Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony has met Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, in Paris, the mayor’s office said on Monday.
Budapest mayor meets IOC head
They were in agreement that the Hungarian capital had almost every sports facility that were required for hosting a summer Olympic Games, the office said in a statement.
Karácsony said that “organising a sporting event of this scale poses a great challenge even for Paris, a city with a lot more developed infrastructure”. “Should a plan seriously ever come up for Budapest to host an Olympic Games that would require a large-scale development of roads, bridges, public areas and the public transport system to make up for what has been undone over the past decade,” the statement quoted the mayor as saying in a post on Facebook.
He promoted a green development of the city and broad public consensus to be the base of a future Olympic concept.
A recent comparison of the prices of premium bakery goods – particularly croissants – in Budapest and Paris has sparked a heated discussion online. It appears that croissants in Budapest are more expensive than those found in the finest Parisian bakeries. Some argue that this is understandable due to various underlying factors.
Budapest vs Paris
Back in June, Telex wrote an article about premium bakery goods in Budapest and how profitable they are. The article inspired Hungarian writer György Dragomán to share his experiences on Facebook regarding the pricing of filled croissants in Budapest and Paris. He wrote: “I’m reading Vilmos Weiler’s article on telex, about whether croissants are expensive in super-bakeries in Pest. The last time I saw a 2,100 forint pistachio on Rákóczi Square, I remembered that I recently had the pleasure of an excellent pistachio matcha at the Chez Meunier bakery in Paris, which was awarded the best French croissant in 2023. It cost 4.50 euros.
I paid by card, I just checked the receipt and the bank charged 1,830 forints from my account. Pierre Hermé’s world champion “Ispahan” (raspberry-rose-lychee cream) croissant costs the same, and in the Parisian croissant department, it is pretty difficult to find anything more expensive. So we’ve not only caught up with Paris, we’ve left it behind. As far as the prices of top-quality pastries are concerned”.
Why are croissants in Budapest so expensive?
Telex has reached out to numerous premium bakery owners in Budapest to uncover the reasons behind the surprisingly high prices of croissants in Budapest. In conclusion, the high cost of croissants in Budapest’s quality bakeries can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the nascent premium bakery industry in the city lacks established, cost-effective supply chains. Secondly, low demand acts as a barrier to efficient, high-turnover operations and mechanisation.
Moreover, business models that support the sale of products at minimal margins are still underdeveloped. The combination of limited domestic demand and a significant tourist presence encourages bakeries to focus on luxury goods rather than everyday products. Consequently, only a few bakeries manage to achieve good profits. However, as demand increases, these challenges are expected to diminish, leading to more efficient production, better supply chains and a shift towards meeting everyday needs. Additionally, when considering the price, the size of the pastry should also be taken into account. While people criticise the prices of croissants in Budapest, they have also noted that they are the largest in the Hungarian capital.
Baked goods in Hungary
In Hungary, it is quite common to buy fresh baked goods in supermarkets. There, you can find croissants at significantly lower prices than in premium Budapest bakeries, which cost around ten times less. While premium bakeries offer pastries made from quality ingredients and free from preservatives and additives, the demand for such products remains low in the Hungarian market at present. A bakery owner told Telex that with growing demand, prices would probably normalise in the future.
France’s parliamentary election will not only influence the number of groups or representatives in the European Parliament but the future of the whole of Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview with public radio on Friday.
He said it was unprecedented in France for a right-wing party to make a breakthrough in a domestic election. The right, he added, had been cordoned off and excluded from French politics in recent decades, deemed unfit for cooperation by other parties.
But they had broken through this cordon, Orbánsaid, “and if I’m right, not by a small but by a big margin — if we’re interpreting the first round correctly.”
Such a momentous development in France would precipitate change “that will immediately affect the entire continent”, he said, adding that this would also influence ties between Hungary and France.
Regarding the Patriots for Europe group, the Hungarian PM said a founding meeting will take place on Monday. Parties will gather that have already decided to join but have not yet announced their intention to do so, he added.
The politician reiterated that the force could possibly end up being the second-largest grouping in the EP.
Viktor Orban “is doing the right thing” in his attempts to restore diplomatic communication channels as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview to Mandiner weekly in connection with the Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Moscow on Friday.
Sarkozy approves of Orbán’s Moscow visit
“The first step on the road to peace is to restore the communication channels,” Sarkozy said. Mandinersaid Orbánhad discussed his visit to Moscow with Sarkozy.
Former Austria chancellor praises Orbán’s peace efforts
Former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over his efforts towards establishing peace, saying that those “lend us an opportunity to move into the right direction”, in an interview to Mandiner.
