Sweden

Hungarian startup supports the innovation of a Swedish school

140 newly graduated Swedish high school students participated in a two-day innovation workshop in Budapest, and worked on a project how to improve the learning experience at their schools, Thoren Innovation School. Several Hungarian startups and large companies held speeches, students participated in a Design Thinking training, so they could come up with more innovative and creative solutions. And their ideas? For sure, the spirit of competition is very much alive in the Swedish students, since there were several ideas for year-round competitions between classes. They came up with a sound-insulated mobile space divider wall against the noise of lessons in the classroom, formed a plan to introduce strategic and business computer games in the curriculum to help students learn the basics of economics and urban planning. AR and VR technology would be used for the safe execution of chemical experiments, and the basic concept for an IT security videogame was also born.

In the Swedish education system, it is really important that the education methodology is adapted to the students’ interest and motivation, so even introducing VR glasses is realistic. Last year, coaches were hired to the teaching staff at the Thoren Innovation Schools, focusing on students’ goals and personal development, so teachers have more time to develop educational tools. Preparing students for the world of work are at the center at Thoren Innovation School, as after four weeks of study, four weeks of internship take place, and this system rotates all year round. Thus, at the end of high school studies, many students already get a job offer from the company providing the internship.

„Do not imagine blue-collar workers”, said Enikő Nőthig-Hegedüs co-founder and CEO at edUcate „the students participating in the two-day Innovation Tour will have the foundations of an engineering, IT or a science profession, they are learning more or already starting to work in this direction. Many times, right after graduation, companies are hunting for them thanks to their special knowledge. It was a great experience for us as well to hold the training for them, as the students were very open-minded, with creative and practical attitude. No wonder that so many fantastic and feasible ideas were born just in two days.”

EdUcate got in touch with the Thoren School in Gothenburg in the summer of 2017, during the company’s international expansion. They immediately identified common points and synergies, and the concept of the Innovation Tour was born. As a result of the event, students managed to discover the basic motivation behind learning and came up with a number of solutions to maintain it. The competitive spirit is strong in students, so a lot of ideas were built on how to conduct a year-long competition between classes, which keeps their interest constant, but also encourages them to help each other in learning.

Students love the small-group sessions in class, but at the same time, it is difficult to concentrate because of the noise generated. Thus, as a technological innovation, the concept of a mobile separating wall was created which is sound-proof and functions on both sides as a whiteboard. There was a team that would complement the security class with a video game which simulates a company and its technical devices, and the player’s goal is to protect it with the resources available. When a virus invades the company there is a deduction of points, but if they manage to defend the attack, they get extra points.

„We usually hold Design Thinking trainings for companies to help their growth. This is a creative problem-solving thinking and methodology. It provides innovative and marketable ideas that provide a new perspective and tangible growth opportunities for the company, but t is totally applicable for other organizations too, e.g. schools who wish to innovate themselves. During the Thoren Innovation Tour students learn innovation from experienced professionals, then work on the development of education, finally they presented their ideas to the school board who decides which ideas to implement in practice” – Enikő added.

The director of Thoren Innovation School in Gothenburg, Madelene Schöldberg, is very pleased with the results. Every year they organize a meeting for Thoren students which is mainly about networking and relationship-building. „This was the first time when the meeting had an innovation focus as well, and I think we build a great tradition on this, because who would know better what they need for learning more than the students themselves?! I’m so glad we went for it, and spent a few days in Budapest with edUcate. We’ve heard many inspirational speeches and we can take back to Sweden a lot of implementable ideas. And we’ve already started planning the Innovation Tour for next year!”

During the two-day training, a long list of Hungarian companies and startups helped the students with speeches and presentations about innovation: Skyscanner, Supercharge, BemyBoss, DayOne Capital, CEU Innovation Lab, IBM and the National Tradehouse also took part. Students visited company offices and gained insights into their workflows such as product development and design, then listened to inspirational speeches on the future of startups, innovation and the local ecosystem, and finally, participated in a workshop on „how to leave their podium fear behind” with Alejandro Duque.

May 30, 2018

Ericsson inaugurates Budapest headquarters

Swedish networking and telecommunications company Ericsson inaugurated a new headquarters and R+D centre in Budapest on Tuesday.

