The international policing group Interpol announced that it will have the biggest ever security presence in the host country of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Ronald Noble, Secretary General of Interpol told reporters on March 31, that the biggest deployment would be contributed by as many as 32 teams from their respective countries. He explained [...]
Experts at the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (AmCham) lobby group have repeatedly voiced that Hungary requires a fully independent supervision, a role which the politically inclined Hungarian Energy Office (MEH) is supposed to play. AmCham experts expressed their concern again this week. Almost a decade ago the ruling Hungarian Socilaist Party (MSzP), the [...]
The South African Embassy in Budapest and others, worldwide, are sad to see South Africa’s fraud-busting Department of Home Affairs Director General, Mavuso Msimang, retire in April this year. They claim they have had some of the smoothest and best years of administration since democratic changes took place in 1994. The Embassy of the Republic [...]
Although the Republic of South Africa is a leader in many fields of modern medical research many of its citizens can only expect a reduced life expectancy – as low as 36 years. Television, radio and print media are flooded with public announcements for South Africans to undergo screening for HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Various [...]
Russian authorities on Monday withheld takoff permission for the flight of Hungarian Defense Minsiter Imre Szekeres to Afghanistan, according to Hungarian media reports. Russian officials have not commented on the affair. According to Hungarian daily Nepszabadsag, Szekeres’ delegation was detained due to administrative reasons, and improper passport handling during their arrival to Russia. Hungarian media [...]
South African-born Hungarian Istvan Gyori was still a primary school pupil in the 1980s when he became the face of the nation in a low-budget ad commissioned by South Africa’s multi-billion publicly traded company Sasol. Gyori become a national icon with his unique ‘glug glug’ car filling sound, adopted by the company. (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=825nSfTLIaA ). [...]
Public transport costs in the European Union have increased immensely during the past decade. In the Goulash capital there isn’t a year when passenger tariffs are not increased. Based on a survey conducted by the University of Stuttgart, Budapest has the third most expensive public transport system in Europe, preceded only by Zagreb and London (out of 23 cities [...]
The world’s leading multilingual e-commerce secure payment scheme PayPal has finally arrived to South Africa. The first transactions in the Rainbow nation were carried out shortly after the national launch on 11 am on March 25, 2010. Until now South African internet users were able to make e-commerce purchases, but not sales using the service. Ironically PayPal’s prototype was [...]
South African farmers say they are deeply offended by Julius Malema, Chairman of the African National Congress Youth League (ANC-YL), for vowing to continue singing a controversial anti-Apartheid struggle song, “Kill the Boer” (boer = farmer). “Ït’s part of our legacy!” The 28-year-old Malema said, while the ANC has been criticised several times by other South African parties for [...]
The 17th International Book Festival of Budapest is to due to open its doors between April 22-25. This year’s guest of honour will be Israel. Annually the event has about 50,000 titles, hundreds of new publications and attracts some 60,000 visitors. Parallel to the exhibition is the 10th European First Novel Festival introducing new young [...]
Citizens of the capital of South Africa have called for the dismissal of Pretoria’s executive mayor (since 2006) Gwen Ramakgopa after she and her motorcade sped through the Jacaranda city at 140 km per hour. They questioned the rights of any public servant being allowed to dash through a residential area at such high speed [...]
Recent British tourists’ concerns about the safety and security of visiting the Republic of South Africa during the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup, seems to be exaggerated after the release of new report that statistically shows South Africa is a much safer destination for Britons than Germany, Spain and Thailand is. Based on a survey [...]
A few years ago, the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime was signed within the Council of Europe, according to Roger Halbheer, Chief security advisor of software giant Microsoft. He added that since then has been ratified all across the globe. “It was ratified by a lot of countries or at least used as the base for legislation,” [...]
Hungarian PM Gordon Bajnai visited the UK on Tuesday and addressed Chatham House, a non-profit NGO based in London, whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. Bajnai warned that Europe must anticipate that economic growth will be slower after the crisis, and that overcoming state debt [...]
Although he may not be the English Patient, the Prince of Wales has recently revealed in the Hungarian capital that somewhere along the line he has received a ‘transfusion’ of Hungarian blood. “I feel I have a somewhat special relationship with Hungary since I am proud to be one thirty-second Hungarian myself, through my Great [...]
On March 21, the world of motor racing, family and friends commemorates the 50th anniversary of the brith of Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna da Silva. He started racing under the surname da Silva, but switched to Senna (his mother’s maiden name) when racing in the UK’s Formula Ford 2000 championship, which he also [...]
