Ukraine tensions with Washington deepen as Starlink restrictions disrupt drone operations
Reports of restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield service and Donald Trump’s criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky have sharpened tensions between Washington and Kyiv. In Hungary, the government faces scrutiny over public contracts, transparency and past decisions, while authorities announced new steps on child welfare and school bomb threats. International coverage also includes deadly school incidents, severe flooding in Istanbul and a major legal ruling against Hungary over the release of convicted people-smugglers.
- Reuters: Were vital Ukrainian drones restricted on White House orders? — Reuters, citing US and European officials, reports that the White House ordered restrictions on the Ukrainian military’s Starshield system, hindering faster drone operations; service has partly resumed, but the episode has deepened tensions between Washington and Kyiv.
Original (Hungarian): Reuters: Tényleg a Fehér Ház utasítására korlátozták be a védelem számára létfontosságú ukrán drónokat - Trump: I’m not a big fan of Zelensky; they destroyed that country — Donald Trump said Volodymyr Zelensky is harder to reach an agreement with than Vladimir Putin and does not really want to end the war, further straining relations between the United States and Ukraine.
Original (Hungarian): Trump: Nem vagyok nagy rajongója Zelenszkijnek, lerombolták azt az országot - Zelensky: We will continue attacking Russian oil refineries — Zelensky said Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after a three-day pause requested by the United States, and would stop energy strikes only in exchange for more Patriot interceptor missiles.
Original (Hungarian): Zelenszkij: Továbbra is támadni fogjuk az orosz olajfinomítókat - Elon Musk’s Starlink service for military use in Ukraine is “restored and improving” — Starshield service for moving vehicles has been restored and is improving after SpaceX restricted terminal speeds without warning, disrupting Ukrainian drone operations, logistics and strikes.
Original (Hungarian): „Helyreállt és tovább javul” Elon Musk katonai célokra használt Starlink-szolgáltatása Ukrajnában - Hungary violated EU law by releasing convicted people-smugglers — The EU court ruled that Hungary breached EU law by automatically replacing prison sentences for people convicted of human smuggling with release and expulsion, a policy under which 2,525 people were freed before it was repealed in 2025.
Original (Hungarian): Uniós jogot sértett Magyarország az embercsempészek szabadon engedésével - Social and Family Affairs Ministry to set up a task force to address babies stranded in hospitals — The ministry will establish a professional body to coordinate efforts to find placements for children remaining in hospitals, where 301 children are currently being cared for, and says 1.5 billion forints will support placements, staff and crisis accommodation.
Original (Hungarian): A Szociális és Családügyi Minisztérium külön testületet hoz létre, hogy megoldják a kórházban ragadt csecsemők ügyét - Several Budapest schools receive bomb threats — Threatening letters affected more than ten Budapest schools, including two in District XV; police searched the buildings and found no explosives, while the National Bureau of Investigation opened a terrorism-preparation investigation.
Original (Hungarian): Bombafenyegetést kapott több budapesti iskola is - Magyar’s government will not release its cabinet records while publishing Orbán-era notes — The Prime Minister’s Office rejected a Telex request for summaries and minutes of Magyar government meetings, citing their non-public nature, while the government is releasing documents from previous cabinets.
Original (Hungarian): Nem adják ki Magyarék a kormányüléseik dokumentációját, miközben Orbánék feljegyzéseit nyilvánosságra hozzák - Tarr Zoltán’s team to review billions of forints in contracts with the Lakitelek Lezsák network — Cultural Minister Tarr Zoltán is reviewing a multi-billion-forint public-service contract between the ministry and the National Institute of Culture, which is linked to the Lakitelek People’s College Foundation, citing the need for transparent public spending.
Original (Hungarian): Tarr Zoltánék felülvizsgálják a lakiteleki Lezsák-birodalommal kötött sok milliárd forintnyi szerződést - NAV deputy head dismissed; Seszták–Szivek–Jellinek corruption case may be behind the move — The finance minister dismissed NAV deputy head Szalavics Mariann, with HVG reporting that the decision may relate to her former role at Volánbusz during transactions now under investigation over suspected losses of nearly 10 billion forints.
