HATC SAMPLE EDITION:    Politics & Foreign Relations    Economic News    Business News    Other News of Interest    All stories	23rd April, 2026 Contactless cards can buy BKV tickets Passengers can now purchase tickets on all metro lines in Budapest using contactless bank cards, following the full rollout of the Pay&GO system at station entrances, mayor Gergely Karácsony said on Wednesday. 23rd April, 2026 Karácsony outlines €300bn EU funded projects Plans to have the next cabinet unlock frozen EU funds have been welcomed by Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest, who has prepared a list of projects that could run through to 2029. 22nd April, 2026 Court finds anti-LGBTQ law violates EU values The EU’s top court has ruled that Hungary has become the first European country to violate basic EU fundamental values, as laid out in the Lisbon Treaty, by targeting LGBTQ people in its so-called Child Protection Law. 22nd April, 2026 Budapest Airport reviewing fuel storage capacity Budapest Airport has said fuel supplies at Liszt Ferenc International Airport remain stable, with no reported shortages or significant flight cancellations, despite broader concerns about jet fuel availability in Europe. 20th April, 2026 Csányi enters billionaires tax debate “I’m surprised that Hungarian billionaires are already welcoming the idea of a wealth tax without seeing the details”, OTP chairman Sándor Csányi told Telex in a video interview, reacting to Tisza’s plan to levy a tax on wealth in excess of Ft 1 billion. 20th April, 2026 Winner gets Ft 7bn in record lottery jackpot Following more than six months of accumulation, a lottery player won Ft 6.8 billion, the biggest jackpot ever seen in Hungary, on the ötös lottery on Saturday evening. 17th April, 2026 Losing MPs to get Ft 1.4bn in severance pay Th government will pay Ft 1.4 billion in severance pay to the 144 of Hungary’s 199 MPs who will not be returning to Parliament, HVG reports. 16th April, 2026 Petition launched for Hadházy A petition has been launched on the website of the NGO aHang in favour of giving some form of anti-corruption post to outgoing independent MP Ákos Hadházy, HVG reports. 16th April, 2026 Madách tér renewal expands pedestrian zone Budapest’s Seventh District has begun a full renovation of Madách tér, as part of a renewed push to expand pedestrian areas. 14th April, 2026 Hadházy leaving politics Independent MP Ákos Hadházy announced his retirement on Monday. He said on social media that after the voters’ decision he is leaving public life and will continue as a private individual 13th April, 2026 Magyar celebrates landslide victory A little-known political functionary little more than two years ago, Péter Magyar rode a wave of pent-up discontent to be elected prime minister with the support of a two-thirds majority of MPs. 8th April, 2026 Food-saving Munch to focus on existing markets Hungarian startup Munch, which operates a food-saving platform, has saved food worth Ft 8 billion, equivalent to about 6.5 million meals, since it began operations in 2020, co-founder Albert Wettstein told state news agency MTI. 7th April, 2026 Tisza sets sights on Parliament on election night The Tisza Party will host its main election-night event in Batthyány tér and along the nearby Danube riverbank, directly across from the Parliament building, the party announced. 7th April, 2026 Turkish food maker opts for Orosháza Turkish food processor Dogus Cay will establish its first manufacturing facility outside Turkey in Orosháza, Békés county. 2nd April, 2026 Budapest removes election posters from bridges City-owned road and bridge maintenance company Budapest Közút announced on Wednesday that it has begun removing election posters placed on the structural elements of bridges in the city. 2nd April, 2026 MNB sends artworks to regional museums The MNB deposited 61 works of art from its collection in the Laczkó Dezső Museum in Veszprém, deputy governor Levente Sipos-Tompa said in the town on Wednesday. 31st March, 2026 Documentary reports on widespread vote-buying A new documentary presents through almost 60 interviews the Hungarian system of vote buying in which Fidesz wins an estimated 500,000 votes, primarily in the extremely poor villages of northern and eastern Hungary. 31st March, 2026 Hungary lags in repaying disputed funds to EU Hungary repaid only a small share of EU funds flagged by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in 2015-24, according to data shared with the Financial Times. 30th March, 2026 Clashes erupt at Orbán campaign stop During Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s campaign rally in Pécel on Saturday, repeated scuffles broke out between counter-protesters and groups of men dressed in black, known from previous events. 