The weekly asked Kurz, chancellor between 2017-2019, in connection with Orbán’s recent visit to Kyiv to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a peace proposal and travelled on Friday to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine has brought enormous suffering. Our main goal must be to stop bloodshed and return to the negotiating table for talks,” Kurz said, adding that those goals could only be achieved through diplomacy and open communication.
He said efforts by Orbán and Hungary’s current EU presidency “offer us an opportunity to take a step into the right direction, but it should be up to the warring sides to seek out a solution”.
Air Corsica, a popular French airline, is returning to Budapest Airport this December with Christmas flights.
French airline returns to Budapest with Christmas flights
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian air travel media outlet, Air Corsica will return to Budapest Airport this December with flights connecting the Hungarian capital with Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, and Bastia.
The Christmas flights will depart from Corsica on 3 December and return to the French island on 7 December.
Aircorsica.com called the flights golden options for locals to escape to the heart of Europe. The destinations include Italy, Czechia and Hungary. The cities will be accessible in just a few hours at the single rate of EUR 329, including tax for a round trip per person. That does not contain the service fee (EUR 3). The name change penalty is EUR 65.
Budapest Airport is ready for the EU presidency
Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time in its history, from 1 July to 31 December 2024. During this special period, an increased number of delegations will be visiting Hungary, primarily via Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The entire airport community has been preparing in a committed manner for the EU presidency over the past months, and everything is now in place to welcome the delegations appropriately, bud.hu wrote.
Future plans of Budapest Airport. Source: FB/Budflyer
In order to provide a worthy venue for the event, the Government of Hungary has designated Terminal 1 and its apron, a listed heritage building with a special atmosphere, to handle the passenger flows and charter aircraft movements associated with the delegations arriving during the EU presidency. Additionally, participants will also be arriving at Terminal 2 with scheduled flights.
Continuous, coordinated work of nearly 100 colleagues
All of Budapest Airport’s organizational units took part in the project, which required the continuous, coordinated work of nearly 100 colleagues from the airport operator alone. The authorities and partners also worked tirelessly on the preparations. As part of the refurbishment, all systems required for safe and seamless operation have been installed. The comfort level of the terminal was enhanced for the delegations. This not only improved the internal spaces, but also the area around the building. The pavement on the curbside in front of the terminal, the fences, the curbs and the green areas were also renewed.
“Budapest Airport connects Hungary to the world and the world to Hungary. During this politically and administratively important period, it is particularly important to be a worthy gateway for the country, as the eyes of Europe are on us and many high-ranking international officials and experts will arrive in Budapest. The responsibility of this is felt fully by Budapest Airport and the entire airport community. We have prepared everything to ensure that the delegations arriving by air during Hungary’s EU presidency receive high quality, seamless service at the airport, with the highest levels of security. I would like to thank all my colleagues and partners, especially the Airport Police Directorate, for their tireless work,” said Francois Berisot, the CEO of Budapest Airport.
In the middle of June, a joint test day was held between the airport operator and the relevant authorities, where the processes in Terminal 1 were successfully tested and everything is ready for the first delegations to start using the building from 1 July.
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British multinational low-cost airline group EasyJet will launch a new flight from Budapest to the City of Love, Paris this October.
New flight from Budapest to the French capital
According to airportal.hu, the flight will commute between Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport (BUD) and Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG). The planes will carry passengers four days weekly in the airline’s winter schedule.
The first flight will take off on 27 October from Budapest and will commute on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between Paris and Budapest. The exact times of departure and arrival will change each week. The flight will not operate on 25 December and between 8 January and 5 February, based on the data from the airline’s booking system.
easyJet. Source: Wikimedia Commons/MarcelX42
New flight to Lyon
Tickets are available until the end of the winter timetable, with the last flight available on 28 March. Before, EasyJet operated flights on the route until the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The British budget airline re-introduced its Budapest-Lyon flight in April. The first plane will take off on 21 August. Based on the plans, the new route will remain until October with two flights weekly. We detailed that and wrote about the moderate ticket prices for the flight in THISarticle. Though EasyJet started to close their Budapest routes one after the other before, the new flights mean they do not plan to leave the Hungarian capital.
Photo: facebook.com/easyJetHungary
Wizz Air plane struck by lightning
A Wizz Air plane heading to London was struck by lightning, and a passenger made a video of the terrifying event and shared it in a PlaneSpotting Facebook group. Thankfully, nobody was injured, and they could continue their journey without a problem, hvg.hu wrote.
The lightning probably struck the nose cone of the aircraft while part of the electric charge left the plane through its wings.