Original (Hungarian): Kirúgtak egy NAV-elnökhelyettest, a Seszták–Szivek–Jellinek-féle korrupciós botrány állhat az ügy hátterében - State acknowledges Sovereignty Protection Office violated Átlátszó’s rights and will pay millions — The Justice Ministry, as legal successor to the Sovereignty Protection Office, acknowledged that the office damaged Átlátszó’s reputation with false claims and agreed to pay 3.8 million forints in damages plus legal costs.
Original (Hungarian): Az állam elismerte a Szuverenitásvédelmi Hivatal jogsértését, több milliós sérelemdíjat fizetnek az Átlátszónak - Prosecutor Fürcht Pál suspended from his post as another disciplinary case begins — Fürcht Pál was suspended and faces a new disciplinary proceeding after the deputy chief prosecutor said he had disclosed unverifiable information about an ongoing criminal case.
Original (Hungarian): Felfüggesztették ügyészi állásából Fürcht Pált, újabb fegyelmi eljárás indult ellene - Parragh says state funding required a contract with Balásy Gyula’s company — Former Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Parragh László said that receiving state grant money required the chamber to sign a communications contract with Balásy Gyula’s Lounge, which it paid 712 million forints between 2018 and 2022.
Original (Hungarian): Balásy Gyula cégével kellett szerződni, ez volt a feltétele az állami pénzeknek – állítja Parragh László, az MKIK volt elnöke - Schummer Orsolya: Some alleged accomplices of the Bicske children’s home director still work in child protection — The inquiry committee chair said children’s rights were persistently restricted at the Bicske children’s home and that some people involved in the alleged cover-up may still work in child protection.
Original (Hungarian): Schummer Orsolya: A bicskei gyermekotthon igazgatójának cinkostársai közül még mindig van, aki a gyermekvédelmi rendszerben dolgozik - Merkely Béla received 209,329,220 forints in public-funded income last year—over 17 million a month — Merkely Béla received 225.5 million forints in 2025 for public duties and returned 16.22 million, leaving 209.3 million in public-funded income from university, healthcare and foundation roles.
Original (Hungarian): Merkely Béla közpénzekből származó jövedelme tavaly bruttó 209 329 220 forint volt, vagyis több mint havi 17 millió - Magyar Péter: Hungary’s “national envelope” is €31 billion, but that is not enough — Magyar Péter said the EU funding allocation intended for Hungary had risen to €31 billion but that agreement was still needed on how the money could be used and whether it could be blocked.
Original (Hungarian): Magyar Péter: Az országnak járó „nemzeti boríték” 31 milliárd euró, de ez még nem elég - Fourteen professional groups call for a third wealth-tax rate on assets of 1–5 billion forints — Fourteen organizations urged changes to the proposed wealth tax, including a 0.3–0.5 percent rate for assets between 1 billion and 5 billion forints and tailored rules for illiquid assets, listed companies and startups.
Original (Hungarian): Legyen egy harmadik vagyonadókulcs is az 1-5 milliárd közötti vagyonokra – kéri 14 szakmai szervezet a közös állásfoglalásában - Kapitány István appoints an executive with global-company experience to lead the Hungarian Post — Kapitány István, the minister for economic affairs and energy, announced Szakonyi András as the new chief executive of the Hungarian Post, citing his nearly three decades of international corporate experience.
Original (Hungarian): Világcégeket is megjárt vezetőt nevezett ki Kapitány István a Magyar Posta élére - Parliamentary committee to hear from or seek statements from six former justice ministers — A parliamentary committee investigating enforcement abuses decided to hear from or request written statements from six former justice ministers, as well as Répássy Róbert and Kiss Ferenc.
Original (Hungarian): Hat volt igazságügyi minisztert hallgat meg vagy nyilatkoztat a végrehajtási bizottság - “Does Hungary need a strong leader who stands above the law?” Századvég asked before the election — Századvég surveyed 60,000 people on issues including European integration, authoritarianism, immigration and minority rights, with results varying widely by county.
Original (Hungarian): „Magyarországnak erős vezetője kell, hogy legyen, aki a törvények felett áll?” – erről is érdeklődött a Századvég a választás előtt - Activity resumes around Fidesz as Partos Bence’s wife tries to revive Digital Civic Circles — Companies operating the Digital Civic Circles have resumed recruitment after the election defeat, with Partos Bence’s wife trying to lead efforts to revive the organizations.
