United States

Infamous Viktor Orbán interview also contributed to the dismissal of the US reporter

Hungary Tucker Carlson PM Orbán

Fox News did not tolerate that Tucker Carlson intentionally harmed the reputation of the network when he moved his show to Budapest in 2021 and interviewed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán without permission.

Fox News was not happy that Tucker Carlson moved his show to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, for several days in 2021, according to a newly published book. The American TV host interviewed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

In his book, Brian Stelter, a reporter and media correspondent for the New York Times and CNN, writes that his bosses were allegedly already displeased with Tucker, and his anti-Trump antics, years before his dismissal in April this year. According to the FOX executive, who is cited anonymously in the book, Carlson “knowingly caused damage” to the network.

The book also touches on the broadcast in Budapest, when Carlson did a programme with Viktor Orbán. The book described the incident as a “watered-down national advertisement for Viktor Orbán’s increasingly autocratic and patriarchal country”.

According to the publication, Carlson praised the Hungarian prime minister for his “anti-immigrant, nationalist stance” in the interview. This unauthorised interview may have been the last straw for FOX executives, hvg.hu writes.

World-famous Woody Allen greets Hungarian actor with a VIDEO

woody allen

Standing in his living room, the world-famous director thanked Hungarian actor András Kern for bringing his characters to life in Hungary. Woody Allen sent a message to the actor to mark the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Play it Again, Sam.

The play Play it again, Sam was first performed at the Vígszínház (Comedy Theatre of Budapest) in November 1983, 40 years ago, Index reports. The play is based on the 1972 film of the same title, starring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton.

On this anniversary, Woody Allen sent a video message to András Kern, his Hungarian voice. In the video shared on TikTok, he thanks the actor for his work so far and wishes him to continue what he has been doing for another 20 to 30 or even 60 years and to achieve great success.

The video was shared by presenter Anna Bárány on TikTok:

@annabarany

Játszd újra Sam! 40 éve!!!! @Vígszínház #játszdújra #negyvenéve #pestiszinhaz #kernandras #woodyallen

♬ eredeti hang – Anna Bárány

Hungarian DefMin opens Adaptive Hussars 23 exercise

Hungarian Defence Forces

Hungary’s government sees the security of Hungarians and preserving peace as its priority, the defence minister said in Hódmezővásárhely on Tuesday, at the opening event of the Adaptive Hussars 23 international military exercise held in the presence of President Katalin Novák.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary was building a military capable of facing all security challenges in close cooperation with its allies.

In the current “era of dangers”, Europe faces war, illegal migration and the threat of terrorism, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. The national security service has warned of the possibility of “trained soldiers of terrorist organisations, and with them the threat of terrorism, at the borders of Hungary,” he said.

At the same time, the Armed Forces and defence industry are thriving, with new factories, successful recruitment, and performance showing “the Armed Forces have reached a new level”, he said.

Adaptive Hussars 23, a complex international exercise with participants from Italy, Turkiye, Croatia and the US, is taking place in several parts of the country, involving much of the Armed Forces and public administration, he said. The exercise is about testing and developing the country’s defence capabilities, he said.

The initial phase involves some 1,000 troops, 340 of whom are foreign and 170 Hungarian.

Besides Hungarian and foreign military units deployed to Hungary, the exercise involves some 4,500 members of Hungarian public administration, he said.

Adaptive Hussars 23 is the largest exercise of the Hungarian Armed Forces this year, “a test of everything we have built and created so far. We will see where we stand and what and how we should bolster further,” he said.

The exercise will improve cooperation between various branches of public administration and soldiers, while public servants will have a better knowledge of how to help each other in joint tasks, he said.

In military life “we must always hope for the best but prepare for the worst. We must be ready to do what needs to be done for our family, our localities and the country…” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

US Ambassador urgently travels back to Washington: will he return with new sanctions?

US Ambassador David Pressman sanctions

A Hungarian media outlet believes US Ambassador Pressman will return with a bunch of new anti-Hungary sanctions from Washington because that is what happened after his latest Washington visit.

On 2-3 November, US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman travelled to Washington, D.C. to consult with senior US government officials about the US-Hungary bilateral relationship. The Ambassador’s engagements included meetings with senior Executive Branch officials, including at the White House and Department of State, in addition to senior Congressional leaders, the official website of the US Embassy in Budapest wrote.