Lightning does not endanger the planes since they are Faraday cages, so the hull made of metal diverts the electricity and protects all people travelling on board. Statistics say that an average plane gets struck by lightning once or twice yearly. Here is the video:
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France also supports Hungary’s programme for its upcoming European Union presidency, with its focus on strengthening the European economy, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday.
In an interview with Hungarian public media, Orbánnoted that Paris was his third stop in a series of meetings with EU heads of state and government after talks in Berlin and Rome. Hungary is taking over the EU’s rotating presidency next month, he said, adding that his talks with Macron had covered French-Hungarian relations and the bloc’s next six months.
“After Berlin and Rome, we reached an agreement here as well and received approval for the next six months under the Hungarian presidency to be about improving the competitiveness of the European economy,” the prime minister said.
Source: FB/Orbán
Orbán said he and Macron had also touched on EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. He said certain Western Balkan countries had been waiting 15 years to join the EU. “This is incorrect, bad, perhaps even humiliating,” Orbán said.
He said an overwhelming majority of member states wanted the Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, to join the EU as soon as possible, adding that Hungary would work towards this in the coming period.
The prime minister said he and Macron had welcomed the development of bilateral ties and had agreed to further strengthen them.
Currently 45,000-50,000 Hungarian families make a living at French companies, and bilateral trade turnover has doubled in ten years, he said, adding that one of France’s biggest companies was also involved in the Hungarian state’s reacquisition of Liszt Ferenc International Airport.
Orbán said he had met representatives of that company on Tuesday, and today he and Macron had reaffirmed that this was not merely an investment but also a major development programme that was important to both France and Hungary.
He said they had also spoken about European affairs at their meeting.
Orbán noted that France is leading a European nuclear coalition of EU countries that say clean energy is impossible without nuclear energy. Hungary has been a part of the coalition since the beginning, he noted, adding that they had clarified the details of their cooperation in the matter. The prime minister also noted that French companies are also heavily involved in the upgrade of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant.
The prime minister said he and Macron had also agreed on expanding their defence industry cooperation. France has already brought defence industry investments to Hungary, but the two countries are also exploring new opportunities for cooperation, he said.
Orbán said the talks had also covered the war, noting that Hungary and France had “significant disagreements” in the matter. “I made it clear to the president that Hungary isn’t concerning itself with either Ukraine or Russia; it’s concerning itself with peace,” the prime minister said.
He said Hungary was not against one country or another, but against war. “It’s the war that we want to stop, so the most important goal for us is for there to be a ceasefire as soon as possible and to prevent further deaths,” the prime minister said.
In response to a question, Orbán said Chinese-Hungarian relations were not a topic of discussion at the meeting. “Everyone knows that Hungary has had balanced and good relations with China since historical times, and China has also elevated its cooperation with Hungary to a very high level,” he said.
He said the EU was aware of China’s role in the modernisation of Hungary’s economy, and China has offered Hungary a role in the modernisation of its own economy. “This entails an ever-increasing economic cooperation, to which the Europeans have no objections, nor can they,” he said.
As regards the EU’s leadership positions, Orbán said the top jobs had been decided, underlining, however, that Hungary had always been in favour of involving everyone in European decisions.
He said it was “not good” if the most important positions for the next five years along with their corresponding programmes were divided up on a party basis “by those who appointed themselves for this”, warning that it was “never good” if there was a “governing party and an opposition, a majority and a minority” in the EU.
Everyone should be included, he said, adding that this step had become “a coalition of the parties supporting the war and migration”, which Hungary had a duty to oppose.
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Mesmerising Wizz Air plane connects Budapest with Paris, CEO may get historic £100M bonus – Details and photos in THISarticle
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has met the CEO of Vinci Concessions, the company which co-acquired the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport with the government earlier this month, the PM’s press chief said.
At the talks with Nicolas Notebaert in Paris on Tuesday, the sides reviewed development plans of the airport, Bertalan Havasi said. Liszt International will see investment worth over one billion euros in the coming decade, including the construction of a new terminal, he said. Vinci has agreed to turning Liszt International into the most successful airport in central Europe, he added.
PM Orbán with Nicolas Notebaert, the CEO of Vinci Concessions. Photo: MTI
On June 6, the government announced that it had bought an 80 percent stake in the airportalong with Vinci, which had acquired 20 percent.
Here are the new leaders of the Budapest Airport
According to airportal.hu, the following officials will lead the Hungarian International Airport. The state-owned Corvinus International Investments Ltd, having 80% of the shares, will delegate Máté Lóga, a secretary of the national economy ministry, as president of the directorate. Other members of the directorate will be Ferenc Antal, a deputy secretary of the national economy ministry, László Parragh, the president of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Zoltán Guller, the president of the directorate of the Hungarian Tourism Agency.