Original (Hungarian): Beindult a Fidesz körüli mozgolódás, Partos Bence helyett a felesége próbálja életre kelteni a Digitális Polgári Köröket - Tiborcz associate Balázs Attila’s company weakened before its insolvency crisis, with Bayer revenue down by 30 billion — Bayer Construct’s net revenue fell 25 percent to 91.8 billion forints in the first half of 2025 and its after-tax profit dropped by more than 60 percent, before it sought insolvency proceedings following the termination of contracts for office buildings in Zugló.
Original (Hungarian): Már a csődhelyzet előtt megrogyott a Tiborcz-üzlettárs Balázs Attila cége, 30 milliárdot zuhant a Bayer bevétele - At Ruszin-Szendi Romulusz’s proposal, former Military National Security Service director dismissed — Brigadier General Börcsök András, the former director of the Military National Security Service, is being dismissed on the proposal of Defence Minister Ruszin-Szendi Romulusz, with his service ending on June 14, 2027.
Original (Hungarian): Ruszin-Szendi Romulusz javaslatára felmentették a Katonai Nemzetbiztonsági Szolgálat korábbi igazgatóját - “Anyone can be anything”: Fidesz figures and Takács Péter denounce a civil group’s event for primary pupils — The Emberség Erejével Foundation used a board game about gender stereotypes at a career-orientation event for second- to fourth-grade pupils, while Fidesz figures portrayed it as ideological instruction and the foundation said children’s images had been manipulated for political purposes.
Original (Hungarian): „Bárkiből lehet bármi” – hirdette egy civil szervezet alsósoknak, a fideszes agitprop és Takács Péter rohant felháborodni - Tyúkól #71: The child takes the entrance exam, the parent worries, and wallets suffer — Sociologist Berényi Eszter discusses how stress and the costs of preparing for secondary-school entrance exams relate to educational inequality, family background and further-study opportunities.
Original (Hungarian): Tyúkól #71: A gyerek felvételizik, a szülő szorong, a pénztárcák sírnak - Never forget Foucault — The newsletter reviews Hungarian corruption and rule-of-law issues, investigations and personnel changes after a change of government, alongside international developments and Michel Foucault’s centenary.
Original (Hungarian): Never forget Foucault - The world has caught up with his writings: Michel Foucault was born 100 years ago — The article examines how Michel Foucault’s work shaped fields from criminology to legal theory and continues to prompt new questions across political traditions.
Original (Hungarian): Utolérte a világ az írásait – 100 éve született Michel Foucault - In office for a record period: no one in Italy has done this since the Second World War — Giorgia Meloni has led Italy for a record length of time and her party is preparing for the 2027 election, while protests over her policies and a potential challenge from Roberto Vannacci pose political pressures.
Original (Hungarian): Rekordideje kormányon: a második világháború óta nem ment ez másnak Olaszországban - Vučić personally threatened heritage officials who resisted a luxury hotel project for Trump’s son-in-law in Belgrade — The Guardian reports that Vučić personally ordered heritage officials in 2024 to remove protection from Belgrade’s former General Staff building to enable Jared Kushner’s hotel project, which later collapsed after a corruption scandal and charges.
Original (Hungarian): Személyesen fenyegette meg Vučić az ellenálló műemlékeseket, hogy Trump vejének luxusszállodája épülhessen Belgrádban - Norway could open one of the world’s biggest pools of money to arms makers if the government agrees — A Norwegian expert panel has recommended easing ethical rules so the country’s $2.3 trillion state investment fund could invest in major Western arms manufacturers, including companies that make nuclear weapons.
Original (Hungarian): A világ egyik legnagyobb pénzeszsákját nyithatják meg a fegyvergyártóknak, ha a norvég kormány beleegyezik - UK home secretary threatens to bar an entire nation from Britain — Shabana Mahmood threatened to ban all Eritrean nationals from entering the UK and end fast-track visas unless Eritrea accepts migrants and foreign offenders who have breached British rules.
Original (Hungarian): Egy teljes nemzetet kitiltana az Egyesült Királyságból a brit belügyminiszter - Sally Rooney’s books to disappear from UK shops because the author supports a pro-Palestinian group — Rooney and her publisher are withdrawing her books from the UK market because she intends to donate royalties to the banned Palestine Action, a move that could reignite debate over the group’s proscription and the detention of protesters.
