Cooperation between Hungary and the US stands before “great opportunities and a new golden age after the nearly unprecedented destruction wrought by former ambassador David Pressman”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Friday.
According to a ministry statement, Péter Szijjártó said in an interview with commercial news channel HírTV that Pressman had “pushed Hungarian-US bilateral cooperation to a historic low which is especially apparent after they thrived under former ambassador David Cornstein.”
Szijjártó said cooperation was on the verge of a “new golden age” as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President-elect Donald Trump “are clearly political allies. They have the same approach to the great challenges of the world, and have similar stances on great political issues.”
Referring to Pressman, Szijjártó said that the past years had shown “the difference between a lieutenant sent by George Soros and a real ambassador”.
“We send and receive ambassadors to make cooperation with the country in question better and more successful so that both countries can profit from it. David Pressman was here not to boost relations between Hungary and the US but to try to push the patriotic, conservative, Christian Democrat Hungarian government towards pro-war, pro-migration and pro-gender politics,” he said.
Hungary awaits the new ambassador “with joy and respect”, and is ready to work to lift political cooperation “from historic lows to historic highs”, Szijjártó said. “We have every chance of that, as our defence and economic cooperation is excellent and the leaders of the two countries are soon going to be political allies,” Szijjártó said.
Read also:
Putin said he would tear Hungary away from NATO, but how would PM Orbán act? – read more HERE
Hungarian government loophole: Guest workers can still come to Hungary – details in THIS article
On 16 January, Hungary’s first and Central Europe’s largest virtual production studio complex, United Illusions, opened its doors in Fótliget, near Budapest. This state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionise filmmaking in the region and attract international productions to Hungary.
Cutting-edge technology
According to Zoltán Simon, Director of United Illusions, the United Illusions Virtual Production Studio boasts impressive technical specifications:
A 28-meter wide, 6-meter high ultra-modern ROE LED wall
Additional 7m x 4.5m ceiling and 4m x 4m movable side elements
Nearly 2,000 square meters of studio space optimised for virtual productions
ARRI technical support and certification, ensuring the highest quality standards
This advanced setup allows for the creation of unique virtual environments, eliminating the need for green screens and providing actors with realistic surroundings to enhance their performances.
International appeal
The studio aims to position itself as a top destination for international filmmakers. United Illusions has already made its presence known at major industry events:
American Film Market and Location Expo in Las Vegas (November)
FOCUS London film trade fair (December)
Upcoming presence at the Berlinale
Collaboration with the renowned Origo Studio further enhances United Illusions’ appeal to global productions, Digital Hungary writes.
Services and capabilities
United Illusions offers a comprehensive range of services: virtual production environments for films, TV shows, commercials, and video game projects; in-house graphics division for digital background generation and visual effects; Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) integration; adaptable configurations to suit various filmmaking needs.
Impact on Hungarian film industry
The establishment of United Illusions significantly strengthens Hungary’s position in the international film industry. Botond Szabolcs, founder and co-owner of Visual Europe Group (VEG), which created the complex, emphasised the studio’s role in enhancing Hungary’s reputation in the global filmmaking community.
Future prospects
United Illusions is committed to promoting the unique storytelling possibilities offered by virtual studios. The facility’s management believes that this new technology will enable creators to produce experiences that will captivate audiences worldwide by fusing imagination and reality in unprecedented ways. With less than ten comparable studios available globally, United Illusions is poised to make a significant impact on the film industry. The day after its opening, the studio was already set to host an international production featuring world-renowned stars, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Hungarian filmmaking.
At Corvinus University, tuition-free education is made possible not through state scholarships but via the unique Corvinus Scholarship, funded by the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation. The scholarship is performance-based, its regulations are more flexible than those of state scholarships, and more than three-quarters of the university’s students receive it. In the upcoming academic year, Corvinus expects to welcome approximately 1,500 tuition-free students once again.
Among foundation-maintained universities, Corvinus is the only institution that offers tuition-free places to students without relying on state funding. The Corvinus Scholarship, provided by the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, covers the tuition fees, enabling recipients to study free of charge. Applicants from Hungary for this scholarship must select the “Supported Program” (“A” code) option when applying through felvi.hu.
The Corvinus Scholarship also differs from state scholarships in that self-funded students can reapply for the scholarship every academic year. Additionally, recipients are not required to undertake mandatory employment in Hungary after graduation to compensate for their years of tuition-free study.
Hundreds of tuition-free places at Budapest university
In the 2024/25 academic year, Corvinus University admitted a total of 1,871 students through the central admission procedure: 1,376 to bachelor’s programs, 439 to master’s programs, and 56 to single-cycled programs. Of those enrolled in full-time bachelor’s programs, 75% received the Corvinus Scholarship, as did 93% of those admitted to full-time master’s programs. In total, this means that over 1,500 first-year students were able to study free of charge at Corvinus.
