‘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.’
‘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.’
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, fresh from nearly an hour-long private meeting with Vladimir Putin in Beijing, announced he will deliver a ‘very serious message’ to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Fico’s role echoes Viktor Orbán’s earlier peace missions, though the Slovak leader emerges at a moment when Putin insists no peace is possible without addressing NATO expansion.
What is the relationship between the Romanian and Hungarian governments like, and what role does the RMDSZ play in it? Can Szeklerland be granted autonomy? And why does Romania support Ukraine? We spoke with Romanian foreign policy analyst and former presidential adviser Iulian Chifu in Tusványos.
Another AfD candidate has died ahead of NRW’s local elections—the fourth such case in recent months. Ralph Lange’s sudden death in Blomberg has fuelled speculation, after economist Stefan Homburg called the coincidences ‘statistically almost impossible’, a view amplified by Elon Musk.
‘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.’
Hungarian authorities are launching a new nationwide drug prevention programme targeting schools, warning that traffickers have begun infiltrating educational institutions. The initiative, backed by police and civil groups, starts in September.
As peace talks gain momentum, Russia demands Ukrainian neutrality and security guarantees from global powers, including UN Security Council members. China, despite denying plans for peacekeepers, remains open to diplomatic involvement, aligning with Xi Jinping’s earlier principles for ending the war.
‘Even iron cannot resist time, and so it is with man. If put to work, it wears down; if left lying on the ground, rust consumes it. Since we must perish either way, it is a hundred times better to wear out than to rust away.’
‘Just days after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared a Zeitenwende—a historic turning point—in the Bundestag, pledging greater support for Ukraine and a significant strengthening of Germany’s armed forces…Yet, despite ambitious plans and ongoing modernization efforts, the proclaimed turning point fell short of delivering the sweeping, immediate changes…’