After Pressman’s previous visit to Washington, the USA announced a sanctions package against Hungary, index.hu wrote. Weeks ago, we wrote that the Biden administration was preparing to introduce restrictions against Hungarian private individuals because they conflicted with the Hungarian government.

The last time Pressman was in Washington was in March. After his return, he announced US sanctions against the Budapest-based Russian International Investment Bank and its Hungarian vice president, Imre Laszlóczki. We wrote about that HERE. Afterwards, the US government introduced restrictions concerning the visas of Hungarian individuals born abroad.

President: Hungary protecting Schengen

Hungarian President Katalin Novák

President Katalin Novák, concluding her official visit to Australia, told Sky News Australia that “Hungary is not only protecting its own borders but also that of the European Union”.

In an interview broadcast on Friday, Novák told programme host Rita Panahi that “we have a very strong pressure from our southern borders, we are protecting actually the external borders of the European Union, of the Schengen zone.”

She expressed her strong belief that strong borders represent a strong country, saying that “a country is as strong as it can support its land, its borders”.

“It is a must for each and every country to be able to decide on who to let in and who not to,” said the president.

In connection with migration and demographic challenges, she said Hungary’s focus was on supporting families and child-bearing instead of immigration. “For us family is a core value, our society is based on strong families”. The president noted the objective to reduce the financial burdens of young couples and single-parent families through family and child-bearing support schemes. “We spend more than 6 percent of our GDP on family support which is the highest percentage worldwide,” she said.

As a result of family support measures, the number of marriages had doubled in Hungary over the past ten years and the country’s fertility rate has grown by 25 percent, said the president.

President: Hungary directly affected by the war in Ukraine

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, she said that “having a Hungarian ethnic minority on the territory of Ukraine, we are really directly affected by the war in the Ukraine and that is very worrisome”.

“The war is a tragedy on a daily basis, on both sides they are losing lives.”

The president said that Hungary was doing its “utmost” to reach peace as soon as possible through negotiations and peace talks.

Hungary condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and provides humanitarian aid to people fleeing the war in the neighbouring country, Novák said.

In connection with Israel, Novák said “we are very worried over the situation” there and “we are very supportive for Israel”.

Asked about next year’s US presidential election and US-Hungarian relations, Novák said it was important “that nobody intervenes in Hungary’s internal policies”. “We are a sovereign country, a sovereign nation, we are sovereign people…”

Read also:

  • Why is today a National Mourning Day in Hungary, symbolized by Russian tanks? – Read more HERE
  • Sorrowful: Popular Hungarian restaurant in Canada closes for good

Hungary cooperating with Chinese Huawei: Biden cabinet outraged

solar energy - Orbán Chinese Huawei

In a recent turn of events, Hungary’s 4iG and Huawei have forged a technological partnership that has sparked significant concern in the United States. As the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding, this collaboration has become a focal point for discussions on diplomatic relations, national security and the role of technology in global geopolitics.

The unfolding 4iG-Huawei partnership

According to G7, the new partnership agreement entails cooperation in various tech sectors. It encompasses mobile and fixed communications development, technical research, and the provision of the joint data centre, cloud and IT infrastructure services. This strategic collaboration between 4iG and Huawei signifies their intent to play a pivotal role in the ongoing 5G network development, a global race for high-speed data transmission.

US government voices concerns

Representatives of the US government wasted no time in expressing their reservations about this partnership. During their discussions with Gellért Jászai, the head of 4iG, they emphasised their concerns regarding Huawei’s involvement. The Chinese company has faced numerous restrictions in the US and other Western nations due to national security apprehensions. In response, Jászai has suggested that American concerns stem from a reluctance to witness a prominent telecom company in the heart of Europe expanding its influence with Huawei’s technology. This assertion highlights the geopolitical dimension of the partnership, raising questions about Hungary’s stance and its international alignments.

National security and geopolitical implications

This partnership with Huawei has far-reaching implications, particularly concerning national security concerns. Western countries have expressed unease about Huawei’s close ties with the Chinese state, fearing potential cyberattacks and espionage activities. Huawei has consistently denied these allegations and has sought to challenge them in court, but doubts persist.

US-Hungary relations in the spotlight

Of particular interest is the broader context of US-Hungary relations, especially under the Biden administration. The US’s stance on this partnership could influence diplomatic ties. Moreover, it has the potential to add complexity to the evolving geopolitical landscape. The situation becomes even more intriguing when considering Hungary’s unique position, as it has not displayed the same level of “Huawei phobia” as most Western countries.

