Latest news in Hungary - 21 Feb 2025

Man Disrupts Tram Service in Budapest: A man was filmed obstructing a tram at Nyugati tér for several minutes early Thursday morning, culminating in him punching the vehicle before moving aside. The Budapest Police are investigating the incident, which occurred around 4 AM on February 20th, and have initiated disorderly conduct proceedings against him. Read more here

Record Low Temperatures on the Bükk Plateau: A staggering air temperature of -27.6 degrees Celsius was recorded this morning at Mohos-töbör on the Bükk Plateau, slightly warmer than the previous days' record lows of -28.7 degrees Celsius. This extreme cold is attributed to polar air masses settling over the region, with specific conditions in the depressions of the plateau fostering these chilly temperatures. Read more here

Construction of Hungarian Port in Trieste Begins: The construction of a new Hungarian port in Trieste, Italy, has officially commenced, with plans to reach full operational capacity by 2028. This development aims to bolster Hungary's export capabilities, particularly for the approximately 60 trillion forints worth of goods exported annually. Read more here

Referee Collapses During Veszprém Champions League Match: During the Veszprém men's handball team's Champions League match against Portugal's Sporting, referee Jesper Madsen collapsed at the end of the first half. Medical personnel promptly attended to him, and while he was eventually able to stand, he was taken off the field on a stretcher. The match continued with just one referee following the incident. Read more here

Hungary Opposes Sanction Extensions at EU Meeting: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary will not support the extension of EU sanctions against Russian and Belarusian individuals during the upcoming Council of Ministers meeting. This stance follows discussions with U.S. officials, emphasizing a need for time to allow U.S.-Russian negotiations to unfold. Read more here

Ferencváros Falls to Viktoria Plzen in Europa League: Ferencváros faced a tough defeat against Czech side Viktoria Plzen, losing 3-0 in their Europa League match. The Hungarian champions struggled to keep up with Plzen's aggression, with goalkeeper Dávid Gróf being the only Hungarian in the starting lineup. Goals from Durosinmi and Sulc sealed the fate of the match by halftime, leaving Fradi with little chance to recover. Despite a promising start to their Europa League journey, this match and a previous heavy loss to PAOK will be difficult memories for the team. Plzen now looks ahead to a potential matchup with Italian Lazio in the Round of 16. Read more here

Anti-Fascist Protests at Metropolitan Court: On Friday morning, anti-fascist protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Court in Budapest to demand the release of German national Maja T., who is facing extradition. As Maja T. and her comrade Hanna S. prepare for a court hearing related to alleged attacks on perceived right-wing extremists, police were on high alert with riot vehicles on standby. Read more here

Strong Gas Odor Detected on Metro Line 2: A potent gas smell was reported along Budapest's Metro Line 2 on Friday morning, notably at Széll Kálmán station, but BKV officials state it did not originate from the metro system. They confirmed that measurements indicate no hazardous gases are present and the gas concentration remains within safe limits. Read more here

Hungarian Man Charged with Two Murders in Florida: Zs. Zsombor, a 25-year-old Hungarian, has been charged with two murders in Florida. After overstaying his visa, he was apprehended in July 2024 while wearing an ankle monitor. The first victim, a 66-year-old man, was found strangled in his home in November 2024 following accusations of abuse and theft made by the victim. Read more here

Yung Lean Films Music Video in Csepel: Swedish rapper Yung Lean has shot his latest music video for "Forever Yung" in Csepel, Hungary, with local production by Kinomoto. Directed by Aidan Zamiri, known for working with stars like Charli XCX and Billie Eilish, the video reflects a sophisticated aesthetic infused with Eastern European influences. Read more here