Photo: FB/Budflyer
Vinci Airports, having 20%, delegated one member into the directorate, Emmanuel Robert Menanteau, who gained experience in the USA, North- and East Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The top officials of the Budapest Airport will be François Bérisot, the CEO of the Belgrade Airport, and Lorenzo Rebel, the financial deputy CEO of the Gatwick Airport.
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The right wing can become the second largest group in the European Parliament if winning French and Italian right-wing leaders came to an agreement and Fidesz also joins, PM Orbán told public radio on Friday.
Orbán said Marine Le Pen, who had achieved a strong lead at the French EP election, and Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right wing in Italy, should come to an agreement.
“If those two can strike a deal and Fidesz joins them, we could set up the second largest group in the European Parliament,” he said. “What’s more, some parties could be brought over from the European People’s Party and then the right wing could easily have the largest parliamentary group within half a year,” he added.
“That’s what we often dream about but then when we wake up we find that the two ladies cannot come to an agreement,” he said.
For years, it’s been a common belief that the prices at Lake Balaton are comparable to those of Western and Southern European seaside destinations, whether for accommodation, dining, or services. As the summer season approaches and Hungary’s previously high inflation rates have declined in the second half of 2023, Noizz.hu examined the current accommodation prices for a week-long stay at Lake Balaton versus various international beach destinations.
Despite frequent claims that Hungarian prices have surpassed those of Western Europe, Csaba Baldauf, Director of Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort, recently stated to Mindmegette.hu that “the data shows otherwise.” According to Baldauf, if we compare Siófok to Italian or Croatian resorts, Hungary still offers lower prices, including for services.
To verify if Balaton is indeed more expensive than Western Europe, Noizz.hu checked accommodation prices for a family of four (two children) for a week (5 nights) in Siófok, Croatia’s Split, and France’s Nice, based on Booking.com results.
Siófok at Lake Balaton
In the Hungarian beach paradise:
Average apartment prices for 5 nights range between HUF 180,000 and 220,000 (EUR 461 and 564).
A three-star hotel costs around HUF 200,000 to 250,000 (EUR 512 to 640), while higher-quality hotels range from HUF 300,000 to 700,000 (EUR 768 to 1793).
Split
Split, Croatia. Source: depositphotos.com
In Split, prices are generally higher:
Apartments can be found for around HUF 200,000 (EUR 512) for 5 nights, but most tend towards HUF 400,000 (EUR 1,025).
High-end apartments can cost up to HUF 1,000,000 (EUR 2,562).
Hotels are pricier, with most options between HUF 800,000 and 1,000,000 (EUR 2,050 and 2,562), and some exceeding double that amount.
Nice
Photo: depositphotos.com
In Nice:
Most apartments are priced between HUF 400,000 and 500,000 (EUR 1,025 and 1,281) for 5 nights, providing comfortable accommodation for a family.
Three-star hotels are around HUF 500,000 (EUR 1,281), while four-star luxury hotels start at HUF 900,000 (EUR 2,306) and can easily go up to double that amount.
Travel costs
Travel expenses are also worth considering:
Travelling to Balaton by car, depending on the starting point, costs about HUF 10,000 (EUR 26) round trip.
Driving to Split is more expensive, roughly HUF 70,000 (EUR 179) round trip, but it allows for flexibility with luggage and the possibility of saving on local food costs with a cooler.
Flights to Nice are pricier, with a round trip costing about HUF 40,000 (EUR 103) per person, totalling HUF 160,000 (EUR 410) for a family of four.
Additional costs
Photo: Facebook/Kistücsök Food & Room
Using Numbeo.com, Noizz.hu compared basic food and restaurant prices among the three cities:
Restaurant prices in Split are 15-20% higher than in Siófok’s Aranypart area.
Alcohol (beer, wine) is about one-third more expensive, but some cold foods, vegetables, and fruits are significantly cheaper in Split compared to Hungary.
Nice is even more costly: restaurant prices are 35-50% higher, alcohol costs 1.5 times more, and all market vegetables and fruits are more expensive than in Hungary.
Conclusion
In summary, it is not cheaper to travel to the Croatian coast or the luxurious Riviera for a week compared to staying in Siófok. Across all cost categories—travel, accommodation, dining, and groceries—staying in Hungary is more economical.
The European Commission “has failed on every front”, from the war to migration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a newspaper interview, saying the time had come for the rebirth of the right wing, and for that to happen, an agreement between Meloni and Le Pen was needed.
In the interview published on Tuesday in the Italian daily Il Giornale, Orban said his Fidesz party’s European Parliament delegation was ready to join the party family of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) headed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“We are aware of differences of opinion, but Giorgia and I have known each other for years, and she is doing extremely well in government,” he said.