The headquarters, dubbed Ericsson House, was inaugurated by Ericsson chairman-CEO Borje Ekholm and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

More than 1,700 of Ericsson Hungary’s 2,000 employees work at the site on the banks of the Danube, and over 1,400 of these staff are R+D-focused.

Ericsson also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) to extend a collaboration aimed at long-term close cooperation in education, research, and innovation.

“Ericsson has a strong commitment to Hungary. The continuous growth of the local R+D organisation builds on excellent results achieved by Hungarian researchers and engineers, such as the development of Ericsson Expert Analytics, our real-time analytics solution,”

Borje said.

Orbán noted that Hungarians, as well as the Swedes, had been pioneers in the telecommunications industry in Europe, referring to Tivadar Puskás, the Hungarian inventor of the telephone exchange. He added that Ericsson had been the first foreign investor in Hungary’s telecommunications industry, entering the market in 1911.

Orbán called it encouraging that nearly 25 percent of Hungary’s economic growth in recent years came from the digital economy, and said the sector was of strategic importance. He added that the sector could do with another couple thousand small and medium-sized companies as well as 10,000 young engineers and IT specialists.

The prime minister said

the government would spend a nearly 130 billion forints (EUR 407.4m) on telecommunications developments involving over 8,000 companies.

He also mentioned that 11 companies from the sector have been included in the government’s strategic partnership programme.

“Hungary’s leaders must understand, not only in politics but in the economy, in science and in the intellectual world, that those who want to hold their own in the fight for the future cannot succeed unless they learn how to navigate on the ocean of global data flows,” Orbán insisted. The Hungarian government aims to “become conquerors and winners in an expanding world”.

Photo: MTI

May 29, 2018

Election 2018 – LMP: Swedish education system example for Hungary

The green opposition LMP does not want to learn from semi-dictatorships but from countries that have been able to develop, the party’s prime ministerial candidate Bernadett Szél said on Tuesday after talks with Swedish Education Minister Gustav Fridolin.

LMP’s election programme focuses on education more than any other party’s, she said at a joint press conference with Fridolin. In order to provide an international standard of education to young Hungarians, LMP plans to double resources available for the sector, offer more freedom to teachers and reduce the burdens on students and also on teachers.

She promised to triple the wages of career-starter teachers, double the total amount allocated for teachers’ salaries and return schools under the control of local councils.

Based on experiences gained in the Swedish education system, Szél said the number of teaching assistants would be doubled, integrated education developed and teachers offered extra financing or accommodation in underprivileged regions.

LMP would make the acquisition of not only the first degree free but also of the second and third degrees and even of the PhD qualification, she added.

Fridolin, who is also co-chair of Sweden’s Green Party, said he greatly valued the cooperation his party maintained with LMP.

Szél said in response to a question about the possible sources of financing that resources would be taken away from “Fidesz oligarchs” and the money will not be spent on building stadiums.

In response to a question about the possibility of a future coalition government proposed by Socialists-Párbeszéd prime ministerial candidate Gergely Karácsony, she said LMP would not form a coalition either with the right wing including Fidesz and Jobbik or the left wing including the Socialists and their allies.

The only area of possible cooperation would be to prepare the grounds for democratic elections and hold early elections because the current system is not democratic, she added.

Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzélBernadett

March 27, 2018

A Hungarian businessman paid for Deputy PM Semjén’s luxurious hunting in Sweden

Interestingly, he won many state tenders, as well – according to Magyar Nemzet. Government members and government-close press claimed that Semjén just visited his relatives in Sweden and they hunted together. However, Magyar Nemzet discovered that they were not even there.

State tender winner businessman paid the hunting for Semjén

Two people accompanied the Hungarian Deputy PM in Sweden. One of them is a businessman, József Farkas who owns many hotels in Hungary. According to the Swedish organisers, he transferred the money for the hunting each time. Furthermore, he

won many state tenders after Fidesz came to power and more than 530M HUF (EUR 1.7M) EU-allowances.

For example, Kék Duna Wellness Hotel in Ráckeve and four-stars Oxigén Hotel & Zen Spa received money both from the state and the EU. The latter got 365M HUF (EUR 1.17M) between 2010 and 2014.

