When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he had no idea that it could also be used for corruption purposes, so loud that it can be heard on the other side of the Atlantic. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused Hungary’s telecommunications group Magyar Telekom (alias MATAV) of serious corruption, via its [...]
Hungarians love to celebrate and be jolly, but according to a recent study (asking 37,000 adults) carried out by opinion search company GfK Hungaria Piackutato Intezete, the majority of Hungarians prefer to stay at home. The study showed that less Hungarians are willing to turn time towards expanding the horizons in the area of entertainment, [...]
One of the world’s most famous teams, the UK-based Liverpool FC has broken ties with German sportswear manufacturer Adidas, the club confirmed Wednesday. Adidas may have missed the fine print on the aborted contract which implies a very impressive track record. Liverpool FC have claimed 18 league titles, 5 European Cup titles and have an [...]
An alarming number of people continue to be arrested for drug trafficking in South Africa, despite the recent severe Chinese sanction, where a South African woman was executed for her alleged role as a drug mule in Beijing. The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday revealed that in 2011 in Cape Town International Airport [...]
Independent weather soothsayers will allegedly be given a jail sentence under a new law amendment to be passed in the Republic of South Africa. This was revealed by Gareth Morgan, spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA) environmental faculty. He claims that the current government wishes to amend the South African Weather Service Law in an [...]
It is an acceptable joke that people are dying to get into cemeteries, but it is no joke that just recently the late entry into a local university led to a stampede of students and caused the death of a person. Police are still investigating the cause that led to a stampede ate the University [...]
An increasing number of beaches along the South African coastline are claimed to be unsafe – from uncontrolled dogs. South African law enforcement and special services on Thursday warned that they will take stricter measures against dog owners walking their canines on the nation’s so-called ‘blue flag’ beaches. Cape Town Assistant Police Chief Neil Arendse [...]
Based on a recent economic survey 85% of the Hungarians enjoy drinking tap water. At least 75% of all adults participating in the survey, carried out by order of the Hungarian Public Water Association (MAVIZ) claim to “love” the quality of their water. However the survey failed to mention that bottled water costs an arm [...]
Hungary refused to recall its Ambassador to Iran following a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on Thursday, news-wire MTI reported, saying it would cripple normal day-to-day operations due to its limited staff. Despite this the Hungarian Government joins is European allies in utterly condemning the attack on the Iranian British Embassy, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos [...]
Arriving on the heels of embarrassing news about Hungary’s ‘new’ relationship with the IMF and the Government’s confusing PR campaign about “this time being different,” the Orban-cabinet was dealt another crushing financial blow on Friday morning. For the first time in 15 years, Hungary’s credit rating was downgraded to ‘junk’ (Ba1) status by Moody’s Investment [...]
Cleared out of bridge underpasses, hiding in underground stations, finding refugein forests, the homeless people of Budapest feel they are being treated as fugitives onthe run. This has FEANSTA, the European Federation of Nation Organizations workingwith the homeless, expressing concerns over concerted attacks in Hungary. The countryis seeking punitive measures against dumpster-diving and street sleeping [...]
A warning has been issued in Budapest, after a leading paediatric hospital (Svabhegyi Gyogyintezet) reported an alarming increase in the number of children with respiratory complaints due to excessive smog levels. Patient numbers could double in the coming days, the center said in a press release, as even children with no previous history of respiratory [...]
The rich have grown richer and the poorer are even more poor, according to an independent survey carried out by South African street vendors to review one year after the 2010 South African Football World Cup, to which FIFA had all rights of sales and merchandise. Mpho Tshabalala, a street Vendor in Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) says he had had high hopes of making some real money and help secure a prosperous a future for his family, via the football spectacle.
Through a translator the 55-year-old Tswana man said, “I have helped my three kids through high school and now they all want to go to college, but I can’t afford it. Local council members promised that we will be able to make some real money during the football spectacle, but then withdrew their promises saying that FIFA has all the rights to sales in the vicinity of the stadiums and other football related merchandise.”
While the black government of South Africa is looking for a single insignia to unite all sports under one umbrella it is in fact causing a greater divide in the population, where Rugby players and supporters are allegedly boycotting the purchases of the overpriced (recomended retail price of ZAR 600!! -when the minimum monthly wage [...]
Hungary are said to be a strange nation. Allegedly three Hungarians can run in four different directions, but when injustice hurts their dignity they become tight-knit, perhaps now more than any other nation in the 21st Century, even digging up skeletons of their past. Magyars in Bratislava, Paris, Bucharest and Subotica on Saturday (June 4, [...]
Academy award rap singer Eminem has reportedly sued German-owned car maker Audi for unlawfully using his song ‘Lose Yourself’ in an advertisement campaign planned for their 2012 Audi A6 Avant. Eminem’s song was used in his movie titled ‘8 Mile.’ Ironically Audi claims that its video (referred to) was “not an advertisement.” However Eminem’s publishing [...]
Some big things come in small packages, but the news that the Republic of South Africa’s Competition Office (aka Tribunal) approving the “merger” (actually a 51% acquisition) between America’s Walmart and Massmart Holdings comes in one of the biggest packages the southern African country has ever seen. Much to the dissatisfaction of the American investors, [...]
The late Ferenc Madl (President of Hungary between Aug 4, 2000 – Aug 5, 2005) has passed away at the ripe old age of 80 on May 29, 2011, based on a press release made by the State Presidency. He was the President supervising the offices of three Hungarian Prime Ministers, namely Prime Minister Viktor [...]
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is said to have made major preparations with a double whammy for his 48th birthday (he was allegedly born on May 31, 1963) in Budapest after his favourite team FC Barcelona won the 2010/2011 UEFA Champions League on Saturday (May 28), a source close to his government told Budapest Report [...]
The Slovakian opposition parties continue to criticize the “restitutional foreign policy” of the Hungarian Government, according to official sources in Bratislava – the capital city that was once also the royal seat of the Hungarian people. The opposition parties allegedly claim that the “revisionist” Hungarian Government wishes to review the past and demand compensation from [...]
At a news conference on Tuesday, PM Viktor Orban announced that his cabinet has reaquired 21.2 percent in the oil giant MOL for EUR 1.88 billion – a package previously owned by Russian Surgutneftegas. Orban’s statement comes after a year-long string of negotiations, that he said “secured” the Hungarian oil company and described as a [...]
Charles Zentai, a Hungarian-born Australian who was set to appear at a court hearing to appeal against extradition to Hungary for alleged war crimes lost his ability to speak due to a stroke suffered on Friday, according to the Australian Associated Press. Zentai’s son Ernies Steiner said a successful extradition procedure would kill his father. [...]
Unofficial sources claim that the newly wed Prince William and his wife kate Middleton had allegedly aborted plans for a honeymoon trip to Kenya due to being tipped off by US secret services that the Pentagon was planning to raid and liquidate US public enemy number one – Osama bin Laden. During the televised wedding [...]
Wanted dead or alive… Osama Bin Laden has reportedly been killed by American special SEAL forces in Pakistan, in the early hours of Monday (May 1, 2011). His body was said to have been buried in an undisclosed location at sea in a quick-step funeral – allegedly with an Islamic funeral, so as to avoid [...]
Several extreme right-wing nationalists in Slovakia have emerged since the recent major events unfolding in Hungary, to harness the political implications and further their agenda related to Slovakian Hungarians in minority. Jan Slota, the co-founder and President of the Slovak National Party (an extremist chauvinist party) said the Hungarian Government renamed the country from The [...]
The Goulash Nation was recently shocked by weekly Heti Valasz after the paper revealed that the wife of Muammar Gaddafi has Hungarian roots – a secret that has been closely guarded by the blood-drenched Libyan dictator. The paper said Safia Farkash (nee Zsofia Farkas) could even apply for naturalization under the new expedited citizenship law, [...]