The exact number of tuition-free places for the upcoming academic year will be determined based on admission results, but Corvinus plans to maintain at least the same number as last year, ensuring around 1,500 tuition-free opportunities for the 2025/26 academic year.
The claim made by the Academic Workers’ Forum from Hungary, as reported in the press, that Corvinus is reducing the number of tuition-free places, is not true. We covered that issue in THIS article.
Read also:
Top 3 in the region: Corvinus University gains prestigious recognition – read more HERE
Hungary’s universities break through in 2024 Shanghai Rankings—HERE is the ones that are in the top 200
Of course, the dangerous event did not happen in Hungary because, in our country, the highest speed trains can reach is 160 km/h between Budapest and Győr. The Hungarian 40-year-old travelled on a German high-speed train and miraculously survived the daredevil ride without being harmed, but he needed helpful people who alerted the police and authorities.
Hungarian man travelled between carriages
According to BBC, the Hungarian national boarded the ICE train carrying passengers between Munich and Lübeck in just 6 hours in the Bavarian capital on Thursday. He did not have a ticket but decided to take a smoking break in Ingolstadt. However, he lingered too long over his cigarette, and the train doors closed. Since he did not want to remain stranded at the station, he jumped onto a bracket between two carriages and held on to cables.
The train accelerated to 282 km/h and powered on to Nuremberg, but the Hungarian man was lucky. People saw him at the station and informed the police and authorities, who managed to establish contact with the train driver. He brought it to a halt after 30km at Kinding in Upper Bavaria.
He did not want to lose his luggage
As an explanation, the Hungarian man told police he left his luggage on the train and did not want to lose it. Thankfully, he was not injured during the devilish ride. “A police officer from the state police who happened to be travelling with the train found the 40-year-old Hungarian ‘passenger’ and brought him on to the train”, a police spokesman said.
He was handed over to federal police in Nuremberg and is expected to face charges for “an act disruptive to operations”, considered to be a severe administrative breach. According to Telex, he was also fined for travelling without a valid ticket. At the beginning of THIS article, you can see a photo of where the man travelled for 30 kilometres. It is mind-blowing to take a look and imagine his journey.
Read also:
Fire at one of Budapest’s main railway stations: arson not ruled out – VIDEO and details in THIS article
Budapest-Austria railway line revamp modifies the schedule of international trains – read more HERE
2024 broke all previous records in the history of Budapest Airport; 17.6 million passengers and nearly 300,000 tonnes of air cargo passed through Ferenc Liszt International Airport in 2024, foreshadowing robust passenger growth in the coming years and consolidating the airport’s role as a regional hub. Annual passenger traffic at Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, surpassed the pre-COVID level for the first time, and in anticipation of further growth, owners and management have begun preparations for the construction of Terminal 3, which will ensure a high quality of service for passengers in the long term.
Budapest Airport broke all records
2024 was a very important year in the history of Budapest Airport. After almost 20 years, the airport returned to majority Hungarian ownership; in June, the Hungarian state acquired an 80 percent stake in the airport operator and the French company and world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports a 20 percent share.
Moreover, the airport also broke all previous records by serving 17.6 million arriving and departing passengers in 2024. With 17,574,413 passengers handled last year, annual traffic not only exceeded the 2023 figure by 19,5%, but also surpassed the previous record-breaking 2019 figure by 8.7%. Hungary’s attractiveness as a tourist destination and Hungarians’ appetite for travel were reflected in the airport’s passenger traffic throughout the year, with over 1 million passengers every month, and Budapest Airport recorded the highest traffic growth in October among the 50 busiest European airports.
Budapest Airport is one of the main airports operated by VINCI Airports that crossed record-breaking thresholds in 2024: 35 million passengers were welcomed at Lisbon, 26 million at Santiago Airport in Chile, 15 million at Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and 8 million at Belgrade in Serbia.
141 destinations, 43 airlines
In the 14 countries where VINCI Airports operates airports, more than 318 million passengers travelled in 2024, 11 million more than in 2019 and nearly 25 million more than in 2023.
At Budapest Airport, 141 destinations were available from 43 airlines in 2024, with London, Istanbul, Milan and Paris being the most popular destinations. Passenger traffic to and from China nearly tripled, and there was also record growth to Italy, Spain and Germany, supported by a number of new destinations and frequency increases on existing routes. Brand new destinations included Faro, Marrakesh and Bilbao, while the number of Chinese cities with direct flights from Budapest increased to five, with 17 flights per week in total. Wizz Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines carried the most passengers last year.
