Hungary will bank on its X-factor to emerge from the toughest group at Euro 2020 alongside defending champions Portugal and the past two world champions in France and Germany.

Hungary, 37th in the world rankings, are clear underdogs, but as Portugal will remember from the last European Championship, they can be difficult opponents.

They played out an exhilarating 3-3 draw with the Portuguese five years ago - taking the lead three times - en route to winning the group with victory over Austria and a draw against Iceland.

That appearance ended a 30-year absence from international tournaments, a dark age for a Hungarian side once considered the world's best and ranked third before crashing out of the 1986 World Cup.

Lacking big-name players, Hungary relies on solid defense and swift counter-attacks to pick apart opponents, though they have been plagued by inconsistency.

In qualifying for the tournament, they beat World Cup runners-up Croatia and Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales, only to lose twice to Slovakia and finish fourth in the group.

Relegated to the Nations League, Hungary shone once again, beating higher-ranked opponents Serbia (in Belgrade) and Turkey twice.

"It will be a really strange European Championship," said&nbsp;football&nbsp;analyst Janos Kele. "The bigger teams are so World Cup focused that some of them are far from complete. Plus the coronavirus scheduling mess really hurt their planning."

Because of the pandemic delayed and complicated&nbsp;football&nbsp;seasons everywhere, the best players at the biggest clubs will get very little rest before the tournament, and even less time to prepare together.

In matches where exhausted players are thrown together to face lesser-known but fresher and well-coached teams, the difference in ability will be less obvious than usual.

"Rawer opposing game plans are a lot easier to pick apart," Kele said.

Cornerstones of the squad come from one Bundesliga club, RB Leipzig, including goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and center-back Willi Orban, as well as Hungary's brightest star, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

Hungary owes their Euro participation to a last-minute solo effort by the 20-year-old Szoboszlai which secured victory over Iceland in the qualification playoff.

Injured since January but now training fully, Szoboszlai should be fit for the tournament.

Italian coach Marco Rossi has boosted the squad with 16 new players and has built a reputation for making good decisions during games. Substitute Loic Nego scored the equalizing goal against Iceland before Szoboszlai's winner.

"Hungary is probably one of the most cohesive teams," said Kele. "This could be the Euro of surprises."

Hungary will bank on its X-factor to emerge from the toughest group at Euro 2020 alongside defending champions Portugal and the past two world champions in France and Germany.

Hungary will bank on its X-factor to emerge from the toughest group at Euro 2020 alongside defending champions Portugal and the past two world champions in France and Germany. Hungary, 37th in the world rankings, are clear underdogs, but as Portugal will remember from the last European Championship, they can be difficult opponents. They played out an exhilarating 3-3 draw with the Portuguese five years ago - taking the lead three times - en route to winning the group with victory over Austria and a draw against Iceland. That appearance ended a 30-year absence from international tournaments, a dark age for a Hungarian side once considered the world's best and ranked third before crashing out of the 1986 World Cup. Lacking big-name players, Hungary relies on solid defense and swift counter-attacks to pick apart opponents, though they have been plagued by inconsistency. In qualifying for the tournament, they beat World Cup runners-up Croatia and Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales, only to lose twice to Slovakia and finish fourth in the group. Relegated to the Nations League, Hungary shone once again, beating higher-ranked opponents Serbia (in Belgrade) and Turkey twice. "It will be a really strange European Championship," said football analyst Janos Kele. "The bigger teams are so World Cup focused that some of them are far from complete. Plus the coronavirus scheduling mess really hurt their planning." Because of the pandemic delayed and complicated football seasons everywhere, the best players at the biggest clubs will get very little rest before the tournament, and even less time to prepare together. In matches where exhausted players are thrown together to face lesser-known but fresher and well-coached teams, the difference in ability will be less obvious than usual. "Rawer opposing game plans are a lot easier to pick apart," Kele said. Cornerstones of the squad come from one Bundesliga club, RB Leipzig, including goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and center-back Willi Orban, as well as Hungary's brightest star, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. Hungary owes their Euro participation to a last-minute solo effort by the 20-year-old Szoboszlai which secured victory over Iceland in the qualification playoff. Injured since January but now training fully, Szoboszlai should be fit for the tournament. Italian coach Marco Rossi has boosted the squad with 16 new players and has built a reputation for making good decisions during games. Substitute Loic Nego scored the equalizing goal against Iceland before Szoboszlai's winner. "Hungary is probably one of the most cohesive teams," said Kele. "This could be the Euro of surprises."

Football: Hungary count on X-factor in Euro 2020 group of death

Hungary's Roma community has been largely left out of the country's aggressive COVID-19 immunisation rollout and has been forced to fend for itself, leaders of the poverty-stricken minority say.

"No one else is looking after us, so we have to do it ourselves," said Jozsef Radics, 53, one of the organisers of the "Vaccines for Life!" campaign that aims to sign up Roma living in isolated communities for jabs.

Greeting local residents as they enter a ramshackle yard on the edge of Kistarcsa, a small town east of Budapest, Radics explains the registration process, sets up email addresses if needed and inputs their data into an official database.&nbsp;

ALso read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-president-donald-trump-sued-for-referring-to-covid-19-as-china-virus-386663" hreflang="en">Former US President Donald Trump sued for referring to COVID-19 as 'China virus'</a>

"These people are disadvantaged in many ways, including lacking information and access to the internet, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the virus," the Roma activist told AFP.

Anti-vaccine sentiment

Often blamed for petty crime, the Roma — who make up around seven percent of Hungary's population of 9.8 million — face widespread poverty and exclusion from mainstream Hungarian society and sometimes racially-motivated violence.

Many live in one of around 1,300 mostly-Roma settlements on the edge of villages and towns like Kistarcsa that house approximately 200,000 people, according to official data. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cognitive-warfare-taiwan-says-china-is-spreading-vile-fake-news-about-covid-19-386661" hreflang="en">Cognitive warfare? Taiwan says China is spreading 'vile fake news' about COVID-19</a>

Radics told AFP that some 13,500 settlement dwellers have registered for the jab so far thanks to the campaign.&nbsp;

"There's a long way to go. We look for local leaders in each community to continue the project once we leave to go to another settlement," he said.

The campaign also produced videos made for sharing on social media that feature Roma celebrities like rappers to appeal to younger age-groups, as well as singers who are trusted by older people.

"The government's vaccination promotion billboards only feature white faces, so the videos provide strong Roma voices to counter the anti-vaccination voices that are common in places like this," Radics said.

Trained by health workers, the activists are armed with answers to typical questions about the side-effects and effectiveness of jabs, as well as how to deal with aggressive anti-vaccine sentiment.&nbsp;

"We don't try to convince anyone, just to give them information," said Radics's activist colleague Fruzsina Balogh, adding that conspiracy theories around vaccines have deterred many Roma. &nbsp; &nbsp;

A COVID-19-themed Egyptian hieroglyphic-style meme that "went viral" and was also widely shared in Roma communities claimed that the jab brainwashed people into becoming "slaves".&nbsp;

Another widely-circulated rumour claimed that vaccines are a plot by US tech billionaire Bill Gates to implant chips in brains, according to Balogh.

"Willingness to get vaccinated is much higher in settlements where the death rate was higher," she said.

'We exist'

Although statistics on COVID-19-related deaths in the settlements are not available, a virus outbreak in a Roma area can spread quickly, Balogh said.&nbsp;

"In many houses there are no public utilities, even water, so people are forced to share a communal facility," she said, pointing to a blue pump at the end of a dusty unpaved street in Kistarcsa. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Many families with three or four children also live in cramped houses. If someone gets infected it is impossible to separate them, so everyone gets sick," said Balogh, 27, who lost her 28-year-old ex-partner to COVID-19 last year.

With more than 4.8 million Hungarians already having received a first vaccine dose, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government began relaxing restrictions last month.&nbsp;

But access to many businesses and workplaces now hinges on showing proof of vaccination.

Hungarian officials did not respond to an AFP request on whether the government had any plans to encourage Roma to get vaccinated, or state support specifically aimed at helping the Roma community during the pandemic.

"I want to get the vaccine to find a job more easily and to get back my freedom, for example to take my children to an ice cream shop," Adrienn Tejfel, a 36-year-old mother, told AFP after registering in Kistarcsa.

While packing up on a recent day before moving on to another town, Radics told AFP that his team would help non-Roma register too if needed, but that the campaign at least aims to show "the rest of society that we exist".

Hungary's Roma community has been largely left out of the country's aggressive COVID-19 immunisation rollout and has been forced to fend for itself, leaders of the poverty-stricken minority say.

Hungary's Roma community has been largely left out of the country's aggressive COVID-19 immunisation rollout and has been forced to fend for itself, leaders of the poverty-stricken minority say. "No one else is looking after us, so we have to do it ourselves," said Jozsef Radics, 53, one of the organisers of the "Vaccines for Life!" campaign that aims to sign up Roma living in isolated communities for jabs. Greeting local residents as they enter a ramshackle yard on the edge of Kistarcsa, a small town east of Budapest, Radics explains the registration process, sets up email addresses if needed and inputs their data into an official database. ALso read | Former US President Donald Trump sued for referring to COVID-19 as 'China virus' "These people are disadvantaged in many ways, including lacking information and access to the internet, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the virus," the Roma activist told AFP. Anti-vaccine sentiment Often blamed for petty crime, the Roma — who make up around seven percent of Hungary's population of 9.8 million — face widespread poverty and exclusion from mainstream Hungarian society and sometimes racially-motivated violence. Many live in one of around 1,300 mostly-Roma settlements on the edge of villages and towns like Kistarcsa that house approximately 200,000 people, according to official data. Also read | Cognitive warfare? Taiwan says China is spreading 'vile fake news' about COVID-19 Radics told AFP that some 13,500 settlement dwellers have registered for the jab so far thanks to the campaign. "There's a long way to go. We look for local leaders in each community to continue the project once we leave to go to another settlement," he said. The campaign also produced videos made for sharing on social media that feature Roma celebrities like rappers to appeal to younger age-groups, as well as singers who are trusted by older people. "The government's vaccination promotion billboards only feature white faces, so the videos provide strong Roma voices to counter the anti-vaccination voices that are common in places like this," Radics said. Trained by health workers, the activists are armed with answers to typical questions about the side-effects and effectiveness of jabs, as well as how to deal with aggressive anti-vaccine sentiment. "We don't try to convince anyone, just to give them information," said Radics's activist colleague Fruzsina Balogh, adding that conspiracy theories around vaccines have deterred many Roma. A COVID-19-themed Egyptian hieroglyphic-style meme that "went viral" and was also widely shared in Roma communities claimed that the jab brainwashed people into becoming "slaves". Another widely-circulated rumour claimed that vaccines are a plot by US tech billionaire Bill Gates to implant chips in brains, according to Balogh. "Willingness to get vaccinated is much higher in settlements where the death rate was higher," she said. 'We exist' Although statistics on COVID-19-related deaths in the settlements are not available, a virus outbreak in a Roma area can spread quickly, Balogh said. "In many houses there are no public utilities, even water, so people are forced to share a communal facility," she said, pointing to a blue pump at the end of a dusty unpaved street in Kistarcsa. "Many families with three or four children also live in cramped houses. If someone gets infected it is impossible to separate them, so everyone gets sick," said Balogh, 27, who lost her 28-year-old ex-partner to COVID-19 last year. With more than 4.8 million Hungarians already having received a first vaccine dose, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government began relaxing restrictions last month. But access to many businesses and workplaces now hinges on showing proof of vaccination. Hungarian officials did not respond to an AFP request on whether the government had any plans to encourage Roma to get vaccinated, or state support specifically aimed at helping the Roma community during the pandemic. "I want to get the vaccine to find a job more easily and to get back my freedom, for example to take my children to an ice cream shop," Adrienn Tejfel, a 36-year-old mother, told AFP after registering in Kistarcsa. While packing up on a recent day before moving on to another town, Radics told AFP that his team would help non-Roma register too if needed, but that the campaign at least aims to show "the rest of society that we exist".

