Katalin Halmai
@eublogo.bsky.social
Hungarian journalist. News junkie. Former Brussels correspondent. Lives in Leuven. @eublogo on X
The writer Henry Miller maintained that Joyce’s Ulysses could not be fully appreciated in any other setting than on the lavatory. In Japan, there is a term to describe the urge to defecate when entering a bookstore — a phenomenon born, perhaps, from some deeply held association of reading and the 🚽
Should you have a library in your loo?
Like much of what goes on behind closed doors, it raises some controversial questions — from position to hygiene to title selection
www.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The writer Henry Miller maintained that Joyce’s Ulysses could not be fully appreciated in any other setting than on the lavatory. In Japan, there is a term to describe the urge to defecate when entering a bookstore — a phenomenon born, perhaps, from some deeply held association of reading and the 🚽
"It was hard to pick only 25. But it was easier than it used to be," Daniel Dale writes
Analysis: Donald Trump’s top 25 lies of 2025 | CNN Politics
It was hard to pick only 25. But it was easier than it used to be.
www.cnn.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"It was hard to pick only 25. But it was easier than it used to be," Daniel Dale writes
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
Russian troops invading Ukraine are "main obstacle" to peace in Ukraine, says mostly everyone else
EU is ‘main obstacle’ to peace in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
EU is ‘main obstacle’ to peace in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
www.politico.eu
December 29, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Russian troops invading Ukraine are "main obstacle" to peace in Ukraine, says mostly everyone else
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
A person appearing to be the former Prince Andrew emailed Ghislaine Maxwell asking if she had any 'new inappropriate friends' for him ahead of an official royal visit to Peru. ft.trib.al/CunAjlw
December 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
A person appearing to be the former Prince Andrew emailed Ghislaine Maxwell asking if she had any 'new inappropriate friends' for him ahead of an official royal visit to Peru. ft.trib.al/CunAjlw
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
Far-right German politician Ringo Mühlmann has taken a noteworthy interest in exposing information his political opponents say could be of great interest to Russian intelligence.
Germany’s far-right AfD accused of gathering information for the Kremlin
Alternative for Germany’s opponents accuse the party of attempting to disclose sensitive information on arms supply routes and drone defenses.
www.politico.eu
December 23, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Far-right German politician Ringo Mühlmann has taken a noteworthy interest in exposing information his political opponents say could be of great interest to Russian intelligence.
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
NATO SecGen Rutte “We should be grateful to Trump for his leadership”. Curious if founding NATO member Denmark appreciates the leadership just as much. 😒
December 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
NATO SecGen Rutte “We should be grateful to Trump for his leadership”. Curious if founding NATO member Denmark appreciates the leadership just as much. 😒
Weber said Europe would one day use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, even though leaders failed to agree to do so at last week’s summit 💪
EU will eventually use Russian assets to pay for Ukraine war costs, Manfred Weber says
The European People’s Party president rebuffed Washington’s plan to benefit from the frozen assets.
