Hungary

Hungary’s COVID-19 deaths rise to highest since start of fourth wave

Hungary's COVID-19 deaths and new infections jumped over the weekend to their highest level since the start of the fourth wave of the pandemic, government data showed on Monday. Health…

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Left-winger aims to become Hungary’s first female prime minister

Klara Dobrev's first political campaign two years ago earned her leftist party a better-than-expected four seats in the European Parliament. Now she is one step closer to her next goal:…

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UPDATED: Pro-EU Dobrev leads in opposition primary to take on Hungary’s Orban

BUDAPEST, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Klara Dobrev, a 49-year-old lawyer who favours closer ties with the European Union, looked poised to win the first leg of an opposition primary contest…

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UPDATED: Hungary PM launches election campaign with big tax refund for families

Hungary's government will refund $2 billion of income tax to families in early 2022, and also plans a big hike in the minimum wage, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told parliament's…

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Pope inspired me over family values, says Hungary’s Orban

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that his recent meeting with Pope Francis encouraged him to keep defending the traditional family though the pair avoided airing their…

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Access to single market key to Hungary’s EU membership -PM

BUDAPEST, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Hungary must remain a member of the European Union to ensure continued access to its single market, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, adding…

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Hungary condemns EU move to fine Poland over judicial reform

Hungary labelled EU authorities as arrogant after they moved to impose financial penalties against Poland in a dispute over judicial reforms. The European Commission said on Tuesday it had asked…

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Photo Story: International Air Show and Military Display in Hungary

Jets of the Turkish Stars group of the Turkish Air Force fly in formation during the International Air Show and Military Display at the air base of the Hungarian air…

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Hungary, Russia plan to sign vaccine production deal, new gas supply contract -minister

Hungary is in advance talks with Russia on a licence-based production of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in Hungary that could start from the end of 2022, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday.…

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Eight people killed, dozens injured in Hungary bus crash

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Eight people were killed and dozens injured when a passenger bus crashed on the M7 motorway en route to Budapest in the early hours of Sunday, police said…

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Photo Story: World Equestrian Archery Day celebrations in Hungary

Archers shoot together to create a rain of arrows during a festival called Rain of Arrows celebrating the World Equestrian Archery Day on Saturday in Kassai Valley, in Kaposmero, Hungary.…

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Could the European Union kick out Hungary?

Relations between Hungarian president Viktor Orban and other European leaders seem to have reached a nadir. For years, Orban has pursued a right-wing agenda that has often contradicted the bloc’s…

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Thousands join Budapest Pride march against anti-LGBTQ law

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarians joined the annual Budapest Pride march on Saturday to support LGBTQ people and protest against a law that limits teaching about homosexuality and transgender…

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Sinopharm’s COVID-19 shot offers weaker protection among elderly – study

Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine was less effective in offering protection against the disease among the elderly, according to the results of a Hungarian study. The study of 450 participants who had…

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EU seeks two-month delay in talks on Hungary recovery plan

The European Union is seeking a two-month delay in talks on Hungary's pandemic recovery plan, with funding likely to be delayed over contested issues as part of an "ideological war"…

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UPDATED: Hungary to hold referendum on child protection issues by early 2022 -PM aide

Hungary plans to hold a referendum on legislation that limits schools' teaching about homosexuality and transgender issues late this year or early next year, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of…

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Hungary’s Viktor Orban will hold referendum on anti-LGBT law

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has declared that his government will be holding a referendum on a controversial anti-LGBT law. Orban made the announcement in a live video on his…

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EU lists rule-of-law concerns for Hungary, Poland, could withhold funds

The European Commission listed on Tuesday serious concerns about the rule of law in Poland and Hungary in a report that could help determine whether they receive billions of euros…

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Hungary to offer third dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Hungary will offer the option of taking a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from Aug. 1 and will make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for all healthcare workers, Prime Minister Viktor…

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Hungary PM calls EU action on LGBT rights ‘legalised hooliganism’

Hungary's Prime Minister on Friday accused the European Commission of "legalised hooliganism" for an infringement action against measures by his government that the EU executive said discriminated against LGBT people.…

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Hungary’s economy could grow by 6.5% this year

Hungary's economy could grow by more than 14% in the second quarter and by 6.5% in the whole of 2021, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said in an interview posted on…

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Hungary’s clash with EU over LGBT rights deepens

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed he would not give in to EU pressure to repeal a new law banning schools from using materials seen as promoting homosexuality, as the…

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Hungary seeks workers from outside EU to ease labour shortage

Hungary will allow in temporary workers from non-EU states to alleviate a labour shortage and help the economy recover, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday. Szijjarto said some employment…

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Orban says Hungary will not let LGBTQ activists into schools

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that EU efforts to force Hungary to abandon a new law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools would be in vain. His…

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Photo Story: Lavender picking in Hungary

A woman holds a bag of lavender plants (Lavandula angustifolia) in a garden in Nyircsaholy, Hungary. Photo: EPA-EFE/ATTILA BALAZS

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Dutch criticism of Hungary over LGBT rights reeks of ‘colonial’ past -Orban

Dutch criticism of Hungary over a new law on LGBT rights reeks of a moral supremacy rooted in a colonial past, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. EU…

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Hungary plans export curbs on construction materials

Hungary plans to impose export restrictions on construction materials from October to help rein in inflation in the sector, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. Orban said on Tuesday…

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Respect LGBT rights or leave EU, Hungary’s Orban told

Respect LGBT rights or leave the European Union, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told his Hungarian counterpart as the bloc's leaders confronted Viktor Orban over a law that bans schools…