Hungary's Roma battle Covid on their own

Hungary Foreign Minister &nbsp;Peter Szijjarto slammed what he called the European Union's 'one-sided' statement on Israel. His comments camem even as his European counterparts called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians

"I have a general problem with these European statements on Israel... These are usually very much one-sided, and these statements do not help, especially not under current circumstances, when the tension is so high," Szijjarto told AFP in an interview.

On Tuesday, EU foreign police chief Josep Borrell appealed for implementation of a ceasefire.

"The priority is the immediate cessation of all violence and the implementation of a ceasefire," Borrell said after a video conference of EU foreign ministers, adding the statement was backed by all the bloc's member states except Hungary.&nbsp;

Szijjarto himself did not attend the meeting. Hungary has recently used its veto power to block EU statements on China.

In the interview with AFP, Szijjarto insisted that blocking decisions "is a right of every country in the European Union".

"EU diplomacy should not consist only of judgements, negative statements and sanctions," he said.

"So I think less judgement, less lecturing, less criticism, less interference and more pragmatic cooperation could give back a lot of strength to the European Union."

Israel's intense bombing campaign has killed 213 Palestinians, including 61 children, and wounded more than 1,400 people in Gaza in more than a week of fighting against Islamist group Hamas, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

The death toll on the Israeli side rose to 12 on Tuesday when a volley of rockets Hamas fired at the southern Eshkol region killed two Thai nationals working in a factory and wounded several others.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hungary Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto slammed what he called the European Union's 'one-sided' statement on Israel. His comments camem even as his European counterparts called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians "I have a general problem with these European statements on Israel.

Hungary Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto slammed what he called the European Union's 'one-sided' statement on Israel. His comments camem even as his European counterparts called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians "I have a general problem with these European statements on Israel... These are usually very much one-sided, and these statements do not help, especially not under current circumstances, when the tension is so high," Szijjarto told AFP in an interview. On Tuesday, EU foreign police chief Josep Borrell appealed for implementation of a ceasefire. "The priority is the immediate cessation of all violence and the implementation of a ceasefire," Borrell said after a video conference of EU foreign ministers, adding the statement was backed by all the bloc's member states except Hungary. Szijjarto himself did not attend the meeting. Hungary has recently used its veto power to block EU statements on China. In the interview with AFP, Szijjarto insisted that blocking decisions "is a right of every country in the European Union". "EU diplomacy should not consist only of judgements, negative statements and sanctions," he said. "So I think less judgement, less lecturing, less criticism, less interference and more pragmatic cooperation could give back a lot of strength to the European Union." Israel's intense bombing campaign has killed 213 Palestinians, including 61 children, and wounded more than 1,400 people in Gaza in more than a week of fighting against Islamist group Hamas, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The death toll on the Israeli side rose to 12 on Tuesday when a volley of rockets Hamas fired at the southern Eshkol region killed two Thai nationals working in a factory and wounded several others. (With inputs from agencies)

Hungary foreign minister slams EU for 'one-sided' statements on Israel

Lobbying by&nbsp;Poland&nbsp;and&nbsp;Hungary&nbsp;has led to the removal of the phrase "gender equality" from a draft declaration on advancing&nbsp;social&nbsp;cohesion that the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;is due to publish on Friday, according to diplomats and documents seen by Reuters.

Poland's nationalist ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and its&nbsp;eurosceptic ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, promote what they call traditional&nbsp;social&nbsp;values at home and have repeatedly clashed with their more liberal Western peers over the rights of women, gay people and migrants.

The two countries opposed mentioning "gender equality" directly in the draft prepared for discussion by the bloc's 27 national leaders, who are meeting in the Portuguese city of Porto on Friday and Saturday to look for ways to reduce&nbsp;social&nbsp;and economic inequalities that widened during the pandemic.

While an earlier draft said the bloc would "promote&nbsp;gender equality", the later version seen by Reuters avoids the phrase and reads: "We will step up efforts to fight discrimination and work actively to close gender gaps ...and to promote equality."

European Union diplomats said Warsaw and Budapest had sought the looser language. Both governments promote Catholic, conservative&nbsp;social&nbsp;values in contentious stances that have gone hand-in-hand with increasing state control and political influence over media, courts and academics.

Arriving in Porto, Orban told reporters: "The fact is that men and women should be treated equally."

He said the difficulty was with the term "gender", which he considered an ideologically motivated expression.

A Polish official also said Warsaw preferred to speak about "equality between women and men."

A liberal Dutch&nbsp;EU&nbsp;lawmaker, Sophie in't Veld, described Budapest's stance as "sexist and transphobic".

'Inclusive Recovery'

The leaders will commit to an inclusive recovery from the bloc's record recession triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 700,000 people in&nbsp;Europe, shut businesses and travel, and confined millions to their homes for more than a year.

Women, youth, gig economy workers and victims of domestic violence are among groups that have been particularly adversely affected by the pandemic, which has aggravated pre-existing inequalities.

"Our commitment to unity and solidarity also means ensuring equal opportunities for all and that no one is left behind," the leaders will declare in mentioning the bloc's planned green and digital reforms, as well as focus on education and training.

"The priority will be to move from protecting to creating jobs and to improve job quality," they will say, in welcoming a proposal to look beyond GDP readings to measure economic and&nbsp;social&nbsp;progress.

Twenty-four will attend in person, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and two others dialling in for discussions that will also try to overcome divisions on waiving patents for COVID-19 vaccines, and the&nbsp;EU's fraught ties with Russia.

Lobbying by Poland and Hungary has led to the removal of the phrase "gender equality" from a draft declaration on advancing social cohesion that the EU is due to publish on Friday, according to diplomats and documents seen by Reuters.

Lobbying by Poland and Hungary has led to the removal of the phrase "gender equality" from a draft declaration on advancing social cohesion that the EU is due to publish on Friday, according to diplomats and documents seen by Reuters. Poland's nationalist ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and its eurosceptic ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, promote what they call traditional social values at home and have repeatedly clashed with their more liberal Western peers over the rights of women, gay people and migrants. The two countries opposed mentioning "gender equality" directly in the draft prepared for discussion by the bloc's 27 national leaders, who are meeting in the Portuguese city of Porto on Friday and Saturday to look for ways to reduce social and economic inequalities that widened during the pandemic. While an earlier draft said the bloc would "promote gender equality", the later version seen by Reuters avoids the phrase and reads: "We will step up efforts to fight discrimination and work actively to close gender gaps ...and to promote equality." European Union diplomats said Warsaw and Budapest had sought the looser language. Both governments promote Catholic, conservative social values in contentious stances that have gone hand-in-hand with increasing state control and political influence over media, courts and academics. Arriving in Porto, Orban told reporters: "The fact is that men and women should be treated equally." He said the difficulty was with the term "gender", which he considered an ideologically motivated expression. A Polish official also said Warsaw preferred to speak about "equality between women and men." A liberal Dutch EU lawmaker, Sophie in't Veld, described Budapest's stance as "sexist and transphobic". 'Inclusive Recovery' The leaders will commit to an inclusive recovery from the bloc's record recession triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 700,000 people in Europe, shut businesses and travel, and confined millions to their homes for more than a year. Women, youth, gig economy workers and victims of domestic violence are among groups that have been particularly adversely affected by the pandemic, which has aggravated pre-existing inequalities. "Our commitment to unity and solidarity also means ensuring equal opportunities for all and that no one is left behind," the leaders will declare in mentioning the bloc's planned green and digital reforms, as well as focus on education and training. "The priority will be to move from protecting to creating jobs and to improve job quality," they will say, in welcoming a proposal to look beyond GDP readings to measure economic and social progress. Twenty-four will attend in person, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and two others dialling in for discussions that will also try to overcome divisions on waiving patents for COVID-19 vaccines, and the EU's fraught ties with Russia.

Poland, Hungary push against 'gender equality' at EU social summit

Karmen Bastyur is one of thousands of people from Roma families in Hungary that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Many already marginalized Roma adults lost their jobs as Hungary's economy buckled under lockdowns, pushing their families into deeper impoverishment and food insecurity. Some have reported selling their belongings, like mobile phones, to make ends meet.

Hungary's poor Roma struggle with remote education

The word 'time capsule' has largely come to be associated with science fiction. But the discovery of a 'time capsule' at a magnificent Hungarian cathedral has generated renewed interest. It has come to light that the cross atop Esztergom Cathedral hid a 176-year-old 'time capsule'.

The discovery was made during renovation work. The 'time capsule' is a sealed copper container inside the cross on the 100-metre dome. This dome, which is the highest in the country, survived even the bombing that took place during Second World War.

The copper container was damaged by shrapnel but when historians opened it, they discovered documents in near-perfect condition relating to the cathedral's construction.&nbsp;

The church was built from 1822 onwards and Csaba Torok, director of the Cathedral's Treasury, said the papers gave a rare glimpse of the time when the church was built from 1822 onwards.

The cylindrical capsule was placed in the cross in 1845 by Archbishop Jozsef Kopacsy and chief architect Jozsef Hild, who took over after his predecessor was murdered.

"Archbishop Kopacsy knew he would not be able to complete the construction in his lifetime, so when the cross was finished he wanted to leave inside an imprint of the memory of the builders and of that era," Torok said.

The best moment was when they found the documents: one depicting milestones in the construction and a book containing names of clergymen and parishes.

"These were last touched by human hands when they were placed there 176 years ago, so somehow we felt a sudden connection in time," he said.

"Unfortunately, we did not find any coins from the period in the capsule so there was nothing to help pay for the renovation," he added, smiling.

The cathedral was built on Castle Hill, where a church was first founded over 1000 years ago. &nbsp;Its iron dome was built in Vienna and carried in sections down the Danube on barges.

For its consecration in 1856, Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt composed a mass. But the cathedral was still not finished, with the main portico and interior only completed later in the 19th century.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The word 'time capsule' has largely come to be associated with science fiction. But the discovery of a 'time capsule' at a magnificent Hungarian cathedral has generated renewed interest.

The word 'time capsule' has largely come to be associated with science fiction. But the discovery of a 'time capsule' at a magnificent Hungarian cathedral has generated renewed interest. It has come to light that the cross atop Esztergom Cathedral hid a 176-year-old 'time capsule'. The discovery was made during renovation work. The 'time capsule' is a sealed copper container inside the cross on the 100-metre dome. This dome, which is the highest in the country, survived even the bombing that took place during Second World War. The copper container was damaged by shrapnel but when historians opened it, they discovered documents in near-perfect condition relating to the cathedral's construction. The church was built from 1822 onwards and Csaba Torok, director of the Cathedral's Treasury, said the papers gave a rare glimpse of the time when the church was built from 1822 onwards. The cylindrical capsule was placed in the cross in 1845 by Archbishop Jozsef Kopacsy and chief architect Jozsef Hild, who took over after his predecessor was murdered. "Archbishop Kopacsy knew he would not be able to complete the construction in his lifetime, so when the cross was finished he wanted to leave inside an imprint of the memory of the builders and of that era," Torok said. The best moment was when they found the documents: one depicting milestones in the construction and a book containing names of clergymen and parishes. "These were last touched by human hands when they were placed there 176 years ago, so somehow we felt a sudden connection in time," he said. "Unfortunately, we did not find any coins from the period in the capsule so there was nothing to help pay for the renovation," he added, smiling. The cathedral was built on Castle Hill, where a church was first founded over 1000 years ago. Its iron dome was built in Vienna and carried in sections down the Danube on barges. For its consecration in 1856, Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt composed a mass. But the cathedral was still not finished, with the main portico and interior only completed later in the 19th century. (With inputs from agencies)

176-year-old 'time capsule' found in a cross atop a cathedral in Hungary

A Hungarian government plan to reinvigorate the local pop music scene and promote Hungarian culture at the same time has sparked concerns about political influence and censorship.

Details of the 62-million-euro plan revealed Tuesday include funding for training and talent spotting, grants for content creation and marketing, and infrastructure like studios and performance venues.

"It's about producing quality Hungarian pop and rock, and identity-building," said the project's frontman Szilard Demeter, 44, appointed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government as a cultural commissioner in 2019.&nbsp;

"Music can express what is different in Hungarians' character, vision, and historical experience," Demeter told AFP after a draft of the plan was published last year.