Orban said he expected the European parliamentary elections to bring about a right-wing majority.
“This European Commission has failed on agriculture, war, migration and economy. They must quit,” he said.
Referring to Meloni and Marine Le Pen, the head of France’s National Rally (Rassemblement National, RN), he said:
“We are in the hands of two women who must reach an agreement.”
Put to him that the Fidesz EP group may also consider joining the Identity and Democracy (ID) party family, he said they were mulling multiple options, including setting up a new grouping. “The main goal is to be useful to Europe.”
Orban said that the EU was putting financial pressure on Italy because of its high public debt, and “blackmailing” Hungary for its stance on migration and gender policy. “It’s a political issue, it has nothing to do with the rule of law. We are resisting. We have a strategy to protect our sovereignty… Out fight may serve as an example to many other European nations,” he said.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Orban said the war was at a crossroads: “Either we isolate the conflict and find a diplomatic solution, or we wade deeper into the war.” Allowing Ukraine to attack Russian territories with weapons received from Italy and other countries may lead to a reaction from Russia and “the involvement of NATO will be just one step away”. Europeans wanted peace rather than war, he said, “and that is not to be toyed with”.
He slammed the EU’s “failed” migration policy and said that Hungary wanted to preserve its identity and stable welfare system. “We must stop illegal migrants arriving in Europe without the permission of nation states,” he said.
Regarding Ilaria Salis, an activist placed under house arrest in Hungary who is running for a seat in the EP, Orban said “Hungarians … don’t like foreigners coming to Hungary to commit crimes and beat up Hungarians.”
A unique Wizz Air plane will carry the Hungarian athletes to Paris. The new aircraft was inaugurated at a joint press conference of the low-cost company and the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
According to Utazómajom, a Hungarian travel news media outlet, flights between Budapest Airport and Paris-Orly from 30 May will carry the Hungarian athletes to the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in France. The Hungarian budget airline signed the relevant cooperation agreement with the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) in February. Wizz Air became the official partner of MOB and is committed to carrying the athletes to Paris in time and offering the highest possible comfort for them during their journey.
Interestingly, the Hungarian athletes competing in the summer Olympic games will travel on scheduled flights. Therefore, you can meet them even during your flight to the French capital or back. The aircraft’s name is “Team Hungary” and has a unique, golden colouring.
Photo: FB/Budflyer
The team’s current number is 161, which will grow in the next few weeks and may reach even 190 with new members and backups, MOB chairman Zsolt Gyulay said. He added they were proud to exceed the team’s number travelling to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics (organised in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Mr Gyulay said other nations had an Olympic aircraft before. Now, Hungarian athletes can feel how important they are and how many people support them in their struggle to become the world’s best. The chairman thanked Wizz Air for their commitment.
Photo: FB/Budflyer
Hungarians proud of Olympic team, Olympic Committee proud of Wizz Air
Dr. Ádám Schmidt, the secretary responsible for sport, said it is a historic development that the Hungarian team can travel to the Olympics’ venue with their uniquely designed, exclusive aircraft.
Wizz Air’s team and a team of engineers worked for two months on the design of the jet. The aircraft’s outlook was generated with software designed only for that purpose, while implementation took one week.
The Airbus plane arrived from Hamburg this spring and was built using the latest technology. Roland Tischner, the operation leader of the company, said they were committed to making the journey comfortable for each athlete and passenger.
Here are some more photos of the new plane:
Wizz Air CEO: everybody will profit from his GBP 100 million bonus
Wizz CEO József Váradi gave an interview to City A.M.and talked about the “incredible” bonus he gets provided Wizz Air’s share price hits GBP 120 before 2028. That would mean the creation of around GBP 10 billion in shareholder amount. Now, the share price stands at GBP 21, so there is much work to do, but the scheme provoked criticism last year. We detailed the issue in THISarticle.
Wizz Air CEO József Váradi. Photo: FB/Budflyer
But Váradi said he would get only 1% of that shareholder amount as a bonus. A bank would get more, he insisted in the interview. Furthermore, he highlighted that they “have a holistic approach that remunerates not only the chief executive but leadership, management of the company, as well as all the employees. So that all kind of cascades down every employee of the company… everyone benefits from a scheme like this.”
The payout will be the biggest in the London Stock Exchange’s history.
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At stake in the European parliamentary election will be whether war or peace prevails, Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for international relations and communications, said during a campaign tour on Thursday.
He said the Vietnam and Cambodian wars started when French military experts were sent out to these countries, and now French trainers “are going to Ukraine”.
