Before 2010 the cost of textbook packages increased by 71 per cent over eight years, requiring families to pay more each year. In response to this situation, a decision was made after 2010 to provide free textbooks to everyone through the state textbook development system, which would otherwise cost families 20,000–40,000 forints. Additionally, 80,000 free school supply kits will be distributed to families in need.
The expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone, with ground consolidation for the nuclear island of Unit 6 now underway. According to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, only countries capable of managing their own energy supply can be successful, and the Paks power plant plays a crucial role in ensuring this for Hungary.
From time to time, the left-wing media circulate rumours that the Hungarian government is planning to create single-member constituencies in areas inhabited by Hungarians living beyond the border, such as Transylvania or Carpathia. This time, it was Péter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, who initiated the spread of these false rumours, which the government has repeatedly denied. The left has consistently looked down upon Hungarians living beyond the borders, continually blaming them for their own political failures.
A Syrian migrant due to be deported stabbed three people to death in Solingen, Germany last Friday. On Monday Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the left-wing SPD party visited the site of the tragedy, and vowed to crack down on illegal migration in the country.
Hungary has been proactive in building strong economic ties and investing in energy production in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. Hungarian companies, such as MVM and MOL groups, play a key role in oil production in Kazakhstan and natural gas production in Azerbaijan. Notably, Hungary recently acquired a 5 per cent share in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz natural gas field. The successful operations of Hungarian businesses in these countries, combined with the development of economic and transit projects, have elevated Hungary’s role within the EU as a bridge to these energy-rich nations, enhancing the EU’s access to diversified energy resources.
At the enlistment event Sergeant Ádám Boncz, a recruitment NCO, recalled to the media that the Defence Forces’ campaign titled ‘I Love It, I Protect It!’ was launched on 17 June and has since attracted continuous interest, with more and more citizens opting to join the reserve service of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
In a podcast conversation with his daughter, Mikhaila Peterson, Dr Peterson reacted to the court’s dismissal by stating: ‘I’ll be sitting down with an expert, whatever that means, and they’re going to do whatever it is they think they can do to make me into an entirely different sort of creature than I am. And so I’m sort of morbidly curious about that. Yeah, Jordan Peterson’s reeducation is coming to the airwaves soon.’
While posing as made-up personas for his new documentary Am I Racist?, conservative political commentator Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire was able to get in and conduct interviews at a woke group therapy session, and even at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois last week.
One of Hungary’s largest political festivals, Tranzit, took place again in Tihany over the weekend. Now in its seventh year, the event featured speeches by prominent government politicians such as Péter Szijjártó, Balázs Orbán, and Antal Rogán. While the festival primarily focused on the Hungarian economy, it also addressed crucial issues such as sovereignty, migration, and foreign policy.
The escalation has raised concerns of a broader conflict in the region, as Israel declared a 48-hour state of emergency and placed restrictions on public gatherings and transport across the northern regions. Both sides have signalled that further actions may be taken, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to protect the nation at all costs, while Hezbollah indicated that their response to ‘Israel’s provocations’ was only beginning.
The Nézőpont Institute’s survey found that 69 per cent of Hungarians consider Ukraine’s imposed sanctions unacceptable, and only 22 per cent perceive them as acceptable. Strong disapproval of Kyiv’s move seems to be a sentiment shared across party lines in Hungary.
Most pollsters did a lousy job in 2020 in the United States, most often overestimating the popularity of Joe Biden. This year polls have claimed a Kamala Harris surge since Biden withdrew from the race, with many conservatives now fearing that Trump may be defeated after all by the clearly incompetent, but allegedly popular Democratic candidate. But the numbers recorded in the five battleground states that decided the last election seem to suggest otherwise.
‘Without a sovereign economic policy, Hungary would not be successful,’ Antal Rogán pointed out on the opening day of the Tranzit Festival. The Head of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office discussed the Hungarian family support system, digital citizenship, and the resilience of the Hungarian economy even in times of crisis.
In July 2024 the average number of employed persons aged 15–74 increased by 20,000 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). On the domestic primary labour market, 4.580 million people were employed, 26,000 more than a year earlier.
According to information from the parliament’s press office, Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament László Kövér informed his Indonesian counterpart Puan Maharani about the Hungarian government’s commitment to deepening relations with partners in Southeast Asia with the aim of finding joint answers to global challenges.