The Hungarian Socialist Party is anticipating snap elections, based on intelligence gathered from Fidesz circles, President Attila Mesterhazy said on Monday, according to daily Nepszava. To prepare, the party has launched a new initiative – Mestarhazy says a network of several thousand socialist activists will be the new reality in Hungary. “Fidesz will be confronted [...]
According to Hungarian media several thousands of the world’s skyscrapers, including those in Japan that resisted the monstrous 9.0 earthquake, employ safety systems invented by a Hungarian. Sandor Tarics (born September 23, 1913) created the technology in the 70s, which works the same way as the shock absorbers in your car’s suspension. The building will [...]
Perhaps Friday 11 will replace Friday 13 as being the unluckiest day in Japan after a Historic Tsunami caused havoc in the Pacific, following an 8.9 magnitude earthquake some 150 km North-east of Japan. The entire world is sending their messages of support and sympathies following the terrible reminder of what nature can do. Some [...]
The South African government has reportedly banned everything concerning out-going Libyan tyrant Maummar Gaddafi. Ironically the dictator was just recently accused by the South African government for violating human rights, ironically because he was allegedly the leading ally of the African National Congress (ANC – currently the leading party in South Africa) during the human [...]
The Robin Hood Action Squad, formed on Monday by the NGO group ‘White Chimney Sweepers’ (WCS), pledged to put an end to evictions of families in Hungary due to (allegedly) fraudulent mortgages, daily Magyar Hirlap reported. WCS President Tamas Dabasi claimed that Hungarian authorities have so far failed to put an end to “white collar [...]
Due to a major rise in criminal offences committed in the Republic of Hungary in 2010, the National Police (ORFK) have pledged to almost double the force – a source at ORFK told Budapest Report. He was referring to a speech made by ORFK top brass Jozsef Hatala, at a convention on Monday (February 14, [...]
After 30 years of the military dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak, the Arab Republic of Egypt is experiencing a power vacuum after the abrupt resignation of its president on Friday night (Feb 11, 2011). Only a 24 hours earlier Mubarak vowed he would never resign, but world politics have allegedly convinced him to change his mind, [...]
World famous Hungarian-born Hollywood Film Producer Andrew G. Vajna granted this exclusive interview with XpatLoop.com in Budapest. He shared insights with us about his childhood in Hungary, his love for cooking with fresh Hungarian ingredients, and his dream of experiencing life in the time of the Pharaohs. Mr. Vajna was open, witty, and friendly in [...]
American Airlines and Malev have promised to start daily direct flights between the Goulash capital and New York as of April 6, 2011. This was announced on Tuesday (Feb 8, 2011) by representative Kurt Stache in Budapest. The financially troubled Hungarian state-owned national carrier Malev believes that this new seat-sharing agreement will help increase ticket [...]
At the invitation of the European Chambers in Hungary, Minister of National Economy György Matolcsy addressed about 300 European business leaders at a business luncheon on Thursday. At the event Maurizio Sauli, incumbent Chairman of the European Chambers in Hungary, emphasized that European business has continuously being proving that it is strongly committed to contribute [...]
According to government sources undisclosed by origo.hu, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s trip to Egypt just days before the uprising was “hurried” by EU foreign policy leaders, although none foresaw the coming domestic crisis. The sources, close to the Hungarian Government and the Foreign Ministry, said Brussels has not criticized Orban due to the timing [...]
Leading real estate developer (and allegedly the richest man in Hungary), Sandor Demjan, said the “international environment” could assimilate Hungary soon without improvement in employment and production statistics. This could mean the disappearance of the country as we know it, he said. Demjan said the new development scheme named after the greatest Hungarian, Count Szechenyi, [...]
State prosecution on Thursday filed charges against former communist Interior Minister Bela Biszku, for “denial of the crimes of national socialist and communist regimes.” The charges are based on an August interview with Biszku, where he denied the ’56 Hungarian Revolution and claimed that he had personally “restored order” during his term as Minister, following [...]
Concerning developments in the state of Hungarian democracy, human rights and rule of law are set to be scrutinized by the European Council’s regular ‘current affairs debate’ session on Wednesday, according to Hungarian media, despite the fact that the Goulash Nation is the currently acting President of the the European Union. The probe was proposed [...]
Liberal economist and MEP Lajos Bokros on Thursday ‘renounced’ the Hungarian Democratic Pary (MDF – now outside the parliament and in shambles) saying he is only accountable directly; to his voters. The statement follows a warning from MDF President Zsolt Makay, who told Magyar Hirlap that the party will be considering recalling Bokros from the [...]
Amid painful criticism from international media targeting recent reforms, the Hungarian Government on Monday launched its term as President of the Council of the European Union. After a preliminary festivities, more celebrations are scheduled for Jan 6 in the Parliament despite negative international “PR” recently attracted by pension, tax, constitutional and national bank reforms. Shouldering [...]
Hungarian state prosecution on Monday has initiated the release of home birth activist Agnes Gereb, from police custody. Imprisonment is to be replaced by home confinement, during the pending legal procedure for the death of an infant allegedly strangled by Gereb. Gereb has been under preliminary police custody since October, after an incident resulting in [...]
Ironically Hungary was to adopt the European common currency, the Euro, in 1999. Nevertheless experts said that the 2014 (another one of the uncertain dates) new deadline calls for an extremely strong Euro. Hungary said that despite the fact that a strong Euro may give Hungary cause to worry on the new adoption date, it [...]
Several NGOs protested on Sunday against pension reform saying the Government is desperately forcing its citizens to leave their private pension funds for a state account so the budget can be sustained, despite officials claiming that the move is voluntary. PM Viktor Orban in a Facebook video message reacted that the move intends to alleviate [...]
Hungary’s sovereign credit rating on Monday was reduced to Baa3 from Baa1 by Moody’s Investors Service, according to Bloomberg. Baa3 is the lowest investment grade, and one step away from speculative, or “junk” category. The Hungarian Forint weakened after the announcement. “Today’s downgrade is primarily driven by the Hungarian government’s gradual but significant loss of [...]
Continued support post-election is virtually unheard of in Hungary, according to analysts, but the Government has kept its two-thirds majority fully intact, several recent polls show. It’s no surprise, according to Government Spokesperson Anna Nagy who on Tuesday said the cabinet’s first “semester” has been characterized by dynamic decision making including 80 decrees, 131 rulings [...]
Experts have welcomed the Hungarian Government’s initiative to boost basic education. Less than a decade ago an independent European survey showed that Hungarian children under the age of 15 barely understand what they are reading. This reportedly caught the attention of the education experts who under the current centre-right government have pledged to boost education [...]
Arriving on the heels of media rumors concerning state acquisition of Hungarian oil giant MOL, a second instance court decision on Thursday said the company acted within legal boundaries, when it placed prohibition on board membership for its Russian shareholder Szurgutnyeftyegaz. MOL officials said denial was a reaction to the Russian company’s refusal to unveil [...]
After appointing the “three faces of Hungary” representing the nation during the 2011 EU Presidency (pictured), preparations for spearheading the European Union entered full swing on Wednesday as several members of the Hungarian Government visited Brussels to finalize key policy aspects. PM Viktor Orban is set to meet with EC President Herman van Rompuy and [...]
Jealousy played a key role in the murder of a Hungarian man, shot dead in Austria by a police officer who also wounded the man’s girlfriend before committing suicide, Austrian public radio (ORF) reported on Monday morning – according to MTI. The Hungarian consulate in Vienna has yet to confirm the reports.