Also, when it came to war, a similar situation prevailed as in 2015 in relation to migration, he said, citing a former Economist journalist who told him that everything the Hungarian government had predicted about migration in 2015 was now happening in Britain.
“London has fallen, there’ll be a general election on July 4, there’s an Islamist organisation, and the country’s culture is changing,”
Kovács said, adding that much the same was true in Germany and France and everywhere illegal migration was prevalent.
From the outset the Hungarian government has promoted peace and an immediate ceasefire, while the West had “pushed” Ukraine into a “deadly war”, he said, adding that this could have been prevented.
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The lifeguards saved the life of an elderly French tourist who fell ill at the Gellért Bath in Budapest.
Last Saturday afternoon, the elderly foreign tourist started swimming in the 1.80-metre deep water of an indoor pool at the Gellért Bath when he felt sick. At 16:20, a student lifeguard working at the baths noticed that the 71-year-old Frenchman was unwell and rushed to his aid, enbudapestem.hu reports.
Lifesaving at Gellért Bath
The Gellért Bath. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
He pulled the helpless old man out of the water, who was no longer breathing. The young lifeguard immediately started CPR.
In the meantime, a colleague informed one of the spa managers and the other lifeguard. The student continued chest compressions for three minutes, after which he and the other lifeguard continued CPR.
The paramedics arrived at the facility in about five minutes and stabilised the condition of the French man, who was taken to the emergency department of the Honvéd Hospital. The Budapest Spas cPlc. said they were proud of their colleagues’ efforts and would reward them.
Hungary’s government rejects all attempts at political pressure on where it buys its energy, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Tokyo on Tuesday, adding that national interests would always determine the government’s energy policy.
The three major crises faced by the world over the last five years all had a negative impact on energy markets, putting countries without a coastline or an abundance of gas or oil fields in an especially difficult situation, Szijjártó said at the Global Energy Security Talks conference, according to a ministry statement.
In his address, Szijjártó warned of mounting ideological and political pressure on energy markets, saying the recent period had demonstrated the importance of carrying out a responsible energy policy. He said this involved the government ensuring a country’s uninterrupted energy supply while also taking into consideration environmental protection aspects.
Szijjártó said this was only possible “if we get rid of the ideological approach and . if we get rid of hypocrisy”. Hungary, he added, stood by its position that energy supply was not a matter of ideology or politics, but one of physics and mathematics.
He noted that the sanctions imposed in response to the war in Ukraine had resulted in an energy crisis, while western Europeans “are proud of themselves that they got rid of Russian energy sources”. He added, however, that in reality, they were instead importing oil through third countries like India, and Russia also had the biggest share of western European LNG imports.
The minister also discussed the problem of pressure to diversify energy sources when the European Union did not want to contribute to infrastructure developments and spoke out against discrimination against nuclear energy.
Szijjártó said the Hungarian government rejected all forms of political pressure on where it chooses to buy its energy from and would always choose the best solution according to national interests.
He said decisions concerning the energy mix must remain within the EU’s national competence, and they should also consider a member state’s circumstances.
Hungary, he said, viewed the green transition as a means to preserving the planet rather as a political ideology or a monopoly. He added that Hungary was one of 21 countries that had managed to increase its GDP while reducing its harmful emissions.
Szijjártó underlined the need to find a balance between boosting competitiveness and environmental protection.
He highlighted three prerequisites for a responsible, carbon-neutral global energy policy of the future. The first, he said, was to ensure the role of nuclear energy, arguing that industrial growth would double the demand for electricity by the end of the decade, and nuclear reactors were the cheapest, safest and most sustainable energy sources for satisfying it.
He noted that the ongoing upgrade of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant involved a Russian general contractor in addition to American, German and French companies, adding that this could offer hope for a return to peaceful international cooperation.
Szijjártó said the second requirement was the transport sector’s transition to electric vehicles, on which a political decision has already been made in Europe. He added that this was also impossible without global cooperation, highlighting Hungary as a key meeting point for the sector’s Eastern and Western players.
Thirdly, Szijjártó underlined the need infrastructure developments related to energy supply, saying there was “no unnecessary infrastructure”.
He said the Hungarian government understood “diversification” of its energy supply to mean tapping new sources rather than replacing existing ones. He said this process was under way despite the EU not financing infrastructure developments in southeast Europe, arguing that gas would no longer be part of the energy mix in 15 years’ time.
“They might be right . but there are 14 winters to go, for which we have to ensure the safe supply of energy,” he said, adding that it was important to “avoid any kind of aggressive, artificially quick phase-out of gas from the national energy mixes”.
