The signed contract consists of a basic order for nine vehicles and options for up to four additional vehicles. GYSEV has three months from the contract’s start to decide how many option trains to order from Stadler.

According to the Hungarian Ministry of Energy, Hungarian gas consumption, similarly to the previous cycle, decreased by a fifth in the last period observed, outperforming the compulsory target prescribed for EU member states.

This year’s horse racing season kicks off on Easter Sunday at Kincsem Park with eight races, starting with galloping. Besides horse races, various themed events also await visitors throughout spring and summer.

According to the statement by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, prompted by a citizen’s report, the Media Council examined the second episode of the first season of the series Locke & Key, available on the streaming service of Netflix, in terms of compliance with classification regulations. Following the investigation, Netflix changed the age rating of the programme to 16+ in its Hungarian media service.

Discussing philosophy in general and whether it should be incorporated in education is an everyday topic. In this interview, Cornell University professor Barry Strauss delves into the issue, explaining why philosophy is essential in universities, and also shares his take on AI being used in the classroom.

Péter Eötvös, one of the most renowned composers of Hungary and also a music teacher and conductor, passed away last Sunday, on 24 March at the age of 80. During his career, he conducted Europe‘s leading orchestras, including the Berlin, Munich, London, Los Angeles, and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras as well as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

This year’s Sziget Festival will take place from 7 to 12 August. Among the headliners announced on Wednesday is American singer Halsey, who has already received three Billboard Music Awards, an American Music Award, and has been nominated for a Grammy three times. The superstar is preparing for a new album release this year.

In the upcoming season of Budapest Zoo, the most visited cultural institution and tourist attraction of the country, a diverse programme line-up, new animals, and new or renovated exhibition areas will await visitors.

According to the joint statement of the two companies released on Tuesday, Hungarian Cerbona has acquired the trademarks of Boci, Melba, and Párizsi kocka. The transaction will be finalized on 22 May 2024; until then, Nestlé will continue to manufacture the products to ensure the continuity of supply.

Head of Rheinmetall Power Systems division Christoph Müller noted at the ceremony that Szeged will be the group’s first hybrid site, where the civil business and defence technology activities will operate under one roof. The initial step will be the construction of a 15,000 square metre plant on the 85,000 square metre area adjacent to the ELI ALPS laser research centre, providing jobs for three hundred highly skilled professionals.

The idea to involve community police in the organized detection and elimination of illegal waste dumps arose because they are constantly present in the settlements, perform various tasks, such as patrolling urban and rural areas, including with mounted patrols, and use dogs, bicycles, and motorcycles to carry out their tasks, thus making their work more effective.

According to State Secretary for Assisting Persecuted Christians and Implementing the Hungary Helps Program Tristan Azbej the purpose of the meeting was for the Hungarian government to share its knowledge and experience regarding Hungary’s policy of aiding persecuted Christians.

Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy presented the new competitiveness strategy for 2024⁠–⁠2030 adopted by the government at a press conference held in Budapest on Monday. According to him, economic growth between 2 to ⁠3 per cent is expected this year.

Among the foods eaten in Italy at Easter, Gianni Annoni highlighted lamb, which is mainly imported from Hungary. He added that eggs are also important, used to decorate savoury cakes, especially in southern Italy, along with spring vegetables and Easter desserts.

Relics of Budapest’s metro will be showcased in a special exhibition space set up in the former dispatcher centre at Deák Ferenc Square station on metro line M2. The exhibition will open this Saturday.

According to Martin Robinson, the essential question about the use of AI in general is whether it is humans who remain in charge of and part of the process, or not.

In his regular Friday morning interview with public Kossuth radio, Viktor Orbán stated that in terms of European political struggles, traditional categories have been used so far, such as right-wing, left-wing, globalist, or sovereigntist forces, but now a new dimension has opened up: the decisive question will not be about party affiliation, but about who is for peace and who is for war.

There are about fifty places in Hungary and in Hungarian-inhabited areas beyond the borders where Hollywood filmmakers or actors were born or have ancestral roots. The wall of Hollywood celebrities of Hungarian origin inaugurated in Budapest on 21 March pays tribute to them.

The question whether parents should be involved in what goes on in the school comes up frequently. In this interview Anthony O’Hear shares his opinion on the topic, while also discussing the issue of examinations and the inclusion of AI into education.

During the programme, participants will be supported with monthly scholarships ranging from 350,000 to 500,000 forints, allowing approximately 8,000 students, educators, and researchers to gain international experience at the world’s leading universities.

A new VR-assisted surgical procedure was first performed in January at the Paediatric Clinic of Semmelweis University, involving a seven-year-old child suffering from a malignant tumour of the sympathetic nervous system. Prior to the operation, the tumour and its surroundings were virtually visualized through a VR headset, providing a precise image of the neuroblastoma’s location.

In his speech at the event, Viktor Orbán emphasized that in the debate with liberals, it will not be the Soros Empire or Brussels bureaucrats, but nations that will prevail, highlighting that the ideal of an open society has not taken root in Central Europe.

Discussions will be held in foreign languages, with interpretation provided for the audience by the organizers. Books by the authors will also be available for purchase on the spot, with book signings.

The once-forgotten, dusty, and dilapidated sites of Hungary are gradually reopening, providing entertainment, culture, and educational opportunities for visitors and income from tourism for local residents.

At an event launching the project aimed at improving teachers’ salaries with EU support State Secretary Bence Rétvári reminded that teachers’ salaries nearly doubled over four years, while other governmental measures are also being implemented to increase the number of people choosing the profession.

Under the new scheme, the state will cover 50 per cent of the employee’s salary for four or six months. If the workplace is more than 60 kilometres away from the place of residence, rental support up to 70 per cent of the minimum wage, or 180,000 forints, can be requested under the programme. Within a sixty-kilometre radius, travel expenses of 10,000 forints per 10 kilometres will be provided.

Head of the Communication Department of the Hungarian Prison Service Colonel György Makula explained that the metal cell furnishings of the new prison will be entirely different from the previously standardized ones, ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Following talks with his Thai counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó revealed that tourist traffic between the two countries has doubled, with more than 10,000 Thai tourists visiting Hungary last year, while more than 30,000 Hungarians travelled to Thailand.

Among the nominees for Category B of the New European Bauhaus Prize there is a Hungarian project titled Cooperative Ownership for Communities. It aims to create a multifunctional space by transforming a four-story building in one of Budapest’s old industrial areas. The New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024 Ceremony will be held during the New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels between 9 and ⁠13 April.

The 2K12 KUB weapon system has been in service in Hungary since the late 1970s; some of the equipment was jointly modernized by the Hungarian and Polish defence industries between 2001 and 2002.