Hungarian retail and office property developing company TriGranit has announced the completion of a mega mall in the Croatian city of Zagreb. The capital construction, known as Arena Center, is said to have cost the investors some EUR 350-mil. It is reported that TriGranit covered the lion’s share of the project by spending some EUR [...]
Hungary’s Justice Ministry is in talks with their Canadian counterparts to discuss the immigration of Gypsies from Eastern Europe, sources close to the minister revealed in Budapest on Thursday. The two partners are believed to discuss ways of permitting Hungarian Gypsies to enjoy the social system and hospitality of the Canadian people. It is believed [...]
International rating agencies are expected to downgrade Hungary’s credit rating in November following centre-right government’s new budget plans, experts in Budapest and London told Budapest Report. Their cited reasons being that Hungary will be weakened financially as it does not want to depend on an IMF bail-out to strengthen its reserves. Hungary’s 2011 budget has [...]
German investor RWE has allegedly scrapped plans to expand the capacity of its lignite-based (brown coal, that is high in water content) power generating unit Matrai Eromu, the company said. The plant, located in Visonta, at the foot of the Matra Mountain, was expecting to spend at least HUF 300-bil on building a new 440MW [...]
The organizers of ABBA World, an interactive multimedia exhibition (music, video, photographs, memorabilia, etc contributed by the former Swedish pop group ABBA), are planning to bring their exhibition to Hungary after having already displayed it in London, promoters said. The show, called ABBA World, is expected to hit the Hungarian cultural scene in December 2010. [...]
The Hungarian Government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reportedly expressed that it his will do all in its power to weaken the jurisdiction of the Hungarian Constitutional Court (HCC). Ironically the previous president of Hungary happened to be an ex-HCC judge. The ruling party, FIDESZ, a week ago suggested that it wants to [...]
The Israeli Government, via its Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is reportedly digitalizing the ancient scrolls and scroll fragments, better known as the Dead Sea Scrolls (first discovered in clay pots in a cave 1947). The IAA says that it has started the digital upload of the documents some two years ago and once completed the [...]
The President of Hungary believes Hungary has never been in a better relationship than it currently is with neighbouring Romania, where some 2 million Hungarians live in a minority. President Pal Schmitt made the coments following a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday. Romania is said to be piggy-back riding the Hungarian presidency [...]
The Hungarian government is reportedly turned to the national Parliament on Monday (Oct 18, 2010) requesting that it prolong the current national state of emergency (declared in the beginning of October effecting three western Hungarian counties following a toxic red-sludge spill directly contaminating at least three reportedly evacuated villages – namely Devecser, Somlovasarhelyd Kolontar – [...]
So far an aluminium toxic sludge spill has claimed the lives of eight people in Hungary, according to authorities reports. The body of the eighth victim of the water poisoning was found near the town of Devecser (Western Hungary). Government officials said that the poison was allegedly caused by neglect at the Hungarian Aluminium Co [...]
October 6 is officially the national day to be sad in Hungary, according to the central legislation that officially announced that the day be declared the “Day of National Mourning” since 2001. This day in Budapest the national flag was lowered to half-mast accompanied by a military display of honours in front of the Parliament. [...]
The European Commission has allegedly taken decisive action against one of its biggest members for the expulsion and deportation of allegedly at least 1,000 Eastern European gypsies (generally also referred to as Roma). The EC in Brussels has reportedly launched infringement hearings against France for allegedly violating EU laws (including the anti-discrimination act and the [...]
Perhaps the financially troubled Hungarian Radio (MR) is not really in dire financial need after all. During the Socialist administration era and the Socialist political election campaigns MR was reportedly not bashful when it came to airing politics. However the leadership has allegedly fully denied airing any political messages of the Hungarian nationalist party JOBBIK, [...]
Hungarians are reportedly celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of their favorite cartoons. The Flinstones animated sitcom series had allegedly brought Hungarian dubbing to its peak, when expert linguists, poets and comedians swept the audience off their feet by dubbing the Bedrock scenes in excellent lip-sync – in verse (almost like Dr. Seuss). All Magyar [...]
Ethiopian marathon-man Herkolo Ashenafi won the ’25th Spar International Budapest Marathon and Running Festival’ in the men’s category with a time of 2:23:13 on Sept 26, 2010. The reportedly 42.2 kilometre annual marathon this year took place in rainy weather, in Budapest. Ashenafi was flanked by Hungarians Tamas Toth (2:24:36) and Zsolt Zsoder (2:24:55). To [...]
Hungary is preparing for the seven lean years as the Central Government allegedly plans to lay off more of its workforce to save some HUF 800-bil during its term in office. The Economic Minister in charge of the budget, is reportedly saving some HUF 100-bil during 2011. Currently Hungary’s administration reportedly spends nearly HUF 3-bil/yr [...]
The world’s biggest retailer is reportedly says it is not convinced about the latest threat from trade unions during its acquisition attempt in the Republic of South Africa. Wal-Mart Stores Inc is said to have offered some ZAR 30-bil (about USD 4.5-bil) for South Africa’s wholesaler group Massmart Holdings Ltd, which is registered on the [...]
Hungary will most likely enter the Guinness Book of Records for making the most moonshine (better known as Palinka in Hungary) after the Smallholdings and private homes have been given the green light to distill their own non-commercial amount of home palinka tax-free, as of Sept 27, 2010. Sources at the Hungarian excise and tax [...]
A 41-year-old Romanian national has allegedly been caught red-handed with a reportedly stolen luxury for with a warrant was issued in Switzerland, earlier this year. The seizure was said to have taken place on the Romanian-Hungarian border post of Nagylak. The man was arrested and is now reportedly being questioned by the Romanian and Hungarian [...]
At least 11 people have been arrested on charges of illegal rhino hunting in South Africa, police in Pretoria confirmed to Budapest Report. They added that most of the alleged rhino-poaching syndicate members have been released on bail and will have to appear in court in April 2011. Ironically rhino poaching has become the number [...]
German car makers are breaking new records. However these will not be speed or endurance records, but rather an all new investment record in Central and eastern Europe. The Ingolstadt-based automaker Audi AG (a member of the Volkswagen Group), plans to investment at least EUR 1-bil at its production and assembly unit in Gyor, North-western [...]
The French Government has reportedly expelled and deported several so-called Roma Gypsies back to Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria in what observers called the biggest deportation since the Holocaust. The move has sparked a fierce row between French President Nicolas Sarkozy (who by the way is of Hungarian origin) and European Commissioner Jose Manuel Barosso. Barosso [...]
The outgoing chief mayor of Budapest, Gabor Demszky will most probably be remembered as the longest serving mayor in the history of Budapest. But he will certainly be remembered as the longest serving mayor who did kaka about cleaning up the doggie-do in the capital. Every year hundreds and thousands of tonnes of dog droppings [...]
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) expected thousands of people to take to the streets worldwide next week in support of the first ever Rhino Day. September is Rhino Month and the public are asked to use the WWF’s website to donate cash and combat poaching. Funds raised will be used to buy equipment for rangers [...]
The Majority of Britons are not so pleased with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. After his airplane dubbed “Prayer Force 1” landed in Scotland, the pontiff received a relatively cold reception from the population who are allegedly frustrated by the role of the Catholic church and the ongoing scandals of child sexual abuse. The [...]
The Hungarian Parliament on Wednesday passed a law permitting local public institutions to purchase produce from local farms without an often protracted and severely bureaucratic ‘public procurement process’. Hungarian Agricultural Minister Sandor Fazekas (left) and Government Spokesperson Anna Nagy announced the change in the small town of Many, near Budapest. Small farmers will no longer [...]
