The US$7.9 billion factory will be one of Hungary’s largest foreign investments, but critics fear it will exacerbate environmental problems, hit precious water supplies and further undermine its economy to China.

The Hungarian government is releasing thousands of foreign prisoners serving sentences for human trafficking on the condition they leave Hungary within 72 hours, according to a decree issued by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Foreign affairs chief Wang Yi calls on Europe to avoid ‘Cold War mentality’ during visit by Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, who expressed ‘wholehearted support’ for Chinese proposal for ending war.

Pope Francis spoke of a mission ‘not yet public’ during his return journey from a three-day visit to Hungary.

The pope revealed a secret peace ‘mission’ was under way but gave no details when asked whether he spoke about peace initiatives during his talks in Budapest this weekend with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Around 600 refugees – mostly from Ukraine – and poor people gathered at St Elizabeth’s Church in Budapest to listen to the pope. About a thousand more gathered outside.

Moscow would respond to Finland becoming Nato’s member by bolstering its defences if needed and ‘take addition steps to ensure Russia’s military security’.

The 2 Nordic countries asked to join the defence alliance amid the Ukraine war, but Sweden’s bid has is being held up by Turkey and Hungary.

Before the pandemic, UK and North American patients sought medical and dental treatment at places like Hungary and Turkey to avoid long waits and high costs at home.

‘We consider China’s peace plan important, and we support it,’ Prime Minister Viktor Orban says, after most EU leaders criticised it for favouring Russia.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi was keen to talk up Hungary’s engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative during a recent visit, but the general mood in Europe towards the globe-spanning infrastructure plan is souring.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi spoke in Budapest amid tensions over US allegations that Beijing is considering arming Russia in its war against Ukraine.

European officials say the foreign minister’s itinerary suggests that while China may be keen to patch things up with the EU, it has no intention of abandoning Russia.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey may ratify only Finland’s bid to join Nato, in a move that could delay Sweden from gaining membership.

An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and its Western allies are discussing the possibility of equipping the country with long-range missiles and aircraft.

Residents concerned about potential environmental risks disrupted a town hall meeting in Debrecen, host of the planned US$7.9 billion factory.

Consulates and embassies in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Italy as well as Naples, Italy; Krakow, Poland and the Czech city of Brno were targeted after a package with an explosive device injured an employee at the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid on Wednesday.

Stockholm-based group said the number of ‘backsliding’ countries – those with the most severe democratic erosion – has never been so high and included Poland, Hungary and also the United States.

A visit to China by European Council President Charles Michel next month comes amid concerns the bloc has too much economic reliance on Beijing.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban attended a football match wearing a scarf depicting a map of ‘Greater Hungary’ with parts of neighbouring states including Ukraine.

Moscow has come under increased pressure for endangering nuclear security following the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia station in Ukraine – Europe’s biggest atomic-power plant.

Bolstered by its vocal opposition of the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins’ New Unity won 19 per cent of the vote.

European Union lawmakers declared that Hungary has become ‘a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy’ under the leadership of its nationalist government.

A government report warns that favouring traits like ‘emotional and social maturity’ will hurt boys’ development and create demographic problems.

‘It is the duty of the Hungarian government to ensure the country’s safe supply of natural gas, and we are living up to it,’ said ministry official Tamas Menczer on his Facebook page.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the EU to reconsider its strategy, saying prolonged punitive measures will ‘kill off the European economy’.

In a decree that gave no reason for the move, Volodymyr Zelensky announced the sacking of Ukraine’s ambassadors to Germany, India, Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary.

Hungary’s ancient capital is being transformed by architects including Maria Siklos, Gabor Zoboki and Sou Fujimoto, with modern architecture popping up all over the city.