Canada

Things you didn’t know about Hulu in Canada

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We have new shows you might like. You can find those other places, too. Hulu has Live TV for people who want to cut the cord with cable. For $39.99 per month, you can buy channels on Hulu and have a DVR and On Demand like other streaming services (or cable).

These facts will help you use Hulu to its fullest potential and find new ways to make the most of your subscription.

HULU IS A CHINESE WORD THAT MEANS “GOURD” AND “INTERACTIVE RECORDING.”

Hulu is a word with two meanings. One meaning means “a holder of precious things.” Another meaning is “interactive recording”.

hulu
Source: Hulu

HULU COULD SOON STREAM FULL BROADCAST CHANNELS

3 people who work for Hulu want to offer channels from 3 companies: 21st Century Fox, the Walt Disney Company, and Comcast’s NBCUniversal.

They said there will be 40 dollars a month for this package of channels. With this package, advertisers can target ads at people who watch these channels on Hulu.”

HULU CAN ONLY BE SEEN IN TWO COUNTRIES.

hulu

image credit: Flickr

Hulu is currently only available in the US and Japan. It is not available outside of the US due to content rights agreements with TV networks, film distributors, and record labels restrict its availability.

Hulu follows geo-restricted laws due to which it is not even available in the neighboring countries of America like Canada.

Because it considers Canada as a geo-restricted country outside the U.S. regardless that Hulu is equally popular and has great viewership in countries like Canada.

But in order to overcome this geo-restriction and watch your popular shows on Hulu while living in Canada, you can use a premium VPN.

VPN changes your IP address and thus by connecting to a U.S. server you can easily access Hulu and you can watch popular shows on Hulu at your own comfort without any hassle.

AMERICANS WATCH 1.4 BILLION ADS A MONTH. HULU HAS FEWER ADS THAN REGULAR TV.

hulu
image credit: Metaweb

On a TV channel, you typically see 15 minutes of commercials for every hour. On Hulu, there are 10 to 12 minutes of ads per hour with gaps between segments that allow viewers time to absorb the messages we are sending them.

HULU WAS FIRST DUBBED CLOWN CO, WHICH WAS CANCELED DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH SUBSCRIBERS.

hulu
image credit: Wikimedia

Hulu is a joint project by NBC and News Corp. It was known as Hulu until 2007 when it changed to just “Hulu.” With its growing revenues and subscribers each year, Hulu might be the only provider to laugh at the competition in the end.

IN 2014, HULU OFFERED 2,900 TV SERIES.

hulu
Source: Hulu

Hulu has 86,000 episodes available. This number will likely increase with the introduction to new shows and original content.

HULU’S AD-FREE OPTION DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO A COMPLETE CEASEFIRE ON ADS.

Hulu has announced a new ad-free package starting at $11.99/month, but it won’t come without ads of its own. The service will have 15-second commercials before and after your program to maintain revenue.

THE BEST TIME TO CATCH UP ON YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS IS DURING WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS.

Specifically, bandwidth often gets pinched during peak hours. Weekday afternoons might be a good time for Hulu, and around 9 pm is the worst period.

HULU OFFERS CUSTOMIZABLE CLOSED CAPTIONS AND OTHER ADVANCED FEATURES.

To change the font style in closed captions on Hulu, look for the gear icon adjacent to the play bar and click when you see it. Scroll up to “Closed Captions” and select your preferred type of font from there; remember that you can also dim the screen or create a pop-out window.

Netflix subscriptions are less significant than Hulu subscriptions.

Hulu’s membership has increased by 50% in the past few years. They have the potential to make as much as $3 billion per year from advertising sales, which are six times more than Netflix can hope to make.

Network audience aged by 12.5% after Hulu’s broadcast in 2008

In the past few years, more than 3.6 million people have taken to streaming in lieu of cable after the advent of Netflix and Hulu.

In 2015, Hulu made $770 million from its ad sale.

One of the things that make Hulu different from competitors such as Netflix is the ad revenue, which assures networks of a long-term revenue source and customers access to popular content.

Hulu founder, Jason Kilar, has modeled himself on Walt Disney who was “the ultimate dreamer-entrepreneur.”

Jason Kilar, who started the company Hulu, learned things about Walt Disney. When he would do his work, he would try to do what Disney had done. He wanted to have a family and also do well at work.