30th March, 2026 Hungary’s oldest family doctor dies at 103 Dr. István Körmendi, Hungary’s oldest practicing family doctors, has died at the age of 103, confirmed First District mayor László Böröcz. 24th March, 2026 Magyar refuses protective clothing Tisza Party prime ministerial candidate Péter Magyar declared on Monday that he will not wear a bullet-proof vest or other defensive attire after an apparent attempt to assault him was thwarted. 23rd March, 2026 Businesses delaying investments due to elections Hungarian businesses are currently in a “wait-and-see” mode, with many companies holding back on investments due to uncertainty about the economic and political outlook, startup investor and STRT Holding chairman Balogh Petya told Della podcast, 24 writes. 20th March, 2026 Manfred to launch Budapest bike share scheme After a successful test in the Second District, the Manfred bicycle sharing service will be launched across Budapest in the coming days, the company said on Thursday. 20th March, 2026 Ryanair plans Budapest-Venice flights Ryanair will launch a new direct flight between Budapest and Venice from September 1, Airportal reports. 19th March, 2026 Revolut to introduce Hungarian accounts, new fees Neobank Revolut has informed its clients that it will establish a Hungarian branch, with local users set to receive domestic bank account numbers in the future. 19th March, 2026 Mobile payments surge as fintech use broadens The share of people using mobile payments in Hungary rose sharply in 2025, increasing from 41% to 48% in a single year, according to Mastercard. 18th March, 2026 MBH joins BUX basket from April Shares in MBH bank will be included in the BUX index of the Budapest Stock Exchange from April 1, after meeting the entry criteria. 18th March, 2026 Hunguest to run Szentgotthárd hotel Hunguest Hotels will take over the operation of the four-star Gotthard Therme Hotel in Szentgotthárd, from April 1. 17th March, 2026 Ukrainian flag at Tisza event seen as provocation Péter Magyar blamed “Fidesz propaganda” for the appearance of a huge Ukrainian flag at the start of his party’s National March on Sunday afternoon. 16th March, 2026 Hungarian soldiers leave Iraq The Hungarian soldiers and diplomats stationed at the military base in Erbil have left Iraq due to the deterioration of the security situation, armed forces chief of staff Gábor Böröndi announced on Saturday. 16th March, 2026 About You pays Ft 500mn to deceived consumers The operator of About You must pay more than Ft 500 million in compensation to hundreds of thousands of customers, the Competition Authority (GVH) announced on Friday. 13th March, 2026 Hadházy and Zugló mayor cover advertising kiosks Zugló mayor András Rózsa and independent MP Ákos Hadházy covered advertising pillars in Budapest’s 14th District with black plastic on Thursday after the company responsible failed to remove them despite a local ban. 13th March, 2026 Seats empty at Magyar film screenings Péter Magyar alleged Fidesz involvement after it emerged that screenings of the film Spring Wind, The Awakening – a sympathetic documentary about the Tisza Party leader – were sold out on Thursday, but many seats remained empty during the actual showings. 12th March, 2026 Survey: 1.8mn potential voters still undecided Nearly a quarter of Hungary’s adult population – about 1.8 million people, or 23% – still does not know which party they will support in the upcoming election, according to a new analysis by the Republikon Institute. 12th March, 2026 Budapest launches intergenerational housing scheme Budapest has launched the “Together, Easier – Reliable Room Rental” programme to promote cohabitation between elderly residents living alone and young people seeking affordable housing, the municipality said in a statement. 11th March, 2026 US court orders Croatia to pay $236mn to MOL A Washington federal court has ruled that Croatia must pay $236 million to MOL in a case going back to 2013. 11th March, 2026 Nearly 1,000 returned from Middle East Nearly 1,000 people have managed to return to Hungary from the Middle East since war broke out in the region on February 28, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday in Budapest. 10th March, 2026 Gov’t reintroduces fuel price cap Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Monday that the government had ordered a fuel price freeze following an extraordinary meeting, reintroducing what it calls a “protected price”. 10th March, 2026 Kifli.hu expands grocery delivery Kifli.hu has expanded its food delivery network to more than 40 additional settlements from Monday, extending its service to roughly 330,000 more people. 