A corpse split down the middle is standing on a platform and staring ahead with a mad expression. The wall is lined with illuminated glass cabinets containing detached limbs and organs. What might at first sight seem to be the set of a new horror film is in fact The Human Body Exhibition, a scientific… Continue »

Hungary’s treatment of asylum seekers is poor and needs to be brought in line with international standards, according to a damning report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday. The government’s prioritisation of its fight against illegal immigration is to the detriment of the asylum system, because “the human rights… Continue »

A new round of talks about the stalled Gabcíkovo-Nagymaros dams project on the River Danube is not about to start, a Slovak official said this week after Marcel Szabó, Hungary’s ministerial commissioner on the matter, told state news agency MTI that the Hungarian government is ready to resume talks. Peter Hatiar said that although nothing… Continue »

With only 40 seconds remaining until the end of the 12th round Hungarian Károly Balzsay knocked out his German opponent and retained his middleweight world champion title with the World Boxing Association in Schwerin, Germany, on Saturday. The first half of the fight was very close but Dimitri Sartison landed more clear punches in rounds… Continue »

Hungary could see significant growth from 2013 on, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said last Friday as he spoke of a planned state system that would by-pass banks which have become reluctant to provide financing for business. “As banks do not lend in sufficient volumes because of the European crisis, we will set up a system… Continue »

Far-right party Jobbik wants the reintroduction of the death penalty after ten killings throughout the country this month. “The recent events in Kulcs, Gyõr, Sopron and Balatonakarattya are clear proof that the current punishment is no deterrent,” Jobbik MPs Lajos Kepli and István Apáti said on Tuesday. They said Jobbik had already proposed reintroducing capital… Continue »

Two of Hungary’s best seeded tennis players, Gréta Arn and Tímea Babos (pictured), will contest the 17th Budapest Grand Prix from 30 April to 5 May at the Romai Tennis Academy in District III. The top contender for the majority of the USD 220,000 purse will be world number 23 Lucie Safarova from the Czech… Continue »

The European Union’s executive will assess over the coming week the Convergence Programme submitted by Hungary on Monday but will only pass judgement on the latest economic blueprint at the end of May, spokesman Olivier Bailly said on Tuesday. Hungary faces the withdrawal of EUR 500 million in  development aid – roughly a third of the… Continue »

Contrary to speculation the government’s new telephone tax will not be subject to VAT, the Ministry of National Economy announced on Wednesday. Based on the Széll Kálmán 2.0 plan, the tax will be introduced in mid-2012 and will add HUF 2 (EUR 0.007) to the price of each minute and message. The government expects the… Continue »

The budget for subsidising medicines will be cut by HUF 10 billion (EUR 34.07 million) this year and by four times as much in 2013 under the government’s new austerity drive. Furthermore, according to a ministerial decree published on Saturday, patients will risk losing access to more expensive drugs if they fail to make lifestyle… Continue »