The owners expect continued robust growth in the future, supported by VINCI Airports’ excellent airline relationships and extensive network. This factor, combined with Budapest Airport’s airline development work, should result in even more available destinations, including long-haul flights. With 20 million passengers expected by 2030, preparations for the construction of the new Terminal 3 began at the end of last year. The first phase will involve an apron extension, while all elements of the further apron and terminal development are expected to be completed within eight years.
Dynamic growth
“It is also a great pleasure for VINCI Airports to see the dynamic growth of Budapest Airport and last year’s record figures. Hungary has huge potential in tourism, paving the way for growth at the airport,” summarised Francois Berisot, the CEO of Budapest Airport. He added: “Budapest Airport, together with the Hungarian Tourism Agency and the VINCI Airports airline development team, is continuously working on adding new connections that further open up completely new perspectives. The focus remains the same: quality, sustainability, development and growth.”
Budapest Airport also had an outstanding year in air cargo. While in 2023, it celebrated reaching the 200,000 ton threshold, the volume of cargo handled in 2024 almost reached 300,000 tonnes – 299,642 tonnes to be precise. This represents an increase of 48.8% from the previous year, and once again positions Budapest Airport as a leading player in the region. As with passenger traffic, air cargo volumes exceeded those recorded in the same period of last year in each month of the year.
Ryanair plans to reduce capacities by 18% in 12 routes this summer compared to the summer of 2024 in Spain. That means deleting approximately 800,000 seats, a decision that would hit Spain’s tourism. Meanwhile, they plan to transfer freed capacities to other countries where governments facilitate growth. The good news is that one of the target countries is Hungary.
According to portfolio.hu, Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines, was outraged by the decision of the Spanish state-owned Aena airport operator to increase operation fees. As a result, they decided to reduce capacities in Spain by 18%, which means deleting 800,000 seats in 12 routes. Based on their relevant statement, the Irish budget airline said they would delete flights to Jerez and Valladolid. Meanwhile, they will cut flight frequency to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, and Santander. Experts believe the measure will affect the Spanish tourism sector, especially on the economy of regional destinations.
More Ryanair capacities in Hungary
Ryanair said they would relocate those capacities to countries where governments facilitate growth. The target countries include Hungary, Croatia, Morocco, Sweden, and Italy. Spain’s tourism sector expanded in 2024, airports welcomed 309 million tourists last year, a record number. Spanish authorities remain optimistic about the future and calculate further growth in the sector. However, Ryanair’s decision might mean a step back for multiple regions, especially in towns where they do not plan to fly this summer. Ryanair did not share any details concerning which new flights they would start from Hungary or on which routes they would increase flight frequency.
Read also:
Ryanair launches new flight between Budapest and stunning Spanish region near Valencia – read more HERE
Swiss rolling stock maker Stadler inaugurated a capacity expansion at its base in Szolnok (E Hungary) on Friday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said the investment would boost capacity at the base by 20pc and add double-decker aluminium carbodies to the production palette. Stadler has invested around HUF 80bn in Hungary and produced 5,600 carbodies, he added.
Carbodies from Szolnok are in service in 14 countries, including the United States, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany. Stadler employs close to 1,000 people in Hungary. Around 900 Swiss-owned companies in Hungary employ over 30,000 people.
Read also:
Budapest mayor: busiest metro line may undergo major upgrade – read more HERE
In an ultimatum before the start of the invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin spoke clearly about his aims in Eastern Europe concerning even Hungary. He wrote that NATO should stop expanding eastwards and return to its pre-May-1997 borders, which would mean withdrawing even from Hungary. Zsolt Németh, the Fidesz chairman of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said if we were not NATO members, we would have to defend the country against a Russian attack.
Russia would challenge Hungarian sovereignty, says Orbán’s politician
Zsolt Németh talked in May about such concerns at a conference of the Hungarian Atlantic Council (MAT), saying that Russia would not like to invade Hungary. Instead, they would like to have a say in what Hungary does, how the country chooses its allies, what they represent in international forums and from where they buy weapons. Németh concluded that Russia would challenge Hungarian sovereignty if it could, but NATO, which is a defensive alliance, protects Hungary from becoming a victim of Moscow again.
PM Orbán and his government regularly say that if the Western bloc considered Putin’s rightful security concerns, the war in Ukraine would not have started. However, we know what Putin demanded from the “West” and that it would be catastrophic for Hungary if we agree with Zsolt Németh, who is also a member of Fidesz and always sits beside PM Orbán during the latter’s address at the free summer university of Tusványos in Romania.
NATO should withdraw from Hungary, said Putin
The Russian president “spoke” plainly in two documents, which can be regarded as ultimatums before the invasion of Ukraine. On 17 December, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the demands in the form of two draft treaties with NATO and the U.S., proposing limits on their influence and activities in Europe. They gave only one month for response, including even the Christmas and end-year festivities.
