Latest news in Hungary - 15 May 2025

Óbuda's Mayor Kiss László May Be Released: A court has ruled on the potential full release of Kiss László, the mayor of Óbuda, rejecting an appeal for his detention extension. Arrested on bribery charges, Kiss has maintained his innocence, while his party, the Democratic Coalition, alleges that his arrest was politically motivated. His case is ongoing, and the decision can still be appealed. Read more here

Roland Sallai Celebrates Turkish Cup Victory: Hungarian international Roland Sallai played as a right-back for Galatasaray in their 3-0 Turkish Cup final win over Trabzonspor, marking the club's 19th title in the competition's history. The match, held in Gaziantep, featured goals from Baris Yilmaz and two from Victor Osimhen. Read more here

Tihany Abbey Hosts Orbán Amid Controversy: The Tihany Benedictine Abbey welcomed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the inauguration of its renovations but chose not to comment on his political speech, which included support for far-right presidential candidate George Simion, known for anti-Hungarian sentiments. Despite praise from Orbán, political skepticism remains, with critics expressing concern over the implications for the Hungarian diaspora. Read more here

Hungarian Soldiers Star in "Dragons Over Kabul": The upcoming Hungarian war drama "Dragons Over Kabul" features well-known actors and recounts the 2021 military rescue operation where Hungarian soldiers saved 540 people from the Taliban. Funded with nearly 3 billion forints in state support, the film is set to hit cinemas this fall, with the release date to be announced soon. Read more here

Serious Mass Crash at Hungarian Cycling Race: A significant mass crash occurred during the second stage of the Tour de Hongrie, resulting in multiple cyclists being hospitalized, including several from the Bora-Hansgrohe team. The incident took place about 50 kilometers into the race amidst strong winds, and some competitors, including climber Pablo Torres, are unable to continue. Read more here\

Emergency Alerts Could Come to Hungarian Mobile Phones: A new proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén aims to establish a mobile phone alert system in Hungary, expanding beyond the current SMS notifications. This system may include push notifications for emergencies, although details on when notifications will be sent and whether they can be disabled remain unclear. Major mobile service providers will supply the necessary technology at no cost. Read more here

Threat to Independent Press in Hungary: The National Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ) is alarmed by a proposed bill that could severely restrict the operations of independent media receiving foreign funding, urging citizens to support press freedom. The legislation could classify such organizations as threats to sovereignty and impose strict penalties, raising concerns about democracy in Hungary. Read more here

HBO Max is Back!: Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that the streaming platform currently known as Max will revert to its original name, HBO Max, this summer, just two years after the rebranding. The decision follows a two-year evaluation of the name change's impact, with a new black-and-white logo introduced two months ago. Read more here

Hungarian Deodorant Revolution Launches at Rossmann: Respray, a startup founded by university students, has introduced refillable aerosol vending machines in 30 Rossmann stores across Hungary, promoting a greener and cheaper alternative to traditional deodorant packaging. This innovative solution can reduce carbon footprints by 80% and is eyeing international markets after raising over 300 million HUF in funding since 2020. Read more here\

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