Steve Levitan, the showrunner for Modern Family, publicly criticized Hulu in 2010.

Months before Hulu’s IPO, Levitan was enraged at the way content providers are being treated. “Some estimate Hulu IPO could bring in $2Bil,” he tweeted. “What will the content providers get? Zero. What is Hulu without content? An empty jukebox.”

Handy Hulu Streaming Guides

Tom’s Guide shows you the best content on Hulu. It is easy to find by going to the nav menu. Thanks to this, you can find good content and TV news.

If you haven’t been watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians lately, you have access to all your favorite streaming content on Hulu

Hulu makes you feel alive by giving you access to exclusive videos of disastrous moments that celebrities like Kim Kardashian West go through, as well as the most real FOMO. You can watch all 10 seasons in a matter of days and reduce some time in purgatory.

CONCLUSION

Hulu offers a wide variety of content, including TV shows and exclusive videos. It has the potential to make as much as $3 billion per year from advertising sales, which are six times more than Netflix can hope to make.

Hulu is also known for its captivating commercials that feature famous actors like Alec Baldwin who plays aliens wanting to take over earth by giving people Hulu for free.

If you haven’t been watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians lately, you have access to all your favorite streaming content on Hulu!

Hungarian food from Toronto to Laos – check it out!

goulash, food, Hungary

Hungarian food is amazing for many reasons, and it is definitely worth a try. Unfortunately, travelling is not in the plans for many people due to the pandemic that put our travel plans on hold, but there are plenty of great places where you can try Hungarian food until you can finally arrive in Budapest.

Canada

In this beautiful country, you can find Hungarian food in Toronto. If you would like to try chimney cake, go to Eva’s Original or make an order. Eva immigrated to Canada in 1956, and it was actually her grandson, Justin, and his wife, Kristin, who founded the place. If you are looking for a Hungarian restaurant that has been serving flavourful comfort food in the Upper Beaches, Budapest Restaurant may be your choice. Another restaurant was opened in the ’60s and is still open today. Country Style, a family-style restaurant known for traditional Wiener Schnitzel and goulash soup, can be found in Toronto.

United States of America

Langos Truck in New York has all you need. There, you can try various Hungarian foods, not just the world-famous lángos. In Anaheim, California, there is a restaurant called Dunarea Restaurant, a Romanian business that also offers Hungarian food, such as goulash.

For those who would rather cook Hungarian food, we have great news. You can order all kinds of Hungarian products from US-based shops. Savory Spice has many locations in the US, and also an online shop where you can buy Hungarian paprika, among other products. Hungarian Meat Market offers a little more variety, from spices to meat and even honey. Another shop can be found in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but they ship nationwide. Hungarian Deli has even more variety. Looking through what they offer, I could point out some products that are definitely not Hungarian, but overall, I liked the products they sell. Just a tip from me: check out all categories, maybe you will find food, sweets or even other products you may like. I saw they even sell Baba shower gel. I would never have thought I could find them in the US!

Laos

Speaking of what I never thought of, I managed to find a Hungarian restaurant in Vientiane, Laos. Budapest Bistro even has Langos Friday, so maybe you can try it sometime. If not, just check out the menu. 

If you go to any of these places, it would be fun to hear about them. Feel free to use the comment section and tell us about your experience. Until then, check out some other great places HERE, or check out some Hungarian recipes HERE.

Hungary facilitates entry rules from non-EU countries!

Travelling by plane to Hungary has been facilitated for countries outside the European Union. In order to enter the country, no immunity card is needed, only a certificate of a negative PCR test. Thanks to the newly introduced ease of travel restrictions, a further boom in tourism can be expected.

A freshly introduced government decree allows easier entry into Hungary compared to the previous epidemiological regulations – reported by the Hungarian news portal Turizmus.com.

So far, travelling by plane to Hungary from countries outside the European Union was not possible without an immunity certificate (Hungarian or foreign immunity card based on bilateral agreement or EU digital Covid certificate). However, thanks to the newly introduced government decree, which is in effect since 7th August, entering Hungary has been facilitated to travellers arriving from these countries as well.

The only requirement is a certificate of a negative PCR test result, not older than 72 hours, issued in English or Hungarian in one of the following countries:

  • Member States of the European Union or candidate countries for membership of the European Union
  • member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • Russian Federation
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Bahrain
  • countries specified in a decree based on the agreement of the Minister responsible for foreign policy and the Minister responsible for public security.