The Hungarian administration has vowed to further boost bilateral relations with Croatia on all levels to help both countries exploit each other’s potentials to the maximum. The Hungarian Government has also promised to give maximum support for Croatia in its bid to join the European Union. The majority of Hungarians are reportedly spending their hard [...]
The Hungarian green party LMP has pledged to dig at the roots of an ongoing corruption scandal in an attempt to acquire classified documents concerning the allegations in connection to what LMP considers to be an unlawful purchase (via offset agreement) of Swedish-built Gripen fighter planes. LMP said it will not tolerate Swedish excuses and [...]
Nokia Siemens Networks has picked Budapest for its global railway communications center, the company’s Hungarian MD Robert Esik said at a press conference on Monday. The move is claimed to create 100 jobs this year. Hungarian Economic Minister Gyorgy Matolcsy and Finnish Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, on an official Hungarian visit this week, toured the [...]
Anonymous sources in a Monday report of left-leaning daily Nepszava claimed that the Hungarian Bank Alliance (BSz) plans to torpedo the controversial bank tax proposed by Economic Minister Gyorgy Matolcsy (pictured), insisting that the solution to sustaining budget deficit targets in 2011 lies elsewhere. BSz claimed the HUF 200 billion burden on the financial sector [...]
The Khoisan population of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) are demanding their own homeland with their own government and military, representatives told Budapest Report Wednesday. They added that the Khoisan people have already established their own defense force, despite the fact that RSA does not recognise their autonomy as yet. The indigenous San people [...]
Hungarian Agricultural Minister Sandor Fazekas (pictured) on Wednesday announced that the Government has filed an appeal at the European Commission, to extend the moratorium on the acquisition of crop land for foreign nationals in Hungary to April 30, 2014. Fazekas said the move is due to the weakening position of Hungarian farmers, who were left [...]
Religious groups in Hungary welcomed the civilian initiative of the recent “ Anti-Gay Pride March” in Budapest where on Sept 4 Budapestians went onto the street to voice their support for what they dubbed as “ Heterosexual Pride” in answer to the earlier held Gay Pride procession (on July 10, 2010). Although more gay participants [...]
Hungary has been instrumental but not active in NATO’s Afghanistan mission so far, but to save face the government has voted to send a further 200 military staff to its already existing 400 personnel contingent in the Asian war-torn nation. Hungarians have been in this country since 2003, where they run a technical provincial reconstruction [...]
As part of the Hungarian Government’s determined sweep for accountability, Commissioner Ferenc Papcsak on Monday claimed that former Socialist Social Minister Erika Szucs was employed for doing no work whatsoever, after leaving her job at the Ministry. In the contract, Szucs had been falsely registered as a Government Commissioner (which she was not- according Papcsak), [...]
The Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) on Thursday announced its new communication officers former TV presenter Kata Kormos (pictured left) and former MP Zsolt Torok. Kormos said she believes in the party’s revival and that she intends to explain the socialist stance on people’s everyday problems, on a personal level. “Hungarians are confused about what’s going [...]
For the first time in more than a decade, the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader of religious officials of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” branch of Tibetan Buddhism is scheduled to visit Hungary on Sept 18-19. Tickets for his lecture are already sold out, according to reports, as it has sparked international interest due to [...]
As the Orban Government implements its new economic policy allegedly focusing on the middle class, mortgage owners on Tuesday awoke in Hungary to a skyrocketing Swiss Franc, which could cause monthly payments for many to rise through the roof. Setting an all-time record on Tuesday morning, one Swiss Franc rose to 221.70 HUF, which analysts [...]
Speaking at the annual Ambassadors’ Summit on Monday in Budapest, PM Viktor Orban said that national unity has arrived in Hungary in 2010. For the diplomatic sphere, this means that the nation has regained its voice on the international stage, he added. Orban claimed that his Government has restored the rule of law in Hungary, [...]
With the upcoming Municipal Elections to be held without Budapest’s Gabor Demszky due to his withdrawal, caucus leaders delivered goodbye speeches thanking the outgoing politician for his his alleged work, at the City Council’s Thursday meeting. Fidesz leader Istvan Gyorgy said that criticizing Demszky is “not appropriate” at such a meeting, but added that his [...]
The Hungarian Tax Agency (APEH), could gain the power to eavesdrop on citizens as the Government recently initiated its merger with the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard (VPOP), an organization with the jurisdiction to carry out police-style investigations. The merger, overseen by recently appointed APEH President Ildiko Vida, has left security experts worried about excessive [...]
Reports claim that less than 70% of the population in Hungary have savings of any kind. One of the reasons is that there is a growing number of people living beneath the bread-line. Three brainy Hungarian bankers are said to have devised a scheme (similar to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’ Grameen Bank) where impoverished Hungarians, [...]
World-renowned Hungarian porcelain manufacturing company Zsolnay is reportedly boosting its production output following the recent capital injections by various owners, due to be carried out before the end of August this year. One of the new owners Manufaktura Befekteto is allegedly investing some HUF 730 million, partly by acquiring a 49% stake in Zsolnay from [...]
Hungarian National Flood Relief Agency Director Gyorgy Bakondi (pictured) on Wednesday told reporters that the Government must provide emergency housing for all homeless flood victims by the end of October. Bakondi said that funds will be redirected from the Aug 20 fireworks show (worth HUF 150 million) to the renovation of destroyed homes. The Director [...]
A new EU initiative designed to help more young people embark upon the great mobility adventure – a fun, interactive and dynamic two-day YOUTH ON THE MOVE event will take place on Oct 8-9 in Budapest. More information will be available soon on Twitter, Facebook and the YOUTH ON THE MOVE website. YOM on Facebook [...]
So as of September 1st Hungarian authorities are going to be fining smokers HUF 30,000 if they are caught smoking by an underpass or entrance to Budapest’s underground system. And if they refuse to pay the fine or are too poor to do so? Well, throw them in jail then and let the taxpayers foot [...]
The number of new car sales in Hungary increased after almost a year, according to the Hungarian Association of Vehicle Importers (MGE). The number of new passenger vehicles in July 2010 were 4,359 (up 19% year-on-year), while the number of light commercial vehicles (LCV) were 855 (up 49% year-on –year). According to market researchers there [...]
Have you ever stood in a cave and heard your echo bounce back, well then don’t miss this. Scientists believe that the world’s biggest underground natural cave network is beneath the Goulash capital, Budapest, commonly referred to by Europeans as the ‘Paris of the East’, due to its gorgeous picturesque view. Part of the cave [...]
Hungary meets England at London’s Wembley football stadium, just as the British Premier League is about to take off. The international friendly on Wednesday (Aug 11, 2010) is always one of the most anticipated matches between the two nations and reportedly will be televised for the broader audience unable to be the event live match. [...]
America is no longer the land of the free, it is the land of the free-to-do-as-you-like, according to legal experts who are defending three law abiding citizens in Florida. His clients are being sued by a convicted inmate Michael Dupree for some USD 500,000 in compensation for alleged disabilities and traumas he suffered after wanting [...]
A mother from Howick, near Maritzburg in South Africa is the oldest participant at the 2010 UCI BMX World Championship hosted in the Rainbow Nation. The sport is officially also registered as an Olympic discipline. McGilvray says she has been riding 15 years since she first took her children to a BMX junior race. McGilvray [...]
In a global economy knowledge is the new international currency that businesses can’t afford to miss out on, according to experts at Discovery Invest, an authorized life investment services company, which has invited Rudy Giuliani, the charismatic leader and former Mayor of New York City as one of its key-note speakers at its leadership summit. [...]
Hotel heiress Paris Hilton was reportedly paid USD 1.8 million to spend the night with a mysterious fat spectacled Malaysian playboy billionaire Taek Jho Low (25), who is allegedly financial advisor for the Kuala Lampur-based investment group UBG Berhad, invited the diva to entertain him at the flashy Byblos nightclub in Southern France. Naturally her [...]