4iG’s expanding role and international reach

4iG’s ambitions extend beyond Hungary’s borders, as evidenced by its recent partnership with the Montenegrin government to develop a 5G network. Additionally, it may play a role in the construction of a submarine cable linking Albania to Egypt. These expansion efforts further complicate the dynamics between Hungary and the US.

Hungary has a decade-long history of cooperation with Huawei. Earlier this month, the Hungarian Economic Development Minister signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei, solidifying their ongoing collaboration. However, in this rapidly evolving landscape, the implications for US-Hungary relations remain a subject of great interest. The US’s stance on Hungary’s 4iG-Huawei partnership has the potential to impact diplomatic ties with Hungary and the leadership of Viktor Orbán, adding an additional layer of complexity to the unfolding geopolitical narrative.

 

 

Hungarian plane exploded, widower struggles to bury his late wife

Plane exploded

A Hungarian aircraft blew up and plunged into the sea, claiming the lives of all on board, their remains lost in the depths of the sea. The only wish of a Hungarian stewardess’s widower is to lay his spouse to rest, yet the task appears impossible.

According to Blikk, a Hungarian news outlet, Malév’s TU-154 passenger carrier met its tragic fate on 30 September 1975, when it was probably shot, and thus, it crashed into the sea. Mr Németh, who lost his 24-year-old wife, a flight attendant who worked on board of the ill-fated plane, remains haunted by the enigma of the Hungarian aircraft and its people, vanishing into the abyss of the deep sea.

However, László Németh, the Hungarian widower, clings to the hope of recovering his long-lost wife’s earthly remains and giving her a proper burial. Based on some sources, nearly half a century ago, Lebanese rescue teams managed to retrieve some of the victims. Still, these claims do little to console the grief-stricken widower.

Mr Németh recalls that soon after the tragedy, speculations arose that the Hungarian plane had carried weaponry and fighters to support the Palestinian cause against Israel, as the Soviet Union backed that struggle, while the USA aided Israel. According to this narrative, the Hungarian plane fell victim to one of the numerous peripheral conflicts of the Cold War.

Passengers aboard the Hungarian plane had no chance of survival

Mr Németh believes the Hungarian government could obtain information from the Americans about what actually happened. However, there has been little attempts made. Up to this day, we only know that the plane blew up probably because it was hit by a land-air rocket.

Fifty passengers were travelling on the 160-seat plane, with only one Hungarian among them, László’s 24-year-old wife. There were Australians, Finns, Duch and Angolans. Additionally, the cargo hold contained metal or wooden crates bearing the inscription “Videoton,” one of Hungary’s major companies during the Socialist-Communist era. These crates were stowed in place of the removed seats.

Radio communication faltered 10 kilometres before the plane’s arrival in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. According to British air force officer Tom Norcross, the aircraft now rests 800-1,000 meters beneath the sea’s surface. Technically, there are no obstacles to its retrieval. However, this has not occurred to date. Mr Németh firmly believes that everyone deserves a proper burial.

Blikk reports that the Hungarian government established a fund for this purpose in 2007 but has never utilised it. In 2003, a report was issued stating that no evidence remained regarding the tragedy. This MALÉV plane catastrophe represents the world’s largest air disaster without a transparent investigation.

HERE is an article about an American plane crashed in Hungary. And in THIS article, you may read about a Hungarian plane crashed in Sweden.

Featured image: Illustration

President Trump: Orbán is the boss – VIDEOS

Donald Trump Viktor Orbán

PM Viktor Orbán is a staunch supporter of former US President Donald Trump. For instance, he was seen sporting a Trump cap this week and shared the photo on his official Facebook page. However, it appears that the sentiment is mutual: Trump referred to Orbán as “the boss” in his recent speech.

Trump gave a speech at an event hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition, in which he praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He emphasised that global challenges can only be resolved by strong leaders, with Orbán being one of them. When asked for his endorsement, Trump readily offered it, adding that Orbán was the boss in Hungary, “there is no doubt about it”.

