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EU Officials Join Budapest Pride as Hungary Faces Scrutiny Over LGBTQ+ Rights
Senior European Union officials, members of the European Parliament, and mayors from nearly 30 countries gathered in Budapest this weekend in a powerful show of support for the city’s Pride march, as concerns mount over Hungary’s democratic backsliding and treatment of LGBTQ+ communities.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony condemned the Hungarian government’s recent attempt to ban the Pride march, calling it the culmination of a broader erosion of democratic freedoms. “Hungary has become a laboratory for dismantling democracy over the past 15 years,” he said. Karácsony emphasized that the Pride parade, now rebranded as Budapest Pride Freedom Day, is a municipal event and therefore not subject to the recent legal restrictions.
“Love cannot be banned, no one can be a second-class citizen in Hungary,” Karácsony declared, pledging that the city would ensure participants’ safety with hundreds of municipal officers and private security personnel.
The Pride event, marking its 30th anniversary, comes amid heightened tensions. Hungary’s national police agency (ORFK) upheld a ban on the original march, citing the Child Protection Act. However, the Budapest city government argues that municipal events do not require such permits and has moved ahead with preparations.
In response to planned far-right counter-demonstrations by the Our Homeland Movement and the 64 Counties Youth Movement—both of which received police permits—Karácsony said he trusted the police to act professionally, provided there were no political orders interfering with their duties.
EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib, addressing the press, condemned the discriminatory legal framework in Hungary and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to diversity and equality. “It is not acceptable to think that members of the LGBT community are subject to different rules than other people,” she said.
Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament, said around 200 MEPs and officials would join the march, the largest-ever human rights delegation of its kind. “If 50,000 people want to take part in a peaceful event, they have the right to do so,” he said, warning Hungary to uphold EU values and laws.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also urged Hungary to allow the Pride event to proceed “without fear” and free of sanctions. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dismissed the criticism, likening von der Leyen’s stance to “Moscow-style interference,” and accused Brussels of trying to dictate how Hungarians should live.
Despite the political backdrop, organisers, backed by 71 Hungarian NGOs, vowed that the march would go on peacefully, standing as a symbol of pride, resistance, and fundamental rights in the heart of Europe.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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