9th March, 2026 Magyar draws huge crowd in Pécs A crowd estimated by police at tens of thousands gathered in Pécs on Saturday evening, filling the central Széchenyi Square and the surrounding streets to welcome Péter Magyar. 9th March, 2026 Hungary seizes $80mn from Ukrainian cash couriers Hungary has deported the seven Ukrainian citizens detained on March 5 while transporting $80 million in cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine, it was announced on Friday. 6th March, 2026 Wizz Air warns of losses as war hits profits Wizz Air has issued a profit warning due to the war involving Iran, saying the conflict could cost the airline nearly €50 million in the financial year ending March 31. 5th March, 2026 Club closed over alleged drug trafficking Authorities on Wednesday ordered one-month temporary closure of Turbina, a nightclub in Budapest’s Eighth District, citing alleged drug trafficking. 4th March, 2026 Wizz Air boosts Egypt route Wizz Air will increase services between Budapest and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from three to ten flights a week from March 6, offering alternatives for passengers affected by the suspension of Middle East routes, the no frills airline said on Tuesday. 4th March, 2026 Documentary on Magyar out next week A sympathetic documentary on Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar, entitled Tavaszi Szél - az ébredés (“Spring Wind - The Awakening”) will premiere in Hungarian cinemas on March 12. 3rd March, 2026 Oil price surge threatens forint A sustained 10% rise in oil prices could lift inflation by 0.5% in Romania and 0.45% in Hungary, according to an analysis by ING bank underlining the vulnerability of energy-importing economies in Central and Eastern Europe. 3rd March, 2026 Lululemon to enter Hungary Lululemon will open its first Hungarian store on March 31 on Budapest’s Fashion Street, in partnership with franchise operator the Arion Retail Group. 2nd March, 2026 Govt pays Ft 6bn to victims of grain firm collapse Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced on social media on Saturday that all affected farmers classified as SMEs have received their due payments following the collapse of grain trader Bászna Gabona. 2nd March, 2026 Middle East flights suspended Dozens of flights were cancelled at Liszt Ferenc International Airport due to the situation in the Middle East, Budapest Airport announced. 27th February, 2026 Most prefer Magyar to Orbán as PM Some 45% of Hungarians would prefer Péter Magyar as prime minister over Viktor Orbán, while 37% would favour the incumbent and 18% could not choose between the two, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Republikon Institute on February 12 -17. 26th February, 2026 Self-driving cars to appear soon in Budapest AI government commissioner László Palko¬vics said in an interview with Index that the first self-driving cars will be unveiled in a few weeks, which will be driving on the streets of Budapest. 26th February, 2026 Travel permit needed for entering UK Foreigners not obliged to have visas, among them the citizens of the EU, may enter the United Kingdom from Wednesday only in possession of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). 25th February, 2026 MNB looks into insider trading in MOL shares The MNB has confirmed to Reuters that it has started an investigation into certain transactions involving MOL shares following a report alleging possible insider trading, Portfolio reports. 24th February, 2026 Wizz Air to suspend online services overnight Wizz Air will temporarily suspend its booking platform and digital customer service systems from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday, due to scheduled maintenance, the airline announced. 23rd February, 2026 New home builds at nine-year low A total of 12,062 new homes were completed in Hungary last year, 9.3% fewer than in 2024, and the lowest number since 2016, Telex writes, citing Ingatlan.com. 23rd February, 2026 Palatinus Grand Hotel reopens in Pécs The iconic Art Nouveau-style Palatinus Grand Hotel in downtown Pécs reopened late last year after an extensive renovation that began in 2020, Portfolio writes. 20th February, 2026 Auchan launches major expansion drive Retail chain Auchan is planning to open smaller shops across the country from 2027 as part of its seven-year strategy to triple sales by 2032, the company announced on Thursday. 20th February, 2026 Miskolc acquires site of former steelworks The municipality of Miskolc has acquired majority ownership of the former Diósgyőr Steelworks for Ft 6 billion, funded from budgetary sources. 