Interestingly,

Deputy PM Semjén inaugurated Farkas’s new hotel in Noszvaj.

He said then that supporting tourism is in the interest of the national economy. He added that it is important to help Hungarian families spending their free time in Hungary. Thus, the government supports all investments that help the inherence of the Hungarian families.

A company in his interest, Szaktudás Kiadó Ház Ltd won many state tenders, e.g. from the University of Debrecen or the Hungarian Institute for Educational Research and Development. Moreover, they also took part in the Roma Self-government’s scandalous work program.

Jobbik launched legal procedure

Lately, the firm appeared in the new when it was entrusted by the Türr István Training and Research Institute to translate 20 years old American agriculture textbooks for 31M HUF (EUR 100,000). However, they published the books without reference to the original authors, as their own which resulted in a huge scandal

Farkas accompanied Semjén five times in Sweden while his son two times.

József Farkas denied that he took part in hunting with Semjén ever. However, Magyar Nemzet contradicted him with photos and other documents. He said on the phone to Magyar Nemzet that he does not know anything about the issue and then disconnected the line. The other stable fellow traveller of Semjén was László Vajai, a former Head of Department in the Ministry of Agriculture.

As we reported before, Magyar Nemzet received videos, photos and documents that Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt

Semjén used to take part in luxurious hunts in Sweden for years in total secrecy.

He hunted there in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and he did not arrive there alone. According to the organisers, the tours were organised with absolute care and strange precautionary measures. For example, it happened that a whole hotel was rented for Semjén and his company so they can be alone. As a result, nobody could recognise them, especially not other Hungarians.

The price for the trips was horribly high, 4-5 million Swedish krona (EUR 500,000) for each.

Jobbik launched legal procedure against Semjén

regarding his financial statement that according to MP György Szilágyi should have contained these trips financed by a businessman.

Photos: mno.hu

March 17, 2018

Novus Interior Hungary inaugurates EUR 1.6m production hall

Automotive industry supplier Novus Interior Hungary, a unit of Sweden’s Havd Group, inaugurated a 500 million forint (EUR 1.6m) production hall in Nagyvázsony, in western Hungary, on Tuesday.

The production hall, which the company paid for with its own resources, is part of a more than 1 billion forint investment that will be completed by 2019, creating 70 jobs.

Addressing the event, the Hungarian foreign minister said that the Swedish owner has chosen Hungary as a country for the investment that has the lowest tax rates and most flexible labour codes in Europe.

The country has also been favoured for serving as a logistics hub in central Europe, Péter Szijjártó said .

Novus Interior Hungary had revenue of 1.7 billion forints in 2016, public records show.

Featurd image: MTI

March 14, 2018

Hungarian deputy PM Semjén used to travel to Sweden in total secrecy to hunt

Magyar Nemzet received videos, photos and documents that Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén used to take part in luxurious hunts in Sweden for years in total secrecy. In fact, Semjén is the second on Fidesz-KDNP’s party list for the 2018 parliamentary elections. Not only deputy PM Semjén likes to spend money on luxury. For example, cabinet minister Antal Rogán took a luxury helicopter ride in 2016 to a wedding of her wife’s friend. What’s more, a helicopter will pop up in Semjén’s story, too.

Hunting in total secrecy

According to people Magyar Nemzet spoke with, deputy PM Semjén has been flying to Sweden once a year since 2012. They added that the president of the Christian Democratic Party hunts mostly for reindeer, moose and fool-hen. He hunted in Sweden in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and he did not arrive there alone.

He was always accompanied by a former Head of Department in the Ministry of Agriculture who hunted together with Semjén. According to Magyar Nemzet, the tours were organized

with absolute care and strange precautionary measures.

For example, it happened that a whole hotel was rented for Semjén and his company so they can be alone. As a result, nobody could recognize them, especially not other Hungarians. According to the organizers, it was very important to help Semjén to be successful. Furthermore, they learnt that he does not like long walks thus; they allowed him to move by a horse.

The price for the trips were horribly high, 4-5 million Swedish krona (EUR 500,000) for each.

Furthermore, luxurious extras even increased prices. For example, a helicopter ride in September last year to catch up and hunt down a reindeer.