www.politico.eu
December 22, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Weber said Europe would one day use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, even though leaders failed to agree to do so at last week’s summit 💪
Two days before the summit, Hungary had signalled to the European Commission that while it was opposed to joint debt for Ukraine, it could agree to borrowing against the budget if Budapest was exempt from repaying it, two officials told the FT
How Merz’s summit plan on Russian assets backfired ft.trib.al/pnrW3n5
How Merz’s summit plan on Russian assets backfired
France sided with Belgium, Italy and smaller states in backing joint debt for Ukraine instead
ft.trib.al
December 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Two days before the summit, Hungary had signalled to the European Commission that while it was opposed to joint debt for Ukraine, it could agree to borrowing against the budget if Budapest was exempt from repaying it, two officials told the FT
“They [The Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia] don’t have to pay — but we will make them pay for it [politically],” said a senior European official
EU agrees €90bn loan to Ukraine after frozen Russian asset plan fails
Money to be borrowed against bloc’s budget after leaders fail to agree on proposal using Moscow’s funds
www.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:22 AM
“They [The Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia] don’t have to pay — but we will make them pay for it [politically],” said a senior European official
According to renowned Belgian economist Paul de Grauwe, the Belgian government's reservations about using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine are greatly exaggerated. The expert stated in the newspaper De Morgen & also on Flemish public TV that the risk that Russia will claim his money… 2/1
December 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
According to renowned Belgian economist Paul de Grauwe, the Belgian government's reservations about using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine are greatly exaggerated. The expert stated in the newspaper De Morgen & also on Flemish public TV that the risk that Russia will claim his money… 2/1
😱 Viktor Orbán is concerned about Hungarian foreign exchange reserves held in Brussels:
“What will happen if Brussels decides to take away Hungary’s foreign exchange reserves?”, he told his propagandists on the airplane to Brussels 1/2
“What will happen if Brussels decides to take away Hungary’s foreign exchange reserves?”, he told his propagandists on the airplane to Brussels 1/2
December 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
😱 Viktor Orbán is concerned about Hungarian foreign exchange reserves held in Brussels:
“What will happen if Brussels decides to take away Hungary’s foreign exchange reserves?”, he told his propagandists on the airplane to Brussels 1/2
“What will happen if Brussels decides to take away Hungary’s foreign exchange reserves?”, he told his propagandists on the airplane to Brussels 1/2
A recent poll shows
that the Tisza Party of @eppgroup.bsky.social has an 8% point lead over Fidesz among the entire population, and an 11% point lead among those who are likely to vote. According to analysts, this is a difficult lead to overcome before the April elections
#21Kutatóközpont
that the Tisza Party of @eppgroup.bsky.social has an 8% point lead over Fidesz among the entire population, and an 11% point lead among those who are likely to vote. According to analysts, this is a difficult lead to overcome before the April elections
#21Kutatóközpont
December 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A recent poll shows
that the Tisza Party of @eppgroup.bsky.social has an 8% point lead over Fidesz among the entire population, and an 11% point lead among those who are likely to vote. According to analysts, this is a difficult lead to overcome before the April elections
#21Kutatóközpont
that the Tisza Party of @eppgroup.bsky.social has an 8% point lead over Fidesz among the entire population, and an 11% point lead among those who are likely to vote. According to analysts, this is a difficult lead to overcome before the April elections
#21Kutatóközpont
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels👏
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels👏
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Over the course of the gala, a club member struck an attendee in the face outside on the sidewalk, President Donald Trump was endorsed for a third term and a protester wearing a Nazi armband and waving a swastika-laden banner popped up from his seat to shout, “I guess we’re all Nazis!”
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans as elected officials skip out
The annual soiree took place as young Republican groups across the country are reeling from POLITICO’s reporting on a racist and antisemitic chat group among prominent leaders.
www.politico.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Over the course of the gala, a club member struck an attendee in the face outside on the sidewalk, President Donald Trump was endorsed for a third term and a protester wearing a Nazi armband and waving a swastika-laden banner popped up from his seat to shout, “I guess we’re all Nazis!”
