‘No Western country has found a lasting way out of demographic winter. France, once considered the European model for its family-friendly cultural and social policies, has nonetheless seen a decline from 2.0 children per woman in 2010 to around 1.7 in 2023. Sweden and the Nordic countries, long heralded as champions of work–life balance and gender equality, are following the same path…’
‘Hungary, too, was forced to be part of the Soviet bloc when Soviet troops entered the country in 1945. Three years later, the future Cardinal and Primate of Hungary, József Mindszenty, opened the Marian Year to entrust, like King St. Stephen, the fate of Hungary to the intercession of the Blessed Mother…’
India plans to cap air conditioner settings at a minimum of 20°C to ease pressure on its power grid amid surging demand during intense heatwaves. With AC usage driving peak electricity load, the regulation aims to cut energy consumption, improve efficiency, and curb emissions in one of the world’s fastest-growing cooling markets.
‘This is significant because Hungary is uniquely positioned to be an asset to President Trump as he handles another crisis in the Indo-Pacific region: China and its continued threats to militarily invade Taiwan. Hungary is increasingly proving itself to be an indispensable country for China and its overall strategy in Europe, and is becoming increasingly important financially for Taiwan.’
‘Bismarck’s campaign for a “good treaty” with Russia reflected the notion that antagonizing the Russians could be as disastrous as waking a bear from hibernation—an apt metaphor for what the U.S.–NATO expansionist approach eventually did…Bismarck emphasized the urgency of not only respecting Russia’s interests but also recognizing it as a crucial player on the global political stage…’
Budapest’s Art+ Cinema will host a week-long Akira Kurosawa retrospective from 14–20 August, showcasing some of the legendary Japanese director’s most acclaimed films, from Ran and Seven Samurai to Dreams and Dersu Uzala.
‘These Hungarians were among the luckier individuals in Europe. No less than 800 Westerners and Japanese were trucked to strategic locations in Kuwait to serve as human shields. At the same time, thousands of other expats were not allowed to leave the country until almost the end of 1990, when all were released after living on the edge for months.’
After the US–EU trade deal, it is impossible to ignore the striking similarities between late Qing‑era China and Europe’s current predicament. The period marking the downfall of the Qing dynasty is known as China’s Century of Humiliation—a process that, in many respects, is already well underway in today’s Europe. Yet our humiliation must not be allowed to last a century.
‘Every industrial revolution—and we are in the midst of a new one led by the tech aristocracy—goes through motions that breed new speech and social contracts…The real lesson from this debate is for the new tech-right aristocracy to figure out how they want to wield their power to achieve that equilibrium.’
Szeged’s Botanical Garden welcomes visitors this weekend with the Lotus Days festival, showcasing Central Europe’s largest blooming Indian lotus population alongside a colourful mix of Asian music, dance, crafts, and cultural programmes.