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.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, experts at Tusványos warned that a definitive peace is unlikely. Panellists debated whether the conflict will freeze like others in the post-Soviet space, and what that means for Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future.
‘Beyond the purely political and economic, a strong civilizational synergy remains between the two nations. Hungary and Cambodia share the common fate of being ancient countries undergoing processes of national renewal and self-discovery, with the traumas of Communist anti-historicism—and the temptations of liberal ahistoricism—now largely behind them.’
A new exhibition at the Hungarian Railway Museum in Budapest guides visitors through 200 years of global railway history—from 19th-century British steam engines to modern Japanese bullet trains—marking the bicentennial of public rail transport.
‘…we examined the dimensions of life satisfaction in Hungary, Transylvania, and Upper Hungary among a target group of disadvantaged individuals, primarily of Roma background. The results indicate that financial situation, housing conditions, family and relationship ties, and broader support from family and friends are all associated with levels of satisfaction.’
To curb unjustified price hikes, Hungary’s government and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to voluntarily cap prices on 44 popular over-the-counter and prescription medicines until mid-2026, aiming to protect families and pensioners.
The Zsolnay Light Festival will be held in Pécs between 3 and 6 July this year. Attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year, it has earned its place among Europe’s most prestigious light festivals as the largest light-themed event in Hungary.
Shihoko Goto, Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation, discusses the evolving concept of Indo-Pacific governance, Hungary’s strategic appeal in the region, and the balancing act countries face amid growing US–China competition.