The South African sea-faring haven Simon’s Town was turned into a Hollywood production studio overnight with Oscar awards winner Halle Berry (43) and hot stud Olivier Martinez dressed half naked during the shooting of the shark-attack thriller movie Dark Tide, due to hit the silver-screen next year. Berry, who is believed to have brought her [...]
It was perhaps Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard (pictured) who is to blame for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Holocausts. It was reportedly Szilard who first succeeded in bringing about a nuclear chain reaction from a split atom in 1933and later patented the idea. He turned to German-Swiss Nobel physicist laureate Albert Einstein and together they developed [...]
The 160 million population of Bangladesh have reportedly been banned by their government from downloading and using the national anthem as their ringtone on mobile phones. The decision was recently brought in a court in Dhaka. Anyone caught violating the ruling is allegedly expected to pay a fine, while the court has already ruled that [...]
The Slovakian Prosecutor’s Office is reportedly going to review the complaint lodged by Slovakian lassie Hedviga Malinova, who is a member of the 520,500 minority Hungarians living in Slovakia. Her defending lawyer, Roman Kvasnica has requested that Slovakia’s Chief Prosecutor Dobroslav Tmka agree to hear key witnesses who have not yet been called to testify. [...]
Political and cultural ties have never been so strong between Hungary and its northern neighbor Slovakia, according to Slovakian President Ivan Gasparovic. He claims that the recent shift in political parties in both countries has led to the improvement of ties on both sides. The President has insisted that talks between Slovakia and Hungary should [...]
Authorities wish to start fining perpetrators who smoke in any of the underpasses or the entrances of Budapest’s underground network after September 1, 2010, now that the new anti-smoking law has been introduced. Anyone caugh huffing and puffing the tobacco plant can expect to dig deep into their pockets to pay a whopping penalty of [...]
The capital city of the Russian Federation is covered in thick smog, based on reports from Moscow. The problem is reportedly causing several businesses and schools to close down due to health risks. Moscow has a population of some 10 million people, about the same as the entire population of Hungary. A thick blanket of [...]
Learning from the achievements of former new York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Hungary’s Interior Minister Sandor Pinter has launched an outright war against crime in the Hungarian capital. He reportedly wants beggars and loafers off the street and plans to have them temporaily and permanently employed some way or another. He was reportedly quoted saying, [...]
Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has turned into an animal rights activist and is currently appealing to residents along the Gulf of Mexico to help save the natural wildlife. The blond bombshell is also helping 50 displaced dogs to find homes in the area. She was reportedly disgusted by the lack of responsibility shown by [...]
Hungarians will be permitted to make their own vodka-style moonshine, known as Palinka (min 40% alcohol content) after a law was passed putting home-made Palinka in the same category as other home-made delicacies. Already small alcohol distilling manufacturers (mostly enjoying a monopoly situation) are complaining that they will go out of business once people are [...]
Pal Schmitt (68) was recently inaugurated as Hungary’s new President of the Republic. Although the position is meaningless as the president in Hungary has little or no powers, it does come with its benefits and prestigious moments. One of the benefits of being the president is that he can veto parliamentary decisions and send them [...]
The central State Medical Authority has promised that there will be far less mosquitoes in August to plague residents, who are buying up all kinds of insect repelling creams and devices. Laszlo Tajti, research biologist says that by the beginning of August there should have been a considerable decrease in the number of blood-suckers in [...]
The Hungarian Government recently announced that it would like to bid for hosting a FIFA World Cup tournament in the foreseeable future. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban had made mention of this when he visited South Africa and watched the final match on July 11, 2010. While rban was watching the match live, some 500, [...]
The Budapest City Council has reportedly scrapped even the idea of hosting what has become a family household name – the Red Bull Air race – due lack of funding. The council argues that the Hungarian transport Authority had reportedly earlier decided that the event was dangerous and hazardous to the environment and did not [...]
Hungary’s youngest mobile internet service provider Business Telcom (Btel) is allegedly pleased with the developments of its two-year agreement signed earlier this year with Vodafone Hungary, the local arm of England’s leading mobile service provider Vodafone Plc. The company is offering monthly internet access packages of between 1-8GB. Based on the increasing number of mobile [...]
The Hungarian Government has launched a new initiative to send Gypsy teenagers to summer camps and hold law enforcement seminars for them there. A non-profit society is managing the camps in close collaboration with the Hungarian police force under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior, responsible for law enforcement. Teen-agers are being enlightened [...]
Budapest’s ferihegy International Airport has reportedly increased security measures after an veiled EU audit revealed various ‘ hazardous ’ items had been allowed to pass through its security monitoring system. The increased security is expected to effect some 10% of all passenger turnover, based on information from the authorities. The airport has reportedly been demoted [...]
Hungarian universities claim that in 2010 less qualified Hungarian doctors will be leaving the country and added that already 80% of those who graduated have begged to be allowed to stay on as so-called resident doctors at the university clinic hospitals in Hungary. In 2010 there were allegedly some 700 medical graduates Of the 700 [...]
For centuries the people of Visegrad have been drinking and – yes – exporting their beloved mineral water from the tiny town of Visegrad in the Danube bend of northern Hungary. Rumor has it that Roman legions, who lived in the region 9along the river that was then the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire), [...]
The Budapest Transport Co. (BKV) will reportedly see a late arrival of underground train carriages, due to the fact that Hungary’s transport authority (NKH) has refused to issue a running permit the French rolling stock company Alstom on the goulash capital’s refurbished M2 and newly built M4 underground routes. NKH argues that Alstrom’s so-called Metropol [...]
Hungary’s financial and banking supervision PSzAF is reportedly conducting an in-depth probe at 500 banks nationwide after consumers complained they felt that their interests were not sufficiently represented at these institutions. Banks are said to have misled the public with false advertising and speculative measures, especially in the areas of passing on a new bank [...]
Hungary’s center-right government coalition has pledged to allocate a whopping HUF 1-trillion to strengthen small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to help boost its ailing economy. The money has been promised to arrive to the SMEs by no later than December 31, 2013 via EU funds secured by Hungary’s Ministry of national Development. The ministry [...]
A Human Rights Committee of the Hungarian Parliament is to question former disgraced Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in September 2010. Incidentally Gyurcsany was also head of the Socialist Party (MSzP) that led the failed social-liberal government coalition between April 2002 and April 2010. Ironically Gyurcsany was never actually elected Prime Minister by the Hungarian people [...]
Hungarians have always been leaders in the field of mathematics and computer sciences and it was Hungarian-born American mathematician, John von Neumann, who is dubbed the father of the computer after he came up with the idea of the binomial system in 1951. But like in any other country in the world Internet crimes have [...]
The American heirs of Hungarian banking magnate baron Lipot Mor Herzog are reportedly still waiting for the Hungarian Government’s reactions to their claim to retrieve the stolen works of art that once belonged to their wealthy Hungarian ancestor. Herzog’s heirs have in the United States reportedly filed a restitution lawsuit against the Hungarian state who [...]
Hungarian executives are reportedly still questioning why the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Hungarian division of Britain’s biggest retailing chain Tesco is forced to quit her position. CFO Erzsebet Antal, who earlier also did a remarkable job at the helm of Hungarian airlines MALEV, had earlier this year allegedly announced her resignation and is [...]
The 2010 South African World Cup’s North Korean national coach Kim Jong-Hun (53) has reportedly been reprimanded, abused and brain-washed by the communist leadership of North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Il . After having been forced to listen to hours of demoralizing blah-blah speeches of some 400 senior cadres of the dictator, Jong-Hun was sentenced to [...]