Among Putin’s demands were the end of further NATO enlargement, a ban on deploying intermediate-range missiles in areas from where they could reach Russian territories, and a ban on NATO military activity in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia. Moreover, it would have also banned the deployment of forces or weapons in countries that joined the alliance after May 1997. In practice, that would have meant NATO’s withdrawal from Hungary.
Russian security claims should not be forgotten
On his “peace mission” in July, PM Orbán talked about the Russian security claims and the distance between those demands and NATO’s willingness to comply with them. But the distance is not insurmountable, the Hungarian prime minister believed then. He said the parties should reach an agreement that guarantees peace, considers Russia’s security demands and is acceptable to NATO.
Some Hungarian politicians are continuously slamming the West for not providing help for the Hungarian anti-Soviet freedom fighters in 1956. The West stuck to its agreement with the Soviets concerning the division of most of the world into spheres of interest. And in that partition, Hungary was part of the Soviet bloc.
Great powers and their spheres of interest?
It seems the Hungarian government would support such a partition again, which would imply that some parts of Eastern Europe (e.g. Ukraine or part of it) are “untouchable” because they are Russian spheres of interest. However, that initiative could mean that, in the long run, Hungary will also fall into the hands of Russia (again). President Putin does not even try to hide that regaining (some) control over Eastern European states is part of his plan and demands.
That is something we should consider before the foreseeable, Trump-initiated peace talks. The vast majority of the Hungarians are pro-EU and pro-NATO, and they would never accept becoming part of the Eastern bloc again. It might be comforting that the Orbán cabinet also regularly highlights that Hungary is and will remain a NATO and EU member despite all quarrels.
Read also:
PM Orbán: Trump will bring peace, anti-Russia sanctions should be abolished, Soros empire moved to Brussels – read more about the prime minister’s yesterday press briefing HERE
Hungary becomes regional distributor of Russian gas, generating windfall revenues
Ferenc Pál Bíró, the head of Hungary’s Integrity Authority, on Friday said allegations of embezzlement made against him by prosecutors were “unfounded”, and the investigation would find that no crime had been committed.
National Communications office probe followed by corruption allegations
The operations of the Integrity Authority have always been transparent and followed “the strictest legal and ethical norms”, Bíró told a press conference after being interrogated earlier this week by Prosecutorial investigators (KNYF) under suspicion of embezzlement and abuse of office. He said he was proud that the authority served “the good of the country on a strictly independent and professional basis”.
Bíró said the authority was open to cooperating with prosecutors, adding, at the same time, that he believed the extent and drawn-out nature of the investigation against him was unnecessary. “The timing is also interesting,” he said, noting that the authority had launched a probe of the activities of the National Communications office last week. He said he believed the true aim of the investigation was to make the authority’s investigative and monitoring activities accessible to “a much broader circle”.
Personal attacks against the head of the Integrity Authority
“Yesterday they made personal attacks against me,” Bíró said, adding that the aim was to use the investigation against him to render the authority’s operations impossible. Commenting on the allegation that he used the Integrity Authority’s finances to rent a vehicle for his wife’s private use, Bíró said the authority rents some 20 vehicles of which three are assigned to the head of the authority and his deputies. Bíró said the use of the company vehicles was subject to internal regulations which were in line with the law.
He also denied the allegation that he had rented a car for an individual not employed by the authority. He said his wife had used his official vehicle occasionally, but this was allowed by the authority’s regulations.
Thousands of pages seized
Bíró said investigators had seized thousands of pages of documents during a search of the authority, including documents on the Integrity Authority’s ongoing investigations”. He said his home had also been searched, but investigators “didn’t take anything and couldn’t even say what they were looking for”.
Bíró speculated that the aim of the searches was to obtain information about the authority’s ongoing investigations. “These sort of attacks strengthen rather than weaken us,” he said, adding that the authority continued to work on curbing corruption.
Integrity Authority created by PM Orbán’s government
The Integrity Authority was created by the Orbán government to fulfil relevant demands of the European Union. They also hoped that establishing such an institution would help get EU funds frozen due to corruption allegations and rule of law problems. The Hungarian opposition slammed the institution for not being independent from the government. The institution’s main task is to fight corruption and fraud.
Read also:
OLAF and Hungary’s Integrity Authority pedge stronger EU-wide anti-corruption efforts – read more HERE
Minister Rogán on the US sanctions list: here are the first harsh reactions from the Orbán cabinet
An international arrest warrant has been issued for Tiganciuc Serghei, a Moldovan citizen suspected of causing an accident in the capital a week ago in which seven people were injured, the Budapest police (BRFK) said on Friday.
The warrant has been issued by a Budapest court for the 27-year-old suspect, on the basis of additional investigations that involved a DNA test, BRFK said on polie.hu. The accident had happened when the driver of an Audi S8 carried on driving when police tried to stop the car and, chased by police, collided with another car. The driver fled from the site. A European arrest warrant was back then issued for the Moldovan driver who was under deportation from Hungary on people smuggling charges at the time.