Semjén simply does not have enough money for such luxuries

In fact, renting a helicopter is very expensive in Sweden, it costs 25,000 krone (EUR 2,464) for an hour. However,

Semjén’s monthly gross income as minister is 1,1M forints (EUR 3,533).

Furthermore, according to his financial statement (2017), his savings barely reach 5.5 M HUF (EUR 17,668).

It has been long known that Semjén is very passionate about hunting. He said to government-close Echo TV that communist leader János Kádár and János Fekete consolidated hunting in Hungary. He added that

hunting is independent from politics and it is a hungaricum (something specifically Hungarian).

Furthermore, in an interview, he talked about shooting roaming dogs to prevent the damage they cause to the economy and nature.

Photo: Magyar Nemzet

March 12, 2018

One of the most beautiful restaurants in the world serves Hungarian dishes

Luxury and lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler has just revealed its list of the most beautiful restaurants in the world in 2018. Unfortunately, there is no Central-European restaurant on the list. However, Swedish restaurant Bar Central was featured on the list. Why is it important? Well, the Swedish restaurant has several Hungarian dishes on its menu, reports hvg.hu.

Bar Central is a restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden. The restaurant is called central because it serves Central-European dishes, including a few Hungarian specialities.

For starters, the restaurant offers 22 months cured ham of the Hungarian Mangalica pig with olive oil and grilled bread.

Bar Central also serves Hungarian’s favourite fast-food: lángos, the famous deep-fried flatbread. On the menu, one can find the classic version of lángos with sour cream and cheese on top, but the restaurant came up with two other varieties to spice the traditional dish up a little. The so-called Getostlángos is lángos with goat cheese, sour cream and honey roasted walnuts on top. The Tryffellángos is lángos with truffle salami, ajvar and gruyère cheese on top.

As a main dish, Bar Central has a meal called Ungaren 205 which is homemade pork sausage spiced with Hungarian pepper with confit potato, cumin pickled red cabbage, Dijon mustard and red wine sauce.

According to Condé Nast Traveler, the main draw at Bar Central is the traditional Pilsner Urquell which is a Czech lager that has been made in a small Czech village since 1842. Pilsner is still only produced in its hometown, so the Swedish restaurant needs to take weekly deliveries straight from Pilsen. By the way, Pilsen is a quite well-known and popular beer among Hungarians too.

Besides the traditional Hungarian meals, the restaurant serves Czech, Austrian and German dishes as well.

Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the most beautiful restaurants in the world:

Leo Oyster Bar (San Francisco)
El Portalon (Ibiza)
Liza (Beirut)
Wanda Café (Madrid)
Ulu Cliff House (Bali)
Vespertine (Los Angeles)
Otium (Los Angeles)
Butterfly and Shugaa Café (Bangkok)
Raw (Taiwan)
Capri (Texas)
Lost Kitchen (Maine)
Lily of the Valley Café (Paris)
Marion (Miami)
El Moro (Mexico City)
Bar Central (Stockholm)
Woodstockholm (Stockholm)

photos:: www.barcentral.se

January 30, 2018

Swedish Nomad: 55 reasons to visit Hungary

by SWEDISH NOMAD (Guest author)

Ever since I found out about my Hungarian ancestry as a kid, I’ve been inspired to learn more and eager to visit Hungary. In the recent years, I’ve been exploring the country quite a lot, and last summer, especially when Christine and I did a road trip by train from Budapest to Eger, Miskolc, Tokaji, Debrecen and back to Budapest!

This article is a tribute to my Hungarian heritage and my grandfather Géza Waltner, who lives in the small but charming town of Sajószentpéter.

If you haven’t yet been, I urge you to go and experience all that Hungary has to offer. Here are 55 reasons why I think everyone should visit Hungary at least once in their life!

1. FOOD

One of the first things that come to mind when I think about Hungary is the food. There are so many delicious and flavorful dishes to try. Below are some notable dishes that are traditional in the Hungarian kitchen: Pörkölt, Gulyás, Halászlé, Meggyleves, Rakott Krumpli, Húsleves, Töltött Paprika, Lecsó, Paprikás Csirke, Töltött káposzta.

2. ESZTERGOM

An old city that already existed during Roman times and the former capital of Hungary between the 900’s and 1200’s, before King Bela IV moved the capital to Buda. The famous basilica is also the largest church in all of the country.