 

 

 

Trump revealed that Orbán sought his endorsement because he aimed to secure a decisive victory, and Trump gave it to him, resulting in a successful outcome.
Later in his speech, Trump quoted the Hungarian prime minister, suggesting that President Biden should resign immediately and make room for Trump.
Trump expressed his strong support towards Israel’s self-defence and added he would prevent WWIII provided he was elected. Furthermore, he promised he would restore global peace.
Here is Trump’s speech when he talked about Orbán:

You can also watch the full speech here:

 

We previously reported HERE that in a speech last week, Trump mistakenly referred to Orbán as the leader of Türkiye. Additionally, HERE is a T-shirt available that proclaims Trump and Orbán as the saviours of the world. You make of it, what you make of it.

Hungarian FM calls for end to war at Minsk conference

Foreign minister Szijjártó

An immediate ceasefire and peace talks are needed in Ukraine, as the number of victims and destruction will only grow as the war continues, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, told a security conference in Minsk on Thursday.

Speaking at a high-level international conference entitled Eurasian security: reality and prospects in a transforming world, Szijjártó said Europe and Hungary had already paid a high price for a war they were not responsible for. Hungarians want peace as soon as possible and don’t agree with those saying that the conditions for peace would improve over time, he said, adding that the solution to the war was at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield. Channels of communication must be kept open, “lest we should give up hope for peace,” he added.

Szijjártó said his faith in peace had prompted him to accept the invitation to the conference, “risking, of course, condemnation from certain parts of Europe for the decision,” he said.

In his speech following Sergei Aleinik and Sergei Lavrov, his Belorusian and Russian counterparts, respectively, Szijjártó said that in order to find solutions to Europe’s challenges and to avoid the deterioration of its situation, the war in Ukraine must be ended through a ceasefire and peace talks.

Further, “civilised dialogue” must be restored between the East and the West, and political discourse must return to dialogue based on mutual respect and common sense rather than “debates based on ideology and politics”, he said.

He said the model of European economic growth, based on a combination of cutting-edge western technology and relatively cheap eastern energy, had collapsed. Consequently, natural gas cost four times as much in Europe as in the US and electricity three times as much as in China.

Europe had also made pragmatic issues such as energy supplies a hostage of political and ideological discussions, he said.

While some called for decoupling the European and Chinese economy, Hungary achieved success by becoming a meeting point of interdependent economic players, he said.

The wars in Ukraine and Israel have plunged global security into its worst state since the end of the cold war, he said. Meanwhile, the EU is also struggling with a dramatic fall in competitiveness, as China has grown to have the second largest annual GDP worldwide, he said. As Europe’s share of the world GDP has fallen to 17 percent today from 22 percent in 2010, China’s grew from 9 percent to 18 percent, he said.

Hungary has a vested interest in a safe and strong Europe. “For that, we need peace and connectivity,” Szijjártó said.

Son of Hungarian star psychologist brutally murdered in US

emőke bagdy

The son of Emőke Bagdy, a Hungarian clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, was murdered in the United States. The 82-year-old psychologist confirmed the terrible news.

The son of Emőke Bagdy was killed with several knife wounds in the United States, the Hungarian tabloid Blikk has learned. The psychologist confirmed to the news portal that the victim was her theologian son. In Bagdy’s opinion, he was set up, and the perpetrator’s claim that he stabbed the religious 53-year-old Zsolt Császár several times in self-defence is not true.

The news is true, my son has been killed. I’m devastated, it’s beyond my comprehension,

the clinical psychologist said.

The murderer

Yaaliyah Jackson
Yaaliyah Jackson, the murderer of Emőke Bagdy’s son. Source: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

US news portals also cite the testimony of the perpetrator, 18-year-old Yaaliyah Ezekiel Jackson. In it, he claims that Zsolt was at his sister’s apartment and, after an argument and a fight, he stabbed his victim several times in self-defence.

But Emőke Bagdy says this is not true.

“My daughter, Zsolt’s twin sister and my son-in-law are out in Arizona, the investigation is still going strong. According to US law, the victim’s relatives have access to all documents and audio material (…) Therefore, I can say with certainty that nothing the press has reported is true,” she told Blikk.

The victim could have been set up

According to Emőke Bagdy, her son, a theologian, was invited to an event, but was set up. “It was a robbery-murder committed with intent, by several people, for profit. For the time being, the crime has been claimed by Jackson, 18, 6ft tall, athletic, but others took the car, mobile phone etc. ”

My son didn’t know the attackers and didn’t even defend himself because he wasn’t expecting anything bad to happen,

Bagdy said.

He was benevolent, helping people, a man of deep faith. He was a slim, 5’10”, good-hearted little man,” the psychologist told the newspaper. She asked people of good conscience not to harass her family in the future with media reports and unnecessary letters.