But later it was suspected that the accident might have been caused by the Moldovan man’s brother who had a similar appearance and the two might have regularly used each other’s identities.
The Hungarian government’s recent regulations on guest worker recruitment may seem like a significant shift towards limiting guest workers, but loopholes in the new policies ensure that the inflow of non-EU workers won’t dry up entirely. Despite reducing the annual guest worker quota and narrowing the list of eligible countries, exceptions for major economic projects and alternative pathways still exist.
Guest worker regulations
As G7 writes, Hungary’s recent tightening of rules on the recruitment of guest workers has sparked debate, but its overall economic impact is expected to be minimal. The government announced a reduction in the annual guest worker quota to 35,000 for 2025, down from 65,000, emphasising a policy of limiting foreign workers. This reflects Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pledge to ensure Hungary remains “neither a country of guest workers nor migrants.”
The exceptions
The new rules restrict eligible non-EU countries to those with readmission agreements, significantly narrowing the list to Georgia and Armenia. However, the late addition of the Philippines as an approved sending country can be explained as a practical adjustment to labour market needs. While these changes align with a politically rational narrative, the macroeconomic impact of fewer guest workers is expected to remain limited.
The loophole
Hungary’s recent measures have tightened regulations for employing guest workers from third countries, reducing the number of eligible nations from ten to just three: Georgia, Armenia, and the Philippines. These changes follow the 2024 introduction of the Aliens Act, which allows only qualified employers—government strategic partners or companies involved in priority national investments—and 29 approved temporary work agencies to recruit guest workers. Contracts for these workers typically span up to two years, with a possible one-year extension, while seasonal agricultural and tourism roles remain available under simplified rules for shorter terms.
Despite these restrictions, exceptions exist for critical economic projects such as investments by BYD in Szeged and BMW in Debrecen, where guest workers can be employed without limitation. Additionally, the National Card scheme, effective in 2024, offers an alternative pathway for certain nationalities, including Bosniaks and Ukrainians, under stricter conditions. These adjustments reflect Hungary’s balancing act between political objectives and economic needs.
The reconstruction of the special operations barracks in Szolnok, in eastern Hungary, is expected to bring about one of the largest and most modern developments of central Europe, the defence minister said in Szolnok on Friday, at the cornerstone ceremony of the development.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that the development, similarly to the speed and scale of armed forces and military industry developments in Hungary, “will stand as an example for Europe”.
The 59 billion forint (EUR 143.2m) investment, funded fully from government coffers, will set up the “new home” of the special operations brigade, the Special Operations Command and the international Regional Special Operations Component Command, to replace the old army barracks in Szolnok, he said. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2026, Szalay-Bobrovniczky added.
We’ve rounded up the top Hungary news from today. Scroll down not to miss any of them.
Featured Hungary news
Hungary becomes regional distributor of Russian gas, generating windfall revenues – read more HERE
The old Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest: one of the world’s most beautiful and longest chain bridge was demolished 80 years ago – read more and check out some photos HERE
The Hungarian actress who was adored by both Hitler and Stalin – read more HERE
Fire at one of Budapest’s main railway stations: arson not ruled Out – VIDEO and details HERE
Cars to be banned from one of Budapest’s busiest avenues on weekends, holidays – read more HERE
Underage perpetrators of Budapest arson attack killing father of four may get harsher sentence – VIDEO and details HERE
Photo: FB
Property in Hungary
Hungarian rental market sees massive hike, wages barely keep pace – read more HERE
Good news for property buyers: Real estate prices decline in the heart of Budapest – details in THIS article
Orbán cabinet and Russia
PM Orbán: Trump will bring peace, anti-Russia sanctions should be abolished, Soros empire moved to Brussels, Ukraine should not join the EU – UPDATE: opposition reactions – check out the details HERE
Orbán cabinet recommends Russian-developed code generator for Hungarian citizens’ data protection
A fire broke out on a locomotive at Keleti railway station near Verseny Street in Budapest, spreading quickly and engulfing another locomotive on the siding. Firefighters faced considerable challenges in extinguishing the blaze. One injury was reported. Authorities have stated that arson cannot yet be ruled out.
Readers of Telex, an independent Hungarian news outlet, reported the incident and provided photographs, which are featured in their coverage. Ádám István Kiss, spokesperson for the Budapest Directorate General for Disaster Management, confirmed that while the flames spread to a second locomotive, three other nearby engines escaped damage. The affected locomotives were stationed on sidings at the time.
Source: FB/Csanád Görhöny PrtScr
Authorities cannot exclude arson
Professional firefighters from Budapest, assisted by volunteers from Lőrinc-Kertváros, managed to bring the fire under control by 8 PM, though some glowing embers persisted in the locomotives. Crews completed their work by 8.30 PM.