19th February, 2026 New study finds Hungary is poorest EU member state The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre launched the ABSPO pilot project in 2018, introducing an “absolute” measure of poverty based on the costs of meeting basic needs for individuals and households. 18th February, 2026 Survey: corruption has not been curbed Most Fidesz voters believe the government has not curbed corruption in the past 15 years, according to a survey conducted by 21 Kutatóközpont for the website aHang. 17th February, 2026 Debrecen casino concession extended to 2061 LVC Diamond Játékkaszinó Üzemeltető, formerly owned by Andy Vajna and now held by Fidesz-affiliated businessmen István Garancsi and Árpád Habony, has been granted the right to operate the Debrecen casino until 2061, website Mfor reports. 17th February, 2026 Over 40,000 Hungarians emigrate annually The number of Hungarians choosing to emigrate is consistently near 40,000 annually and rising, Népszava reports, citing József Nógrádi, head of strategic relations at personnel company Trenkwalder. 16th February, 2026 OTP cutting nearly 200 digital jobs OTP is to reduce headcount in its Digital Division by almost 200 as part of a broader push to streamline operations and improve cost efficiency. 16th February, 2026 Bomb hoax disrupts wine-tasting event again For the second consecutive year, the Budapest Convention Centre had to be evacuated due to a bomb alert while a wine-tasting event was held in the building on Saturday evening. 13th February, 2026 Gov’t extends profit margin cap until May The government will extend the profit margin caps on a range of basic foodstuffs for retailers, which were set to expire at the end of February, until the end of May, the Economy Ministry announced after the January inflation data was released. 12th February, 2026 Pay rise hopes cool as pessimism deepens The scope for double-digit wage increases in Hungary is narrowing rapidly: in 2024 some 31% of employers granted raises of more than 10%; by 2025 that share had fallen to 10%, according to Hays Hungary’s Salary Guide 2026. 12th February, 2026 Hungarian arrested for vandalising temple A 30-year-old Hungarian man was arrested in Malta after he was caught carving numbers into the wall of Ggantija, the world’s oldest free-standing human-built structure. 11th February, 2026 Village mayor shot in his office The mayor of Nagytevel, a village in Veszprém county, was shot with a gas pistol on Tuesday morning in the local government office, authorities confirmed. 10th February, 2026 Foundation ordered to replace massive losses The Neumann János University Foundation (NJEA) in Kecskemét has lost a lawsuit and must now produce a plan detailing how it would recover the lost assets, as demanded by the State Audit Office following its mishandling of nearly Ft 130 billion in public funds. 9th February, 2026 Alibaba charges 4.5% fee for Hungarian deliveries China’s e-commerce group Alibaba has recently begun charging Hungarian customers an additional 4.5% fee listed on invoices as a "Hungary surcharge", Telex writes, citing a notification from a business client. 6th February, 2026 Winter gives rise to record number of potholes Budapest’s already poor road conditions have deteriorated sharply in recent days, with a record number of potholes reported. 5th February, 2026 Less worried about war, more sceptical of EU Hungarians are less concerned about war and slightly less likely to trust the EU than the average for the bloc, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. 4th February, 2026 Győr mayor looks into missing funds Bence Pintér, Győr’s independent mayor, announced that he is initiating the dissolution of the city council, arguing that what has come to light about the management of municipal assets is unacceptable. 3rd February, 2026 Teacher suspended after axe attack on activists A teacher in Debrecen has been suspended after threatening Tisza Party activists with an axe while they collected signatures in a local apartment block, RTL reports. 3rd February, 2026 Trend FM owner acquires Klasszis Média in full Balázs Komáromi, the owner of radio station Trend FM, has bought the Klasszis Média group from its founder, Zsuzsanna Ács, the parties announced. 2nd February, 2026 Jobbik’s Xmas Eve holiday referendum bid fails The national referendum initiative launched by Jobbik to make December 24 a public holiday has failed to gather sufficient public backing, as fewer than 100,000 valid signatures were submitted, the National Election Committee (NVB) has declared. 2nd February, 2026 Free cash withdrawal maximum rises The monthly limit for free cash withdrawals has risen to Ft 300,000, up from Ft 150,000, effective February 1.
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