Read also:

World’s richest Hungarian shares when Huxit is most probable

orbán and peterffy

In an interview, the richest Hungarian, Thomas Peterffy, shared when he thinks a Huxit (i.e. Hungary leaving the European Union) is most likely. He also talked about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the US political scene, Orbán’s visit to Beijing and his talk with Putin, whether Hungary will stay in the NATO and more.

The world’s richest Hungarian, Thomas Peterffy, gave an interview to Válasz Online. Among others, he shared when a possible Huxit could happen, what he thinks about the Russian-Ukrainian war, about Joe Biden and Donald Trump (the latter just called Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán “the leader of Türkiye” – read what he said HERE).

Huxit: when?

Mr Peterffy said many are convinced that once Hungary becomes a net contributor to the EU, it will leave. According to the billionaire, Hungary has no choice but to cooperate with Russia on energy. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult to explain to people, as Russian dependence has been reduced or eliminated everywhere else in Europe. The Hungarian government seems to be seeking to be neutral between East and West, but Peterffy expressed doubts about this.

Hungary in NATO

“If I were Hungary, I would remain a member of NATO, even if the country were to leave the EU,” Peterffy said.

Russian-Ukrainian war

The billionaire believes that the areas affected by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which are predominantly populated by Russians, should probably belong to Russia. He believes this would also benefit Ukrainians, as it would make their nation more homogeneous.

Read also:

US politics

On the US political situation, Peterffy believes that a strong Republican candidate is needed. He said he doubted whether US President Joe Biden would even be able to run. His health has been deteriorating dramatically lately. If he had to guess today, he’d say Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo would be the candidate.

Peterffy is hoping that former US President Donald Trump can be persuaded to step aside because he is leading the Republican Party to disaster. He says it is impossible to win with only 35 percent of women supporting him, compared with 60 percent of men.

Orbán’s friendship with Putin

According to Peterffy, the dominant interpretation in Western Europe and the US is that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Beijing is a betrayal of Hungary’s federal system.

Government-close oligarchs, business environment

According to Peterffy, the enrichment of Lőrinc Mészáros and István Tiborcz is a serious problem. He says many people in Hungary do not realise how much it weakens the country. Free markets and competition strengthen the economy and increase people’s well-being, anything that goes against this is harmful.

Speaking about the Hungarian business environment, Peterffy believes that the price caps and restrictions imposed by the government are flawed. According to him, if you keep something at a low price through official means, people will buy more and more of it, so the price caps will cost the state more and more.

Read more:

Blooper? Donald Trump called Orbán leader of Türkiye

Donald Trump Viktor Orbán

Former US president Donald Trump and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán have been good friends for a while. Well, maybe not so much, as it seems that Trump doesn’t really know which country Orbán leads.

Donald Trump confused the leadership of Hungary and Türkiye in a campaign speech on Monday, Politico reports.

“There’s a man, Viktor Orbán, did anyone ever hear of him? He’s probably, like, one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world. He’s the leader of Turkey,”

Trump said. You can watch the short video of the slip of the tongue HERE.

Trump then went on to say that Orban has a “front” with Russia. However, as Politico notes, neither Türkiye nor Hungary has a common border with Russia. What the former US President meant by this remains a mystery.

The article recalls that Trump has previously praised the anti-migration and anti-LGBTQ Hungarian prime minister. The most recent instance was a week ago when he said that Orbán is the strongest leader, a very strong man. Meanwhile, Orbán supported Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign and wants him to win in 2024.

Read more on the relationship between the Hungarian leadership and Donald Trump:

Hungarian veteran soldier has been harassing Sharon Stone for years

Sharon Stone Hungarian stalker

According to a British daily, the Hollywood celebrity has been in fear for years because of a Hungarian army veteran. The man sent creepy letters to her claiming that he fathered the actress’s child and even went to her sister’s house. Daily Mail said Sharon Stone is living in fear.

The obsessive stalker, Sándor Boros, is a former Hungarian special forces veteran now living in London. He claims he fathered a son, Jason, with the Hollywood star. He said the boy was born in 1986 when Ms Stone was 28. What’s more, he claims their son was murdered, shortly after he was born.