The new regulation concerns important sending markets like Britain, the US, Canada, Israel, Japan or South Korea as NATO and OECD members.

As we previously reported, since 23rd June, Hungary could be entered from six majority neighbouring countries – Austria, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia – at its land and water borders, except for Ukraine. However, based on the newly introduced decree, unrestricted entry has come to effect from Ukraine as well.

Thus, it is now possible to enter the territory of Hungary without restriction from all neighbouring countries – except by plane – for which neither a security certificate nor a negative PCR test is required.

Foreigners arriving in Hungary can visit accommodations, restaurants and tourist attractions without an immunity certificate.

Hungary is one of the safest countries in Europe, thanks to which, in addition to domestic tourism, the revival of inbound tourism is also expected in the short term. Based on the data registered in June, the recovery has already started. As Turizmusonline reports, the number of international guests increased by 86% and

the number of guest nights spent by foreign visitors has doubled compared to June 2020.

Numerically, this means 84,000 international guests having spent 222,000 nights in Hungary. Most of the guests stayed in a hotel; the number of nights spent there increased almost 2.5x compared to June 2020. The increase was the largest in the case of Budapest (more than 6x).

As far as domestic tourism is concerned, the number of guests reached 444,000, showing an increase of 42%, and the number of guest nights spent was 1107 thousand by which an increase of 51% could be experienced. 66% of the nights were spent in hotels, followed by boarding houses and campsites on the list of the most preferred accommodation types. The most popular tourist region was Lake Balaton, where one-third of domestic guest nights were registered.

Read alsoHungarian tourism is picking up again!

Hungarian band wrote a song for their former member, Michael Kovrig, still jailed in China – VIDEO

prison, jailed, punishment

Bankrupt, a Hungarian band, uploaded a new song on YouTube on Thursday written for their former member, Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was detained in December 2018 in China for espionage.

Mr Kovrig worked for the International Crisis Group, a transnational, pro-peace think tank. After being detained in December 2018, he was accused of espionage by the Chinese government in May 2019, and his arrest is thought by some press outlets to be

retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on December 1, 2018.

Kovrig’s arrest has become a recent point of contention for Canada-China relations, Wikipedia says.

Interestingly, Mr Kovrig used to be the singer of the Hungarian band, Bankrupt, in the late 1990s.

The Canadian-Hungarian citizen lived in Budapest between 1996 and 1999.

The friendship between him and the members of the band lasted even after he left the country. He visited Hungary at least once a year and, in 2017, he even performed at one of their concerts to sing an old hit song, indirekt.hu reported.

After his detention in 2018, he was

accused of espionage,

while his first court hearing took place this March behind closed doors. According to the band, Michael is not guilty, and they hope he will be free soon.

Therefore, they wrote a song to call the world’s attention to Mr Kovrig’s story. The original title was “The Plane To Toronto”. But the Hungarian version is titled “Beijing Summer”. They said that

they would send the lyrics of the song to Michael with the help of his sister, Ariana.

They hope they can make him happy for a couple of days at least.

They said that the solution is not in their hands “but the hands of the politicians”. Canadians, Americans, and even Hungarians can help since Michael is a Hungarian citizen, too. “And there are scenarios where that might help,” they added.

Interestingly, the income of the song will go to a charity organisation, Hostage International.

Here is the English version of the song:

Interestingly, based on Válasz Online, Michael Kovrig is the grandson of János Kovrig, who was one of the two war correspondents remaining to report about the 1937-1945 Sino-Japanese war. His photos and writings appeared not only in Budapest newspapers, but foreign news agencies also used them.

Fidesz MEPs voted in favour of China again in the European Parliament

Millionaires killing in Canada were captured in Hungary

Hungary police bounty hunter

The couple killed a 39-year-old man and injured his pregnant girlfriend.

Daily News Hungary reported this Monday the successful capture of two murderers by the Hungarian police. The couple fled Canada after killing a Vancouver man and seriously injuring his girlfriend who was expecting a baby. There was little information on the crime; however, the police have revealed some shocking news. 

Hungarian Police crack down on international car thief gang

The Canadian press is referring to the couple as the “Millenial Bonnie and Clyde”. The 28-year-old Oliver Karafa and his 25-year-old girlfriend, Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, are both wanted in the country after committing a crime that cost two lives.