Esztergom is surely another good reason to visit Hungary beyond Budapest!

3. FISHERMAN’S BASTION

Few attractions have caught my eyes like the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mathias Church next to it. This place is like taken out of a fairytale, but it’s very real, and you can walk here yourself. If you come here early in the morning, you can almost imagine walking around in a scene from the Lord of the Rings!
fisherman’s bastion

4. TOKAJI ASZU

Probably the best sweet wine in the world. It’s so delicious. The first time you try it, make sure to select a good quality Tokaji Aszu with at least 5 puttonyos. Read more HERE.

tokaj aszúwine Hungary — Photo: Furmint Photo

5. ARCHITECTURE

Everywhere you go in Hungary, you will see old and beautiful architecture. In Budapest, you can walk around a whole day, just looking at old buildings and still haven’t seen them all. But also in other cities you will see some impressive architecture!
St Stephen’s Basilika

6. LILLAFÜRED

Famous for the natural caves and the Palace hotel in neo-Renaissance style as well as being home to the highest waterfall in Hungary.
lillafûred

7. INTERESTING AND UNIQUE FOLK TRADITION

Hungarian culture and traditions are some of the best-preserved ones in Europe. They go back to the old days, and as a tourist, it will be very interesting to attend events and festivals.

8. AGGTELEK

A world heritage site and also the longest stalactite cave system in Europe. If you like to explore underground, then you shouldn’t miss Aggtelek in Northeastern Hungary!
aggtelek – reasons to travel to hungary

9. IT’S STILL AFFORDABLE AS A TOURIST

While prices have increased in Budapest in recent years, it’s still very much affordable to visit Hungary as a tourist. You can see a lot of things, use public transportation, eat lots of food and have a good time without breaking the bank.

The same goes for hotel and spa experiences. You can stay at a luxury hotel here for at least half the price compared to cities like London or Paris.

10. BUDAPEST

One of my absolute favorite cities worldwide. There are just so many attractions, spa, neighborhoods, nature, cafés, bars and shopping that you could stay here forever and never get bored. As a tourist, you will probably only stay for a couple of days, but you’ll definitely want to come back!

Read my guide with the top things to do in Budapest

11. OPERA

While Opera originated in Italy, you will find plenty of extravaganza and quality for your money when attending the National State Opera House in Budapest. First of all, the opera house is one of the most beautiful in the whole world with fantastic acoustic. Secondly, it’s very cheap compared to La Scala, but you still get a high-class performance here!

If you haven’t been to an Opera before, then make sure to go in Budapest.

Hungarian State Opera House, photo: Wikimedia Commons

12. LÁNGOS

Probably the best snack/fast food in the whole world.

It seems like the world-conquering tour of lángos in unstoppable. More and more people hear about it, give it try and also hopefully send its word all around the world. It is not too complicated to make lángos and it is definitely worth to give it a try. (LÁNGOS RECIPE – Read more here and watch the video.)

13. HOLLÓKÖ

Another UNESCO world heritage site, and a place to visit if you want to get a cultural experience. Here you can also see the Hollokö castle.

14. BALATON SOUND AND SZIGET FESTIVAL

If you like to party with people from all over the world, you should visit Hungary when Balaton Sound or Sziget Festival is ongoing. I will let the videos talk for the festivals, and if you like it, then you know that you have to come!

[button link=”https://www.swedishnomad.com/55-reasons-to-visit-hungary/” type=”big” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] Read more REASONS WHY EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT HUNGARY AT LEAST ONCE![/button]

January 7, 2018

A Hungarian lady in Sweden

Zsófi has been living in the Scandinavian country for five years. She was already studying Swedish before she first thought about moving to Sweden. It used to be her hobby, but life made this knowledge useful. She got used to the different lifestyle (it is a critical aspect of Hungarians moving abroad, as Éva’s case showed us recently) and she just loves this atmosphere, as she told Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu.

She has been interested in Swedish culture and language for a long time. She has been studying Swedish as a free time activity when she was living in Budapest. This became quite useful when she finally moved to the country to live with her fiancé.

The first couple of weeks have proven to be a huge struggle with bureaucracy, but after she had received her Swedish ID, a whole lot of opportunities opened up to her. In Sweden, almost all services (like online shopping or banking) require this number, so people are dependent on it.

