István Kovács from Nagykároly (Carei), Romania, will be officiating this year’s UCL final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale. He is the fourth ethnic Hungarian to referee the premier European club competition’s final, after Károly Palotai (twice, in 1976 and 1981), Sándor Puhl (1997), and, most recently, Viktor Kassai (2011).

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned that, although no one dares to say it, the war in Ukraine is essentially lost. He made the statement at the Conference of Presidents of the European Union Parliaments, held in the National Assembly in Budapest.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony has dismissed BKV CEO Tibor Bolla following media reports linking him to individuals accused of organized tax fraud. The decision comes amid concerns over public trust and corporate integrity.

‘This is the case with respect for human dignity, the “right to life”, and the prohibition of eugenics. After the Second World War, states wanted to give these principles international legal force. They were formulated in particular in response to Aktion T4, the programme of euthanasia of thousands of disabled people under the Nazi regime in Germany.’

The Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) posted the video of the arrest of the Serbian man apprehended at the southern border. He was caught with over five kilograms (11 pounds) of heroin and methamphetamine.

The Hungarian Ministry of Defence has symbolically adopted two lynxes at the Budakeszi Wildlife Park—linking military identity with nature conservation and education, while highlighting parallels between wildlife and the army’s modern Lynx combat vehicles.

The United States and China have reached an agreement described by the White House as a ‘historic trade win’ for the American people, rolling back both tariffs and non-tariff barriers in bilateral trade. The deal, which will take effect on 14 May, will reduce tariffs on US products exported to China to 10 per cent, and on Chinese products entering the US to 30 per cent.

The Washington Post recently ran an article in which it details how LGBT pride march organizers in the United States are facing major gaps in their budgets for this year’s events, as corporate funding has significantly slowed under the second Trump administration.

The 21st March of Life took place in Budapest on Sunday, with participants walking from the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial to the Várkert Bazaar. This year’s commemoration was marked by a somber reflection on current threats to Jewish communities worldwide.

A spy war has erupted between Hungary and Ukraine, with both countries expelling diplomats amid allegations of espionage and political subversion. At home, Hungarian officials now suspect the opposition’s actions—including a controversial leak by Péter Magyar—may be tied to Ukrainian intelligence efforts to destabilize Prime Minister Orbán’s government.

Polish MP Dariusz Matecki has issued an appeal to the Hungarian people, warning them not to fall victim to the same ‘Eurocratic’ takeover that destroyed Polish sovereignty. In an open letter posted on X, Matecki—currently facing politically charged prosecution in Poland—urged Hungarians to resist EU interference in the parliamentary elections in 2026.

In Hungary, students take a so-called ‘érettségi’ (maturity) exam at the end of their high school education, which serves as both their SAT and GED in the American context. These exams take place in early May every year—students are taking their exams as we are writing this article.

Hungary’s top scientific network, HUN-REN, and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) have signed a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration in research, innovation, and education across key technological fields.

At a press conference on Thursday, President Trump revealed that the first country to sign a new trade agreement with the US under his second term is the United Kingdom. Per the new deal, the US will have a baseline tariff of 10 per cent imposed on the UK, with certain exceptions, such as UK-made steel. Meanwhile, the UK will drop its tariffs on US goods from 5.1 to 1.8 per cent.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unveiled an ambitious, anti-war 2026 budget plan focused on protecting Hungarian families, pledging massive spending on pensions, family assistance, and energy price reductions, while introducing further steps to rein in inflation and regulate retail pricing.

White smoke signalled history in the making: the Catholic Church has elected its first American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, emerged from the conclave with a call for peace and dialogue. A veteran of Latin American ministry and Vatican leadership, he inherits a Church reshaped by Pope Francis—and still deeply divided.

In a significant political and personal development, Ferenc Gyurcsány, former Prime Minister of Hungary and leader of the Democratic Coalition (DK), has announced his resignation from all political positions and his withdrawal from public life. Concurrently, he and his wife, Klára Dobrev, have decided to divorce after nearly three decades of marriage.

Hungarian schools must now display information about the NMHH’s Internet Hotline, helping students and families report harmful online content. The initiative aims to expand awareness of the service through posters and digital resources in institutions.

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday night, signalling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church. Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the outcome.

India launched airstrikes into Pakistani territory on Wednesday night, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Named ‘Operation Sindoor’, the strike is the most significant cross-border attack since the two nations last went to war—raising fears of a wider conflict in the region.

Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation has presented its annual Oeco-Index, an objective and comprehensive indicator of economic development. According to the index, Hungary ranks 18th in the European Union and 35th globally, outperforming countries such as China, Russia, and Italy.

Illegal migration to Europe is set to rise further, Hungary’s top security advisor György Bakondi warned, pointing to the return of smuggling gangs at the southern border and highlighting weaknesses in EU border control measures.

‘Perhaps we will feel the Holy Spirit working in the Sistine Chapel,’ Cardinal Péter Erdő said in a video message posted on Facebook. The Archbishop of Esztergom and Budapest addressed believers as the College of Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope.

In a reversal of last year’s U.S. campaign outreach to Polish Americans, Polish presidential hopeful Karol Nawrocki is now courting Washington. His meeting with President Trump signals a rare, quasi-endorsement of a foreign candidate—one that’s ignited controversy back home amid claims of lawfare and foreign interference.

Hungary is safeguarding families and businesses from surging energy prices caused by the EU–Russia disconnect by expanding renewable energy capacity and supporting industrial investment, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said at a Nestlé solar plant opening.

At a press conference with State Secretary for Families Zsófia Koncz and Mária Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS) President Tünde Fűrész, Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó of Hungary stated that, unlike Brussels, the Hungarian government is spending its resources on peace, family, and children, not war.

The Bundestag has elected CDU leader Friedrich Merz as Chancellor of Germany in a second round of voting, following a historic failure to secure an absolute majority in the first round. Falling just six votes short, Merz became the first chancellor-designate in the country’s post-war history to require a second vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that an overwhelming majority of Hungarians—around 70 per cent—support Kyiv’s EU bid, citing an ‘open survey’ conducted by the Hungarian opposition. While this claim is factually incorrect, Zelenskyy also issued a veiled threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, warning him not to block Ukraine’s accession or face consequences.

Hungarians are increasingly confident in their current job stability, yet often underestimate the time and effort needed to find new employment if laid off, a new survey by BNP Paribas Cardif and Medián assessing labour market sentiment reveals.

‘Our Omri is strong and will not break, but his heart is broken. A year and a half and 58 hostages are waiting to be brought back…We will continue to fight until Omri returns to us, and especially to his two daughters who are waiting with all their hearts to hold him again.’