"Perhaps that's not always understandable when looked at by western Europeans, but that's why it can be exciting and exotic," he said.

- '110 percent Orbanista' - 
 
Government critics however fret that the music plan opens a new front in an escalating culture war.&nbsp;

The self-styled "illiberal" nationalist premier Orban, 57, in power since 2010, declared in 2018 that "big changes" were coming for Hungary's cultural and academic scenes, seen in pro-government circles as hotbeds of liberalism.

Since then, the government has tightened control over theatres and universities while an anti-LGBT campaign has been launched.

A university founded by the liberal US billionaire George Soros, a bete noire of Orban, said it was forced from Budapest into exile in Vienna.

Demeter, a writer and amateur bass guitarist who hails from the Hungarian minority in Romania, has also sparked controversy by comparing Soros to Adolf Hitler.

"I totally support the Prime Minister's policies, I am 110 percent an Orbanista," Demeter, who also heads a prestigious literary museum in Budapest, told AFP.

"Yes there is a fierce culture war going on, the big question is whether Hungarian culture will exist at all in 100 years," he said.

"The guarantee of survival is that we live in our own national culture, national identity has got weaker, and should be restored," he said.

Although in another interview Demeter said that he does not like pop singers "spluttering" about politics as "that divides the audience" he told AFP that political affiliation will be no bar to funding under the new scheme.

"Everyone should be involved, from left to liberal to right, far-right to Marxist, diversity is the source of Hungarian culture's strength, just as diversity of national cultures is Europe's strength," he said.

"So if a band is good quality, why shouldn't it be supported?" he added.

- Censorship - 
But according to Ferenc Megyeri, 55, lead singer of punk group "Usual Disappointments", the state is already censoring musicians.

Megyeri's band, founded in 1990, has penned songs like "Viktor", "Absurdistan", and "Soros" that criticise or parody Orban's policies.

The songs were cut from the broadcast version of its concert last October during a series of state-sponsored online gigs.

Organisers also asked Megyeri to remove a T-shirt he wore with "Soros" written on it.

"I refused, so the broadcast focused on close-ups of my face," he told AFP in his hometown of Pecs, south of Budapest.

"It is a good idea to help musicians, after all it's our money, taxpayer money, but not by censorship," he said.

"Most bands will take government funding and stay silent. But we are not that type," he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

- Indoctrination -&nbsp;

 
Zoltan Czutor, an award-winning songwriter, says "wonderful things can be done" with the funding like teaching schoolkids how to play an instrument, but he worries about the risk of "indoctrination".

"I hope there won't be mandatory visits to nationalist rock operas for kids," he told AFP in a Budapest studio.

According to Czutor, 51, who teaches music as well as leading four projects -- an acoustic guitar band, his own solo act, a pop-rock group, and a kids' music band -- only a handful of stars can make a living from pop music.

"Most income comes from big state or municipality-sponsored festivals, and organisers don't want trouble. Bands avoid politics for fear of being blacklisted from gigs or radio airplay," he said.

Exclusion from the airwaves is a familiar feeling for Zsuzsa Koncz, 75, an iconic pop singer whose career began in the 1960s.

"I haven't been invited to perform on state media in the last decade," Koncz, who has supported liberal causes in the past, told AFP.

For her, the new plan revives uncomfortable memories of a communist-era cultural policy - "Tolerated, Forbidden, Supported" - where any artwork that questioned the system was banned.

"The last 10 years have shown that the closer you are to the regime's honey pot the easier it is to eat from it," she said.

A Hungarian government plan to reinvigorate the local pop music scene and promote Hungarian culture at the same time has sparked concerns about political influence and censorship.

A Hungarian government plan to reinvigorate the local pop music scene and promote Hungarian culture at the same time has sparked concerns about political influence and censorship. Details of the 62-million-euro plan revealed Tuesday include funding for training and talent spotting, grants for content creation and marketing, and infrastructure like studios and performance venues. "It's about producing quality Hungarian pop and rock, and identity-building," said the project's frontman Szilard Demeter, 44, appointed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government as a cultural commissioner in 2019. "Music can express what is different in Hungarians' character, vision, and historical experience," Demeter told AFP after a draft of the plan was published last year. "Perhaps that's not always understandable when looked at by western Europeans, but that's why it can be exciting and exotic," he said. - '110 percent Orbanista' - Government critics however fret that the music plan opens a new front in an escalating culture war. The self-styled "illiberal" nationalist premier Orban, 57, in power since 2010, declared in 2018 that "big changes" were coming for Hungary's cultural and academic scenes, seen in pro-government circles as hotbeds of liberalism. Since then, the government has tightened control over theatres and universities while an anti-LGBT campaign has been launched. A university founded by the liberal US billionaire George Soros, a bete noire of Orban, said it was forced from Budapest into exile in Vienna. Demeter, a writer and amateur bass guitarist who hails from the Hungarian minority in Romania, has also sparked controversy by comparing Soros to Adolf Hitler. "I totally support the Prime Minister's policies, I am 110 percent an Orbanista," Demeter, who also heads a prestigious literary museum in Budapest, told AFP. "Yes there is a fierce culture war going on, the big question is whether Hungarian culture will exist at all in 100 years," he said. "The guarantee of survival is that we live in our own national culture, national identity has got weaker, and should be restored," he said. Although in another interview Demeter said that he does not like pop singers "spluttering" about politics as "that divides the audience" he told AFP that political affiliation will be no bar to funding under the new scheme. "Everyone should be involved, from left to liberal to right, far-right to Marxist, diversity is the source of Hungarian culture's strength, just as diversity of national cultures is Europe's strength," he said. "So if a band is good quality, why shouldn't it be supported?" he added. - Censorship - But according to Ferenc Megyeri, 55, lead singer of punk group "Usual Disappointments", the state is already censoring musicians. Megyeri's band, founded in 1990, has penned songs like "Viktor", "Absurdistan", and "Soros" that criticise or parody Orban's policies. The songs were cut from the broadcast version of its concert last October during a series of state-sponsored online gigs. Organisers also asked Megyeri to remove a T-shirt he wore with "Soros" written on it. "I refused, so the broadcast focused on close-ups of my face," he told AFP in his hometown of Pecs, south of Budapest. "It is a good idea to help musicians, after all it's our money, taxpayer money, but not by censorship," he said. "Most bands will take government funding and stay silent. But we are not that type," he added. - Indoctrination - Zoltan Czutor, an award-winning songwriter, says "wonderful things can be done" with the funding like teaching schoolkids how to play an instrument, but he worries about the risk of "indoctrination". "I hope there won't be mandatory visits to nationalist rock operas for kids," he told AFP in a Budapest studio. According to Czutor, 51, who teaches music as well as leading four projects -- an acoustic guitar band, his own solo act, a pop-rock group, and a kids' music band -- only a handful of stars can make a living from pop music. "Most income comes from big state or municipality-sponsored festivals, and organisers don't want trouble. Bands avoid politics for fear of being blacklisted from gigs or radio airplay," he said. Exclusion from the airwaves is a familiar feeling for Zsuzsa Koncz, 75, an iconic pop singer whose career began in the 1960s. "I haven't been invited to perform on state media in the last decade," Koncz, who has supported liberal causes in the past, told AFP. For her, the new plan revives uncomfortable memories of a communist-era cultural policy - "Tolerated, Forbidden, Supported" - where any artwork that questioned the system was banned. "The last 10 years have shown that the closer you are to the regime's honey pot the easier it is to eat from it," she said.

Hungary pop music reform opens new front in culture war

African swine fever has threatened the Hungarian Mangalica pig. Mangalica pigs are listed as an endangered animal and are developed by cross-breeding. WION tells you more.

African swine fever threatens Hungarian Mangalica pig

The tragedy is unfolding in Hungary. Some households are finding it hard to make ends meet so they have to make an unfair choice. Since firewood is too expensive many have resorted to burning plastic or rubber to keep warm and Hungary's household pollution levels are rising.

Hungary's household pollution levels are rising; Watch report

Hungarian health authorities have approved Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the government said Sunday, with 40,000 doses of the jab already to be given.

Official testing has been completed "and the vaccine may be administered", Miklos Kasler, the human resources minister who is in charge of health, said on social media.

The government had announced Tuesday that it had taken delivery of 40,000 doses of Sputnik V, a first within the European Union.

It is the first batch of a total order of two million doses to be supplied over three months.&nbsp;

Initially viewed with scepticism in the West, the Russian vaccine has since convinced experts of its efficacy.

The medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday published an analysis of final stage testing results showing Sputnik V to be 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic forms of Covid-19.

Hungary, a country of 9.8 million people close to Moscow, has repeatedly criticised the slow pace of the EU's process for acquiring vaccines.

It is also the first EU member state to have reached an accord with the Chinese laboratory Sinopharm, announcing an order of five million doses of its jab.

Inoculation with the Sinopharm vaccine was to begin later in February.

Hungarian health authorities have approved Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the government said Sunday, with 40,000 doses of the jab already to be given. Official testing has been completed "and the vaccine may be administered", Miklos Kasler, the human resources minister who is in charge of health, said on social media.

Hungarian health authorities have approved Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the government said Sunday, with 40,000 doses of the jab already to be given. Official testing has been completed "and the vaccine may be administered", Miklos Kasler, the human resources minister who is in charge of health, said on social media. The government had announced Tuesday that it had taken delivery of 40,000 doses of Sputnik V, a first within the European Union. It is the first batch of a total order of two million doses to be supplied over three months. Initially viewed with scepticism in the West, the Russian vaccine has since convinced experts of its efficacy. The medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday published an analysis of final stage testing results showing Sputnik V to be 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic forms of Covid-19. Hungary, a country of 9.8 million people close to Moscow, has repeatedly criticised the slow pace of the EU's process for acquiring vaccines. It is also the first EU member state to have reached an accord with the Chinese laboratory Sinopharm, announcing an order of five million doses of its jab. Inoculation with the Sinopharm vaccine was to begin later in February.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine gets all-clear in Hungary

Hungary plans to begin administering the Chinese-made Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine to its citizens later this month, a government minister said Friday.

Hungary broke ranks with the EU last month by becoming the first bloc member to approve and order both Sinopharm and Russia's Sputnik V jab, in quantities of five million and two million doses respectively.

The Chinese shipment "is enough for 2.5 million people," Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, told a press briefing in Budapest.

"That is enough for 250,000 people in each of February, March and April, and then the rest of the contracted amount in April,"&nbsp;he said.

Orban, who previously said that he will choose the Chinese jab for his own inoculation, said Friday that the vaccine is "on its way", but added that further tests by the Hungarian authorities would have to be carried out.&nbsp;

He said during a radio interview that the experiences of non-EU member Serbia - which neighbours Hungary - with both the Russian and Chinese vaccines were "reassuring".

The first batch of Russian vaccines could be administered to Hungarians "perhaps next week" pending final approval by the local public health authority, said Orban.

Hungarian officials have criticised the slow pace of vaccine approval and procurement by EU authorities, which have so far sent the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots to Budapest. &nbsp;

So far, around 260,000 people have received at least the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 92,000 people have been given both shots,&nbsp;Orban said. &nbsp;

Hungary has been under a partial lockdown since November that includes an evening curfew, a gathering ban, and the closure of restaurants, schools and universities.

Gulyas said the government would weigh a gradual lifting of pandemic restrictions, with the first phase starting March 1 and the second on April 1, if there is no third wave.

Hungary's coronavirus statistics all improved during January, but have seen a small upturn in February so far.

Hungary plans to begin administering the Chinese-made Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine to its citizens later this month, a government minister said Friday. Hungary broke ranks with the EU last month by becoming the first bloc member to approve and order both Sinopharm and Russia's Sputnik V jab, in quantities of five million and two million doses respectively.

