Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced plans to introduce a pension top-up as part of a wider pre-election spending drive ahead of the 2026 national vote.
Facing the weakest economic period of his 15-year rule, Orbán has already pledged tax cuts, wage rises, and subsidised housing loans despite a stagnating economy.
He told state radio that Hungary’s growth this year would be between 0.6% and 1% — far below initial forecasts — and argued that austerity would not boost the economy. The proposed “14th-month pension” would grant retirees another month’s payment, a move estimated by ING Bank to cost around 0.6% of GDP.
Economists have warned the plan could worsen Hungary’s fiscal position, with Fitch Ratings recently noting that tax cuts and weak growth threaten to slow budget consolidation. Orbán also faces mounting pressure from a new centre-right opposition party that currently leads in most polls.
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The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
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Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
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Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Islamic State claimed two attacks on Syrian army personnel on Saturday (22 February), saying they marked the start of a new phase of operations against the country’s leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
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