Original (Hungarian): Eltűnnek a brit boltok polcairól Sally Rooney könyvei, mert a világhírű író egy palesztinpárti szervezetet támogat - UK to ban choking and incest pornography from November — From November 6, possessing or publishing pornography depicting choking, incest or adults portraying people under 16 will be illegal in the UK, with violations punishable by up to five years in prison.
Original (Hungarian): Novembertől betiltják a fojtogatós és a vérfertőzős pornót a briteknél - “He would not accept no as an answer”: Russell Brand faces court after years of sexual-abuse allegations — Russell Brand appeared in a London court over alleged sexual offences against six women between 1999 and 2009, pleaded not guilty to all charges and could face a trial lasting up to six weeks.
Original (Hungarian): „Nem volt hajlandó elfogadni válaszként a nemet” – húsz éve folyamatosan vádolják szexuális visszaélésekkel, de csak most kerül bíróság elé Russell Brand - Trump backs down: the government will not broadcast an execution live after all — Donald Trump said the Pentagon would not livestream the December 3 execution of Nidal Hasan, who was sentenced to death for killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting.
Original (Hungarian): Trump visszatáncolt, a kormány mégsem közvetít élőben egy kivégzést - German police seize robot after it sexually harassed a 16-year-old girl — Police in Cologne seized a 120-centimetre robot and the phones of two teenagers after it allegedly groped a 16-year-old girl and made sexual gestures, and are investigating whether it was programmed or remotely controlled.
Original (Hungarian): Lefoglalt a német rendőrség egy robotot, mert az szexuálisan zaklatott egy 16 éves lányt - Three children and a teacher killed in Oregon school shooting — A 16-year-old boy shot dead three children and a teacher at an elementary school in Oregon before a passerby shot him, while another child and a teacher were hospitalized in critical condition.
Original (Hungarian): Három gyerek és egy tanár halt meg Oregonban egy iskolai lövöldözésben - School roof collapses in Pakistan, killing at least 19 — A school roof collapsed in Peshawar, killing 18 students and a teacher and injuring more than a dozen people, with rescuers searching for others who may be trapped.
Original (Hungarian): Beomlott egy iskola teteje Pakisztánban, legkevesebb 19-en meghaltak - Istanbul hit by its heaviest rainfall in 84 years — Two people died in flooding caused by exceptionally heavy rain in Istanbul, 595 people were evacuated and schools were closed as authorities urged residents to travel only when necessary.
Original (Hungarian): Az elmúlt 84 év leghevesebb esőzése mossa el épp Isztambult - Eight sailors missing after fire breaks out on tanker off Romania — Eight sailors went missing after explosions and a fire aboard the Wine Trader tanker near the Danube Delta, while rescuers worked to save the four survivors.
Original (Hungarian): Nyolc tengerész tűnt el Románia partjainál, miután tűz ütött ki egy tartályhajón - Serious crash near Channel Tunnel entrance: minibus overturns and is hit by freight train — At least 19 people were injured when a passenger minibus overturned near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel and was struck by a freight train, with none of the injured in life-threatening condition.
Original (Hungarian): Súlyos baleset a Csalagút bejáratánál: egy kisbusz az oldalára borult, majd belecsapódott egy tehervonat - Armed robbers steal €200,000 worth of bags and jewellery from Péter Gulácsi’s home — Armed robbers threatened goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi and his wife at their home in Spain and stole luxury bags and Rolex watches worth about €200,000 while their two children slept nearby.
Original (Hungarian): 200 ezer euró értékben vittek el táskákat és ékszereket Gulácsi Péter otthonából fegyveresek - Putin on Ukrainian drone attacks: “We probably should have anticipated them” — Putin said Ukrainian drone attacks had not caused significant damage to Russian oil refineries, while acknowledging that Moscow should probably have anticipated them and blaming Ukraine for their consequences.
Original (Hungarian): Putyin az ukrán dróntámadásokról: Folyamatosan tesznek valamilyen lépéseket, amiket, őszintén szólva, valószínűleg előre kellett volna látnunk - Timothy Snyder: Trump’s foreign policy is a great power’s suicide — Timothy Snyder argues that Trump’s war against Iran has weakened the US position in the Middle East, raised fuel prices and benefited Iran’s allies, while other US policies serve Putin’s interests.