As her fiancé is Swedish, she was exposed to the language all the time. Despite her previous knowledge, she found this new language environment trying in the first period.

She made a lot of friends and developed a close relationship with her neighbours with whom she spent a lot of time together. She found that the stereotypes about the Scandinavian introversion could not be less true.

She experienced that they are open and kind, but leave some private space for each other and do not harass anyone with undesired advice.

One of the most significant changes compared to Hungary was the weather. On the Northern part of Sweden, where Zsófi lives, the weather between October and March is like winter in Hungary. It is a period when the sun rises only for a couple of hours and it does not provide any heat. The usual sight is thick darkness illuminated by snow and candles in the windows. It is quite the contrary in summer: the sun never sets and there is light day and night.

Sweden is also special in the field of the labour market, as there is not any classical hierarchy present at workplaces. The boss is closer to his “subordinates” and it is his job to provide them with the proper working environment. Of course, the jobs are still needed to be done. There are breaks in the morning and in the afternoon when employees can have a coffee or a snack. Some workplaces even offer fruit to the workers.

Most of the Swedish employees have a right to go on a holiday for 4 consequent weeks.

Zsófi states that this month is sufficient for taking a long journey and fill up with experiences.

She is managing an amateur young theatrical group. They write and direct the plays with her fiancé. She is fascinated by the enthusiasm of the young people dedicating their free time to theatre.

Though the Swedish people work very hard from Monday to Thursday, Friday is a great relieve for both employer and employee. It is a custom in Sweden that they have tacos for dinner on Friday. Despite the fact that it is a traditional Mexican dish, it had become a national meal in Sweden. It is also a common habit that children are allowed to eat chips and adults can have a glass of wine.

The distribution of alcohol is bound by strict regulations in Sweden. Alcoholic drinks are only available in “Systembolaget” shops. They close on Saturday afternoon and open only on Monday, so Swedish people often fill up their stocks on Friday after work. Systembolagets provide instructions about alcohol consumption and the assistants can even help customers about which wine matches a certain dish.

Photos: Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu; featured image: Gothenburg, illustration

December 19, 2017

Hungary, Sweden defence ministers agree on stronger cooperation

The Hungarian and Swedish defence ministers agreed on strengthening defence cooperation between their countries at talks in Budapest on Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, István Simicskó noted that he briefed his Swedish counterpart on the Hungarian defence and military industry development programme dubbed “Zrínyi 2026”.

They discussed possible entry points for the Swedish military industry in the modernisation of the Hungarian military, he said.

They also talked of the status and future of the Gripen military aircraft the Hungarian military leases from Sweden.

Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said he was “proud” to cooperate with

Hungary as the first country to procure Gripens.

They agreed to strengthen cooperation between Hungary and Sweden in several areas, including the Gripens’ military equipment.

Photo: MTI

September 26, 2017

Budapest is the most popular destination from two Western airports

Heti Világgazdaság reports that the top one destination of the Luton and Charleroi airports is Budapest. The majority of travellers choose to fly to Budapest out of all the available destinations there.

Eurostat has put together an interactive map regarding where Europeans like to travel most. Based on this, we can see that the favourite destination of Hungarians’ is London, but what is surprising, is that the most frequently booked flight from the London/Luton Airport is to Budapest. 230 thousand Hungarians working abroad and Britons came to Budapest for stag parties during 12 months.

Budapest is the most popular destination from the Charleroi airport too. From the airport next to Brussels, 153 thousand people flew to Hungary during one year.

The top five destinations from Budapest include two airports from London, 240 thousand people flew to Luton and almost 185 thousand to Stansted through the course of 12 months. 215 thousand people chose Frankfurt as their destination from Budapest, 214 thousand chose Paris and 165 thousand chose Amsterdam.

We wrote previously that the number of passengers arriving to Budapest rose by an annual 15.4 percent to 1.33 million in July. This is mostly because of the World Aquatics World Championship.