Hungary plans to begin administering the Chinese-made Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine to its citizens later this month, a government minister said Friday. Hungary broke ranks with the EU last month by becoming the first bloc member to approve and order both Sinopharm and Russia's Sputnik V jab, in quantities of five million and two million doses respectively. The Chinese shipment "is enough for 2.5 million people," Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, told a press briefing in Budapest. "That is enough for 250,000 people in each of February, March and April, and then the rest of the contracted amount in April," he said. Orban, who previously said that he will choose the Chinese jab for his own inoculation, said Friday that the vaccine is "on its way", but added that further tests by the Hungarian authorities would have to be carried out. He said during a radio interview that the experiences of non-EU member Serbia - which neighbours Hungary - with both the Russian and Chinese vaccines were "reassuring". The first batch of Russian vaccines could be administered to Hungarians "perhaps next week" pending final approval by the local public health authority, said Orban. Hungarian officials have criticised the slow pace of vaccine approval and procurement by EU authorities, which have so far sent the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots to Budapest. So far, around 260,000 people have received at least the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 92,000 people have been given both shots, Orban said. Hungary has been under a partial lockdown since November that includes an evening curfew, a gathering ban, and the closure of restaurants, schools and universities. Gulyas said the government would weigh a gradual lifting of pandemic restrictions, with the first phase starting March 1 and the second on April 1, if there is no third wave. Hungary's coronavirus statistics all improved during January, but have seen a small upturn in February so far.

Hungary says first Chinese jabs can be given this month

The Hungarian government said Friday it had reached a deal to buy large quantities of Russia's Sputnik V <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>, even though it has not been approved by the European Union's medicines watchdog.

"Hungary has concluded with Russia an agreement to buy in three phases large quantities of the Sputnik V vaccine; the contract has been negotiated, and signed during the night," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a video statement on his Facebook page after meeting the Russian health minister in Moscow.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-starts-export-of-coronavirus-vaccine-to-brazil-mauritius-and-more-countries-358478" hreflang="en">India starts export of coronavirus vaccine to Brazil, Mauritius, and more countries</a>

He added more details would be given "during the day".

The deal comes a day after Hungary became the first EU member to approve Sputnik V, as well as the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

Hungary has repeatedly criticised what it says is the slow pace of vaccine approval and procurement by EU authorities.

According to regulations from the EU's Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), a national regulator may grant a temporary licence for a vaccine in an emergency situation.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-doctor-steals-vial-of-coronavirus-vaccine-may-face-jail-time-358464" hreflang="en">Texas doctor steals vial of coronavirus vaccine; may face jail time</a>

The EMA is currently evaluating the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and has said a decision on its approval could come before the end of next week.

However, Sputnik V is not being examined by the agency.

The Sputnik doses still need a final sign-off from a Hungarian public health authority, so it was unknown when the first jabs would actually be administered.

Russia in August registered Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — months ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.

The Hungarian government said Friday it had reached a deal to buy large quantities of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, even though it has not been approved by the European Union's medicines watchdog.

The Hungarian government said Friday it had reached a deal to buy large quantities of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, even though it has not been approved by the European Union's medicines watchdog. "Hungary has concluded with Russia an agreement to buy in three phases large quantities of the Sputnik V vaccine; the contract has been negotiated, and signed during the night," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a video statement on his Facebook page after meeting the Russian health minister in Moscow. Also read| India starts export of coronavirus vaccine to Brazil, Mauritius, and more countries He added more details would be given "during the day". The deal comes a day after Hungary became the first EU member to approve Sputnik V, as well as the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. Hungary has repeatedly criticised what it says is the slow pace of vaccine approval and procurement by EU authorities. According to regulations from the EU's Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), a national regulator may grant a temporary licence for a vaccine in an emergency situation. Also read| Texas doctor steals vial of coronavirus vaccine; may face jail time The EMA is currently evaluating the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and has said a decision on its approval could come before the end of next week. However, Sputnik V is not being examined by the agency. The Sputnik doses still need a final sign-off from a Hungarian public health authority, so it was unknown when the first jabs would actually be administered. Russia in August registered Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — months ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.

Hungary procures 'large quantities' of Russian vaccine

Hungary has amended the definition of family in its constitution to allow an effective ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

The new Hungarian constitution on Tuesday defined family as “based on marriage and the parent-child relation. The mother is a woman, the father a man.” It also mandates that parents raise children in a conservative spirit.

This is, in many ways, another win for the ruling conservatives but is being decried by one pro-LGBTQ group as “a dark day for human rights”.

The nationalist Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has worked to recast Hungary in a more conservative mold since winning a third successive landslide in 2018, and anti-gay verbal attacks and legislation have become common.

In recent years, Orban has doubled down on propagating his increasingly conservative ideology, deploying strong language against immigrants and Muslims who he says could upend European culture.

“Hungary defends the right of children to identify with their birth gender and ensures their upbringing based on our nation’s constitutional identity and values based on our Christian culture,” the constitution says.

Hungary has never allowed gay marriage but still recognises civil unions. Adoption by gay and lesbian couples was possible until now if one partner applied as a single person.

In response, rights groups denounced the changes and called on European leaders to raise their voices.

The legislation passed on Tuesday follow the passing of a new law earlier this year banning gender change in personal documents and ideological battles over children’s books showing diversity positively.

Hungary has amended the definition of family in its constitution to allow an effective ban on adoption by same-sex couples. The new Hungarian constitution on Tuesday defined family as “based on marriage and the parent-child relation.

Hungary has amended the definition of family in its constitution to allow an effective ban on adoption by same-sex couples. The new Hungarian constitution on Tuesday defined family as “based on marriage and the parent-child relation. The mother is a woman, the father a man.” It also mandates that parents raise children in a conservative spirit. This is, in many ways, another win for the ruling conservatives but is being decried by one pro-LGBTQ group as “a dark day for human rights”. The nationalist Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has worked to recast Hungary in a more conservative mold since winning a third successive landslide in 2018, and anti-gay verbal attacks and legislation have become common. In recent years, Orban has doubled down on propagating his increasingly conservative ideology, deploying strong language against immigrants and Muslims who he says could upend European culture. “Hungary defends the right of children to identify with their birth gender and ensures their upbringing based on our nation’s constitutional identity and values based on our Christian culture,” the constitution says. Hungary has never allowed gay marriage but still recognises civil unions. Adoption by gay and lesbian couples was possible until now if one partner applied as a single person. In response, rights groups denounced the changes and called on European leaders to raise their voices. The legislation passed on Tuesday follow the passing of a new law earlier this year banning gender change in personal documents and ideological battles over children’s books showing diversity positively.

Hungary amends constitution to redefine family, limits gay adoption

The legislation, proposed by Orban’s government, says only married couples can adopt children and single people can only adopt with special permission from the family affairs minister.

Hungary's parliament passes law effectively banning same-sex adoption

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections.

The new laws also relax oversight of the spending of public funds, which critics say will allow the government to use state money to benefit loyalists.

The legislation includes a constitutional amendment that critics say lowers the legal threshold for the government to declare a state of emergency, while also removing meaningful oversight of its actions while such a decree is in place.

The same amendment would also effectively bar gay couples from adopting children in Hungary by defining a family as including a man as the father and a woman as the mother. The amendment could also make it harder for single parents to adopt.

“Wherever it was possible, Fidesz chose to cement its power even more with these laws,” Agnes Kovacs, a legal expert with the Eotvos Karoly Policy Institute, said of Orban’s party.

She said the laws were cause for “grave concern” in a nation where Orban has already torn at the fabric of democratic institutions over more than a decade in power.

Orban, a populist autocrat who has proudly stated his vision of creating what he calls an “illiberal” state, has hollowed out many of the checks and balances viewed as integral to healthy democratic governance. He has aligned the executive, legislative and judicial branches to do his party’s bidding, making such sweeping legislation both possible and hard to challenge.

When pushing the new legislation, the government justified its actions in a written explanation by saying the constitution “is a living framework which expresses the will of the nation, the manner in which we want to live.”

But the will of the nation is increasingly indistinguishable from Orban’s will. And there are few critical voices left in the country to hold the government to account since Orban’s allies have gained control over the vast majority of independent media outlets. At the same time, his government has waged a relentless campaign against nongovernmental organizations dedicated to promoting good governance.

Renata Uitz, a professor of comparative constitution law at Central European University, said the new rules regarding the use of emergency powers, which now can be declared over broadly defined political disturbances, gave even more power to the executive.

Previously, she said, “you actually had to try and stage a coup and forcefully change the constitutional order.” Now, she said, an unruly demonstration might be enough for the government to invoke the law. These changes are slated to take effect in 2023, after Hungary’s next elections.

Orban, like other leaders in East and Central Europe, has also stepped up his attacks on LGBT people, casting them as an enemy of the state and of Christian values — much in the same way he demonized migrants in the past. As the government campaign has intensified, surveys have shown a rise in homophobia.

Earlier this year, the government adopted legislation tying an individual’s gender to the person’s sex and chromosomes at birth — the first law of its kind in Europe and a clear attack on transgender rights.

The new legislation barring gay couples from adopting children comes at a time when Orban’s far-right government is dealing with the downfall of a key party official in a sex and drugs scandal.

Jozsef Szajer, a longtime ally of the prime minister, resigned from the party and gave up his seat in the European Parliament in late November after he was caught violating coronavirus restrictions in Brussels by attending what the host described as a gay orgy.

The police apprehended Szajer and said they had discovered ecstasy in his belongings. Szajer has denied that the drugs were his, but admitted having attended the “house party.”

While Orban’s nativist policies have drawn criticism from the European Union, his government has successfully parried the bloc’s attempts to curb Hungary’s slide into authoritarianism.

Orban, along with the government of Poland, held the fate of the $2.2 trillion EU budget deal hostage for weeks as they fought against measures that would have firmly linked financial assistance to measures designed to ensure member states adhere to the rule of law. The two countries dropped their veto after a compromise was reached to water down the requirements.

The budget deal, in the view of many outside experts, may actually end up bolstering Orban because his government stands to receive a large infusion of cash before the country’s 2022 national elections.

Orban has already been accused by critics of using public funds to reward loyalists and build support.

In the legislation passed on Tuesday, the government has redefined public funds in a way that critics say will make it much more difficult for journalists to scrutinize the use of the money.

“Orban constantly changes the rules to the game,” said Akos Hadhazy, an opposition lawmaker. “Hungary is sure to receive massive subsidies from the EU over the next two years, which will make it easier for the prime minister to issue payouts to those who serve him.”

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections.