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Harry Potter, ‘Friends’ may fall victim to Hungary’s anti-LGBT law

The largest broadcasters in Hungary criticised a new law banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” among under-18s as a threat to freedom of expression, and one said it could…

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Hungary approves law banning promotion homosexuality and gender change among children

Hungary's parliament passed legislation on Tuesday that bans the dissemination of content in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change, amid strong criticism from human rights groups and opposition…

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Hungarians protest against PM Orban’s LGBTQ rights crackdown

Thousands of Hungarians protested outside Parliament in Budapest on Monday against legislation that would ban discussions of homosexuality or gender change in schools as Prime Minister Viktor Orban prepares for…

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As Hungary lifts restrictions, couples can wed at last

Marton Aszalos, a young Hungarian ambulance paramedic, and vet Eniko Tokacs-Mathe had to cancel their wedding twice during the pandemic and are finally getting ready for their big day this…

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Top EU court dismisses Hungary’s complaint over democracy probe

The top European Union court dismissed Hungary's challenge against the opening in 2018 of a disciplinary procedure against Budapest for undermining democracy in the formerly communist country. Budapest had challenged…

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Wizz Air warns of more losses if restrictions not lifted

European budget airline Wizz Air warned of further losses in its current financial year, amid a slower-than-expected recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ultra-low-cost carrier faces another "transition year" as…

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Hungary PM laments loss of UK from EU ahead of Johnson meeting

Hungary is missing Britain's presence within the European Union and the two countries need to build new bilateral ties, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday ahead of a meeting…

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Hungary signs up to huge EU COVID recovery fund, moving deal a step closer

Hungary on Wednesday approved a bill essential to the European Union's massive recovery fund, bringing the bloc a step closer to putting the deal into operation and hopefully ending Europe's…

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Photo Story – Rainbow above Nagykanizsa during sunset

A rainbow is seen above Nagykanizsa during sunset, Hungary, 23 May 2021 (issued 24 May 2021). VIA EPA-EFE/Gyorgy Varga

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Budapest mayor launches bid to challenge Orban next year

Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony on Saturday announced his bid to become the prime minister candidate for Hungary's six opposition parties which are trying to forge an alliance to take on…

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Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic launch Pro-family coalition

The four Central European countries that make up the Visegrad Group – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – today launched a “pro-family coalition” at an event in Warsaw.…

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Hungary’s Orban: EU should approve vaccines shown to be effective elsewhere

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would propose to European Union leaders that the bloc authorise all vaccines that have been shown to be safe and effective elsewhere and…

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Photo Story – Blessing Christ statue, Hungary

An 8.5 metres high statue of Blessing Christ stands on a hill near the old cemetery of Tarcal, Hungary, 05 May 2021. The granite statue was unveiled in 2015. VIA…

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Hungary reopens for people holding COVID-19 immunity cards

Spa fans flocked to Budapest’s world-famous thermal baths over the weekend as Hungary relaxed lockdown restrictions for people with government-issued vaccination cards. A queue formed in front of the Szechenyi…

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Hungary to ease virus curbs

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday said parts of the service economy will reopen as scheduled on Saturday as the country's COVID-19 vaccination rate surpasses 40%, adding he would…

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Scientists, doctors slam Hungarian government criticism of western vaccines

BUDAPEST, April 27 (Reuters) - Hungarian scientists and doctors have warned against relying on numbers released by the government that suggested Russian and Chinese COVID-19 shots were more effective than Western ones, the latest twist in the country's unorthodox…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Somosko, Hungary

Heavy fog covers the landscape around the Castle of Somosko, near Salgotarjan, Hungary. Via EPA-EFE/Peter Komka

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Wizz Air forecasts gradual flying recovery into late summer

Hungarian low cost airline Wizz Air forecast flying would only recover gradually into late summer, as the travel industry enters a second year of pandemic restrictions. Wizz Air said on…

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Hungary delays secondary schools reopening

Hungary will push back the reopening of secondary schools by three weeks to May 10, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, after teachers and students called for…

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Hungary to start reopening after reaching 2.5 million inoculations: PM Orban

Hungary's businesses and services will begin reopening as it has vaccinated more than a quarter of its 10 million people with at least a first shot, Prime Minister Viktor Orban…

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Photo Story: An Easter Park in Hungary

Painted Easter eggs decorate a tree in the Easter Park of Hajduszoboszlo, Hungary. Ten large-scale eggs were made with the help of artists and art school instructors, and 1,600 egg…

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Hungarian journalists say state conceals impact of world’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak – UPDATE

Hungarian journalists accused the government on Wednesday of putting lives at risk by barring the media from covering the full extent of what is now the world's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.…

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Hungary reports daily record of coronavirus deaths

Hungary recorded 302 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, the highest daily death toll since the start of the pandemic, and 6,700 new COVID-19 cases across the country, the government said on…

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Hungarian and Polish PMs to meet Italy’s League leader to discuss new alliance

The prime ministers of Hungary and Poland will meet the leader of Italy's rightist League party on Thursday for talks on forming a European political alliance, Hungarian state news agency MTI said on Tuesday.…

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Hungary says no room to ease lockdown measures as coronavirus infections rise

Hungary has no room to loosen lockdown measures yet due to a rise in coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, adding doctors would start vaccinating pregnant women…

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Hungary hospitals under ‘extraordinary’ pressure as pandemic sweeps eastern Europe

Hungary's hospitals are under "extraordinary" pressure from rising coronavirus infections and hundreds of volunteers have joined hospitals to help treat patients, the surgeon general said on Wednesday. Like much of central and eastern Europe, Hungary managed to curb infections during the first…

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