ON THE RECORD

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT EXTENDS EPIDEMIC ALERT PERIOD

In the middle of June, the government extended the epidemic alert by half a year, until December 18. According to the Health Act, during the period of epidemiological preparedness, the government may, among other things - restrict or ban events that could contribute to the spread of the epidemic; - may also restrict the operation and opening hours of shops; - regulate the opening hours of markets and fairs in municipalities; - may restrict or prohibit access to certain establishments (in particular outpatient clinics, inpatient clinics, public education, vocational training, higher education, social services, child protection, child welfare and public cultural institutions); - may lay down provisions on epidemiological isolation; - lay down rules on social distancing, such as compulsory mask-wearing or shopping lanes for more vulnerable groups; - restrict or prohibit the movement of persons or goods within Hungary or between Hungary and another country. The alert was previously extended last December and was due to expire on June 18. During a crisis situation, the government reserves the right to make quicker decisions if the number of people infected with the coronavirus starts to rise again.

LAST HUNGARIAN SOLDIERS RETURN FROM AFGHANISTAN

After the end of the mission in Afghanistan, the last nine soldiers of the last shift arrived in Hungary, at the 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezső Air Base of the Hungarian Air Force in Kecskemét in early June. Major General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, commander of the Hungarian Defense Forces, receiving the Hungarian flag from the headquarters in Afghanistan, said that the flag is a symbol of the enormous effort that Hungarian soldiers have made for 18 years in the interest of common security, in partnership with NATO allies. As the soldiers landed, the Major General asked them to join the thousands of Hungarian soldiers who had successfully completed their mission and returned home to their families, and to remember together the seven comrades who gave their lives in Afghanistan for the security of the Hungarian people and the world. The commander told state media that the most important experience of the past 18 years for Hungary, NATO member states and the whole world is that "Hungarian soldiers always stand their ground, can be counted on and carry out their duties under all circumstances". In the NATO commitment in Afghanistan, Hungarian soldiers have performed countless tasks over the past 18 years, from the light rifle squadron and helicopter training to the security and provincial reconstruction teams, the medical and mentoring team, and at the same time the operation of Kabul airport.

HUNGARIAN RECIPIENT OF THE PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS AWARD

Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó and her fellow researchers are to receive this year's Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research for their achievements in developing a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Philip Felgner, Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Derrick Rossi and Sarah Gilbert have independently contributed to the development of some of the vaccines approved to date, all based on different strategies, but which have protein S as a common target. This protein is present on the surface of the virus and facilitates its attachment to and entry into cells. Katalin Karikó, a pioneer in the study of the therapeutic possibilities of this molecule, is considered the ‘mother’ of this type of vaccine. Together with immunologist Drew Weissman, she began working on mRNA-based vaccines and saw that this molecule caused strong inflammatory reactions because the immune system detected it as an intruder.

13 ARRESTS IN HUNGARY

IN INTERNATIONAL POLICE RAID

More than 800 people, including Hungarians, were arrested in a single day, June 8, as part of the police operation Trojan Shield in several countries around the world, thanks to a new covert messaging platform, Anom. Since the messages and pictures sent on the platform were seen by the investigators, it was not difficult to crack down on them. It was the Anom service that the criminals were using, once it became common knowledge that even the authorities were not aware of the communications going on there. But this was not true: as it turns out, Anom was actually set up and run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Work on Anom began in 2018, and was then introduced to underworld figures through a drug trafficker who fled to Turkey. The bait worked, as hundreds of people started using it within a short time. Altogether, Anom allowed agents to monitor 11,800 devices in 90 countries, tracking activity by as many as 300 distinct transnational crime organizations. The case also involved investigation in Hungary: according to a press release on police.hu, 13 people, also communicating with Anom, were arrested in Budapest and Szekszárd. During the search of the 13 people's residences and addresses (25 locations in total), investigators found 57 kilograms of marijuana, about 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of amphetamines, ecstasy tablets, crystalline drug paraphernalia, fentanyl and 13 kilograms of caffeine used as cutting agent. During the enforcement operations, cash in excess of HUF 140 million, cryptocurrency worth HUF 8.5 million and seven cars were seized.

MADAME TUSSAUDS TO OPEN IN BUDAPEST

In the first quarter of 2022, the world's first fully franchised Madame Tussauds will open in Dorottya Street in downtown Budapest, the news site telex.hu reported. The most unique feature of the house in Budapest is that it will be the world's first Madame Tussauds franchise location. Until now, all of these panopticums (22 in total) have been, or are currently, owned by the rights holder, Merlin Entertainments of the UK. The Hungarian establishment will be owned by Hungarians who will pay a franchise fee. Most of the details are still secret, but it is known is that 50 handmade puppets will be made for the Budapest show in Acton, West London, in the only working puppet factory. The Budapest-based organizer is Dorottya Experience Ltd, whose largest owner is József Kreinbacher, a construction entrepreneur and champagne maker and one of Hungary's richest businessmen. The news site estimates the investment at more than HUF 10 billion, which Hungarian taxpayers will support with HUF 3.1 billion through a decision by the National Tourism Agency.

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August 1 Switzerland National Day 6 Bolivia Independence Day 9 Singapore Independence Day 14 Pakistan Independence Day 15 India Independence Day 17 South Korea National Day 20 Hungary National Day 24 Ukraine Independence Day 25 Uruguay Independence Day 27 Moldova Independence Day 29 Slovakia National Day 31 Malaysia National Day

I BIKE BUDAPEST 2021

Around 15,000 people took part in the I Bike Budapest cycling parade, which was held again on June 26, after a year and a half of forced suspension, the organizing Hungarian Cyclists' Club told the state news agency MTI. The number of participants was based on estimates by the Club and police. The Hungarian Cyclists' Club is sending a message to decision-makers that it is worth continuing to develop cycling-friendly facilities because there is a great demand for cycling and in the long term, it is one of the cheapest ways of creating loveable cities, the club said in a statement. The event started at the Margaret Bridge, the march proceeded along the embankment in Buda, then crossed the Petőfi Bridge and reached the lower embankment in Pest, on to Andrássy Avenue and the City Park where the traditional bike lift ended the event. The parade was opened by the Ambassador of the Netherlands, René van Hell, who has long been supporting the Hungarian cycling movement. According to a representative survey by the Hungarian Cyclists' Club, the majority of Hungarians would prefer to cycle in everyday life if more cycle lanes and cycle paths were built to support this.