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections. The new laws also relax oversight of the spending of public funds, which critics say will allow the government to use state money to benefit loyalists. The legislation includes a constitutional amendment that critics say lowers the legal threshold for the government to declare a state of emergency, while also removing meaningful oversight of its actions while such a decree is in place. The same amendment would also effectively bar gay couples from adopting children in Hungary by defining a family as including a man as the father and a woman as the mother. The amendment could also make it harder for single parents to adopt. “Wherever it was possible, Fidesz chose to cement its power even more with these laws,” Agnes Kovacs, a legal expert with the Eotvos Karoly Policy Institute, said of Orban’s party. She said the laws were cause for “grave concern” in a nation where Orban has already torn at the fabric of democratic institutions over more than a decade in power. Orban, a populist autocrat who has proudly stated his vision of creating what he calls an “illiberal” state, has hollowed out many of the checks and balances viewed as integral to healthy democratic governance. He has aligned the executive, legislative and judicial branches to do his party’s bidding, making such sweeping legislation both possible and hard to challenge. When pushing the new legislation, the government justified its actions in a written explanation by saying the constitution “is a living framework which expresses the will of the nation, the manner in which we want to live.” But the will of the nation is increasingly indistinguishable from Orban’s will. And there are few critical voices left in the country to hold the government to account since Orban’s allies have gained control over the vast majority of independent media outlets. At the same time, his government has waged a relentless campaign against nongovernmental organizations dedicated to promoting good governance. Renata Uitz, a professor of comparative constitution law at Central European University, said the new rules regarding the use of emergency powers, which now can be declared over broadly defined political disturbances, gave even more power to the executive. Previously, she said, “you actually had to try and stage a coup and forcefully change the constitutional order.” Now, she said, an unruly demonstration might be enough for the government to invoke the law. These changes are slated to take effect in 2023, after Hungary’s next elections. Orban, like other leaders in East and Central Europe, has also stepped up his attacks on LGBT people, casting them as an enemy of the state and of Christian values — much in the same way he demonized migrants in the past. As the government campaign has intensified, surveys have shown a rise in homophobia. Earlier this year, the government adopted legislation tying an individual’s gender to the person’s sex and chromosomes at birth — the first law of its kind in Europe and a clear attack on transgender rights. The new legislation barring gay couples from adopting children comes at a time when Orban’s far-right government is dealing with the downfall of a key party official in a sex and drugs scandal. Jozsef Szajer, a longtime ally of the prime minister, resigned from the party and gave up his seat in the European Parliament in late November after he was caught violating coronavirus restrictions in Brussels by attending what the host described as a gay orgy. The police apprehended Szajer and said they had discovered ecstasy in his belongings. Szajer has denied that the drugs were his, but admitted having attended the “house party.” While Orban’s nativist policies have drawn criticism from the European Union, his government has successfully parried the bloc’s attempts to curb Hungary’s slide into authoritarianism. Orban, along with the government of Poland, held the fate of the $2.2 trillion EU budget deal hostage for weeks as they fought against measures that would have firmly linked financial assistance to measures designed to ensure member states adhere to the rule of law. The two countries dropped their veto after a compromise was reached to water down the requirements. The budget deal, in the view of many outside experts, may actually end up bolstering Orban because his government stands to receive a large infusion of cash before the country’s 2022 national elections. Orban has already been accused by critics of using public funds to reward loyalists and build support. In the legislation passed on Tuesday, the government has redefined public funds in a way that critics say will make it much more difficult for journalists to scrutinize the use of the money. “Orban constantly changes the rules to the game,” said Akos Hadhazy, an opposition lawmaker. “Hungary is sure to receive massive subsidies from the EU over the next two years, which will make it easier for the prime minister to issue payouts to those who serve him.”

Hungary passes laws curtailing gay rights and expanding executive power

River Borzhava was once a stunning site but now the river is filled with hundreds of plastic bottles & other waste items. Authorities blame locals for the pollution despite warnings. WION brings you a report.

Ukraine: Borzhava river turns into garbage dumps

The Tisza, one of the main rivers in eastern Europe, starts in Ukraine and flows across Hungary to join the Danube in Serbia.

Hungary asks Ukraine to clean shared river

When confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi decided to put masks on his chocolate Santas in his small workshop in rural Hungary, he intended it as a light-hearted joke to raise people's spirits amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic.

Chocolate Santas in marzipan masks - a coronavirus Christmas treat

Taste of safety: Masked Santa chocolates appear amid pandemic in Hungary

Judit Polgar might be the one woman in the world who knows how Beth, the heroine of the hit Netflix series 'The Queen’s Gambit,' really feels. Like Beth, Polgar, who is from Hungary, stood out during her career because she regularly beat the world’s top players, including Garry Kasparov, in 2002, when he was ranked No&nbsp;1.

Polgar, the only woman to ever be ranked in the Top 10 or to play for the overall world championship, retired from competitive chess in 2014. Watching the series, which she described as an “incredible performance,” gave her a sense of déjà vu, particularly in the later episodes.

But there was one respect in which she could not identify with Beth’s experience: how the male competitors treated her.

“They were too nice to her,” Polgar said. When Polgar was proving herself and rising in the world rankings, the men often made disparaging comments about her ability and sometimes jokes, which they thought were funny but were actually hurtful, she said.

And no one ever resigned to her, as Shapkin did to Beth in Episode 7 by gallantly holding her hand near his lips.

“There were opponents who refused to shake hands,” she recalled. “There was one who hit his head on the board after he lost.”

Not every woman has had negative experiences. Irina Krush, who won her eighth US&nbsp;Women’s Championship last month, said she felt as if the chess community and men in particular were supportive of her when she was an up-and-coming player. She said of the series, “The spirit of what they are showing conforms to my experience.”

Whether what happens to Beth is typical or not, the popularity of 'The Queen’s Gambit' has inspired anew a debate about inequality and sexism in chess and what, if anything, can be done about them.

Though chess would seem like one area where men and women should be able to compete on equal footing, historically, few women have been able to do so. Among the more than 1,700 regular grandmasters worldwide, only 37, including Polgar and Krush, are women. Currently, only one woman, Hou Yifan of China, ranks in the Top 100, at No&nbsp;88, and she has been playing infrequently, even before the pandemic.

The superiority of men in the game is so well established that the best female players have freely acknowledged it. In a recent issue of Mint, in an article titled 'Why Women Lose at Chess,' Koneru Humpy, an Indian player currently ranked No&nbsp;3 among women, said men are just better players. “It’s proven,” she said. “You have to accept it.”

The dearth of women at the top of the game is one reason that there are separate tournaments for women, including a world championship; the World Chess Federation even created titles for women, such as women grandmaster.

Having such institutionalized, second-class status might seem like a bad idea, but not according to Anastasiya Karlovich, a grandmaster who was the press officer for the World Chess Federation for several years. She said the women’s titles permit more female players to earn a living as professionals, thereby increasing their participation in the game.

Karlovich said the Netflix show has helped her indirectly: It has made the parents of her chess students look at her differently.

“They have more respect for me. They understand better the life of a player,” she said.

While some men have speculated that the reason there are so few top female players is because they are not wired for it — Kasparov once said that it is not in their nature — women think the overriding reason is cultural expectations and bias.

Krush said the cultural cleaving between boys and girls happens at a young age. Scrolling through lists of the top players in the United States who are 7, 8 and 9, Krush pointed out that there are only a handful of girls in the Top 10.

That creates and reinforces another problem that discourages women’s participation: too few social contacts. Jennifer Shahade, a two-time U.S. women’s champion who has written two books about women in chess ('Chess Bitch' and 'Play Like a Girl!') and is the women’s program director at the US Chess Federation, said teenage girls tend to stop playing chess because there are so few of them and they want the social support. That Beth is a loner is likely an important reason she does not quit playing in tournaments.

Of 74,000 members in total, the US Chess Federation said it has about 10,500 female members. Shahade wants to increase that number, as well as their participation. To that end, she and the federation started an online chess club in April to keep female players engaged during the pandemic. In the last few weeks, there have been between 80 and 140 participants, with quite a few older players. The last meeting also had a special guest: Kasparov, who has become a big booster of women’s chess since his retirement from competition in 2005. He was also a consultant on the Netflix series.

To keep the momentum going, Shahade is launching a new online group called the “Madwoman’s Book Club.” The title refers to a pejorative name used for the queen in the 15th and 16th centuries after it became the most powerful piece on the board. The first meeting, this Friday, already has 100 people signed up.

The subject of the discussion should come as no surprise: 'The Queen’s Gambit'&nbsp;by Walter Tevis, the book on which the Netflix series is based. 
&nbsp;

Judit Polgar might be the one woman in the world who knows how Beth, the heroine of the hit Netflix series 'The Queen’s Gambit,' really feels. Like Beth, Polgar, who is from Hungary, stood out during her career because she regularly beat the world’s top players, including Garry Kasparov, in 2002, when he was ranked No 1.

Judit Polgar might be the one woman in the world who knows how Beth, the heroine of the hit Netflix series 'The Queen’s Gambit,' really feels. Like Beth, Polgar, who is from Hungary, stood out during her career because she regularly beat the world’s top players, including Garry Kasparov, in 2002, when he was ranked No 1. Polgar, the only woman to ever be ranked in the Top 10 or to play for the overall world championship, retired from competitive chess in 2014. Watching the series, which she described as an “incredible performance,” gave her a sense of déjà vu, particularly in the later episodes. But there was one respect in which she could not identify with Beth’s experience: how the male competitors treated her. “They were too nice to her,” Polgar said. When Polgar was proving herself and rising in the world rankings, the men often made disparaging comments about her ability and sometimes jokes, which they thought were funny but were actually hurtful, she said. And no one ever resigned to her, as Shapkin did to Beth in Episode 7 by gallantly holding her hand near his lips. “There were opponents who refused to shake hands,” she recalled. “There was one who hit his head on the board after he lost.” Not every woman has had negative experiences. Irina Krush, who won her eighth US Women’s Championship last month, said she felt as if the chess community and men in particular were supportive of her when she was an up-and-coming player. She said of the series, “The spirit of what they are showing conforms to my experience.” Whether what happens to Beth is typical or not, the popularity of 'The Queen’s Gambit' has inspired anew a debate about inequality and sexism in chess and what, if anything, can be done about them. Though chess would seem like one area where men and women should be able to compete on equal footing, historically, few women have been able to do so. Among the more than 1,700 regular grandmasters worldwide, only 37, including Polgar and Krush, are women. Currently, only one woman, Hou Yifan of China, ranks in the Top 100, at No 88, and she has been playing infrequently, even before the pandemic. The superiority of men in the game is so well established that the best female players have freely acknowledged it. In a recent issue of Mint, in an article titled 'Why Women Lose at Chess,' Koneru Humpy, an Indian player currently ranked No 3 among women, said men are just better players. “It’s proven,” she said. “You have to accept it.” The dearth of women at the top of the game is one reason that there are separate tournaments for women, including a world championship; the World Chess Federation even created titles for women, such as women grandmaster. Having such institutionalized, second-class status might seem like a bad idea, but not according to Anastasiya Karlovich, a grandmaster who was the press officer for the World Chess Federation for several years. She said the women’s titles permit more female players to earn a living as professionals, thereby increasing their participation in the game. Karlovich said the Netflix show has helped her indirectly: It has made the parents of her chess students look at her differently. “They have more respect for me. They understand better the life of a player,” she said. While some men have speculated that the reason there are so few top female players is because they are not wired for it — Kasparov once said that it is not in their nature — women think the overriding reason is cultural expectations and bias. Krush said the cultural cleaving between boys and girls happens at a young age. Scrolling through lists of the top players in the United States who are 7, 8 and 9, Krush pointed out that there are only a handful of girls in the Top 10. That creates and reinforces another problem that discourages women’s participation: too few social contacts. Jennifer Shahade, a two-time U.S. women’s champion who has written two books about women in chess ('Chess Bitch' and 'Play Like a Girl!') and is the women’s program director at the US Chess Federation, said teenage girls tend to stop playing chess because there are so few of them and they want the social support. That Beth is a loner is likely an important reason she does not quit playing in tournaments. Of 74,000 members in total, the US Chess Federation said it has about 10,500 female members. Shahade wants to increase that number, as well as their participation. To that end, she and the federation started an online chess club in April to keep female players engaged during the pandemic. In the last few weeks, there have been between 80 and 140 participants, with quite a few older players. The last meeting also had a special guest: Kasparov, who has become a big booster of women’s chess since his retirement from competition in 2005. He was also a consultant on the Netflix series. To keep the momentum going, Shahade is launching a new online group called the “Madwoman’s Book Club.” The title refers to a pejorative name used for the queen in the 15th and 16th centuries after it became the most powerful piece on the board. The first meeting, this Friday, already has 100 people signed up. The subject of the discussion should come as no surprise: 'The Queen’s Gambit' by Walter Tevis, the book on which the Netflix series is based.

How 'The Queen's Gambit' started a new debate about sexism in chess

Hit by a plunge in turnover after foreign tourists vanished, Michelin-starred Hungarian restaurant Costes has staged a skyline dining event on the Budapest Eye ferris wheel to generate sales in a coronavirus-proof environment.

Hungarian restaurant reinvents the wheel for social distancing

Boldizsar Nagy hoped that the tales in the children`s book "Wonderland Is For Everyone" would help youngsters to learn to accept minorities and fight social ostracism.

Instead, it has caused a stir in Hungarian politics, with the far-right and the ruling nationalist government labelling it "homosexual propaganda" that should be banned from schools.

More than 1,200 psychologists have since signed a petition in defence of the book, which was edited by Nagy. The tales include stories about Tivadar, a bunny born with three ears, an adopted boy, and Batbajan, a Roma boy, who is hated by his step-mother for his skin colour but finds love when he meets Zeke, a fair-haired boy.