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Paris will host the most important competition series of the year, the 33rd Summer Olympic Games. In the spirit of sustainability, this will be the first venue where 95% of the infrastructure already existed prior to the events. 1,000 km of new bicycle paths, approximately 3,000 bikes will be at the disposal of 15,000 athletes, 45 million volunteers and 15 million visitors. For the occasion, 200,000 new trees will be planted and 700 drinking fountains will be installed in the French capital.
Compliance with the requirements of sustainable development also plays a central role in the coordination of processes at the Hungarian Campus of the French ESSCA School of Management International, a holding a distinguished place on the Financial Times’ list as being among the best management courses worldwide and recognized with the “Triple Crown” designation, the highest qualification of the profession. This time, the university organized a roundtable discussion on May 15th, 2024, in cooperation with the French Institute of Budapest, in relation to the “greenest” Olympic Games.
Source: press release ESSCA
In addition to sustainability and environmental protection, the importance of the role of sport is also a determining and mutual aspect to the festive games according to the values of the business school. The central topic of the roundtable discussion was also related to this, during which the distinguished panelists of the event elaborated on their point of view on the role of sports in the development of leadership skills. In addition to the foreign and domestic management of ESSCA, the leading directors of Accace Hungary and Morgan Stanley Hungary also shared their experiences at the international conference.
A similar mentality ties us together
According to a 2020 survey, 102 out of 102 leaders interviewed played sports. Young competitors state that exercise provides them with continuous development, a sense of purpose, faith, humility, perseverance and teamwork. These skills often pave the path to management positions later in one’s professional careers.
Dr. Jean Charroin. Source: press release ESSCA
Teammates-turned-colleagues typically think alike. And regular exercise is an excellent remedy for dealing with professional standstills and stress.
“For me sports help to reduce stress, divert my attention from problems at work, and give me energy for new challenges. We also used sports activity within the company to build teams and accelerate teamwork within departments.” – emphasized István Nemecz, Managing Director of Accace Hungary.
Green Olympics – Sustainable university
An outstanding aspect of the strategy of the ESSCA School of Management, which was founded 115 years ago and has a strong set of values, is the development of management skills in addition to quality education. The university places great emphasis on combining its values, cultural diversity, vibrant student life, professionalism, commitment to sustainability, and sports events in its everyday life. It supports the development of a sports mindset, i.e. a leadership attitude, through movement and the joy of playing together with many of its programs. Its annual sports day focuses on introducing environmentally friendly alternatives as well.
“At ESSCA, we are exploring how sports can be a catalyst for the training of committed and responsible leaders who are aware of their own social impact. We integrate the matter of social responsibility into our management influenced by sports in such a way to inspire change in society.” – said Dr. Jean Charroin, the CEO and Dean of ESSCA School of Management.
Source: press release ESSCA
“The ESSCA School of Management has always been a trendsetter in analysing, pointing to and sharing professional questions and scientific findings in order to help students and alumni better understand and apply their management skills in their own field. This year for the first time a global series of conferences on Artificial Intelligence has been launched at the Budapest Campus and now in honor of the Olympic Games organised in Paris ESSCA organises, in collaboration with the French Institute in Budapest, an exciting and inspiring roundtable discussion on how sports influence our leadership skills and approaches.” – highlighted Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray, the Campus Director of ESSCA Budapest.
“The French Institute in Budapest is delighted to organise the roundtable discussion titled “How sports influence leadership skills” in partnership with ESSCA, which has been a key partner of the French Institute of Budapest for over 30 years in strengthening Franco-Hungarian relations and promoting French excellence in the region. As France is welcoming the Olympic Games this year, we wanted to do our share and highlight the role of sports in developing leadership skills from a Franco-Hungarian perspective.” – emphasized Gianmarco Gallott, Scientific and Interuniversity Cooperation Attaché of the French Institute.
Long live sport, which develops leadership attitudes!
For the first time in the history of the Olympic pentathlon games, a marathon mass run will also be held. Determined amateurs can also try this out at the event.
Source: press release ESSCA
“Many parallels have been drawn between the sports and corporate world. By focusing on professional sport, they fail to take into account the specificity of sport as a leisure activity for the masses.” – warned Dr. David Ranc, Professor at ESSCA.
Dr. Julien Jouny-Rivier, Associate Professor at ESSCA, believes that there is a risk in highlighting a single individual among others during the marketing campaign built around team sports. This may jeopardize the understanding of the values conveyed by the campaign, as well as the impact on the stakeholders in terms of their professional future.
Sports prepare you for a career
A research conducted among men holding senior management positions showed that 86% of them were involved in sports in their youth. This has accelerated their career development, which contributed towards the positive evaluation during the selection process of candidates by taking into account one’s athletic past. Sports offer vision, dreams, courage and strategic thinking.