Jeff Radebe (pictured in inset), who was 6 at the time of the Sharpville Massacre, is currently South Africa’s Minister of Justice Constitutional development. This year, March 21 (2010) marks the 50th anniversary of what has been dubbed one of the bloodiest massacres in modern day South Africa. On this day of March in 1960 policemen [...]
South Africa’s hard-liner Afrikaaners have pledged to take up a fight if they must. This they will do to stop the renaming of their predominantly Afrikaaner populated cities, they said. They are shocked and disgusted about planned name changes announced this week by the Orange Free State and Gauteng committees for geographical names. The South [...]
A Bécsben megrendezett Destillata 2010 nemzetközi párlatversenyen a 15 induló ország közül összesítésben a magyarok a harmadik helyet érték el, 77 éremmel. A legeredményesebbnek járó Nemzetgyőztes díjat idén a Zimek Manufaktúra* kapta, 11 éremmel. 2010-ben öt földrészről, több mint 1 600 párlattal nevezett 182 főzde, a legtöbben Ausztriából (98) érkeztek. Hazánkat 15 főzde képviselte, de [...]
Two reconnaissance jets of the Israeli Air Force (IASF) were seen flying across Hungary yesterday, approaching Budapest Airport twice but not landing, according to daily Magyar Nemzet. Istvan Bocskai, spokesman for the Hungarian Ministry of Defense (HM), told the daily that the planes possessed diplomatic permission but declined to comment saying these were not issued [...]
The Forint continued to strengthen against the Euro today, as the exchange rate reached HUF 262.71 by noon, breaking the five month record high set on Tuesday. One USD was 190.61, while Swiss Franks were traded at HUF 181.03.
Greek Prime Minister Jeorjiosz Papandreu on Tuesday paid an official visit to Hungary and held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Gordon Bajnai. In a press conference after the meeting, Bajnai said Hungary would like call for support for the crisis-ridden Greece in Brussels, to help its Government to push through with reforms needed to deal [...]
Hungarians worldwide commemorated March 15, which this year happens to be the 162nd anniversary of the failed 1848-49 War of Independence against Austrian Hapsburg Oppression. It was a time when Austrian rule dominated economics, culture and trade. Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth differed with Count Istvan Szechenyi (pro-Austrian), demanding that Hungary break away from everything that [...]
Anti-government protesters yet again took to the streets today, during the Government’s official celebrations of anniversary of the 1848-49 March 15th Revolution and War of Freedom. Held again behind a barricade of cordons, the ceremonial raising of the flag to celebrate the Hungarian national holiday on Kossuth ter was disturbed by the shouting of angry [...]
March in Hungary has seen temperatures drop below Spring-time averages and even considerable snowfall. Despite the obvious dangers of this to the homeless, the Government has lifted the ban on expulsions of families living in foreclosed homes, put in place originally to protect them from freezing to death on the streets. According Hungarian Credit Alliance [...]
Hungary’s Tamas Pal Kiss (18), was the fastest qualifier for the recent tests of the Atech Grand Prix in Silverstone, UK. His qualification was the fastest aat the second official test ahead of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship. Team Principal David Hayle said, He is very pleased with Kiss’s performance as he now [...]
Hungary’s famous chief rabbi, Tamas Raj, passed away on March 7 at the age of 70, according to Christian news agency www.bosnewslife.com Sources at the Hungarian Jewish Faith Association (MAZSIHISZ) said Raj’s funeral took place on March 10 in Budapest. The former chief rabbi became famous when he was persecuted for openly spreading his faith [...]
Budapest is once again expected to see world class actors and actresses this spring when Nicole Kidman’s “Monte Carlo” crew come to Hungary in May. Seventeen-year-old actress Selena Gomez (see picture) – star of Ramona and Beezus, to launch this summer in Europe – has agreed to join the cast in which she will play [...]
The Hungarian President of the republic, dr. Laszlo Solyom has given his signature to the law in which any person denying the Holocaust, could face a three-year jail sentence. Solyom’s signature comes after nearly a month-long discussion following the passing of the law in February. The law had been rejected several times arguing that it [...]
Hungary’s most famous conductor Ivan Fischer and his Budapest festival Orchestra have been invited to perform at a prestigious event hosted by the Lincoln Center between March 25-28. The Budapest Festival Orchestra, of which Fischer is also a founding member, was established 25 years ago in the Hungarian capital. According to the ‘Gramaphone’ magazine the [...]