Besides Luton and Charleroi, there are two other European airports from where people flew mostly to Budapest. 49 thousand people travelled to the Hungarian capital from Malmö, the only one destination from there that is popular than Budapest is Stockholm. 98 thousand people arrived in Budapest from Eindhoven, the top two from there is London and Alicante.

featured image: bud.hu

September 17, 2017

Hungarian President Áder advocates inter-governmental body to tackle water crisis

President János Áder has proposed setting up an international body of scientists under the aegis of the United Nations to tackle an impending shortage of drinking water.

Addressing a World Water Week conference in Stockholm, the Hungarian president said that “the world has now understood the impact of climate change but not of the water crisis”.

Áder insisted that all countries would be affected by the water crisis and said that “the drama of water is unfolding”. “We are no longer talking about the future but about cardinal problems of the present,” he said. He also noted that political crises of the present time were connected to issues in water supply.

World Water Week conference in Stockholm, photo: MTI

In his lecture, the president said that coal-fueled energy plants needed to be suppressed not only because of their high carbon-dioxide emissions but because they consumed “as much water as could supply 1 billion people”.

Unless current water-related policies are changed, a combat against poverty cannot be successful, Ader warned, and urged an increase of investment in the water infrastructure. He called it important that the UN should have an official in charge of water-related issues.

As part of his three-day official visit to Stockholm, Áder has attended this year’s Water Prize ceremony and was received by King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Photo: MTI

August 31, 2017

Hungarian President Áder congratulates winners of Junior Water Prize in Stockholm

Hungarian President János Áder congratulated the winners of this year’s Junior Water Prize at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.

As we wrote yesterday, Hungarian President János Áder discussed ocean pollution, overfishing and Sweden’s commitments to fighting climate change made at the 2015 Paris climate summit with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm. Later in the evening, Áder attended the Junior Water Prize award ceremony.

In the ceremony late on Tuesday, Ader said that connecting commitment, creativity, youthful impetus together with new scientific results would be the challenge of the next generation of water experts.

Students of Hungary’s Szent László Gimnazium of Kőbanya, Budapest, represented Hungary at the 2017 Junior Water Prize.

The awards ceremony took place in the presence of Crown Princess Victoria, the competition’s patron.

Áder said in his speech that the population explosion, the water crisis, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and increasingly severe droughts all have dramatic consequences for the world.

August 30, 2017

Swedish publisher fined for Holocaust-denial book in Hungary

The head of a publishing house in Budapest has been fined for publishing and selling in 2012 the Hungarian translation of a book by a Swedish author denying that the Holocaust took place.

The prosecutors of Budapest’s 5th and 13th districts brought charges against the publisher of a book denying the Holocaust, the Budapest chief prosecutor told MTI on last Thursday. Written by a Swedish author, the book was published in 2012 and distributed by the accused, Tibor Ibolya said in a statement. Last week the prosecutor’s office requested the court to impose a fine on the publisher, who has admitted to the crime, it said. A Budapest district court has ordered the internet content concerned to be made temporarily unavailable in 2016. The indictment requested the ban to be made permanent.

Tibor Ibolya, Budapest’s public prosecutor, said in a statement today that a fine of 120,000 forints (EUR 393) had been levied against the accused. If the head of the publisher fails to pay within 120 days then the sentence will be changed to a term of imprisonment, he added.

The prosecutor has not released the name of the author, the title of the book or the name of the Hungarian publisher.

The authorities have also ordered a ban on related content on the internet.

As we wrote on June, Hungarian police handed over Horst Mahler, a former German lawyer sentenced to prison for Holocaust denial, to German authorities on Tuesday.

August 30, 2017

President Áder, king of Sweden discuss climate change in Stockholm

Hungarian President János Áder discussed ocean pollution, overfishing and Sweden’s commitments to fighting climate change made at the 2015 Paris climate summit with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Based on Sweden’s economic strength, its commitment to cut its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2045 “seems realistic”, Áder told Hungarian public media after his talks, which he said tied into the ongoing World Water Week in Stockholm.

Áder said Hungary could learn from Sweden, where he said there is broad consensus on decisions affecting future generations.

Later in the evening, Áder attended the Junior Water Prize award ceremony, where Hungary were represented by the Szent László Grammar School.

Photo: MTI

August 30, 2017

Hungary to take in Iranian Christian refugee if expelled from Sweden, says deputy PM

Hungary is ready to take in an Iranian Christian woman about to be expelled from Sweden, the deputy prime minister, Zsolt Semjén, told the daily Magyar Idők.