A Telex correspondent reported that traffic at Keleti railway station was temporarily restricted due to the spread of smoke. According to Mávinform, the restrictions were lifted by 8 p.m.
The Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) began a thorough investigation to detect the reason for the fire. Currently, even arson cannot be ruled out.The Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the fire. At this stage, the possibility of arson has not been excluded.
Here is a video of the incident:
UPDATE: One man hospitalized
Mávinform shared an update yesterday night that their employees did a great job pulling away 30 carriages with the help of diesel locomotives and preventing them from being consumed by the flames. They said only one carriage suffered minor damage. They added that one employee was hospitalized for suspicion of smoke inhalation. Authorities still do not know the reason for the fire and they do not exclude arson. The investigation goes on.
Read also:
Budapest-Austria railway line revamp modifies the schedule of international trains – read more HERE
BREAKING NEWS! Mega real-estate deal planned at Budapest’s largest railway stations, says Vitézy
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony will propose ensuring disabled accessibility along the entirety of the city’s M2 metro line, the Mayor’s Office said on Friday.
Karácsony will submit a proposal to the municipal assembly for an upgrade involving European funding that would see old escalators in need of repair replaced with new ones and platform lifts, the office said. This would not only help those with mobility issues, the elderly and parents with small children, but it would also help with saving energy, the statement added.
Photo: FB/BKK
In a video posted on Facebook, Karácsony said the M2 line was Budapest’s second busiest metro line with roughly 300,000 passengers using it daily. Of the 11 stations on the line, only 3 offer disabled accessibility, he added. The project to be proposed by Karácsony would involve transport company BKV replacing 27 escalators and installing eight platform lifts at eight stations, the Mayor’s Office said. The project is currently estimated to cost 21 billion forints (EUR 50.9m) , they said.
Here is the project’s announcement published by Mayor Karácsony:
Read also:
Farewell to the iconic Budapest Körszálló: The end of an era for Hotel Budapest – check out the details in THIS article
Hungarian actress Franciska Gaál’s life was a striking tale of fame, misfortune, and tragedy. From her rise to international stardom, admired by both Stalin and Hitler, to a life marked by hardship and obscurity after WWII. Once adored, she ended her days in poverty and loneliness, a cruel reminder of the fragility of success.
Early life
As Dívány writes, Hungarian actress Franciska Gaál had a colourful childhood, growing up as one of seven sisters and wearing hand-me-downs from her older siblings. She dreamt of having clothes made just for her, a wish she would later see come true. The school wasn’t her strong suit, she admitted to failing most subjects, except literature, thanks to a crush on her Hungarian teacher.
Franciska’s vibrant personality and powerful voice made her stand out early on. As an acting student under Gyula Gál at the National Theatre, her chronic lateness and creative excuses often tested her teacher’s patience. In retaliation, he jokingly called her by different names in class. Ever quick-witted, Franciska cheekily told him she’d officially changed her name from Silberspitz to “Gál,” which later became her stage name when she adopted the form Gaál in 1927.
Hungarian actress Franciska Gaál. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Cine Mundial Magazine
Adored by Stalin and Hitler
After a brief and somewhat naive marriage, the Hungarian actress divorced in 1933 and soon married a bank officer. Her career took her abroad, with auditions in Vienna and Berlin, where she was offered a contract. Despite initial panic over her language barriers and fears of failure, Gaál soon impressed in Berlin, where Hungarian-born American director Joe Pasternak cast her in Paprika. This marked the start of a successful run in German-language films, many of which earned international acclaim. Her films even reached the Soviet Union. Therefore, an odd situation formed: both Stalin and Hitler admired her work. Allegedly, Hitler said:
It must be some kind of genetic mistake, because such a talented actress cannot be Jewish.
Her film Peter won Comedy of the Year at the 1935 Russian Film Festival, and Stalin personally offered her financial security and a home in Moscow. However, Gaál turned down the offer, choosing instead to pursue her dreams in Hollywood. Her career seemed to be taking off. She had the opportunity to work with big names such as Bing Crosby.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Cine Mundial Magazine
A series of tragic events
The beautiful Hungarian actress’ life took a tragic turn after her return to Hungary in 1941 when she and her husband faced the devastating effects of anti-Semitic laws that barred her from acting. Forced into hiding, she spent the war in a secret room in her husband’s summer house by Lake Balaton. By 1947, she and her husband moved to America in search of a new beginning, but her acting career had faded, leaving her isolated and forgotten.
Struggling with illness and poverty, she lived out her final years in loneliness, unable to regain her former fame. Though she applied to a retirement home in Hungary, her declining health prevented her from returning. Franciska Gaál died in 1973 in New York, a once-celebrated actress now unknown and destitute, a tragic end to the life of a Hungarian actress who had once been adored by millions.