The South African Government and sports bodies are reportedly working on new initiatives to prevent the country’s 2010 World Cup state-of-the-arts stadiums from turning into white elephants. The premier league (PSL) has welcomed and strongly supports the initiative of staging soccer matches more for excitement than for profit. In the first step four soccer teams [...]
The Hungarian Government is due to take over the presidency of the European Union on Jan 1, 2011 for the six-month period that follows. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reportedly vowed to help boost European initiatives while also boosting the national economy of Hungary. His government is focusing on a full restructuring of the strategic [...]
Although the European Union has 27 member states, the European Swimming Championship will host some 40 nations in Hungary. This year the 12-day tournament is being launched on Wednesday (Aug 4, 2010). The swimming, diving and synchronic water dancing events are being held at Budapest’s Margaret Island and two open water heats are being held [...]
Hungary’s Richter Gedeon pharmaceuticals company says its expects to see sales increase by at least 10% in Russia and its former satellite states, while also anticipating 5% rise in sales in Hungary this year. At the same time the company’s sales are expected to decrease som 20% in the United States. Based on its H1/2010 [...]
Hungary has a newborn male baby jaguar, that was recently born at the Zoo in Szeged (SE Hungary). The zoo says that the baby’s mother is reportedly incapable of fending for her baby as she lacks the natural instincts due to being born and raised in captivity. The baby has been separated from its mother [...]
Hungary’s centre-right government coalition, which holds a 2/3 majority in Parliament plans to pass 42 new laws in November this year. The laws are expected to effect the 2011 central budget, a 16% flat rate personal income tax and the merger of the revenue agency APEH with the customs authority. There is also a planned [...]
The new Hungarian government has pledged to politically clean up its 10 national parks, and they are allegedly starting from the top. Three of the nation’s biggest national parks will see the removal of their top executives. These are Gabor Salamon (director of the Aggtelek National Park, located in North-eastern Hungary), Istvan Sandor (director the [...]
The Dutch Government has announced that its NATO troops have started their withdrawal from Southern Afghanistan. This makes Holland the first NATO country to pull out of the mission there after spending an alleged USD 1.8 million of Dutch tax-payers money, wasting four years and at least 24 soldiers’ lives. Nevertheless this did not stop [...]
Hungary’s National Transport Authority (NKH) has grounded several malfunctioning small buses belonging to the corrupt Budapest Transport Company (BKV). Authorities are now investigating the service condition of these buses. Reportedly the road-worthiness some 30 BKV buses have been revoked. The process will cause heavy delays on major routes extending the commuter waiting period by at [...]
The worst Monsoon floods in the history of Pakistan have left some 3 million people homeless and almost 2,000 dead, UN reports said. The government has announced a state of emergency and appealed for international aid. The death toll will most probably increase as the rains continue. The military-wrecked North-western Swat Valley is said to [...]
With incoming news of most British banks turning profitable once again, British tax-payers are putting pressure on their government to persuade banks to hand out loans again to help boost local industries and enterprise. The UK-based HSBC bank has boasted gross profits of USD11.1-billion for H1/2010, up more than 200% year-on year compared to its [...]
World military powers have reportedly welcomed the enforcement of the ban on cluster bombs as of Sunday (Aug 1, 2010). The Convention on Cluster Munitions (adopted in 2008 and signed by 37 nations) prohibits the production, storage and use of such inhumane weaponry after it had allegedly resulted in decades of killing and maiming millions [...]
The two finalists in the 2010 South African World Cup have reportedly received a belated penalty from the international football governing body, FIFA. Reports said that FIFA has decided to carry out the penalty and book Holland (actually the Netherlands, as Holland is merely a county in The Netherlands) and Spain for abusing the fair [...]
United States space agency NASA is carrying out more space walks than originally intended in the hopes of repairing a major cooling system of the joint Russian American international space station, technically referred to as the ISS. Reportedly the walks on the wild side are necessary because a pump in the system has allegedly failed [...]
Russia’s worst drought and heat waves (exceeding 40C) since 1975 have forced grain prices to soar on the international commodity exchanges worldwide. Wheat prices have reportedly reached a two-year high following the dramatic developments in Russia, which is responsible for about 25% of exports to the world. Grain prices in August have allegedly soared 50% [...]
International watchdogs fear the illicit trade of illegal blood diamonds from Zimbabwe will continue without international intervention, while thousands of villagers and illegal miners are being abuse, exploited and murdered. Every day between 100 and 1,000 smugglers do errands for alleged Zimbabwean military officers when they smuggle diamonds into Mozambique, where they are reportedly sold [...]
This year in September the Budapest-based American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (AmCham) is further expanding on its so-called high performance Career School initiative series (launched in September 2009), according to Laszlo Metzing, AmCham Chief Operating Officer and Committee Coordinator. He added that the chamber plans to boost its activities by creating the third in [...]
The Hungarian Government plans to reduce corporate taxes so much that it would certainly draw investors back to Hungary from its lower tax bracket peer – Slovakia. Several hundreds of Hungarian companies escaped ridiculously high Hungarian corporate taxes and moved to neighbouring Slovakia during the past 5-10 years, where the economic environment was more business [...]
The city of Budapest on Monday (Aug 2, 2010) inaugurated its new central sewage waste water treatment plant valued at some EUR 430 million. The plant was 65% funded by the European Union, while the Hungarian Government contributed with 20% and the Budapest City Council had to cough up the remaining 15%. An additional EUR [...]
The Hungarian Motion Picture public foundation MKKA said five Hungarian film productions have won awards in their respective categories in Sarajevo. “The Tender Son: The Frankenstein Project” received a special prize from the international jury. “Bibliotheque Pascal” was awarded the best film by the CICAE international federation of art cinemas and the pan-European movie website [...]
The Iraqi war was never supposed to come about according to most Americans, citing that it was merely a profit orientated, money-guzzling political stunt. Finally President Barack Obama has announced that a decision will be made to withdraw US military troops from Iraq. Initially America had attacked Iraq and arrested dictator Saddam Hussein for possessing [...]
The Lipizaner stud farm and Spanish riding school at Kyalami, in the Republic of South Africa this year celebrates the 60th anniversary, experts said. The breed is the oldest man-bred horse in the world, dating back to the Carthaginian empire. It is believed that Hannibal rode on a Lipizzaner. However the breed as we know [...]
Are Liverpool FC fans about to consume more Chinese food? Perhaps, after their team is saved by Chinese entrepreneur Kenny Huang, who has been sniffing around for more than two years, sources said. He has allegedly offered Liverpool’s current owners a price he can’t refuse in return for a controlling stake in Britain’s most successful [...]
Police in Zimbabwe have reportedly received an increasing number of reports that dogs have gone missing in various neighborhoods in and around the capital city Harare. It is believed that the increasing number of Chinese immigrants are buying up young dogs for their traditional cuisine. At the same time high demand has increased the black [...]
Red Sea ports of Eilat and Aqaba (in the border region of Israel and Jordan) were struck by short range military rocket missiles on Monday (Aug 2, 2010), allegedly fired from Egyptian territory, reports claim. Preliminary reports said that there were several casualties and deaths among civilians from both countries. Israe4li and Jordan police launched [...]
Archaeologist have reportedly discovered relics, which they believe may have once belonged to the Biblical character John the Baptist. The historic discovery is reportedly an urn that was allegedly found on a Black Sea island off the coast of the Southern Bulgarian town of Sozopol, which dates back to the Bronze age. For a long [...]