Only a few of the 17 stories that teach acceptance towards people who are in some way "different", are about LGBT+ heroes.

Nagy, 37, who is gay and has Roma roots, says the backlash signals a rise in official intolerance of LGBT+ people and fits into the government`s political agenda.

"It is unbecoming that a children`s book is used for inciting hatred...or political gains," he said. "Looking at what happened in Poland or Russia, it does not bode well for the future. We are concerned."

Russia in 2013 passed a law banning the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" to minors.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban`s government, which faces elections in early 2022 and promotes a strongly Christian-conservative agenda, has so far refrained from strong attacks on the LGBT+ community, unlike Poland, where homophobia has been part of the ruling PiS party`s ideology.

This appears to be changing now.

Orban, who faces the biggest challenge of his decade-long rule due to the coronavirus pandemic and a deep recession, told state radio that Hungary was a tolerant country when it comes to homosexuality, but "there is a red line that should not be crossed ... leave our children alone."

In a speech over the weekend, he returned to the issue.

"There is a growing debate around us, a struggle almost at daggers drawn, about the future of our children. What influences should they be under?...How should they relate to their families, to Hungarian identity, and even to the sex they have been born into?"

A government spokesman declined to say if the government was planning any legal changes. In a reply to Reuters questions he said: "We have said all we wanted with relation to this issue."

LIVING WITH STIGMA

The book sold out fast after a lawmaker from the far-right Our Homeland party tore a copy apart and shredded it at a news conference. On Friday, a new edition came out in print.

Several actors have volunteered to take part in a podcast, and the support they received was encouraging, Nagy said.

But a widening divide in society around the issue could make lives of LGBT+ people harder, he said.

"It takes years for everyone to accept their indentity which is a stigma in Hungary...especially if you grow up in the countryside or in a religious family," he said.

"This book was a little bit also self-therapy for me."

Nagy came out when he was 30 and he was able to openly talk about being gay at work. Living in a stable relationship for six years, he and his partner want to adopt a child.

This is only possible in Hungary for gay couples if one of them applies as a single person as Hungary does not allow gay marriage.

Having been on the waiting list for two years, they had high hopes. These were dampened on Oct. 5 when the government tweaked legislation, saying that for each child, a married couple should first be searched nationwide. The civil law already says married couples should enjoy priority in adoption.

"We thought we would have a child by Christmas...theoretically single people and gay people can still adopt a child, but this will be a much longer process," Nagy said.

Boldizsar Nagy hoped that the tales in the children`s book "Wonderland Is For Everyone" would help youngsters to learn to accept minorities and fight social ostracism.

Boldizsar Nagy hoped that the tales in the children`s book "Wonderland Is For Everyone" would help youngsters to learn to accept minorities and fight social ostracism. Instead, it has caused a stir in Hungarian politics, with the far-right and the ruling nationalist government labelling it "homosexual propaganda" that should be banned from schools. More than 1,200 psychologists have since signed a petition in defence of the book, which was edited by Nagy. The tales include stories about Tivadar, a bunny born with three ears, an adopted boy, and Batbajan, a Roma boy, who is hated by his step-mother for his skin colour but finds love when he meets Zeke, a fair-haired boy. Only a few of the 17 stories that teach acceptance towards people who are in some way "different", are about LGBT+ heroes. Nagy, 37, who is gay and has Roma roots, says the backlash signals a rise in official intolerance of LGBT+ people and fits into the government`s political agenda. "It is unbecoming that a children`s book is used for inciting hatred...or political gains," he said. "Looking at what happened in Poland or Russia, it does not bode well for the future. We are concerned." Russia in 2013 passed a law banning the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" to minors. Prime Minister Viktor Orban`s government, which faces elections in early 2022 and promotes a strongly Christian-conservative agenda, has so far refrained from strong attacks on the LGBT+ community, unlike Poland, where homophobia has been part of the ruling PiS party`s ideology. This appears to be changing now. Orban, who faces the biggest challenge of his decade-long rule due to the coronavirus pandemic and a deep recession, told state radio that Hungary was a tolerant country when it comes to homosexuality, but "there is a red line that should not be crossed ... leave our children alone." In a speech over the weekend, he returned to the issue. "There is a growing debate around us, a struggle almost at daggers drawn, about the future of our children. What influences should they be under?...How should they relate to their families, to Hungarian identity, and even to the sex they have been born into?" A government spokesman declined to say if the government was planning any legal changes. In a reply to Reuters questions he said: "We have said all we wanted with relation to this issue." LIVING WITH STIGMA The book sold out fast after a lawmaker from the far-right Our Homeland party tore a copy apart and shredded it at a news conference. On Friday, a new edition came out in print. Several actors have volunteered to take part in a podcast, and the support they received was encouraging, Nagy said. But a widening divide in society around the issue could make lives of LGBT+ people harder, he said. "It takes years for everyone to accept their indentity which is a stigma in Hungary...especially if you grow up in the countryside or in a religious family," he said. "This book was a little bit also self-therapy for me." Nagy came out when he was 30 and he was able to openly talk about being gay at work. Living in a stable relationship for six years, he and his partner want to adopt a child. This is only possible in Hungary for gay couples if one of them applies as a single person as Hungary does not allow gay marriage. Having been on the waiting list for two years, they had high hopes. These were dampened on Oct. 5 when the government tweaked legislation, saying that for each child, a married couple should first be searched nationwide. The civil law already says married couples should enjoy priority in adoption. "We thought we would have a child by Christmas...theoretically single people and gay people can still adopt a child, but this will be a much longer process," Nagy said.

Stir in Hungary around children's book fuels fears of rising homophobia

<p content="Budapest (AFP) - Dozens of journalists walked out of Hungary's top independent news site on Friday in protest at the removal of its editor-in-chief, with some warning the events marked the &quot;destruction&quot; of yet another pillar of press freedom." data-reactid="23" type="text">Dozens of journalists walked out of Hungary's top independent news site on Friday in protest at the removal of its editor-in-chief, with some warning the events marked the "destruction" of yet another pillar of press freedom.

Index.hu is Hungary's most-read news portal and a rare independent voice in a media landscape increasingly controlled by allies of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

On Wednesday, its editor-in-chief Szabolcs Dull was fired, with management claiming he had leaked internal documents to other media.

That prompted three senior editors to resign on Friday, followed by more than 80 journalists -- the overwhelming majority of the newsroom.

In a statement, the site's journalists condemned Dull's dismissal as "an overt attempt to apply pressure on Index".

<p content="Miklos Hargitai, president of the Hungarian journalists' association, said that the events meant &quot;another dominant Hungarian institution is in the process of being dismantled, occupied and destroyed by (Orban's right-wing) Fidesz&quot; party." data-reactid="32" type="text">Miklos Hargitai, president of the Hungarian journalists' association, said that the events meant "another dominant Hungarian institution is in the process of being dismantled, occupied and destroyed by (Orban's right-wing) Fidesz" party.

Index tweeted photos of distraught journalists in tears and hugging each other as the resignations were announced.

On Friday evening around 3,000 protesters turned out in central Budapest to express their support for the journalists.

Index has roughly two million readers per day in a country of just under 10 million.

Dull himself warned last month that the site was in "grave danger" from a proposed organisational overhaul.

That followed a purchase of 50 percent of Index's advertising agency by powerful pro-Orban businessman Miklos Vaszily in March.

<p content="In recent years most independent outlets have either gone out of business, or been bought by government allies while receiving lucrative flows of state advertising." data-reactid="38" type="text">In recent years most independent outlets have either gone out of business, or been bought by government allies while receiving lucrative flows of state advertising.

Public media has meanwhile been turned into a government propaganda organ.

International observers say a lopsided media landscape and restricted access to information helped Orban win a third consecutive term as premier in 2018.

FLAME HAS GONE OUT

Hungary's embattled opposition parties lined up to denounce what has happened at Index.

"A flame has gone out, but we will not forget who was responsible," said Andras Fekete-Gyor, president of the liberal Momentum party.

<p content="The liberal mayor of the capital Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, posted a message on Facebook in which he paid tribute to the &quot;courage&quot; of the Index journalists in &quot;standing up for our principles as a community&quot;." data-reactid="44" type="text">The liberal mayor of the capital Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, posted a message on Facebook in which he paid tribute to the "courage" of the Index journalists in "standing up for our principles as a community".

However, on Thursday Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto denied the charge that the government had anything to do with Dull's sacking.

"Do you think the state should intervene in the decisions of a private body?" he said to reporters on a trip to Portugal.

"In Hungary this would be unacceptable," he added.

<p content="Government critics nevertheless see what is happening at Index as the continuation of a long chain of events which has seen the media align ever more closely to Orban's government." data-reactid="48" type="text">Government critics nevertheless see what is happening at Index as the continuation of a long chain of events which has seen the media align ever more closely to Orban's government.

They fear a repeat of what happened to another prominent news website, Origo, whose editor was sacked in 2014.

That also prompted a mass walkout by staff who suspected political interference and the site was then sold to a media firm linked to Fidesz.

Origo's content openly lurched towards a pro-government line with the arrival of a new editorial team in 2016.

<p content="Also in 2016, the left-leaning Nepszabadsag newspaper suddenly ceased operation before its publisher was snapped up by oligarch and close Orban ally Lorinc Meszaros." data-reactid="52" type="text">Also in 2016, the left-leaning Nepszabadsag newspaper suddenly ceased operation before its publisher was snapped up by oligarch and close Orban ally Lorinc Meszaros.

Two years later, ownership of ten publishers comprising an estimated 500 media outlets were transferred to a holding company headed by a loyal ally of Orban.

The company's stated aim is to develop "public discourse based on national values".

The narrowing of Hungary's media landscape is one aspect of the centralisation of power which has lead to clashes between Orban's government and the EU.

<p content="On Thursday Index published a letter from European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova in which she said she had been &quot;following the situation of Index with concern&quot;." data-reactid="56" type="text">On Thursday Index published a letter from European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova in which she said she had been "following the situation of Index with concern".

She expressed her "solidarity" with Index staff and told them: "You can count on my support."

<p content="Earlier this week Hungary and Poland, both countries in the EU's sights for alleged breaches of norms on judicial independence and media freedom, fought hard to water down provisions in the EU's coronavirus recovery programme which would link spending to respect for the rule of law." data-reactid="58" type="text">Earlier this week Hungary and Poland, both countries in the EU's sights for alleged breaches of norms on judicial independence and media freedom, fought hard to water down provisions in the EU's coronavirus recovery programme which would link spending to respect for the rule of law.

Dozens of journalists walked out of Hungary's top independent news site on Friday in protest at the removal of its editor-in-chief, with some warning the events marked the "destruction" of yet another pillar of press freedom.

