‘Gábor had mentioned that Pontozó is not about point-based scoring. Melinda added: “The festival is not about the competition—it’s about the opportunity to perform and the joy of being together. There will be no rankings, only evaluations, ensuring every participant receives recognition.”’

France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he publicly accused President Macron’s government of failing to stem a dramatic rise in antisemitism. In his letter, he spoke of street assaults, vandalized synagogues, and defaced schools—echoing data showing roughly 1,570 acts in 2024, a historic surge.

‘With external balances improving and domestic demand reawakening, Hungary couples a steady 6.50 per cent base rate with 3 per cent Home Start mortgages to support growth without losing discipline. Clear communication has kept the forint resilient near 400, while Euro adoption remains a realistic, albeit longer-term objective.’

Israel has recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, a 56-year-old hostage of Hungarian origin, from Gaza. Weiss was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack. His wife and daughter, once hostages themselves, were freed last November and later visited Hungary.

‘Climate change does not affect all groups in society equally…women and other marginalized communities often suffer disproportionately from its impacts. This statement applies particularly to countries of the Global South, where some communities are increasingly exposed to climate impacts, which threaten their livelihoods, health, and safety, and further deepens existing gender inequalities.’

‘Hungarian folklore has particularly preserved the memory of Mihály Dobozi, a minor nobleman of Fejér County. Fleeing with his wife, Ilona, his horse faltered beneath the double burden. His wife implored him to kill her rather than allow her to fall into Ottoman hands. Dobozi, with a heavy heart, fulfilled her plea and then fought to the death himself.’

A new flashpoint in Polish–Ukrainian ties emerged after President Karol Nawrocki proposed outlawing Bandera symbols, branding them equal to Nazi insignia. While Warsaw frames the bill as historical justice, Kyiv condemned it as a hostile act, warning of consequences for bilateral relations.