Boros began stalking Sharon Stone’s family, and ever since, the family has been living in fear. The last email from Mr Boros came on 15 October, and the family’s private investigator said the Hungarian man was mentally unwell. He was caught on CCTV outside Sharon Stone’s sister, Kelly’s house in May. In his latest email, he called Ms Stone his angel and signed it “Your Sándor”.

In the article of Daily Mail, you may check out how Mr Boros looks.

The private detective called Sharon Stone’s Hungarian stalker

The private detective said Mr Boros planned out something. He is on a mission, so he stalks Sharon Stone relentlessly. That is supported by the fact that Mr Boros tried to speak with Stone’s mother, Dorothy, in Montana and visited even his brother, Michael.

Therefore, the detective called him on the phone. Boros confirmed the stalking during their talk. He replied he was desperate to find their son murdered in 1986. “I’m not joking, so I am really serious”, he added. He even highlighted that they had the baby when Sharon was his fiancé. However, he could not present a photo or a letter confirming his story to the detective.

He said he had post-traumatic stress syndrome because of the army but was not abusive.

Mr Barresi asked him never to contact Sharon or her family members again. He promised to pass all information to the family, and, provided they want to, they will get in touch with him.

Here is the tape of their phone call:

VIDEO: Hungarian film bags two prestigious awards in the USA

Hungarian film won prestigious awards in Chicago (Copy)

Hungarian filmmaker Gábor Reisz’s “Explanation for Everything” won awards in two categories at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival, the film’s distributor, Cirko Film, said on Saturday.

The film won the Gold Hugo, the top prize for best international feature film, and Reisz and co-writer Éva Schulze also picked up the Silver Hugo for best screenplay.

Jurors praised the feature “for its brilliance in telling a multilayered story that encompasses its protagonist’s coming-of-age and the cultural changes of a country”.

“Superbly written, directed, and acted, this is a film that not only deals with the trouble of growing up, but also digs deeply into human nature when faced with the daunting challenge of making choices,” they said.

Last month, “Explanation for Everything” won “Best Film” in the Horizons section at the 80th Venice International Film Festival. Here is the movie’s trailer in English:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxsjd47AEE&pp=ygUaZXhwbGFuYXRpb24gZm9yIGV2ZXJ5dGhpbmc%3D

 

Do you want to meet PM Orbán? Here is your chance but it will be expensive

Viktor Orbán China

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will deliver a “comprehensive political address” at an anniversary celebration of Switzerland’s conservative weekly Weltwoche in Zurich on November 22, the PM’s press chief confirmed on Saturday.

The celebration will include a panel discussion moderated by Swiss MP Roger Köppel, the weekly’s editor-in-chief. The event is advertised in a full-page ad in the weekly. The number of seats is limited in the five-star Dolder Grand luxury palace hotel, and the entrance ticket costs 90 Swiss francs (HUF 36 thousand), rtl.hu wrote. Köppel is a big supporter and fan of the Hungarian prime minister. They made several interviews with Orbán in the last few years. They meet regularly. The last time they met was in March when Köppel visited an event of the government-close MCC research institute.

The Swiss journalist later visited Moscow, where he talked about the high life standard of the Russian people there and that the sanctions are useless. In November, he will come to Budapest to take part in the CPAC International Conservative Conference. Here is a photo of the Dolder Grand hotel:

Culture minister marks 1956 anniversary in the USA

János Csák, Hungary’s minister of culture and innovation, attended a commemoration of the anniversary of Hungary’s anti-Soviet revolt of 1956, in Washington late on Friday. In his address, Csak said the failed revolution was a historic development “that serves as a basis for cooperation between the US and Hungary”. The events of 1956 “lend two such freedom-loving peoples enough ammunition for cooperation” especially with regard to “Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the terrorist attack against Israel”.

In an interview to MTI, the minister said Hungary had a great interest in achieving peace in both conflicts. Hungary has sympathy for both countries, he said, noting Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian community of 150,000, and some 300,000 Israelis of Hungarian origin. At the ceremony, Csak recognised Peter Gajary, head of the Hungarian-American Cultural Association with the Order of Merit of Hungary, Knight’s Cross. The celebration was attended by Szabolcs Takacs, Hungary’s ambassador to the US, a representative of the US foreign ministry, diplomats, and leaders of local Hungarian organisations.

Leaked PHOTO: 50 Cent worked out in this Budapest gym

50 Cent Budapest gym

The American rapper, 50 Cent, worked out in a gym in Budapest’s 7th district (Erzsébetváros – Elizabeth Town) before his Budapest Aréna concert on Wednesday.

