TOPIC

/ location

Hungary

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Hungary. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Budapest

Head of State

President Tamás Sulyok

Head of Government

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

European Union

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

15 Feb 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Why China’s BYD and Geely are eyeing Mexico’s idle auto plants

12 Feb 2026 - 10:30PMvideocam

Made in China 2025

Chinese healthcare firms expand overseas to support growing expat community

11 Feb 2026 - 5:08PM

Diplomacy

Trump official says US to fund ‘free speech’ initiatives in Europe

State Department eyes funding efforts it sees as being aligned to the Trump administration’s views.

10 Feb 2026 - 12:21PM

US and European Union flags at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

9 Feb 2026 - 11:57AM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmaker BYD chases 24% export growth with new models, more showrooms

Shenzhen-based company expects to sell 1.3 million cars this year outside mainland China.

25 Jan 2026 - 4:30PM

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Watch Trump showcase his ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

Donald Trump has extended invitations to dozens of nations and hinted at the board’s future role as conflict mediator - with him as chairman.

22 Jan 2026 - 6:38PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump speaking in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. Photo: AP

US-China relations

Greenland meltdown: what does Trump’s quest mean for the global order and China?

Dispute over the Danish territory has strained Europe’s relationship with the US and it could force the EU to recalibrate ties with China.

22 Jan 2026 - 11:28AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

20 Jan 2026 - 12:29PM

Donald Trump

A ‘Trump UN’ with US$1 billion entry? Nations cautious on Board of Peace plan

US president invites 60 nations to join his ‘Board of Peace’, with permanent membership available for states that pay US$1 billion.

19 Jan 2026 - 1:11PM

US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

Opinion | EU-China ties are stuck between interdependence and rivalry

To break the pattern of trade escalations with Beijing, Brussels must move beyond tariffs and invest in its own competitiveness.

13 Jan 2026 - 5:57PMvideocam

Employees work on the assembly line of vehicles at a workshop of FAW-Volkswagen on December 9, 2025, in Chengdu in China’s Sichuan province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

My Take

My Take | The days of EU and Nato may be numbered under von der Leyen and Kallas

Europe’s leaders continue to play supplicants to Trump, who may be an even bigger existential threat than Putin with his undisguised US imperialism.

11 Jan 2026 - 10:15PM

China economy

Opinion | Innovation and exports will winnow China’s car industry in 2026

Exports will be key to profitability and chips will be the new battleground but consolidation is likely to be confined to the battery sector.

6 Jan 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

Infrastructure

China plans 19% high-speed rail expansion by 2030 amid global dominance

Beijing aims to expand the nation’s entire rail network to about 180,000km as part of 2026-2030 infrastructure push, boosting connectivity nationwide.

5 Jan 2026 - 5:32PMvideocam

A high-speed train leaves the Yichang North Railway Station in China’s Hubei province on December 26. Photo: Xinhua

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV makers to corner one-third of global market by 2030, UBS says

Analysts see China’s EV edge enduring, citing overseas profits and supply chain strengths despite tariffs and Western protectionism.

1 Jan 2026 - 4:30PM

China’s carmakers are projected to generate most of their profits overseas. Photo: Reuters

United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

European Union

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:16AMvideocam

My Take

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:15PM

Ukrainians hold placards during a protest demanding the use of frozen Russian assets, on the sidelines of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Brussels, Belgium, December 12, 2025. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets so they can be used to help Ukraine

Hungarian PM Orban, a Putin ally, accused the European Commission, which prepared the decision, ‘of systematically raping European law’.

13 Dec 2025 - 3:33AM

European Union

Opinion | How to preserve Europe’s liberty in the Trump 2.0 era

If Europe truly values liberty, it must build the means to defend it and start finally seeing the world as it is, not as it remembers it.

9 Dec 2025 - 9:12PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes public: fix surplus or face tariffs

French president says EU could copy American protectionism, warning that a lopsided flow of goods results in China ‘effectively killing their own customers’.

8 Dec 2025 - 6:01PM

President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron are seen here at a Unesco World Heritage site in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Hungary’s Orban to send team to Russia, expecting end of Ukraine war

The PM is anticipating a post-war landscape in which sanctions are lifted and Russia becomes reintegrated with the Western economy.