The European Democratic Party asks @ec.europa.eu to clarify which EU-funded programmes and resources have been used in the areas of juvenile detention or correctional institutions in Hungary, and whether the safeguards currently in place are sufficient in light of the “systemic” nature of the abuses
Child abuse in Hungary: EDP calls for European investigation
EDP Secretary General Sandro Gozi and Péter Márki-Zay urge the EU Commission and Parliament to verify responsibility and use of funds for child protection and juvenile justice
democrats.eu
December 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The European Democratic Party asks @ec.europa.eu to clarify which EU-funded programmes and resources have been used in the areas of juvenile detention or correctional institutions in Hungary, and whether the safeguards currently in place are sufficient in light of the “systemic” nature of the abuses
Despite the intensity of the Trump criticism, the ongoing peace talks in 🇺🇦 have complicated the response given Kyiv’s fate is largely dependent on maintaining a working relationship with the US. It has forced the EU to believe it needs to absorb criticism rather than hit back, for Zelenskyy’s sake
Trump assault opens EU rift as leaders split on US strategy
European institutions and capitals divided over how far to push back against Washington without hurting Ukraine
www.ft.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Despite the intensity of the Trump criticism, the ongoing peace talks in 🇺🇦 have complicated the response given Kyiv’s fate is largely dependent on maintaining a working relationship with the US. It has forced the EU to believe it needs to absorb criticism rather than hit back, for Zelenskyy’s sake
Talks between the US & Ukrainian officials explored the creation of a US-Russia reconstruction fund for Ukraine. Russian sovereign assets would be placed into the fund, with the EU expected to contribute €100 billion. 🇺🇸 and 🇷🇺 would jointly “decide the destiny of Russian assets,” @euractiv.com writes
December 15, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Talks between the US & Ukrainian officials explored the creation of a US-Russia reconstruction fund for Ukraine. Russian sovereign assets would be placed into the fund, with the EU expected to contribute €100 billion. 🇺🇸 and 🇷🇺 would jointly “decide the destiny of Russian assets,” @euractiv.com writes
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
Just sent out this piece. The whole idea that Trump's sanctions on Russian oil were meant to hurt Putin is collapsing on all fronts. Indian and Chinese purchases are up and there are no secondary sanctions to be found. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The Trump Russian Oil Sanctions Con Is Collapsing
And Why It Matters
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Just sent out this piece. The whole idea that Trump's sanctions on Russian oil were meant to hurt Putin is collapsing on all fronts. Indian and Chinese purchases are up and there are no secondary sanctions to be found. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
How much of a dirty word "Viktor Orbán" has become: yesterday, in London, the Belgian prime minister indignantly reproached the international press for calling him a "Russian spy" and "the second Viktor Orbán" because of his opposition to the use of frozen Russian assets 🤦♂️
@vrtnws.be
@vrtnws.be
December 13, 2025 at 7:52 AM
How much of a dirty word "Viktor Orbán" has become: yesterday, in London, the Belgian prime minister indignantly reproached the international press for calling him a "Russian spy" and "the second Viktor Orbán" because of his opposition to the use of frozen Russian assets 🤦♂️
@vrtnws.be
@vrtnws.be
Silicon Valley’s Authoritarian Tech Right is not theorizing this world. They are already building it. The pipelines are operational. The feedback loops are functioning. The sovereignty transfers are completing.
A MUST READ 👇
A MUST READ 👇
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
December 13, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Silicon Valley’s Authoritarian Tech Right is not theorizing this world. They are already building it. The pipelines are operational. The feedback loops are functioning. The sovereignty transfers are completing.
A MUST READ 👇
A MUST READ 👇
🫡 US backing would also mean that President Donald Trump could order Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who has so far held up Ukraine’s accession process, to drop his veto and allow Kyiv to start progressing through the political approval process
Ukraine would join EU next year under draft peace plan
Move backed by Brussels would transform the bloc’s approach to admitting new members
www.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
🫡 US backing would also mean that President Donald Trump could order Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who has so far held up Ukraine’s accession process, to drop his veto and allow Kyiv to start progressing through the political approval process
Reposted by Katalin Halmai
#Hungary: IPI welcomes the launching of legal action by the European Commission against Hungary over its systematic violation of new rules set out in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), echoing findings of a recent IPI & MJRC report. Full statement👇
buff.ly/vj9nArH
buff.ly/vj9nArH
Hungary: IPI welcomes legal action against Hungary over EU Media Freedom Act violations – ipi.media
The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomes the launching of legal action by the European Commission against Hungary over its systematic violation of new rules set out in the European…
ipi.media
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#Hungary: IPI welcomes the launching of legal action by the European Commission against Hungary over its systematic violation of new rules set out in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), echoing findings of a recent IPI & MJRC report. Full statement👇
buff.ly/vj9nArH
buff.ly/vj9nArH
🥇Hungary is first again: The very first infringement case ever launched under the new European Media Act targets Budapest. From press freedom and source protection to public media and state ads, the Commission says Hungary breaks the rules across the board.
December 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
🥇Hungary is first again: The very first infringement case ever launched under the new European Media Act targets Budapest. From press freedom and source protection to public media and state ads, the Commission says Hungary breaks the rules across the board.
Krasznahorkai László
December 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Krasznahorkai László