A dignified symbol of modern Hungary, the Elisabeth Bridge stood as a testament to the nation’s ingenuity and spirit, capturing global attention for its size and aesthetic appeal. Together with the other iconic Danube crossings, the Hungarian Parliament, and Buda Castle, the Elisabeth Bridge cemented Budapest’s reputation as one of Europe’s most picturesque capitals. Yet, unlike its counterparts, it could not withstand the upheavals of history.
An international competition to design the bridge was won by German engineer Julius Kübler, in collaboration with architects Eisenlohr and Weigle, with a cable-stayed design. However, the bridge was ultimately built using Hungarian materials—foregoing the original design—due to the unavailability of suitable cables in Hungary at the time.
It was one of the most beautiful bridges of Europe. Photo: Fortepan/Deutsche Fotothek/Brüch und Sohn
Budapest’s Elisabeth Bridge, the most beautiful chain bridge
The ochre-hued crossing, initially known as the Eskü Square Bridge, opened to traffic on 10 October 1903 and was named after Queen Elisabeth, the beloved consort of Emperor Franz Joseph, who was assassinated in Geneva in 1898. At 378.6 metres in length, it was the longest chain bridge in the world at the time, with an unprecedented 290-metre span, a record it held until 1926. Its elegant structure and pioneering engineering earned it a place among the most beautiful bridges in Europe.
Trams on the Elisabeth Bridge. Photo: Fortepan/Korner Veronika
The bridge’s construction necessitated significant alterations to the city’s layout. Kossuth Lajos Street, a major thoroughfare today, did not yet lead to the Danube, requiring extensive urban redesign. The initial plan would have placed the bridge to the north, endangering the historic Downtown Parish Church. While the church was ultimately spared, the new bridge’s approach passed perilously close, and the Italian Renaissance-style Town Hall was lost to progress.
The Gellért Hill in the background. Photo: Fortepan/Erky-Nagy Tibor
It may come as a surprise, but the large piers of the Elisabeth Bridge were not fixed; rather, they were supported by the chains themselves, resting on hinges that moved at their base, meaning they were not necessarily vertical. Their dimensions were significantly larger than those of the neighbouring Ferenc József Bridge, which bore a superficial resemblance to the Elizabeth Bridge.
Budapest’s Soviet siege destroyed almost everything
The Soviet siege of Budapest in 1944–45 is remembered as one of the longest and most destructive urban battles of the Second World War. The Red Army’s offensive against Pest achieved its objective in mid-January 1945, as the eastern part of the Hungarian capital was wrested from the control of German-Hungarian forces. Following the military evacuation of Pest, the last two remaining crossings, the Chain Bridge and the Elisabeth Bridge, were destroyed on 18 January 1945. While the precise moment of the Chain Bridge’s collapse into the Danube is documented in several memoirs, the destruction of the Elisabeth Bridge is estimated to have occurred at approximately 7 a.m. This marked the cessation of fighting on the Pest side and the subsequent transfer of hostilities to Buda.
The demolished Elizabeth Bridge, Photo: Fortepan/Kurutz Márton
The ordeal of the Danube bridges had commenced earlier with American air force attacks in 1944, necessitating the establishment of specialised air defences to protect these critical structures. During the subsequent siege of the capital, relentless Soviet air and artillery assaults aimed to sever the connection between Pest’s defences and Buda. The bridges suffered extensive damage and required constant repairs by road crews, who were also ultimately tasked with their destruction.
It is a little-known fact that the bridges’ destruction was carried out in what could be considered the most “humane” manner possible by the Germans. By this, it is meant that efforts were made to ensure that the bridges could be rebuilt swiftly. The aim was to damage the structural integrity of the roadways sufficiently, without obliterating the supporting pillars entirely. In the case of the Elisabeth Bridge, only one of its four chain girders was detonated. However, this partial explosion caused the structure to twist violently, dragging the Buda Gate along with it.
The remains of the Buda Gate. Photo: Fortepan/Fortepan
Out of service for decades
While other bridges, including the Árpád and temporary Kossuth bridges, were reopened by the early 1950s, the Elisabeth Bridge remained out of service for two decades. Engineers faced a significant dilemma regarding how to reconstruct this once world-famous crossing. Until 1958, the official intention was to restore the bridge in its original chain structure, which is why the remaining pillar of the old bridge on the Pest side was left standing.
Earlier, during the reconstruction of the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge, designers had prioritised preserving the monumental character of these structures. However, this approach meant that the bridges struggled to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic in Budapest. Consequently, the new Elisabeth Bridge needed to bear the brunt of this demand, making its widening essential.
