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Tim Walz criticizes Orban alongside Putin
Kamala Harris' running mate, Tim Walz shared his thoughts on Hungray's far-right Prime Minister, Viktor Orban in a recent interview with Fox News. “A foreign policy that respects our alliances — not cozying up to dictators like [Vladimir] Putin and Orbán — [is] the way to go,” Walz said. A foreign policy that respects our alliances - not cozying up to dictators like [Vladimir] Putin and Orbán - [is] the way to go.”
In contrast, JD Vance, Donald Trump’s VP pick, has previously praised Orbán and his government’s policies. Last September, Vance suggested that the US Department of Education should take a page from Orbán’s playbook. "You do what Viktor Orbán has done in Hungary," he said, advocating a ban on teaching critical race and gender theories in exchange for federal or state funding.
Orbán's family policies may have contributed to the plummeting birth rate
Hungary saw a significant decline in birth rates in June 2024, with just 6,040 births registered – the lowest figure on record, Hungarian news site 24.hu reports. The previous low was in February 2022, with 6,094 births. According to data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, birth rates have been dropping since July 2023, when 7,793 babies were born. By comparison, July 2020 recorded 8,662 births, the highest figure since 2020.
Demographic expert G. Csaba Tóth said that the sharp decline could be attributed to government policies introduced in 2019, which may have resulted in a surge of births at the time by pulling them forward. Tóth also pointed to the shrinking number of women of childbearing age in Hungary as a key factor behind the continued downward trend.
Hungarian economy is creaking according to new data
Eurostat data shows how the Hungarian economy performed in a European comparison. In terms of quarterly GDP change, Hungary's performance was poor, 444 reports. Only the Swedish economy, which has expanded steadily for three consecutive quarters, and the Latvian economy, which only temporarily recovered from recession at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, performed worse.
It is striking that all the countries in the region, apart from Austria, which has stagnated after two-quarters of growth, have managed to grow, and that the quarterly top list is led by Poland, the largest of the transition countries. It is also noteworthy that, while the Hungarian economy's decline is largely explained by its close relationship with Germany, the German GDP has fallen less than the Hungarian GDP quarterly. In annual changes, Hungary is performing better, finishing in the top half of EU member states with a growth of 1.3%.
Hungarian Boxing Association sent a letter to the IOC over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's eligibility
The Hungarian Boxing Association protested the International Olympic Committee and Hungary’s Olympic Committee over the quarterfinal matchup between Anna Luca Hamori and Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics. Despite the objections, Hamori proceeded with her match against Khelif, according to Hungary’s state news agency MTI.
Lajos Berkó, a member of the association’s executive board said the association was also exploring potential legal steps to challenge Khelif’s participation. “I am deeply disappointed that a scandal has overshadowed this event and that we must address issues incompatible with the spirit of sport,” Berkó said. “This situation is unacceptable and outrageous.”
The boxing association "expressed their indignation and request that the IOC reconsider its decision, which allowed a competitor into the IOC competition system who was previously banned from the [International Boxing Association's] world championships," Berkó said.