After rejecting her claim for asylum for the second time, Sweden is about to deport Aideen Strandsson, even though her conversion to Christianity in Sweden could put her life in danger back home, Semjén, the head of government while Viktor Orban is on holiday, said in the interview published on Wednesday.

Hungary does not send any asylum seeker to countries where their ethnic, religious or political background may put them in harm’s way, he said.

Strandsson would be welcome to stay in Hungary pending the favourable outcome of procedures such as national security checks, Semjen said.

“We have always differentiated between economic migrants and real refugees. We’ll protect Hungary from a migrant invasion but help all those in real danger,” Semjén said.

“Christians integrate easily into the Christian European culture, unlike Muslims who have no intention of integrating,” he said.

Strandsson was publicly baptised shortly after arriving to Sweden in 2014, the daily said, citing the website citizengo.org. The move was unexpected for an asylum seeker. Many do not publicly declare their conversion for fear of retaliation from the Muslim community, according to the website.

Her deportation would be in contravention of international agreements such as the Geneva Convention prohibiting expulsion to countries where the asylum seeker’s life may be put in danger, Magyar Hírlap said.

Photo: MTI

August 9, 2017

What did a Swedish travel expert like in Budapest?

Visiting Budapest is a perfect program for a weekend — at least as Swedish journal Dagens Nyheter’s author Mans Ivansson claims in his article. The journalist recently published a report in the Swedish paper, according to Turizmus.com.

The ruined, sleazy houses and ruin pubs seem romantic in the eyes of foreigners, as long as the restroom is clean, the prices are favorable and guests do not get tricked. Ivansson also praised the attractiveness of the Secession and Art Deco style buildings. He also mentions New York Cafe from this perspective.

He highlights Corintia Hotel Budapest — with mentioning the exact address and the room prices — referring to its history going back to 1896. He also mentions how gorgeous the palace is, and how much it resembles to Grand Budapest Hotel from Wes Anderson’s Hollywood hit picture. He also praises Palazzo Zichy.

The author mentions that bathing also means unforgettable experiences — like, for example, in the Széchenyi Bath. He also liked the Fisherman’s Bastion and the Buda Castle. He calls the marketplace at Fővám Square an “exotic adventure”, but it is not the only place where it is worth to go for shopping: Godzsu yard’s small shops and antiques remain memorable for every tourist.

Of course, Hungarian cuisine is also on the list of attractive factors. Ivansson, in the end, seems to know very little about the Hungarian wine culture.

Photo: www.newyorkcafe.hu

Ce: bm

July 29, 2017

IKEA opening it largest store in Hungary and coming up with a new idea

Anyone living in Budapest or Budaörs knows IKEA and its iconic meatballs for sure. The Swedish furniture shop is well-known for its professional advertising techniques that do not let anyone return from their premises with empty hands. Now they have opened their third shop in Soroksár, and it is bigger than any other so far.

One of the first innovations with which a customer meets when stepping into the new shop – according to 24.hu – is the café, which offers new types of pastries like éclair doughnut, the caramel cake with pear and the new Swedish apple cake. Of course, an IKEA is not a real IKEA without the restaurant with the meatballs and some other Scandinavian specialties, so this is also present in the new spot.

Still, the real improvement cannot be found here physically, only while browsing the web. According to Portfolio.hu, the Swedish enterprise has never been involved in online purchasing like other companies. This has changed: IKEA began to discuss online merchandising with multiple potential partners, including Amazon.

The main reason of the innovation is the ever-growing competition, which made IKEA reconsider some of its commercial strategies. Among others, they are planning to cooperate with other department stores to adapt to customers’ demands. Purchasing through Amazon is probable IKEA’s greatest deal this year, as it might make purchasing furniture and other accessories much more comfortable.

The bad news for meatball lovers is that, though sauces can be bought through the new online system, the balls themselves are still only available in the stores. Internet cannot solve everything, unfortunately.

It is notable that, in the past fiscal year, IKEA’s online sells produced a 30 percent of increase – namely 1.4 billion euros – which was still only a fragment of the 34.2 billion euros of the total revenue.

Ce: bm

June 19, 2017