Hungarian and Mongolian governmental talks are underway concerning economic cooperation and development between the two countries, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Gordan Bajnai. He made the announcement at a recent press conference in the Hungarian capital after formal talks with his Mongolian counterpart Batbold Sukhbaatar. The Mongolian PM’s visit comes on the 60th anniversary of [...]
The Government, in a recent decree tightened regulations concerning the possession of firearms in Hungary. The move comes as a reaction to a deadly school-shooting in November, and the recent arrest of a university student planning a murder spree with a legally-owned handgun. From now on, would-be firearm owners will be compelled to undergo extensive [...]
Former Budapest Deputy Mayor Miklos Hagyo was reported by Hungarian media to have re-registered all his personal real estate, including several 12th District villas, under the name of his daughter and is said to be planning to escape an impending legal procedure by fleeing abroad. The news comes after former BKV CEO Zsolt Balogh’s Saturday [...]
As the Hungarian election campaign intensifies, local government politics also join the popularity contest. In the third district, the municipality was recently accused by MSzP representative Laszlo Kiss, of planning to oust families from their homes, due to the large number of late rent payments (in municipality-owned homes). Kiss claimed that up to 250 families [...]
According to Hungarian press reports, Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary (MBMH) has already signed EUR 50 million worth of supplier contracts related to its Kecskemet factory. Although still under construction, the plant has already recruited 70 staff members, and will launch recruitment of technical personnel in the near future, company officials stated. This phase of [...]
GENEVA (ILO News) – Despite signs of progress in gender equality over the past 15 years, there is still a significant gap between women and men in terms of job opportunities and quality of employment, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO). The report, entitled “Women in labour markets: Measuring progress [...]
Radical Jobbik Vice-president and MP candidate Tamas Sneider on Monday denied accusations of having connection to local organized crime figures in Northeastern Hungarian Gyongyos. Sneider claimed to be a victim of a “full-throttle offensive” launched by center-right Fidesz, after a conservative daily, Demokrata (The Democrat), aired a recording of his suggestion to party fellows to [...]
2009. december 1 – 2010. március 15. Museum of Fine Arts Parmigianino’s career spanning barely two decades made a deep impression on Italian art. Although he created only around fifty paintings and most of his frescoes are found in his native Parma and its vicinity, nevertheless few other artists exerted such a great influence. Parmigianino [...]
Metallica, the world’s most influential heavy metal band will play in Budapest on May 14 in Budapest’s Puskas Ferenc Stadium. Fans’ dreams will now come true after 11 years of waiting for James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo. The ‘World Magnetic Tour ‘, was launched this year and has already been seen [...]
During the XI. European Chess Championship in Rieka, this week’s second round saw 17 Hungarian participants winning 7 points. Viktor Erdos and Imre Hera attained victory for the second time, followed by the surprise defeat of Csaba Balogh. Two players remain flawless after 53 days at the chess tournament. In the women’s division, Schneider Veronika [...]
Jurgen Zopp defeated Adam Kellner, giving the Estonians a 3 to 1 insurmountable lead over the Hungarians at the first round of the Euro-African Zone’s second division of the Davis Cup in Tallin.
As the Hungarian Socialist party’s campaign held its kick-off rally, the party’s Prime Minister candidate went on to attack the center-right before an audience of about four thousand, most of them pensioners, who are considered to be the remaining voting stratum for MSzP. There’s something admirable about the way the Hungarian Government express their pride [...]
Hungarian PM Gordon Bajnai on Wednesday held talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Budapest. The meeting addressed the Europe 2020 Strategy program, a plan determining the EU’s fate for 10 years. A need for closer economic cooperation was highlighted, according to Hungarian news agency MTI. The Hungarian PM stressed the need to [...]
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Friday inaugurated an upgrade to Southwestern Hungarian Komlo’s Futoeromu, containing a biomass-powered block funded by the European Union. The HUF 1.4 billion system had received HUF 500 million in subsidies. With a capacity of 18 megawatts, the Government claims it will reduce central heating costs by 25% for more [...]
Hungarian National Tourist Office President Akos Niklai filed for resignation on Friday, citing personal reasons, news wire MTI reported. Local Government Ministry officials told MTI that the request has been approved by Minister Zoltan Varga.
Only 100 days left before the starting whistle of the kick-off for the 2010 FIFA World Cup takes place in the Republic of South Africa. Then the rainbow nation will be the centre of the universe for football fans and the media. It is the first ever such world cup to take place on the [...]