They escaped to the Hungarian capital where they were captured by the Hungarian police’s “men-hunter unit”

while they were returning to their apartment after dinner.

The police station of Hamilton, Canada, issued a warrant to detain the couple on March 4, charging them with murder. According to the authorities,

they killed Vancouver citizen Tyler Pratt, then shot at his 26-year-old pregnant girlfriend who sadly lost her baby as a consequence.

The incident became quite a big case for several reasons. First of all, the parents of Tyler did not only lose their son but also their grandson. Moreover, both perpetrators come from wealthy and well-known families. To top it off, facing legal charges and visiting a Canadian prison will not be the first time for Karafa. When he was only 19,

he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for causing a deadly accident when driving drunk that cost the life of his friend.

The Slovakian Karafa, who used to work as a model at the time and who is the son of a millionaire, drove at a speed of 120 km/h in Toronto, crashing into a lamp post. The car was torn apart and his friend flew out of it, despite the seat belt being fastened. As 24.hu writes, the accident was described as “hard to imagine anyone could have survived it”. Still, Karafa got out of it with only some scratches.

The murder really made the news when the name of Karafa’s accomplice was also published. Li is the daughter of a respected and influential woman with extremely good political ties. According to the National Post, she moved to Canada from China over 20 years ago, where she founded her company offering financial advice. Before 2016, she organised several charity campaigns for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in addition to donating almost 20,000 Canadian dollars to his party over the course of 5 years. She knows several influential politicians from the leading elite of the country.

Although her daughter’s name was unknown to the press, for many people it sounded very familiar. Li is a triplet who appeared on Instagram on many occasions together with her sisters, posing in numerous pictures, striking sexy poses and wearing little clothing.

As of now, it is unknown what connection or relation there was between Tyler Pratt and his two killers, or the reason for which he had to die.

However, according to the police, Karafa seems quite sure about what the motive was, despite the fact that they were yet unable to get the answer out of him. 

24 hours after the murder, the couple already left Canada and arrived in Hungary through the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A Hungarian SWAT team has captured them on their way out of a restaurant in Budapest.

The official press release of the Prosecutor’s Office of Budapest says that

it was Karafa who pulled the trigger in both cases.

He is fighting against being extradited, while his girlfriend will probably be the one to give up first as she already agreed to be transferred back to Canada.

Featured image: illustration

Read alsoHungarian police found wanted criminal in the most unusual place – VIDEO

Hungarian Police caught Canadian murderers on the loose

police

A few months back, a Canadian couple committed murder and attempted the murder of a second victim, but they managed to flee justice. The Hamilton Police issued an international arrest warrant for the two criminals as they fled to Eastern Europe.

According to the information of Hamilton Police, the 28-year-old Oliver Karifa, who was born in Slovakia, and his 25-year-old Canadian girlfriend, Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, tried to flee justice shortly after

they murdered the 39-year-old Tyler Pratt and attempted to murder his 26-year-old girlfriend. They shot the second victim several times and caused her life-threatening injuries.

Luckily for the second victim, she survived the assault, but the perpetrators have been on the loose. Hvg reports that the murder was committed back in February, which means that

despite the international arrest warrant issued by the Hamilton Police, the criminal duo has managed to hide from Interpol for several months.

Vigilantes forcefully took back sold car in the middle of Budapest traffic – VIDEO

According to Police.hu, months of searching, as well as close cooperation with the Canadian and several European police headquarters, went into the case, which

finally brought results after the Hungarian police successfully located the two perpetrators and sent officers to arrest them.

The Hungarian police arrested both perpetrators on the street in District VI of Budapest on the 12th of June, last Saturday. Both the 28-year-old man, Oliver Karifa, and the 25-year-old woman, Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, are currently under arrest by the Hungarian authorities, and their extradition will be decided at a later date.

Not so long ago, the Hungarian Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) managed to stop a young university student from Kecskemét from conducting a terrorist attack. According to some information, the 21-year-old man swore allegiance to ISIS and had been following several web pages and online groups that are connected to the terrorist group. If you are interested in the case, you can learn more about it HERE.

Read alsoHungarian Police was shocked what they have found in a 25-year-old’s apartment

Dark discovery: remains of 215 children found at former residential school in Canada

Residential School System Canada Illustration

The remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found at the site of a former residential school for indigenous children, a discovery Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as heartbreaking on Friday.