According to Eurostat’s August report, Hungary was among the top third of member states in terms of emission reductions in the first quarter of 2024. Hungary managed to reduce its GHG emissions while also increasing its economic performance in the first three months of this year.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary upon the recommendation of Viktor Orbán. Under Vučić’s presidency, relations between the two countries have significantly advanced, as evidenced by the improved situation of Hungarians in Vojvodina, substantial infrastructural developments, and close cooperation in the areas of migration and energy.
The campaign remembers the victims of 20th-century totalitarian regimes in Europe, on the 85th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on 23 August 1939.
At a ceremony welcoming the heads of public education institutions run by district centres Education State Secretary Zoltán Maruzsa highlighted that the government’s new measures are expected to eliminate staff shortages and allow teachers to focus more on their professional duties.
Recent statements by Hungarian government officials suggest that the threat to Hungary’s energy supply is being addressed. In July, Kyiv decided to cut off supplies from Russia’s Lukoil to Hungary. Since then, intensive negotiations have commenced, and Hungarian oil giant MOL now appears to be in a position to guarantee the security of Hungary’s oil supply.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto’s recent remarks voicing concern about the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory have drawn ire from Italian commentators. Under Giorgia Meloni’s leadership Italy has consistently backed Ukraine in both rhetoric and material support. However, her public position also reflects the constraints imposed by her governing coalition, which includes pro-Russia politicians. Meloni’s balancing act requires deft political manoeuvring as she seeks to maintain support for Ukraine while navigating a divided public opinion at home.
An awful lot of rare historical events for one election cycle happened this year in the US, most of which do not favour the incumbent party. Nothing is a better testament to that than the fact that this week in Chicago it will be Vice President Kamala Harris who accepts the nomination, and not President Joe Biden. That is despite President Biden, as billionaire Elon Musk pointed out in a post on his own social media platform X, having been very adamant about staying in the race until just a month ago.
In terms of the volume of electronic sales Hungary is performing well, with 23 per cent of companies’ net revenue derived from online sales, surpassing the EU average of 18 per cent.
Alongside students from 14 other countries, a Hungarian student is participating in a scientific expedition to the Arctic, sponsored by Russia’s Rosatom. The expedition aims to equip participants with a broad range of knowledge about the northernmost region of our planet. On 17 August Levente Varga raised the Hungarian national flag at the North Pole, which he described as the experience of a lifetime.
Since some data indicated that a storm was inbound, a task force gathered to assess whether or not the fireworks show could be safely held. Albeit with an hour delay, it was eventually allowed to move forward, with over 45,000 individual pyrotechnical effects and 1,300 drones entertaining the crowd.
Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér has addressed the European Commission’s concerns regarding the extension of the Hungarian National Cards programme to Russia and Belarus. In a letter sent to Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Pintér emphasized that Belarusian and Russian guest workers arriving in Hungary would undergo thorough screening to ensure compliance with EU regulations and would not pose a threat to the national security of Schengen member states.
During his lecture at the Rákóczi Association’s All-Hungarian University Students’ Camp, Speaker László Kövér told the audience that even the Coronavirus pandemic did not hinder Hungary’s success in ‘cultural life, in defence policy, and in national policy’ in the years between 2012 and 2022. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 did.
The Hungarian economy could grow by 2 per cent this year, a downward revision from the 4 per cent forecast at the end of last year. This adjustment is attributed to the population’s caution in spending, which is only gradually diminishing after last year’s high inflation. Nevertheless, consumption growth is driving the Hungarian economy this year, even though the savings rate remains at a historically high 15 per cent. Márton Nagy noted that while investment and exports are exerting a negative impact on growth, sectors such as retail sales, tourism, and services are contributing positively.
Currently, the robots transporting components for the PPE motor production line cover a total of 131 kilometres per day. The software that monitors this robot fleet was developed with new ideas and solutions contributed by company staff.
Paks are facing the Czech Mladá Boleslav, and Puskás Akadémia are facing the famous Italian team Fiorentina in the play-offs of the Conference League. Meanwhile, Ferencváros are the heavy favourites to beat the Bosnian side Borac Banja Luka and thus reach the newly established league phase of the Europa League.