The EEAS faced criticism over a Pride Month campaign promoting EU support for LGBTIQ+ rights defenders worldwide. Critics accused Brussels of hypocrisy, arguing that while it condemns anti-LGBTIQ discrimination abroad, it continues to admit migrants from countries where same-sex relations are criminalized and opposition to LGBT rights remains widespread.

‘The children who were never born are being replaced by domestic animals. Sometimes cats, but often dogs.’

‘Citizens experienced many advantages of gas lighting compared to candle and oil lighting. On the one hand, gas was cheaper to use than oil, especially for lighting large spaces; on the other hand, a gas flame provided four times the light of a candle.’

Senegalese and Ivorian football supporters have been barred from entering the United States to watch their national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup under the Trump administration’s stricter visa and border policies. The White House says the measures are needed to address security concerns, visa overstays, and weaknesses in identity-verification systems, while critics argue they disproportionately affect African and Muslim-majority countries and undermine the tournament’s global appeal.

The 25th edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival has opened in Cluj-Napoca, featuring more than 200 films from 49 countries, including Hungarian director Gábor Holtai’s thriller Feels Like Home in the main competition.

Karmelo Anthony, a black teenager who stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metclaff to death, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in state prison. Progressive activists and even Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett claim he acted in self-defence and was unjustly prosecuted for his race, despite the jury reaching a quick verdict, which suggests a clear-cut case.

Hungary’s new government has ordered the removal of the National Creed, the constitutional preamble introduced under Viktor Orbán, from schools and public institutions across the country. The decision has triggered a fierce backlash from Fidesz, with Orbán responding by personally nailing a copy of the text to the wall of the party’s headquarters in a symbolic act of defiance.

Hungary’s government has pledged to safeguard the free operation of the book market, suspend the application of fixed-price regulations and review controversial publishing laws, Culture Minister Zoltán Tarr announced at the opening of the 97th Book Week in Budapest.

‘Aside from its religious significance, the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands as a universal emblem of love, urging every individual to open their hearts, practice forgiveness, and embrace a life of greater generosity. Ultimately, the Sacred Heart of Jesus transcends mere devotion; it embodies a lifestyle rooted in a love that transforms, heals, and imparts meaning to human existence.’

The opening game for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in a 2–0 win for co-hosts Mexico over South Africa. Julián Quiñones of Mexico scored the first goal of the tournament. Three red cards were given out in the first game, two for South Africa and one for Mexico.

At a recent Danube Institute event, experts examined the relationship between migration and jihadist terrorism in Western Europe. Dr Simon Cottee’s research paper provided the basis for the discussion, which featured Dr Viktor Marsai and Matthias Victorian as well.

The Canadian government has introduced legislation that would prohibit children under 16 from using social media platforms unless they meet specific safety standards. The proposed law would also create a digital regulator and introduce new oversight for AI chatbots.

A UK government watchdog has sparked controversy ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suggesting that England football badges worn by staff at an immigration detention facility could be perceived as intimidating by detained migrants. Critics described the findings as bizarre, arguing that support for England’s national team in England should not be treated as a potential safeguarding concern.

Budapest’s Police Headquarters and the Police Museum will welcome visitors during Museums’ Night with exclusive tours, forensic demonstrations, police dog shows, simulators, historic vehicles and interactive exhibits that offer a rare glimpse into law enforcement operations.

The 23rd quadrennial FIFA World Cup starts tomorrow! To get ready, let’s recap what happened at the last World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, where Lionel Messi led Argentina to their third title. They won in one of the most memorable World Cup Finals against Kylian Mbappé’s France.

Budapest’s popular nostalgia transport services return throughout June, offering passengers the chance to ride historic trams, trolleybuses, vintage Ikarus buses and the city’s unique cabrio bus. Several special services will also operate during Museums’ Night and the anniversary of the Cogwheel Railway.

American attitudes towards gender transition and broader LGBTQ issues continue to shift in a more conservative direction, according to a new Gallup survey. Support for gender transition has fallen to its lowest level since polling on the issue began in 2021, amid a broader decline in backing for several LGBTQ-related causes.

In a recent interview with GQ magazine, British actor Idris Elba spoke out against the idea of a black actor playing the iconic spy character of James Bond, saying that Bond ‘was written how he was written for a reason’. Elba himself is black and has been rumoured to be next to play 007, which he has denied.

The University of Pécs has opened the Collection and Research Centre of Hungarians Worldwide, a new academic hub dedicated to studying Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin and the diaspora. Built around a unique collection of books and research materials, the centre aims to strengthen scholarship, education, and connections among Hungarians worldwide.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending his hopes of becoming the first Somali official to referee at football’s biggest tournament. US authorities cited unspecified ‘vetting concerns’, while Somali officials and football authorities condemned the decision and demanded explanations.

In her first major interview as education minister, Judit Lannert presented a sweeping vision for reforming Hungary’s schools, arguing that the current system places too much emphasis on memorization and student workload. The interview, given to the student media outlet Balzac, has already sparked criticism from Fidesz over proposed changes to selective grammar schools and admissions policies.

Lidl Hungary has launched a pilot programme for its new Scan & Go service in three stores, allowing customers to scan products with their smartphones while shopping and complete their purchases through self-checkout terminals. The retailer says the system could significantly reduce waiting times and streamline the shopping experience.

During a debate on BBC’s Question Time, UK Greens candidate in the Makerfield by-election Sarah Wakefield made bizarre statements and facial expressions while discussing the effect of mass migration on housing in the UK with Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon. She got quite a lot of backlash online for her performance.

‘For decades, Western academia and media have insisted that Islamic violence can only be understood “in context”—from the crusades to colonialism—while Christian violence must be treated as proof of inherent civilizational guilt. The result is a grotesquely distorted narrative: Muslims appear as perpetual victims of Western aggression, while Christians become history’s uniquely intolerant villains.’

‘The photos and films depicting the mass scale of murder and annihilation are horrifying. Still, it is perhaps even more harrowing to look into the eyes of those staring at us from the photos, people whose fates we do not know.’

Marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 15th biennial conference of the Hungarian Association for American Studies brought together scholars from Hungary and abroad to explore the American legacy through history, literature, culture, migration, and international connections across the Americas.

The Italian Senate has approved a law strengthening parental control over school programmes on sexuality and gender identity. The reform puts parental oversight at the centre of sex education and is seen as a major challenge to gender ideology. It has drawn criticism from LGBT groups and opponents of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.

‘Hungarian culture is composed of many rich stories and tales covering a wide range of themes and forms. They contain meaningful lessons and are presented both in written literature and, at times, animated films. There is also often a distinctive Hungarian sensibility in them, a certain cultural essence reflected in worldview or style.’

Hungary have beaten Finland 2–1 at home at the Puskás Arena, the venue for last weekend’s UEFA Champions League final, in an international friendly. Barnabás Varga scored both goals for the home team, the first one being one of the AEK Athens striker’s signature headers.

A new temporary exhibition at Budapest’s Deák Square Underground Railway Museum explores more than 150 years of public transport history through historical artefacts, photographs and stories ranging from horse-drawn vehicles and tram libraries to pandemic-era measures and the city’s transition to right-hand traffic.