably, what we often witness is the ostrich effect at the very best—or rather, the application of the legal maxim: “Qui tacet consentire,” that is: “In their silence, they give consent.”’

‘Archbishop Béla Witz visited me and asked me to bring the Holy Right Hand back to Hungary when we travelled to Salzburg. At first, fulfilling this request seemed impossible. But since I am well aware of what St Stephen’s Day means to Hungary, and how closely the presence of the holy relic is tied to its intimacy, I decided to help.’

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.

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 us continue the story of Joseph Pulitzer, who intervened just in time when the American public and the press were almost on the brink of war.

‘Later that same year, on 11 November, Perényi renewed his oath as Guardian of the Crown at Székesfehérvár, pledging loyalty to both the crown and the retainers stationed in the castle. After Ferdinand’s coronation, the crown was kept at Visegrád. However, in 1529, following the castle’s capture, it fell into the hands of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.’

‘80 years after its publication, the message of the novella seems to have lost none of its relevance. Among the challenges of modern governance around the world, numerous phenomena remind us of the dynamics described by Orwell…The rule of law, autonomous institutions, and transparency are not merely theoretical concepts, but safeguards against autocracy.’

‘Cottee defended cover stories and evasions as part of his work. “Maybe there isn’t a real story at all,” he mused. Hugo Martin wondered aloud if Cottee had found more questions than answers. He admitted that he had, but insisted that the point was to map motives and evasions rather than to hammer out a grand theory.’

Brain Bar 2025 returns to Budapest on 18–19 September, promising two days of world-class speakers and bold debates at the House of Music Hungary. From Ben Lamm’s plans to resurrect the dire wolf to Geoffrey West’s theories on universal growth laws and Tibor Kapu’s insights into space, the festival will explore the future of science, society, and humanity.

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.

‘The Kuomintang (KMT)—sole ruling party of the country during its rule from 1927 to 1949—and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had been engaged in armed conflict since 1927. The warring parties had to halt the hostilities and temporarily unite with each other against Japan’s invasion of China in the Second Sino–Japanese War (1937–1945).’

Hungarian Post has issued a commemorative stamp honouring the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Programme, unveiled on Wednesday in Budapest. Featuring the Csodaszarvas constellation and the motto ‘Hungarian to Orbit 2025’, the stamp celebrates Hungary’s role in space research. Officials highlighted its symbolic power in inspiring future generations and uniting the nation through science.

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.

For the first time in history, a Hungarian has signed with a Major League Baseball team: 16-year-old catcher Márkó Moura will join the San Diego Padres. Hailed as a rising talent with a powerful arm and sharp game sense, Moura continues a family legacy that began when his grandfather introduced baseball to Hungary in the 1990s.

‘Pope Pius X, for us Catholics, is perhaps best remembered for his battle against modernism within the Church when he promulgated his Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907). He is also considered the “Pope of the Eucharist”…Yet, less well known is his crusade for peace and his remarkable political insight, through which he foresaw the outbreak of World War I…years before it erupted.’

‘Historians believe that the find indicates the important role of the region in Central European trade in the Middle Ages, and that the treasure could have been the savings of a merchant who buried it during a time of crisis.’

Foreign tourism at Lake Balaton rose 17 per cent after Hungary’s state holiday, boosted by the return of MotoGP. The race weekend brought fans from across Europe, driving record guest nights and hotel revenues alongside the Zamárdi Strand Festival.