Dozens of journalists walked out of Hungary's top independent news site on Friday in protest at the removal of its editor-in-chief, with some warning the events marked the "destruction" of yet another pillar of press freedom. Index.hu is Hungary's most-read news portal and a rare independent voice in a media landscape increasingly controlled by allies of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. On Wednesday, its editor-in-chief Szabolcs Dull was fired, with management claiming he had leaked internal documents to other media. That prompted three senior editors to resign on Friday, followed by more than 80 journalists -- the overwhelming majority of the newsroom. In a statement, the site's journalists condemned Dull's dismissal as "an overt attempt to apply pressure on Index". Miklos Hargitai, president of the Hungarian journalists' association, said that the events meant "another dominant Hungarian institution is in the process of being dismantled, occupied and destroyed by (Orban's right-wing) Fidesz" party. Index tweeted photos of distraught journalists in tears and hugging each other as the resignations were announced. On Friday evening around 3,000 protesters turned out in central Budapest to express their support for the journalists. Index has roughly two million readers per day in a country of just under 10 million. Dull himself warned last month that the site was in "grave danger" from a proposed organisational overhaul. That followed a purchase of 50 percent of Index's advertising agency by powerful pro-Orban businessman Miklos Vaszily in March. In recent years most independent outlets have either gone out of business, or been bought by government allies while receiving lucrative flows of state advertising. Public media has meanwhile been turned into a government propaganda organ. International observers say a lopsided media landscape and restricted access to information helped Orban win a third consecutive term as premier in 2018. FLAME HAS GONE OUT Hungary's embattled opposition parties lined up to denounce what has happened at Index. "A flame has gone out, but we will not forget who was responsible," said Andras Fekete-Gyor, president of the liberal Momentum party. The liberal mayor of the capital Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, posted a message on Facebook in which he paid tribute to the "courage" of the Index journalists in "standing up for our principles as a community". However, on Thursday Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto denied the charge that the government had anything to do with Dull's sacking. "Do you think the state should intervene in the decisions of a private body?" he said to reporters on a trip to Portugal. "In Hungary this would be unacceptable," he added. Government critics nevertheless see what is happening at Index as the continuation of a long chain of events which has seen the media align ever more closely to Orban's government. They fear a repeat of what happened to another prominent news website, Origo, whose editor was sacked in 2014. That also prompted a mass walkout by staff who suspected political interference and the site was then sold to a media firm linked to Fidesz. Origo's content openly lurched towards a pro-government line with the arrival of a new editorial team in 2016. Also in 2016, the left-leaning Nepszabadsag newspaper suddenly ceased operation before its publisher was snapped up by oligarch and close Orban ally Lorinc Meszaros. Two years later, ownership of ten publishers comprising an estimated 500 media outlets were transferred to a holding company headed by a loyal ally of Orban. The company's stated aim is to develop "public discourse based on national values". The narrowing of Hungary's media landscape is one aspect of the centralisation of power which has lead to clashes between Orban's government and the EU. On Thursday Index published a letter from European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova in which she said she had been "following the situation of Index with concern". She expressed her "solidarity" with Index staff and told them: "You can count on my support." Earlier this week Hungary and Poland, both countries in the EU's sights for alleged breaches of norms on judicial independence and media freedom, fought hard to water down provisions in the EU's coronavirus recovery programme which would link spending to respect for the rule of law.

Journalists resign from Hungary news site en masse

Scientists in Hungary have "accidently" bred a new hybrid of the two endangered fish, called the sturddlefish. This hybrid came into existence after scientists experimented with American paddlefish and Russian sturgeon.&nbsp;

The Russian sturgeon is commonly known for its eggs as they are sold by high-end caviar, whereas, the &nbsp;American paddlefish has a long snout, and can only be found in half of the US. Both of them are known as "fossil fish" for their ancient lineage and a slow evolution.&nbsp;

Both these species critically endangered and are close to being extinct. Scientists are trying to breed these paddlefish in captivity.&nbsp;

The researchers accidentally used paddlefish sperm to fertilize the sturgeon eggs via gynogenesis (a method of asexual reproduction that requires the presence of sperm without the contribution of their DNA for completion). And the hybridization worked giving birth to a whole new species.&nbsp;

The 'new' fish hatched from the eggs and the researchers separated them into two groups.&nbsp;

Scientist Attila Mozsar, along with other scientists were writing about their findings in a study published in the scientific journal Genes this month.

The study marked the first successful hybridization between these two species. "We never wanted to play around with hybridization," Mozsár told The New York Times. "It was absolutely unintentional."

Scientists in Hungary have "accidently" bred a new hybrid of the two endangered fish, called the sturddlefish. This hybrid came into existence after scientists experimented with American paddlefish and Russian sturgeon.

Scientists in Hungary have "accidently" bred a new hybrid of the two endangered fish, called the sturddlefish. This hybrid came into existence after scientists experimented with American paddlefish and Russian sturgeon. The Russian sturgeon is commonly known for its eggs as they are sold by high-end caviar, whereas, the American paddlefish has a long snout, and can only be found in half of the US. Both of them are known as "fossil fish" for their ancient lineage and a slow evolution. Both these species critically endangered and are close to being extinct. Scientists are trying to breed these paddlefish in captivity. The researchers accidentally used paddlefish sperm to fertilize the sturgeon eggs via gynogenesis (a method of asexual reproduction that requires the presence of sperm without the contribution of their DNA for completion). And the hybridization worked giving birth to a whole new species. The 'new' fish hatched from the eggs and the researchers separated them into two groups. Scientist Attila Mozsar, along with other scientists were writing about their findings in a study published in the scientific journal Genes this month. The study marked the first successful hybridization between these two species. "We never wanted to play around with hybridization," Mozsár told The New York Times. "It was absolutely unintentional."

Sturddlefish: Scientists in Hungary accidentally create hybrid fish

Due to surge in new coronavirus cases in several countries, Hungary has imposed new restrictions on cross-border travel as of next Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus, as per Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Sunday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamburg-sex-workers-demand-germanys-brothels-reopen-312758" hreflang="en">Hamburg sex workers demand Germany's brothels reopen</a>

Hungary has lifted most of its lockdown restrictions in May and had opened its borders to travellers from European Union states and neighbouring non-EU members.

Gergely Gulyas told an online news conference on Sunday that these new restrictions will keep the virus "outside the borders" to re-impose restrictions in the country.&nbsp;

"These restrictions serve to protect our freedom," Gulyas said.

According to new rules, Hungarians returning from countries that have high-risk of the virus will be listed as &nbsp;"yellow" and "red" and will have to go through health checks at the border will for a 14-days quarantine even if they are not infected. But the procedure can be avoided with two negative COVID-19 tests from the previous 5 days, Gulyas said.

The same applies to foreigners coming from "yellow" countries, but those from "red" countries will be barred from entry.

The red category consists of countries like s Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and neighbouring Ukraine.&nbsp;

The yellow category consists of countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, whereas, travel to Croatia, which is a popular holiday destination for Hungarians -- is free for the time being. The list will be regularly reviewed.

Transit and cargo travel, as well as business trips, are exempt from the restrictions but health checks can be conducted.

Hungary, which has a population of around 10 million, had recorded 4,234 cases of COVID-19 and 595 related deaths as of Sunday. It reported five new infections on Sunday.

(Inputs from Reuters)

Due to surge in new coronavirus cases in several countries, Hungary has imposed new restrictions on cross-border travel as of next Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus, as per Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Sunday.

Due to surge in new coronavirus cases in several countries, Hungary has imposed new restrictions on cross-border travel as of next Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus, as per Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Sunday. Also read: Hamburg sex workers demand Germany's brothels reopen Hungary has lifted most of its lockdown restrictions in May and had opened its borders to travellers from European Union states and neighbouring non-EU members. Gergely Gulyas told an online news conference on Sunday that these new restrictions will keep the virus "outside the borders" to re-impose restrictions in the country. "These restrictions serve to protect our freedom," Gulyas said. According to new rules, Hungarians returning from countries that have high-risk of the virus will be listed as "yellow" and "red" and will have to go through health checks at the border will for a 14-days quarantine even if they are not infected. But the procedure can be avoided with two negative COVID-19 tests from the previous 5 days, Gulyas said. The same applies to foreigners coming from "yellow" countries, but those from "red" countries will be barred from entry. The red category consists of countries like s Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and neighbouring Ukraine. The yellow category consists of countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, whereas, travel to Croatia, which is a popular holiday destination for Hungarians -- is free for the time being. The list will be regularly reviewed. Transit and cargo travel, as well as business trips, are exempt from the restrictions but health checks can be conducted. Hungary, which has a population of around 10 million, had recorded 4,234 cases of COVID-19 and 595 related deaths as of Sunday. It reported five new infections on Sunday. (Inputs from Reuters)

Hungary imposes border checks, quarantine to prevent spread of coronavirus

The editor of Hungary's most popular news website warned on Sunday that a "proposed organisational overhaul" would put the site's independence in "grave danger".&nbsp;

"...Hungary's largest news site and one of the few remaining independent voices, is in grave danger," Szabolcs Dull, editor-in-chief of Index.hu, said in a statement published on the site.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungarys-new-legislation-could-stir-trouble-for-its-lgbtqia-population-294952">Hungary's new legislation could stir trouble for its LGBTQIA+ population</a>

The comments were seen as referring to the deal, where Miklos Vaszily, a businessman close to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, bought 50 per cent stake in Index's advertising agency in March.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/need-hungarian-children-pm-orban-plans-to-provide-tax-exception-for-women-with-four-kids-196611">'Need Hungarian children': PM Orban plans to provide tax exemption for women with four kids</a>

Dull said that a "proposed organisational overhaul" will bring the website "under such external pressure that could spell out the end of our editorial staff as we know it".

"We want a news site where politicians and messengers of the government or economic actors have no power to pull a story," Dull said, adding that the next two days will determine the website's "fate".&nbsp;

24.hu, another news organisation, on Sunday reported the deal would outsource most of Index's content and the existing staff could possibly lose their jobs.&nbsp;

The Hungarian PM, since coming into power in 2010, has increased government's influence in the media sector, with country's public media becoming govt's propaganda tools and many private media organisations getting bought by Orban's allies.&nbsp;

In the last few years, organisations like Index that bring into light political scandals have struggled to remain in business and several of them are bought by pro-government groups, which push Orban administration's agenda, bringing large sums of money through state advertising.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

The editor of Hungary's most popular news website warned on Sunday that a "proposed organisational overhaul" would put the site's independence in "grave danger".

The editor of Hungary's most popular news website warned on Sunday that a "proposed organisational overhaul" would put the site's independence in "grave danger". "...Hungary's largest news site and one of the few remaining independent voices, is in grave danger," Szabolcs Dull, editor-in-chief of Index.hu, said in a statement published on the site. Also read | Hungary's new legislation could stir trouble for its LGBTQIA+ population The comments were seen as referring to the deal, where Miklos Vaszily, a businessman close to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, bought 50 per cent stake in Index's advertising agency in March. Also read | 'Need Hungarian children': PM Orban plans to provide tax exemption for women with four kids Dull said that a "proposed organisational overhaul" will bring the website "under such external pressure that could spell out the end of our editorial staff as we know it". "We want a news site where politicians and messengers of the government or economic actors have no power to pull a story," Dull said, adding that the next two days will determine the website's "fate". 24.hu, another news organisation, on Sunday reported the deal would outsource most of Index's content and the existing staff could possibly lose their jobs. The Hungarian PM, since coming into power in 2010, has increased government's influence in the media sector, with country's public media becoming govt's propaganda tools and many private media organisations getting bought by Orban's allies. In the last few years, organisations like Index that bring into light political scandals have struggled to remain in business and several of them are bought by pro-government groups, which push Orban administration's agenda, bringing large sums of money through state advertising. (With inputs from AFP)

'Independence in grave danger': Popular Hungarian news website expresses concern

Hungary and Slovenia are working on a road map towards reopening of their borders after coronavirus pandemic forced European nations to seal internal borders to avoid spread. As per Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto post on his Facebook, these borders are scheduled to reopen by June 1.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-initiate-independent-evaluation-at-earliest-appropriate-moment-who-chief-on-coronvirus-pandemic-299468" hreflang="en">WHO chief pledges independent evaluation on COVID-19 at 'appropriate moment'</a>

Hungary has started easing coronavirus measures from Monday onwards. The citizens are urged to wear masks while visiting shops and travelling in public transport.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-always-transparent-about-coronavirus-says-president-xi-during-world-health-assembly-video-conference-299439">China always transparent about COVID-19: President Xi at WHO video conference</a>

Foreign Minister Szijjarto wrote: "Restarting our economies is not possible without restarting international cooperation. Therefore, without jeopardising the protection of health, which is a priority, an easing of restrictive measures imposed at the borders is needed."

The two European Union member states share an annual trade of more than 2.5 billion euros.&nbsp;

According to a Reuters survey, A phased reopening is the government's strategy to head off deeper and more lasting harm to the economy, which is expected to shrink by about 4 per cent this year.

Hungary has reported 3,535 cases of the novel coronavirus, this includes 462 deaths and 1,400 recoveries, whereas, Slovenia has reported 1,466 cases and 104 deaths.&nbsp;

According to Szijjarto, both countries imposed lockdown to curb coronavirus spread and have allowed a gradual restart of economic activity.

"Taking all this into account, we have started working on a gradual phase-out of measures restricting border crossings, setting June 1 as a target date," Szijjarto wrote.