Named after the world-famous Hungarian composer, the Bela Bartok International Choir Competition was held for the 24th time in Debrecen, finishing with German victory on Sunday. Participants from 14 countries around the globe, including China and Venezuela, competed in five categories with finals held between the Peking Philharmonic Choir, the Debrecen Grammar School Choir, the [...]
Australia’s Red Bull pilot Mark Webber won the the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday (Aug 1, 2010) at the Hungaroring race track, 30km north of Budapest. With that he takes the championship lead from England’s Lewis Hamilton, who failed to finish the race. His result also helped place the Red Bull team to [...]
Whistle-blower group Transparency International (TI) has reportedly released a statement revealing that Hungary’s Socialist party- led governments (under ex-PMs Ferenc Gyurcsany – pictured – and Gordon Bajnai) was allegedly corrupt to the teeth. At the same time TI said that based on an OECD report, the Socialist-led government received bottom marks for combating bribery (despite [...]
It weighs 20kg and eats about GBP 80 worth of green groceries each month, but Ralph the rabbit from Uckfield, East Sussex in Great Britain is not your ordinary pet. It’s owners have made headlines for the past six months as their “British Continental Giant” rabbit is constantly posing for cameras and television crews from [...]
South Africa’s Stellenbosch University has developed a revolutionary idea that it wishes to now commercially market. Researchers have discovered how various non-fiber carbon placed into a simple tea filter bag (pictured) that fits into the palm of a hand is capable of purifying 1 liter of heavily polluted water, so that it can instantly be [...]
A ‘new world’ is to be erected, according to the Hungarian Government’s election program. While this is true in terms of staffing top-level public institutions (according to analysts), PM Viktor Orban on Thursday announced the ‘Szechenyi’ Plan, which will also staff Hungarian SMEs by creating 1 million jobs and boosting the Hungarian economy. Orban said [...]
Hundreds of Hungarians taking a sabbatical for temporary work in the British Isles will be glad to hear that the British Government may abolish the use of costly speed monitoring cameras. They will now be able to return to the Isles with a straight face if they bunked paying the fines they were sent via [...]
American tax-payers are freaked out after they heard that the US Defense Ministry claims that they have been ‘robbed’ of USD 8.65-bil for which the Pentagon can’t give account for. Tax-payers said that they believe the Pentagon had reportedly laundered their money via shady deals during the reconstruction of Iraq, even promising countries like Hungary [...]
British Petroleum Plc (BP), once Britain’s biggest profit-maker, was forced to announce its biggest profit loss ever in the company’s recent quarterly report. In a mere three months the company went GBP 11-bil into the red on reported revenues of GBP 21-bil. The good news is that the company’s big-shot Tony Haywood has parachuted to [...]
US senators have allegedly demanded Britain’s biggest company, British petroleum (BP) to hand over documents concerning their role in persuading the British government to the release infamous Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Alegrahi (spelling may vary, as he is also known as al-Megrahi). They reportedly believe BP wanted to get favorable options for exploration and production [...]
South Africa has the highest unemployment rate on the continent and experts say that nothing is expected to change before the end of the year in this regard. Reports said that some 25.3% of the working population are unemployed. Of the 49 million people living in the rainbow nation, only 12.7 million have jobs. Economists [...]
Thousands of South African school children allegedly stayed at home after parents heard the early morning news that 18 month old Panjo, the tiger had escaped from its owner’s one-tone pick up truck (commonly referred to as a bakkie, by the locals) while it was being taken to the local veterinarian for its annual shots. [...]
As the Orban cabinet received the first, much-appreciated compliments from international media, such as from The Times’s Adam Lebor (curiously a former harsh critic of the Hungarian PM), its ministers have been spurred to react with self-confidence. Public Administration and Justice Minister Tibor Navracsics on Monday said the Orban cabinet has completed its goals of [...]
The South African Education Ministry has agreed to permit worm-eating among school children in certain parts of the country, especially the Vhembe region of its Limpopo province. Schools in the impoverished regions of Limpopo have asked for special permission to be allowed to feed their pupils the traditional food called Mashonza (the Mopane worm, Latin [...]
One of the world’s most famous socialites, Budapest-born Zsa Zsa Gabor, has gone into a coma, doctors said, according to reports. The Queen of Outer Space is said to have been rushed to hospital after falling and fracturing her hip at the ripe old age of 93. Gabor underwent surgery, but quickly lapsed into a [...]
Finally Hungary has a chance to qualify for a world cup final after so many years of failing to do so. When in South Africa on July 11 to watch the 2010 World Cup final match, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised the Hungarian Alliance in Halfway House, South Africa, that he will do everything [...]
Government investigators have proclaimed that there are no persons responsible for the six deaths of new-born babies in a hospital in South Africa. However heath professionals are demanding an explanation as to why and how the infants were allowed to die under alleged sterile-clean hospitals. Initially hospital staff complained that there was a lack of [...]
The Hungarian Government is working towards stabilizing the budget and has not concluded any new stand-by loan agreement for 2011, claiming that its decision would not jeopardize the financing of the central budget. As the Hungarian Parliament completes the process of adopting new economic legislation the country can expect new structural reforms from the Prime [...]
South African radio reports show that merely less than 4% of all women’s rape cases saw perpetrators being convicted. This disturbing factor has raised eyebrows amid international women organisations, who have pledged to take immediate action and lobby for more stringent laws and regulations to be introduced, to not allow perpetrators to be acquitted. Reports [...]
South African professional golfer, Louis Oosthuizen (27), has dedicated his win of the classic British Open on Sunday (July 18, 2010) to the world’s best known icon, Nelson Mandela. He stunned everyone at St. Andrews, considered the home of golf, winning by seven shots. It was his first major here and the last person to [...]
Namibia is to murder some 80,000 Cape fur seals this year to “reduce” the seal population because they are allegedly “eating” too much fish. I’ve never seen seals eating out at McDonald’s, but perhaps the Namibian government doesn’t know seals eat only what fish they need, the rest they just simply leave in the ocean. [...]
On request from High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi is to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 22-23, according to a Ministry press release. On Wednesday, Martonyi held a preliminary meeting with Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, who said China [...]
The Hungarian currency plunged to 290 against the Euro on Monday, as the meeting between the Government and an IMF/EU delegation failed due to disagreements over parts of the country’s so-called fiscal consolidation plan and PM Viktor Orban’s 29 economic action points. A key point under IMF fire was Orban’s bank tax, which will inhibit [...]
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy on Thursday paid a four-day visit to Hungary. Kennedy met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi. His visit comes as Hungary begins a process to rewrite its Constitution. Regarding this process, Justice Kennedy said, “The people of Hungary have the opportunity to restate to [...]
As the major heat wave hit Hungary this week, a level three warning was issued by the Hungarian Surgeon General on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Dr. Judit Paller (pictured left) said the required emergency measures will include monitoring water quality and safety. Paller added that an emergency level warning will be unlikely, which would require [...]
It was the best of Budapest, it was the worst of Budapest – was what various representatives of the political spectrum say about the 20 years liberal mayor Gabor Demszky has spent in office. But as the ‘Demszky era’ comes to a close, four candidates have lined up to run for the coveted position, possessing [...]
The Government has decided to reduce the budget of the Aug 20 national holiday celebration by 50%, Justice Ministry Spokesman Zoltan Kovacs (pictured second from right) said, speaking to reporters in flood-stricken Edeleny. The news comes after a recent Facebook initiative demanding to scrap celebration expenses altogether, donating its entire budget to flood-reparation causes. Kovacs [...]
It seems that right-leaning media in Hungary can never get enough of the scandals of the Gyurcsany-cabinet, even during a Fidesz Government. According to daily Magyar Nemzet, former Social Minister Erika Szucs was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs to work on press monitoring for HUF 6 million, four months after leaving office. The [...]