7 Dec 2025 - 5:40AMvideocam

Hungarian Prime Minister addresses supporters in Kecskemet on Saturday. Photo: AFP

China trade

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:21AMvideocam

Banking & finance

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

3 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Africa

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

23 Nov 2025 - 5:46PM

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at the G20 Leaders’ Summit plenary session in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

CATL

Co-founder of EV battery giant CATL pockets US$239 million from 1% stake sale

Huang Shilin retains more than 9 per cent of CATL, whose shares have skyrocketed in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

21 Nov 2025 - 4:58PM

CATL batteries power more than a third of electric cars around the world, according to an analyst. Photo: Getty

China-EU relations

‘Compliance maze’: EU scrutiny of Huawei, ZTE, Shein ups stakes for China firms

Firms operaing in EU may face regulatory costs, political risk, supply-chain exposure, analysts say, as contingency plans may be in works.

13 Nov 2025 - 11:50PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Chinese firms in EU report solid performance despite mounting uncertainties

But the survey of companies warns ‘politicisation of commercial issues’ a threat, as Brussels seeks to de-risk supply chains.

12 Nov 2025 - 6:15PMvideocam

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Hungary

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

Why China’s BYD and Geely are eyeing Mexico’s idle auto plants

Chinese healthcare firms expand overseas to support growing expat community

Trump official says US to fund ‘free speech’ initiatives in Europe

State Department eyes funding efforts it sees as being aligned to the Trump administration’s views.

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

Chinese carmaker BYD chases 24% export growth with new models, more showrooms

Shenzhen-based company expects to sell 1.3 million cars this year outside mainland China.

Watch Trump showcase his ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

Donald Trump has extended invitations to dozens of nations and hinted at the board’s future role as conflict mediator - with him as chairman.

Greenland meltdown: what does Trump’s quest mean for the global order and China?

Dispute over the Danish territory has strained Europe’s relationship with the US and it could force the EU to recalibrate ties with China.

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

A ‘Trump UN’ with US$1 billion entry? Nations cautious on Board of Peace plan

US president invites 60 nations to join his ‘Board of Peace’, with permanent membership available for states that pay US$1 billion.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | EU-China ties are stuck between interdependence and rivalry

To break the pattern of trade escalations with Beijing, Brussels must move beyond tariffs and invest in its own competitiveness.

My Take | The days of EU and Nato may be numbered under von der Leyen and Kallas

Europe’s leaders continue to play supplicants to Trump, who may be an even bigger existential threat than Putin with his undisguised US imperialism.

Opinion | Innovation and exports will winnow China’s car industry in 2026

Exports will be key to profitability and chips will be the new battleground but consolidation is likely to be confined to the battery sector.

China plans 19% high-speed rail expansion by 2030 amid global dominance

Beijing aims to expand the nation’s entire rail network to about 180,000km as part of 2026-2030 infrastructure push, boosting connectivity nationwide.

China’s EV makers to corner one-third of global market by 2030, UBS says

Analysts see China’s EV edge enduring, citing overseas profits and supply chain strengths despite tariffs and Western protectionism.

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets so they can be used to help Ukraine

Hungarian PM Orban, a Putin ally, accused the European Commission, which prepared the decision, ‘of systematically raping European law’.

Opinion | How to preserve Europe’s liberty in the Trump 2.0 era

If Europe truly values liberty, it must build the means to defend it and start finally seeing the world as it is, not as it remembers it.

Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes public: fix surplus or face tariffs

French president says EU could copy American protectionism, warning that a lopsided flow of goods results in China ‘effectively killing their own customers’.

Hungary’s Orban to send team to Russia, expecting end of Ukraine war

The PM is anticipating a post-war landscape in which sanctions are lifted and Russia becomes reintegrated with the Western economy.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

Co-founder of EV battery giant CATL pockets US$239 million from 1% stake sale

Huang Shilin retains more than 9 per cent of CATL, whose shares have skyrocketed in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

‘Compliance maze’: EU scrutiny of Huawei, ZTE, Shein ups stakes for China firms

Firms operaing in EU may face regulatory costs, political risk, supply-chain exposure, analysts say, as contingency plans may be in works.

Chinese firms in EU report solid performance despite mounting uncertainties

But the survey of companies warns ‘politicisation of commercial issues’ a threat, as Brussels seeks to de-risk supply chains.

Opinion | EU-China ties are stuck between interdependence and rivalry

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?