Latest news in Hungary - 23 Nov 2024

- Nationwide Police Operation Against Online Crime: On October 15, Budapest Police arrested 26 individuals connected to various online crimes, including romantic and banking fraud, highlighting the increasing sophistication of scams targeting victims. Colonel Péter Farkas noted the need to address these organized crime networks. Read more here

- Parking Reform Proposal in Budapest: Mayor Gergely Karácsony has proposed a significant parking reform set to begin in 2026, which includes abolishing free parking for green license plate vehicles and increasing fees in various zones. The City Council will discuss these changes next week as part of efforts to streamline the system and boost revenue. Read more here

- Economic Outlook from Minister Nagy: Márton Nagy, Minister of National Economy, expressed optimism about Hungary's economic improvements, predicting wage growth and addressing the housing crisis in 2025. He mentioned the need for grocery stores to enhance their services. Read more here

- Increased Property Taxes in Szeged: The Szeged city council approved new tax plans that will raise property taxes for businesses and municipal rental fees starting next year, while most businesses will remain unaffected. These changes are designed to recover local revenue losses. Read more here

- Szeklerland Road-Construction Projects: New road construction initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity in Szeklerland have been announced, with an emphasis on improving regional infrastructure. This decision reflects Hungary's ongoing investment in its regional development strategy. Read more here

- EU Border Security Initiative: A meeting in Budapest marked an agreement between Hungary, Austria, Romania, and Bulgaria to deploy 100 border guards to the Bulgarian-Turkish border as part of an EU border security initiative. This effort accompanies support for Bulgaria and Romania's aspirations to join the Schengen Area by January 2025. Read more here

- Cold Weather Advisory: Hungary is experiencing icy roads and a nationwide freeze alert as temperatures are expected to plummet overnight. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and use winter tires due to potentially hazardous conditions on the roads. Read more here

- Train Service Disruptions: Following recent snowfall, train services from Budapest's Kelenföld Station have seen significant disruptions, with repairs underway. Passengers faced delays and cancellations, but normal service is expected to resume soon. Read more here

- Culinary Podcast Featuring Desserts: The latest episode of Telex's culinary podcast, Ízfokozó, focuses on the art of dessert making, featuring pastry chef Zsuzsanna Ötvös. She discusses the balance between creativity and technique in dessert preparation. Listen here

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