Hungary

China has extended its support to Hungary on public security matters, marking a significant development in their long-standing strategic partnership. The offer comes at a crucial juncture as NATO seeks to bolster its influence in Europe, adding a new dimension to Hungary's foreign relations beyond traditional trade and investment ties.

In a surprising turn of events, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signaled a willingness to reconsider his position on utilizing the European Union budget to provide military aid to Ukraine. The announcement precedes a crucial emergency EU summit scheduled for Thursday, where leaders will deliberate on support for Ukraine amid escalating tensions.

The EU will sabotage Hungary's economy if Budapest blocks new aid to Ukraine at a summit this week, the Financial Times reports, citing a confidential plan drawn up by Brussels that marks a major escalation in the battle between the Union and its most pro-Russian country. member.

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Friday in Budapest Serbia would purchase armoured vehicles from Hungary and sell ammunition to the Hungarian side.

The 2024 Hungary-Türkiye Cultural Year will kick off on Jan. 21 with a concert of by the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, to be held at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) in Istanbul. On the same day as the concert an exhibition depicting the important contributions of Hungarians in the establishment of Türkiye will also be presented to the audience at AKM.

Hungary will lift its objection to Bulgaria joining Europe's passport-free Schengen zone after the Bulgarian parliament formally confirms its scrapping of an extra tax on Russian gas shipments, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.

"I was informed by my Bulgarian colleague that yesterday the Bulgarian parliament scrapped this law," Szijjarto said in a video on his Facebook page.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Dec. 15 blocked 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in EU aid for Ukraine, after leaders side-stepped his opposition to agree to open talks with Kiev on joining the bloc.

The EU released 10.2 billion euros ($11 billion) of funding for Hungary on Wednesday, the eve of a summit on support for Ukraine that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to derail.

The European Commission insisted Hungary had undertaken measures to improve the judiciary's independence, therefore meeting the requirements to access the money.

The European Commission announced on Tuesday evening that it is unfreezing the allocation of 10.2 billion euros from the cohesion funds to Hungary, after a few hours earlier Budapest published the last part of the adopted judicial reform - a condition for the allocation of the money.

Hungary threatened on Monday to block Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen area if fees for the transfer of Russian gas are not removed.

The Financial Times reports this, citing three sources familiar with the discussions (noting that the Hungarian authorities have not commented officially).