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Trump Jr to meet Szijjarto in Hungary
Donald Trump Jr, son of U.S. president Donald Trump, is set to meet Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, in Budapest on Friday, Bloomberg reports.
The visit has sparked speculation over potential business interests. Trump Jr, who serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organization, is responsible for expanding the family's portfolio that includes estate and retail. Hungarian officials declined to comment further on the purpose of the trip.
Trump Jr is visiting other eastern European countries this week to strengthen the Trump family’s business presence in the region. Before his trip to Hungary he met with Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade.
That meeting comes after a controversial agreement last year between the Serbian government and Affinity Global Development, a U.S. investment firm led by Jared Kushner—Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán said last week that Budapest is expected to sign a new business and tariff deal with the U.S. within six months.
Hamas publishes video of Hungarian-Israeli hostage
Hamas has published a video of the Hungarian-Israeli hostage Omri Miran, who was abducted from his home by jihadist gunmen two years ago while trying to protect his wife and two young daughters, Hetek reports.
Hamas published a propaganda-style video similar to this one about a year ago about the Hungarian-Israeli hostage. After the release of other hostages during the recent ceasefire, Miran's family reported that they had received confirmation that he was alive from the hostages who had been held with him until last July.
Miran says that he is now spending his second year in Hamas captivity. Miran thanked Israelis for protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged them to continue to do so.
US Chargé d’Affaires holds talks with Budapest mayor
The United States’ Chargé d’Affaires, Robert Palladino, visited Budapest mayor Mayor Gergely Karácsony on Wednesday.
In Facebook post, Karácsony described the meeting as “comprehensive and pleasant,” noting that discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the US embassy and the Hungarian capital.
Karácsony highlighted the longstanding relationship between Budapest and the United States, rooted in a shared commitment to freedom and common democratic values. “The connection between our nations goes back centuries and is rooted in traditions that go beyond individual political actors,” the mayor wrote. “I wish the Chargé d’Affaires a productive and pleasant stay in Budapest.”
Orbán holds talks with far-right President of Austrian National Council in Budapest
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Walter Rosenkranz, President of the Austrian National Council, in Budapest on Tuesday, Hungarian News Agency MTI reports.
According to the statement, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues, as well as the potential consequences of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union for both Austria and Hungary. Topics included “the risks to security, the economy and agriculture,” the communiqué said.
Rosenkranz, a representative of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), took office after the party won Austria’s parliamentary elections last September. His election was met with sharp criticism from Jewish organisations in Austria, who describe him as a representative of the “revisionist camp paying homage to Nazi criminals.” Rosenkranz has long been associated with the far right. In the 1980s, he was a member of Libertas, an organisation promoting nationalism. Libertas was one of the first organisations to exclude Jews from its membership
Viktor Orbán was Rosenkranz’s first official guest following his appointment.