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Tucker Carlson gives controversial speech at MCC Feszt attacking David Pressman
Former Fox News Host Tucker Carlson gave a speech at MCC Feszt in which he attacked US Ambassador David Pressman. Carlson called Pressman "a creep", and "a villain" and his actions "disgusting" and "inexcusable", claiming that he is representing the so-called gender lobby instead of the American people.
According to the conservative US broadcaster, the American Ambassador is not a diplomat but a political activist appointed by US President Joe Biden. Carlson said he finds it outrageous and shameful that Pressman was "lecturing Hungarians about their own culture". According to the right-wing commentator, it is not the job of the United States to "tell people in other countries how to live their lives".
Carlson said Pressman is not representing the American people, but the interests of the Human Rights Campaign, an organization fighting to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ rights. Carlson added that Pressman "should be immediately recalled".
Hungarian inflation is highest in the EU for the ninth month
Hungarian inflation is the highest in the European Union for the ninth month in a row, Eurostat data shows. Although it has been falling steadily since its peak in January, the rate of consumer price inflation has still risen by more than 17 percent.
In June, Hungarian inflation was almost three times the EU average, and the depreciation of the forint was even higher compared to the euro area. Member States in the Central European region - except Slovenia - continue to suffer from inflation, regardless of whether they use the euro or their currency.
Looking at how inflation has changed compared to June, it can be seen that consumer prices in most EU Member States rose at a slower pace in July, similar to Hungary. Inflation has fallen in the EU as well as in the euro area. In eight Member States, the pace of price increases rose, mainly in countries where inflation is below the optimal 3%.
Novak visits Ukraine for the second time
Hungarian President Katalin Novak paid a second visit to Ukraine where she gave a speech at the third International Summit of the Crimea Platform. "The sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine are unquestionable (...) The war started in Crimea, and it should end with the return of Crimea too,” Novak said at the Summit. US Ambassador David Pressman welcomed Novak's remarks."Encouraging to see President Katalin Novak engaging in Kyiv and joining Hungary’s Allies in reaffirming Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity – a worthy step we hope Hungary’s government will follow," the diplomat posted on Twitter.
Novák arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where she met for the first time with members of the Hungarian community in Berehovo, Transcarpathia.
According to the Hungarian State News Agency, MTI, on the second day of her visit to Ukraine, the Hungarian President visited a kindergarten and a school in the village of Zahalci near Kyiv, which is being rebuilt with Hungarian support. She also visited a memorial of those who died during the war and held talks with the Ukrainian High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Illiberal leaders arrive at opening ceremony of World Athletics Championships
The World Athletics Championships hosted by Hungary attracted several illiberal and right-wing politicians to Budapest, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, Aleksandar Vučić, the President of Serbia, Sebastian Kurz, former Austrian Chancellor and Serdar Berdimuhamedow, President of Turkmenistan. "When there is a massive global event, a country invites its friends and welcomes those who are interested, "Hungary's far-right prime minister Viktor Orban said on public radio, adding that such events are “a more or less covert series of diplomatic meetings.”
AP noted that leaders from the EU and NATO were missing from the event's guest list, which reflects "Orbán's push to increase diplomatic and political cooperation with autocracies in the Balkans and Asia".