Original (Hungarian): Timothy Snyder: Trump külpolitikája a nagyhatalom öngyilkossága - Fradi win their second Europa League match — Ferencváros beat Plzen 2–1 at home in the Europa League, with Zachariassen scoring both goals as the team moved to seventh place in the table.
Original (Hungarian): Második meccsét is megnyerte a Fradi az EL-ben - A 43-year age gap between players in a Friday match at the table tennis European Championships — Twenty-year-old German Annett Kaufmann is set to face 63-year-old Luxembourg player Ni Xia Lian in the Ljubljana European Championships round of 16.
Original (Hungarian): Ez nem mindennapi lesz: 43 év korkülönbség van az asztalitenisz-Eb egyik pénteki meccsének két játékosa között - Final GTA VI trailer released ahead of November launch — Rockstar released a 90-second trailer showing new details about Jason, Lucia and Vice City but no gameplay, ahead of the game’s November 19 release.
Original (Hungarian): Kijött a GTA VI utolsó előzetese a novemberi megjelenés előtt - Smartphone market in unprecedented decline, with the bottom not yet in sight — Smartphone shipments fell 22 percent as AI-driven demand pushed memory prices sharply higher, prompting manufacturers to raise prices, reduce specifications and discontinue cheaper models.
Original (Hungarian): Példátlan zuhanásban az okostelefonok piaca, és még nem értek a szakadék aljára - “Junior job that requires no experience? There are hardly any” — Youth unemployment in Estonia rose above 20 percent in 2026 despite the country’s highly digitalized economy, as entry-level jobs often require experience that applicants struggle to gain.
Original (Hungarian): „Junior állás, amihez nem kell tapasztalat? Ilyen alig van” - Expect classic hiking weather this weekend — Several hours of sunshine and pleasant autumn weather are forecast across Hungary this weekend, with little rain, cool mornings and daytime temperatures of 13–20°C.
Original (Hungarian): Klasszikus kirándulóidőre készüljön mindenki ezen a hétvégén - Some people may have had enough of e-scooter riders — Budapest’s unusually low Danube water level has revealed several shared scooters thrown into the river, with the largest number spotted near Liberty Bridge.
Original (Hungarian): Valakiknek nagyon elegük lehetett már az e-rolleresekből - Double double: man steals two cars and swims across the Szamos twice while fleeing — A man accused of taking two cars without permission and leaving petrol stations without paying allegedly swam across the Szamos twice to evade police before being arrested in Panyola.
Original (Hungarian): Dupla duplázás: két autót is ellopott, a Szamost is kétszer úszta át menekülése közben a szabolcsi férfi - “We won’t let this happen”? Of course we will: 444’s Cat ÁVH shame list of furry little Fidesz supporters in our homes — A satirical 444 feature uses readers’ stories and photos of cats damaging curtains, stealing tubes and refusing to catch rodents to parody political accountability.
Original (Hungarian): NEM HAGYJUK? Dehogynem. Íme a 444-es Macska ÁVH szégyenlistája a háztartásainkban élő szőrös kisfideszesekről - Unofficially: the best Hungarian email address has been found—or can you do better? — The author calls the Erőszakkutató Intézet address [email protected] particularly apt and invites readers to submit better public email addresses from companies, institutions or schools.
Original (Hungarian): Félhivatalos: megvan a legjobb magyar e-mailcím, vagy mutass jobbat! - Attila Árpa makes a mafia quip about motorway construction on The Traitors — In a monologue filmed in a quarry for The Traitors, Árpa Attila referred to a “more ruthless mafia” taking over a quarry intended for motorway construction, a remark the article says may allude to Viktor Orbán’s system and family.
Original (Hungarian): Árpa Attila egy autópálya-építéssel kapcsolatos maffiás beszólást tett az Árulókban - Dorottya Udvaros to play Katalin Karikó — A play about Katalin Karikó’s life, based on her autobiography and focused on the struggles before her scientific breakthrough, will premiere at the Átrium on November 15 with Udvaros Dorottya in the lead role.
Original (Hungarian): Udvaros Dorottya eljátssza Karikó Katalint - Two schools in District XV evacuated after bomb threat — Police began searching the Kontyfa Primary and Secondary School and Pestújhelyi Primary School on October 15 after they received a threatening letter, and students were moved to community venues.
Original (Hungarian): Bombafenyegetés miatt kiürítettek két iskolát a XV. kerületben
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