“Game theory suggests that martial arts significantly enhance social interactions. Becoming a warrior is about learning to face failure. The life of a martial instructor is about controlling space and striving for a (mostly) positive impact.” – pointed out Dr. Balázs Vaszkun, alumnus and Managing Director of Galloman Translation and Interpreting Agency.
“This is not only an Olympic year but also the year Budapest will host the FIDE Chess Olympiad, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on how sports, and in particular, chess, can shape business success. Chess nurtures strategic thinking, pattern recognition, adaptability and decision-making under pressure, skills that align with the demands of the business world. The many amateur and competitive chess players at Morgan Stanley recognize the power of chess to build resilience, creativity, and innovation, helping us excel in today’s complex business landscape.” – stated Norbert Fogarasi, Head of Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office, FIDE Candidate Master chess player.
The professional well-being of managers and employees contributes to the successful operation of an organization, and sports play a significant role in this. Physical exercise develops endurance and a goal oriented mindset in one’s career from the beginning to the end.
About ESSCA
The institution was founded in Angers, France in 1909.
The Budapest campus of ESSCA was founded in 1993, and welcomes 750 students from 30 different countries annually.
The university has been a member of Conférence des Grandes Écoles since 1977.
Uniquely among Hungarian universities it received accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, otherwise known as „the Triple Crown”.
The Financial Times has ranked its institution among the best business schools worldwide.
The university which has multiple international accreditations, has launched a bachelor’s degree in English in Budapest as well, where Hungarian students are also welcome to apply.
From June, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will operate a direct flight from Budapest to Trieste, one of Italy’s most exciting regions, twice a week. It has also been announced that the carrier will connect the Hungarian capital with Toulouse in France twice weekly from 28 October.
Ryanair announces two flights
Toulouse, France. Photo: depositphotos.com
Turizmus.com reported that from 2 June, Ryanair will operate a direct flight from Budapest to the Italian city of Trieste twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. What is more, according to AIRportal.hu, the Irish low-cost carrier will connect the Hungarian capital with Toulouse in France twice weekly from 28 October.
According to Ryanair’s booking system, from the start of the winter timetable, flights between Budapest and Toulouse will be operated on Mondays and Fridays.
Flight FR 1651 will depart from Toulouse on Mondays at 17:50 and arrive in Budapest at 20:20, returning to Toulouse at 20:45 with FR 1650, arriving at 23:15.
On Fridays, flight FR 1651 will depart Toulouse at 12:55 and arrive in Budapest at 15:25, returning to Toulouse at 15:50 with flight FR 1650, arriving at 18:20.
As AIRportal.hu writes, the route will be operated by aircraft of the airline’s Maltese subsidiary, Malta Air, based in Toulouse. The flight time is 2 hours 30 minutes.
Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, on Thursday inaugurated a capacity expansion of French machine manufacturer Alstom in Mátranovák, in north-east Hungary, and said that record investments would propel the country to the top of Europe’s list of fastest-growing nations.
The HUF 6 billion (EUR 15.4 million) Alstom project, which is expected to create 150 jobs, is supported by a HUF 1.2 billion (EUR 3.08 million) government grant, Szijjártósaid.
The investment will expand the Alstom plant’s capacity by 40 percent, he added.
France, the second largest economy in the EU, is among the five largest investors in Hungary, he added.
Parliament debates Hungary-UAE economic agreement
Parliament debated a proposal on an economic agreement between Hungary and the United Arab Emirates at its plenary on Thursday.
Tristan Azbej, a state secretary of the foreign ministry, said opposition lawmakers had “willfully misunderstood” the proposal.
Regarding the investment project to redevelop Rákosrendező area in Budapest’s 14th district, Azbej said the government was seeking a parliamentary mandate for an international agreement laying the groundwork for the project, he added.
“The bill doesn’t apply to the implementation of the Rákosrendező investment or the details contained therein, but solely to the request for authorisation relating to the procedure establishing [the project] through an international treaty,” he said.
Public consultation on the project was concluded in January in accordance with the law, he said. The consultation had yielded professionals’ remarks on issues such as green areas, environmental sustainability and other topics. The government “has considered the proposals and included them [in the project] within the bounds of common sense,” he said.
Azbej said compensation had also been included in the proposal. The investment itself “will create value on a scale that makes it significant to national economy and enriches the budget,” he said, adding that the investment was expected to create some 30,000 jobs.
He said it was inexplicable that green politicians could object to the a capital investment that would create areas with bicycle paths closed to traffic and new housing which coincided with their own policy aims.