According to telex.hu, the American superstar was the guest of the R70 Fitness in Budapest’s Rákóczi Street. The gym uploaded some photos of the rapper arriving at their place on Instagram. They wrote, “we could welcome one of the greatest icons of rap, 50 Cent, for two days as our guest”.

They added it was the greatest experience that the rapper chose them. The club received some tickets for his Budapest Aréna concert, which they wrote was unforgettable. Here is his Instagram post:

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

R70 Fitness (@r70fitness) által megosztott bejegyzés

The Emmy and Grammy-awarded rapper (Curtis Jackson) regularly comes to Budapest for concerts. His previous one was in 2022. He aired the all-time most successful gangster rap record 20 years ago. Before 2022, he was in Budapest in 2006, at the peak of his career, telex.hu wrote. The media outlet wrote that his 2022 concert was great. He performed all the greatest hits, the show was perfect, and there was no alibi in it.

You may watch his full 2023 concert below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i1g0qyZ4qg

Here are some photos about how the renewed R70 Gym looks:

VIDEO, PHOTOS: Historical feature Semmelweis to receive pre-premiere in New York

Semmelweis movie Hungary (Copy)

Lajos Koltai’s romantic historical film feature focusing on the life of celebrated Hungarian obstetrician Ignác Semmelweis, known as the savior of mothers, will be screened at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York on the October 23 national holiday marking the 1956 revolution, organised by the Liszt Institute in New York.

In Hungary, the film supported by the National Film Institute (NFI) and distributed by InterCom will go on general release on Nov 30. Csaba Káel, the government film commissioner, and Koltai will attend the New York screening, which will be followed by a podium discussion. HERE you can check out the movie’s official Facebook page.

Read also:

Here are some photos of the movie:

Finaly, below you may find the trailer of the movie:

Budapest Airport CEO shared when American flights will come back: sooner than you would think

Budapest Airport CEO shared when American flights would return

Kam Jandu revealed when the long-expected Transatlantic direct flights would return to Hungary, and they will be back sooner than you would think.

Budapest Airport CEO interview

Mr Jandu gave a 44-minute-long exclusive interview to the International Airport Review (IAR) TV. They discussed his background in aviation, the airport’s recovery, their plans for route development, passenger experience initiatives, their sustainability targets, his challenges and opportunities, as well as his ambitions as the new airport CEO. “In the past four years, we have spent over a quarter of a billion euros improving and enhancing the facilities that we have”, Mr Jandu said.

According to Budflyer, a Hungarian air travel news outlet, Mr Jandu talked about the return of Transatlantic flights to Budapest Airport. We wrote multiple times that the US-Hungary and Canada-Hungary relationships are frozen because of political differences concerning mainly the ongoing Russian invasion and war in Ukraine. The Hungarian government believes the USA and their Western allies should not give weapons to Kyiv. Instead, they should make efforts to reach a ceasefire and sign a peace deal as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Biden administration thinks PM Orbán follows pro-Russia and pro-China policies by e.g. sitting down with both Putin and Xi Jinpin in Beijing, buying Russian energy or letting Chinese investments come to Hungary.

The US government issued several anti-Hungary measures in the last few months. For example, they unilaterally terminated a crucial agreement avoiding double taxation and limited visa exemptions for Hungarians. Furthermore, there are additional US sanctions on the horizon, impacting even travel rules. We wrote about them HERE.

USA-Hungary direct connection from next year

Kam Jandu remained confident that direct USA-Hungary flights would return by end-2024, and early 2025. He added there were ongoing talks concerning the issue with all big American airlines. He highlighted that the Budapest-New York flight is on the top because it has the highest passenger potential not served in the European Union.

In the final part of the interview, Jandu said experts of American Airlines know all the data concerning the Budapest Airport, and would like to come. However, they face expansion barriers due to their reduced fleet during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why they cannot return yet. “They will come just when their fleet is ready”, he added.

The fleet expansion of American Airlines is slower than previously expected. The schedule was the following concerning the new Boeing 787s: 11 in 2024, 10 in 2025, and four in 2026. However, that changed to 7 in 2024, four in 2025, four in 2026 and 15 more in the years after 2026.

We wrote HERE that the Hungarian government made a formal bid for the Budapest Airport. They would like to buy it for EUR 4 billion. Another terminal-connected hotel to be built at Budapest Airport, we wrote about that in THIS article.