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Hungary dismisses honorary consul in Estonia over pro-Ukraine comments.
István Bán, who had served as Hungary’s honorary consul in five Estonian counties since 2006, announced that he had been dismissed from his post due to his support for Ukraine and criticism of the Orban government. In a Facebook post, Bán wrote that his removal was not tied to any breach of rules, but rather his decision to express his opinion. "It wasn't because of my work or because of any violation of the rules. It was because I dared to express my opinion, publicly, using my own name. And when that happened, many remained silent,” he wrote. He also shared a rewritten version of German pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous quote: ”First they silenced those who thought differently, but no one spoke up because it wasn't their turn. Then they took away the mandates from those who raised their voices, but everyone remained silent because they feared for their own.”
Speaking to Estonian daily Sakala, Bán said he had consistently expressed his opinion under various governments, but this was the first time he faced repercussions. The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated the decision to Bán via the ambassador to Estonia, without a written justification. Bán, who held the unpaid, voluntary role for 18 years, said he finds the situation “ridiculous,” adding that there are far more pressing matters than “a single Hungarian in Estonia.” The Hungarian embassy did not respond to Sakala’s inquiries.
Orban's daughter and son-in-law to move to US ahead of elections
Viktor Orban's eldest daughter, Rahel, took to Instagram to share the news that she'll likely be moving to New York in the fall to study after a Hungarian outlet, Válasz Online, sent questions to her husband, Istvan Tiborcz's firm. The Hungarian Prime Minister's daughter got accepted to a prestigious US university, according to her social media.
The Tiborcz family is leaving just ahead of the 2026 election campaign, similarly to 2022, when they relocated to Marbella, Spain. The move is widely interpreted as an admission that their presence could be a political liability for Orbán, given the enormous wealth amassed by the Orbán family. Critics say it could be a strategic hedge in case the prime minister’s grip on power slips in April 2026. A recent poll shows the opposition TISZA party leading Fidesz by a striking 52% to 34%.
CATL worker arrested on suspicion of raping a 16 year old
A Chinese national, a manager of CATL, a company building a battery factory in Debrecen, has been arrested on suspicion of rape. According to RTL, the 35-year-old man was arrested by the police in June.
The man had met a 16-year-old college girl on an online chat site. They met several times, and then she wanted to end the relationship. According to RTL, the engineer is suspected of having held the girl captive in his apartment, sexually assaulted her, and then released her.
The man was arrested after the girl's family filed a complaint. The prosecutor's office has questioned a Chinese national as a suspect for aggravated sexual assault. CATL told RTL that they are aware of the case and condemn all forms of violence.
Budapest mayor discusses EU funds for Budapest with von der Leyen
"In Strasbourg, I had talks with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission," Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony wrote on his Facebook page. According to Karácsony, they discussed the European Union funds for Budapest.
"The government is currently using the funding cuts resulting from the rule of law procedure against Budapest: Budapest is probably the only capital city with zero signed funding contracts. The suspended funds should go to the cities - this is what I represented at the meeting. I presented my suggestions to Mrs von der Leyen," he said.
Karácsony says that during the meeting, it became clear that "the European Commission is actively following developments in Hungary, and the government's policy of systematically destroying European values."