One of the most exciting multicultural festivals in Central Europe, four days long, with 15 stages and approximately 200 programs: concerts, DJs, theater shows and performances. The festival is characterized by its wide variety of musical styles: rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop, electro, world music… Sopron, the town hosting VOLT Festival lies on the Austrian-Hungarian border, [...]
It was a sad day for Hungarian liberals on Wednesday, as analysts were not even surprised when Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky revealed to reporters that he has left the liberal party Alliance of Free Democrats. Demszky said he would rather exclude himself, as the formerly glorious ‘democratic light of the regime change era’ is now [...]
Incoming Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova on Wednesday said she intends to withdraw planned retaliatory measures against Hungarian dual citizenship. Despite this, speaking to Hungarian weekly HVG, she said Hungarian dual citizenship will be “annulled” in Slovakia. The statements come as the a new center-right coalition government launches in Slovakia, which includes Hungarian-Slovakian ‘reconciliation’ party [...]
After just two months in office, the Orban cabinet is facing devastating opposition fire from left-leaning media including daily Nepszava, who recently accused the center-right government of designing the incoming ‘bank tax’ around companies close to party circles. These the paper says would be treated more leniently by the new legislation. Nepszava claimed that one [...]
The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) on Wednesday fined L’Oreal Hungary for HUF 5 million for unfounded marketing claims in advertisements of several products including Vichy Liftactiv CxP, Revitalift and Vichy Cellu Metric. The cosmetics giant said it is examining the possibilities to appeal against the decision in court. GVH officials added that tests concerning the [...]
Just recently an Englishman called Zachariah Evans was browsing around on the internet on Google Earth and found God. Well, actually the Son of God, on an agricultural field. You would say that Google has accidentally revealed the face of Jesus Christ in Hungary to the world, but theologians would rather say that God has [...]
The Polish election office said Monday (July 5, 2010) that based on the counted votes the next president of the Polish Republic will be Bronislaw Komorowski (pictured). He is a center-right candidate of the Civic Platform party, which won 53.01% of all legible votes (a political scenario similar to Hungary where the centre-right government is [...]
Experts are concerned in Hungary as to the relationship of the Orban-cabinet with online media outlets, as new legislation may push for stricter control over online publishers including owners of personal blogs – who could be compelled to register with authorities. Adding to worries in a more lighthearted way, controversy broke out on Friday over [...]
Six unions on Thursday filed a complaint with the Hungarian Constitutional Court (AB), seeking to annul the Government’s legislation modifying the regulation of layoffs in the civil servant sector, according to newswire Fuggetlen Hirugynokseg (FH). The amendment allows the Government to layoff public employees without justification, according to Jozsef Feher, Chariman of the Civil Servants’ [...]
A Budapest conference on Thursday called for initiatives supporting a stable business climate for the property sector, as a recent Hungarian Statistical Office (KSH) study reported worrying trends in the Hungarian real estate industry, such as 15.7% decreasing volume of construction. According to Henrik Toth, the President of the Joint Venture Alliance’s Economic Strategy Commission, [...]
The Hungarian Prime Minister’s personal economic consultant, Gyorgy Szapary, told portal fn.hu on Tuesday that the Government will seek to renew the loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, after the current one expires in 2010. Szapary said the Government has no plans to borrow, but will seeks to restore investor confidence by running a [...]
The South African Police Service (SAPS) claim that a British journalist Simon Wright (44) was allegedly arrested for being the master-mind behind the recent attempt to portray blemished World Cup stadium security in South Africa after the England-Algeria match at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, during their group stage match of the 2010 FIFA [...]
On the heels of dire news from the small Northeastern town, media reports from Felsozsolca once again shocked public opinion as a complete lack of solidarity was displayed by the small town’s authorities. Citizens who were vacated from their homes by the flood reported receiving notices from the mayor’s office to demolish homes deemed “dangerous,” [...]
The ‘bank tax’ to be levied by the Orban cabinet’s first economic ‘action plan’ caused international uproar and could depress the Hungarian economy even further, according to a Friday report by Bloomberg. The financial wire claims to have obtained a letter signed by International Banking Federation (IBF) President Alessandro Profumo, which calls for “profound modification” [...]
The Czechs secured victory at the recent European Athletics Team Championships (First League) in Budapest. Participants included Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey. The event was the last major competition before the upcoming European Championships in Barcelona.
Hungary commemorated the 1st anniversary of the death of the king of pop, Michael Jackson. Magyar fans have dubbed Michael, “Budapest’s black son,” as he was instantly adopted by the Hungarian capital during his filming of the album History in 1994. The game black jack in Hungary has also sometimes referred to by young Michael-lovers [...]
A Budapest conference organized by the Joint Venture Alliance (JVSz) and ITD Hungary on Wednesday sought break-out strategies from the prolonged effects of the economic crisis by focusing on the untapped potential of Far-eastern markets for Hungarian SMEs. State Secretary of the Economic Ministry Zsolt Becsey suggested that export should be directed towards China, Russia [...]
It’s the end of the Italian dream and the start of a Slovakian fairytale. Slovakia was not even a nation some 20 years ago, and now every country in the world knows their name as they have felled the reigning world cup champions – Italy. Paraguay and New Zealand could not stop Italy, but Slovakia [...]
The national football squad of the tiny Central European nation of Slovenia was able to defy the big bad bear (Russia) to qualify for the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup and became one of the most celebrated participants in the host nation, South Africa. However their goal-less loss against England (which scored the only goal [...]
All the world‘s a stage, all men and women on it merely its prayers. As You Like It (or not) The new arguments against ideological Isms in Hungary are troublesome, and translate to far more than a “play on words” or recasting a textual reality. They have started to eek blood. People here express rage, [...]
The recent release of the documentary Bun es buntetlenseg (‘Guilt and Impunity’) about the life of Bela Biszku (former communist minister responsible for retribution after the ’56 Revolution) sparked controversy in Hungary, as the Biszku family attempted to ban its screening but gave in after pressure from several directions including the Parliamentary Committee for Culture [...]
French President Nicholas Sarkozy (of Hungarian descent) has expressed his fury over the imcompetence of his national team, slagging French squad coach Raymond Domenech for his unorthodox conduct and slacking to be a deserving ambassador to France when he declined to shake hands with South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, after the host nation of [...]
U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis on June 21 opened trading at the Budapest Stock Exchange (BET) with a symbolic ringing of the bell (replica of the bell indicating the start of trading at the New York Stock Exchange), marking the 5001st day of trading at the institution. In her opening address, Tsakopoulos Kounalakis [...]
By adapting the scientific understanding of teenagers, how they think, learn, and are moved to action, a successful program of history teaching, called Facing History and Ourselves, has gained prominence internationally. Adaptable to all regions, a basis for this method is to draw on the parallels with clearest modern tragedy from Holocaust Education. The focus [...]
On June 15, 2010 Brazil played perhaps one of its toughest matches as the top ranked against Communist Korea as the lowest ranked (105th position), experts said. During the match Brazil shot 26 tries at goal of which 10 were on target compared to Korea’s 11 shot attempts on goal of which only three were [...]
According to a Hungarian internet blog report, victims of recent record flooding located in Northeastern town Felsozsolca have been neglected by authorities responsible for flood relief and are facing unbearable circumstances including complete lack of food, shelter and security. According to reports, groups of victims have been rejected “registration” as victims, after insisting on remaining [...]
Hungary’s folk vehicle the new Suzuki Swift is expected to be one of the motors behind strengthening the Hungarian economy, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who visited the Suzuki plant in Esztergom, Northern Hungary on Thursday (June 10, 2010). It is important that new and existing investments in Hungary are successful because they will [...]