Hungary and Slovenia are working on a road map towards reopening of their borders after coronavirus pandemic forced European nations to seal internal borders to avoid spread.

Hungary and Slovenia are working on a road map towards reopening of their borders after coronavirus pandemic forced European nations to seal internal borders to avoid spread. As per Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto post on his Facebook, these borders are scheduled to reopen by June 1. Also read: WHO chief pledges independent evaluation on COVID-19 at 'appropriate moment' Hungary has started easing coronavirus measures from Monday onwards. The citizens are urged to wear masks while visiting shops and travelling in public transport. Also read: China always transparent about COVID-19: President Xi at WHO video conference Foreign Minister Szijjarto wrote: "Restarting our economies is not possible without restarting international cooperation. Therefore, without jeopardising the protection of health, which is a priority, an easing of restrictive measures imposed at the borders is needed." The two European Union member states share an annual trade of more than 2.5 billion euros. According to a Reuters survey, A phased reopening is the government's strategy to head off deeper and more lasting harm to the economy, which is expected to shrink by about 4 per cent this year. Hungary has reported 3,535 cases of the novel coronavirus, this includes 462 deaths and 1,400 recoveries, whereas, Slovenia has reported 1,466 cases and 104 deaths. According to Szijjarto, both countries imposed lockdown to curb coronavirus spread and have allowed a gradual restart of economic activity. "Taking all this into account, we have started working on a gradual phase-out of measures restricting border crossings, setting June 1 as a target date," Szijjarto wrote.

Hungary and Slovenia to reopen borders on June 1: Hungarian Foreign Minister

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except&nbsp;Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus.

"The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time," Orban told state radio. "We have to prepare for a second wave (of the epidemic) in October-November."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-global-death-toll-passes-230000-confirmed-recoveries-hit-1-million-295999">Also read:&nbsp;Coronavirus global death toll passes 230,000; confirmed recoveries hit 1mn</a>

The government&nbsp;has allowed shops and restaurant terraces to reopen, but has directed the owners to close all shops and restaurants by 3pm, except the medical shops.

After a few days of allowing the businesses to reopen to help the crippling economy, he has now warned the country about a second-wave of coronavirus in October and November.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-not-man-made-or-genetically-modified-us-intelligence-community-295906">Also read |&nbsp;Coronavirus not man-made or genetically modified: US intelligence community</a>

He also informed the citizens that the restrictions in Budapest will not be lifted till the number of coronavirus cases and death toll decreases, the prime minister told state radio on Friday.

In the speech, he also assured people that the government's focus will be on creating more jobs for people who have lost their livelihood during the lockdown.&nbsp;He said his government would offer paid training and widen the public works programme, and the army will also start its recruitment phase.

According to the official figures released on Friday,&nbsp;Hungary has reported 2,863 positive cases, and 323 deaths.

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus.

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus. "The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time," Orban told state radio. "We have to prepare for a second wave (of the epidemic) in October-November." Also read: Coronavirus global death toll passes 230,000; confirmed recoveries hit 1mn The government has allowed shops and restaurant terraces to reopen, but has directed the owners to close all shops and restaurants by 3pm, except the medical shops. After a few days of allowing the businesses to reopen to help the crippling economy, he has now warned the country about a second-wave of coronavirus in October and November. Also read | Coronavirus not man-made or genetically modified: US intelligence community He also informed the citizens that the restrictions in Budapest will not be lifted till the number of coronavirus cases and death toll decreases, the prime minister told state radio on Friday. In the speech, he also assured people that the government's focus will be on creating more jobs for people who have lost their livelihood during the lockdown. He said his government would offer paid training and widen the public works programme, and the army will also start its recruitment phase. According to the official figures released on Friday, Hungary has reported 2,863 positive cases, and 323 deaths.

The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time: Hungarian PM warns people

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus. 
 
From China’s aggression in the South China Sea to Saudi Arabia’s surprising progressive change in punishment laws, the world is truly witnessing unprecedented times. 
 
Recently, a country is trying to push legislation which will effectively end the legal recognition of the transgender population. 
 
Hungary’s government, largely seen as right-wing, is trying to pass a legislation which aims to define biological sex based simply on “primary sex characteristics and chromosomes”.

If put into motion, people will no longer will be legally allowed to change their gender. Trans community already faces scorn and legal invalidation across the globe, and with coronavirus at the centre of all legislative action, this law might be passed unnoticed. 
 
The Guardian reported that to be able to do menial tasks like renting a bicycle or buying a travel pass requires displaying one’s ID. However, if this law were to pass, people who have changed their gender and or any desire to do so will not be able to avail such facilities.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f97dacf-62c9-41ec-949a-a9e0f81d86aa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_2.jpg" /> 
People march with a rainbow flag from the parliament building in Budapest downtown during the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade in the Hungarian capital on July 6, 2019 | AFP</h6>

 
 
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister recently faced flak for introducing a law allowing him to rule by decree - indefinitely. All this happened in the midst of a pandemic, denying the world an opportunity to react. It’s important to note here how protesting - the most vocal and effective way to change the route of any legislation remains disallowed across the globe owing to social distancing norms in place, as coronavirus is transmitted from human-to-human.

An independent member of parliament Bernadett Szel openly referred to the law as “evil” and a “step back in time”. Szel attempted to shed light on the discriminatory nature of the law in the parliament but was shut down.

“We have a pandemic going on and all of us should be focusing on two things: healthcare issues and helping people financially to secure their wellbeing. What is happening in Hungary is a scandal,” she added during the hearing.

Even though there is no clarity on when exactly the bill will be passed, it looks like the government is pursuing it, considering its passage through committees.

There’s another issue with the law - it could stir problem whose gender on paper is different from their sex at birth. Their identities remain threatened under this legislation.

Orban’s government has not shied away from using hateful rhetoric against LGBTQIA+ folks. Not long ago, the administration compared homosexuality to pedophilia.

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic is being seen as a time for solidarity and recovery. However, many countries continue to pursue their territorial interests through this tough time, as the world turns a blind eye to everything but the virus. From China’s aggression in the South China Sea to Saudi Arabia’s surprising progressive change in punishment laws, the world is truly witnessing unprecedented times. Recently, a country is trying to push legislation which will effectively end the legal recognition of the transgender population. Hungary’s government, largely seen as right-wing, is trying to pass a legislation which aims to define biological sex based simply on “primary sex characteristics and chromosomes”. If put into motion, people will no longer will be legally allowed to change their gender. Trans community already faces scorn and legal invalidation across the globe, and with coronavirus at the centre of all legislative action, this law might be passed unnoticed. The Guardian reported that to be able to do menial tasks like renting a bicycle or buying a travel pass requires displaying one’s ID. However, if this law were to pass, people who have changed their gender and or any desire to do so will not be able to avail such facilities. People march with a rainbow flag from the parliament building in Budapest downtown during the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade in the Hungarian capital on July 6, 2019 | AFP Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister recently faced flak for introducing a law allowing him to rule by decree - indefinitely. All this happened in the midst of a pandemic, denying the world an opportunity to react. It’s important to note here how protesting - the most vocal and effective way to change the route of any legislation remains disallowed across the globe owing to social distancing norms in place, as coronavirus is transmitted from human-to-human. An independent member of parliament Bernadett Szel openly referred to the law as “evil” and a “step back in time”. Szel attempted to shed light on the discriminatory nature of the law in the parliament but was shut down. “We have a pandemic going on and all of us should be focusing on two things: healthcare issues and helping people financially to secure their wellbeing. What is happening in Hungary is a scandal,” she added during the hearing. Even though there is no clarity on when exactly the bill will be passed, it looks like the government is pursuing it, considering its passage through committees. There’s another issue with the law - it could stir problem whose gender on paper is different from their sex at birth. Their identities remain threatened under this legislation. Orban’s government has not shied away from using hateful rhetoric against LGBTQIA+ folks. Not long ago, the administration compared homosexuality to pedophilia.

Hungary's new legislation could stir trouble for its LGBTQIA+ population

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern on Thursday over a coronavirus emergency law in Hungary that has given nationalist premier Viktor Orban sweeping powers.

While saying EU countries may need extraordinary measures to tackle the pandemic, she added: "I am concerned that certain measures go too far -- and I'm particularly concerned with the situation in Hungary."

Hungary's parliament, dominated by Orban's ruling party, handed the prime minister the power from Tuesday to rule by decree until his government decides the virus crisis is over.

The emergency law also threatens journalists with prison if they publish what it deems "falsehoods" about the virus or the government's actions to slow it.

The law has sparked alarm among rights groups, media organisations and several EU countries, with fears it was a power grab by Orban, who has ruled Hungary for the past decade.

Thirteen EU nations, including heavyweights France and Germany, issued a joint statement on Wednesday that -- without explicitly naming Hungary -- said they were "deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures".

Von der Leyen up to now had been similarly circumspect, avoiding singling Hungary out by name. On Tuesday, she emphasised that coronavirus emergency measures in EU countries must be limited, proportionate and cannot last indefinitely.

EU threatens 'action'

As part of her response to questions on Thursday specifically on Hungary, von der Leyen said where measures do not meet those criteria "we will take action as necessary as we have already done in the past".

Her Commission, she added, was "mapping the whole situation" and weighing them against those standards.

Orban's government argues that it is upholding EU values and press freedom with the emergency law.

His spokesman for international relations tweeted on Wednesday that "the Hungarian state of emergency and extraordinary measures are congruent with the treaties and Hungarian constitution and targeted exclusively at fighting the coronavirus".

Orban, frequently in hot water with the Commission over his anti-EU stances, is worried about his Fidesz party remaining part of an EU-wide conservative political grouping, the European People's Party (EPP).

Orban contacted leading EPP figures -- including, in a letter obtained by AFP, the head of Germany's powerful CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer -- appealing for support, party figures said.

EPP head Donald Tusk, former president of the European Council representing EU leaders, has written his own letter to EPP member party chiefs calling Hungary's emergency measures "disproportionate and inadequate".

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern on Thursday over a coronavirus emergency law in Hungary that has given nationalist premier Viktor Orban sweeping powers.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern on Thursday over a coronavirus emergency law in Hungary that has given nationalist premier Viktor Orban sweeping powers. While saying EU countries may need extraordinary measures to tackle the pandemic, she added: "I am concerned that certain measures go too far -- and I'm particularly concerned with the situation in Hungary." Hungary's parliament, dominated by Orban's ruling party, handed the prime minister the power from Tuesday to rule by decree until his government decides the virus crisis is over. The emergency law also threatens journalists with prison if they publish what it deems "falsehoods" about the virus or the government's actions to slow it. The law has sparked alarm among rights groups, media organisations and several EU countries, with fears it was a power grab by Orban, who has ruled Hungary for the past decade. Thirteen EU nations, including heavyweights France and Germany, issued a joint statement on Wednesday that -- without explicitly naming Hungary -- said they were "deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures". Von der Leyen up to now had been similarly circumspect, avoiding singling Hungary out by name. On Tuesday, she emphasised that coronavirus emergency measures in EU countries must be limited, proportionate and cannot last indefinitely. EU threatens 'action' As part of her response to questions on Thursday specifically on Hungary, von der Leyen said where measures do not meet those criteria "we will take action as necessary as we have already done in the past". Her Commission, she added, was "mapping the whole situation" and weighing them against those standards. Orban's government argues that it is upholding EU values and press freedom with the emergency law. His spokesman for international relations tweeted on Wednesday that "the Hungarian state of emergency and extraordinary measures are congruent with the treaties and Hungarian constitution and targeted exclusively at fighting the coronavirus". Orban, frequently in hot water with the Commission over his anti-EU stances, is worried about his Fidesz party remaining part of an EU-wide conservative political grouping, the European People's Party (EPP). Orban contacted leading EPP figures -- including, in a letter obtained by AFP, the head of Germany's powerful CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer -- appealing for support, party figures said. EPP head Donald Tusk, former president of the European Council representing EU leaders, has written his own letter to EPP member party chiefs calling Hungary's emergency measures "disproportionate and inadequate".

EU chief 'concerned' about Hungary virus emergency law

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