Dismantling the remains of the Pest bridgehead. Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV
Given that the original Elisabeth Bridge’s pillars could not support the weight of a motorway-scale structure, the decision was made to adopt a cable-stayed design. Returning to the plans of the engineer János Kübler, a new bridge was conceived. Between 1959 and 1960, the remaining pylon of the old bridge was dismantled, bringing the story of the original Elisabeth Bridge to a close.
A new bridge opened in 1964
The pendulum design of the gates and their height remained consistent in the new structure. The new pylon was erected on the same foundation as its predecessor and retained the inscription “Díósgyőr 1898.” The cables were installed along the same lines as the original chains, maintaining the same spacing. The increased width of the new bridge stemmed from a design change: in the old structure, the walkways were positioned within the chains, whereas in the new bridge, they were relocated outside the cables.
The new, minimalist-style Elizabeth Bridge is under construction, Photo: Fortepan/UVATERV
The Elisabeth Bridge, the last Danube crossing destroyed during the Second World War, was finally reopened to traffic on 21 November 1964. It re-established a crucial link between the foot of Gellért Hill and the city centre, accommodating Budapest’s growing transport needs. While the new structure embodied a minimalist aesthetic, the grandeur and dignity of its predecessor had given way to the pragmatic demands of a rapidly modernising capital.
Read also:
PHOTO GALLERY with 8 interesting facts about Budapest’s magnificent Elizabeth Bridge – check out our article HERE
New wooden Danube swimming pools may come: work starts in 2025 – details in THIS article
Sources:
Domonkos Csaba: Az új Erzsébet hidat 55 évvel ezelőtt adták át, in: PestBuda
Tarján M. Tamás: Az új Erzsébet híd megnyitása Budapesten, in: Rubicon online
Hungary’s emergence as the regional distributor of Russian gas amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and escalating tensions between Russia and NATO has raised concerns, particularly for Slovakia. The arrangement has led to significantly higher costs for Slovakian consumers, while certain Hungarian companies are reaping substantial profits from the transactions.
Your only option is Hungary to buy Russian gas
Following the cessation of Russian gas transit via Ukraine to Central Europe on 1 January, the region now depends solely on the TurkStream pipeline. This pipeline, which enters Hungary near Kiskundorozsma from Serbia, has become the primary route for gas deliveries. Analysts suggest that Hungary’s long-standing strategy of fostering close energy and political ties with Russia has paid off in this new arrangement, as reported by Hvg.hu.
The Kiskundorozsma interconnector, with a capacity of 8.5 billion cubic metres, is fully utilised by Hungarian state-owned MVM and energy company MET. These entities manage gas trade, storage, and redistribution, selling Russian gas to Ukraine, Slovakia, and Austria. Serbia also rents Hungarian gas storage facilities, further enhancing Hungary’s geopolitical influence in the region.
Attila Holoda, a Hungarian expert on energy policy, explained that Hungarian Földgázszállító Ltd benefits from gas transit revenues, particularly in Slovakia. With 300,000 cubic metres of gas flowing northward each hour, the profits are significant. Slovakian consumers are now paying more for gas transiting through Hungary than they did for gas delivered via Ukraine.
Illustration. Photo: depositphotos.com
Slovaks face higher costs
Previously, Slovaks paid transit fees only at the Ukrainian-Slovakian border. Now, they must pay additional fees from the Serbian-Hungarian border, further increasing costs. Holoda criticised the Slovakian government for failing to negotiate an agreement with Ukraine to avoid such an unfavourable situation. Instead, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has prioritised discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Complicating matters, Fico’s strained relationship with the Polish government makes the prospect of receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Poland unlikely. Even if feasible, this option would prove more expensive than the former Ukrainian transit route.
Photo: FB
Hungary appears to be capitalising on this new arrangement. According toSzeretlek Magyarország, Slovakia is likely purchasing gas from capacities pre-reserved by Hungary, which were secured at a discounted rate of 10-15%. This strategic over-purchasing has allowed Hungarian companies to generate substantial profits, as Slovakia has no alternative but to buy Russian gas routed through Hungary.
Ukraine-Slovakia gas agreement on the horizon?
There remains a possibility that Ukraine and Slovakia could reach an agreement to restore gas transit between the two countries. Ukraine has suffered significant financial losses since the transit halt, with 85% of its transit revenues in 2024 tied to Russian gas flows, Szeretlek Magyarország points out.
However, Holoda speculated that Ukraine might resort to targeting the TurkStream compressor stations in Russia. These stations rely on Western technology, which could prove difficult for Russia to repair if damaged. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has emphasised that the safety of the TurkStream pipeline is a matter of national sovereignty for Hungary, underscoring its critical importance to the country’s energy security.
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Ukraine’s proposed ban on Russian oil transit raises concerns for Hungary and Slovakia – read more HERE