The children were students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia that closed in 1978, according to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation, which said the remains were found with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist.

“We had a knowing in our community that we were able to verify,” Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir said in a statement. “At this time, we have more questions than answers.”

Canada’s residential school system, which forcibly separated indigenous children from their families, constituted “cultural genocide,” a six-year investigation into the now-defunct system found in 2015.

The report documented horrific physical abuse, rape, malnutrition and other atrocities suffered by many of the 150,000 children who attended the schools,

typically run by Christian churches on behalf of Ottawa from the 1840s to the 1990s.

It found more than 4,100 children died while attending residential school.

The deaths of the 215 children buried in the grounds of what was once Canada’s largest residential school are believed to not have been included in that figure and appear to have been undocumented until the discovery.

Trudeau wrote in a tweet that the news “breaks my heart – it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country’s history.”

In 2008, the Canadian government formally apologized for the system.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation said it was engaging with the coroner and reaching out to the home communities whose children attended the school. They expect to have preliminary findings by mid-June.

In a statement, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee called finding such grave sites “urgent work” that “refreshes the grief and loss for all First Nations in British Columbia.”

Murder Knife Gyilkosság Késelés
Read alsoMan brutally stabs mother in the face in front of their 4-year-old child

The best holiday for a Hungarian: a trip to the sights of Canada

tofino canada

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If you’re a Hungarian looking for a peaceful trip to Canada, you’ll have a hard time picking between all the stunning sights. First of all, you shouldn’t worry at all about your trip as Canadians are friendly and will help you in each way possible in case you get lost, for example.

You will have to choose between a variety of beaches, ski resorts, and stunning sights such as the Northern Lights, about which we’ll talk in-depth below. But make sure to have fun all the time – for example you can play at the best Canadian casinos online while traveling! The gambling world has already jumped into the digital world. And Canada’s casinos have different offerings compared to Hungarian ones. But keep in mind that Canada could also be dangerous. If you’re driving around forests with wildlife, there’s a chance you may meet a bear. However, that’s just standard safety tips. You won’t bump into a bear intentionally. 

Why pick Canada?

You may still be wondering whether or not to pick Canada as a travel destination. After all, Canada is over 7,000 kilometers away from Hungary. But there are plenty of reasons to take this trip. Canada is a vast place, and with some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes waiting to be explored, it’s easy to see why the country is a travel destination of choice for many.

Canada is a place where you can experience the thrill of snow sports in the morning and the relaxation of a summer afternoon on a sandy beach. The country is home to some of the world’s most stunning scenery, and there are countless things to do and places to see. For nature lovers, Canada is paradise. The country is filled with lakes, forests, mountains, and coastlines, and each region of the country is unique.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a powerful and awe-inspiring natural wonder. The Falls can be seen from both the Canadian and the American sides of the border, and it’s possible to take a boat trip on the river to get a closer look.

The Niagara Falls are located just over the border between Canada and the United States and are one of the most famous natural wonders in the world. The Falls themselves are actually comprised of three parts: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, with Horseshoe Falls being the largest of them.

Whistler

Whistler is one of Canada’s most popular ski resorts. It’s located in the province of British Columbia, on the Pacific Coast of Canada. The closest major city to Whistler is Vancouver, which is about a 2-hour drive away.

Being one of the largest ski resorts in North America, Whistler has a lot to offer. There are more than 200 ski runs, some of which are very long. The longest run at Whistler is over 11 kilometers long! There are also many other things to do at Whistler, such as hockey, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, and more.

Whistler is a great place for winter sports. It is an excellent place to go skiing in the winter, or snowboarding, or even snowshoeing. It is also a popular destination for summer activities. In the summer, you can go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and more.

Bay of Fundy

When the Bay of Fundy is mentioned, it evokes images of a powerful and majestic body of water, with massive waves almost as tall as a house. But the Bay of Fundy is more than just a tourist destination for visitors who want to see the world’s highest tides in action. It’s also a place where people go to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature and the outdoors.

Since 2014, the Bay of Fundy has been in the list of the 7 wonders of North America, and it is a home for the rarest whales in the world. The Bay of Fundy is divided into three distinct areas: Minas Basin, Cobequid Bay, and Chignecto Bay. If you don’t plan on visiting all three of them, make sure to check the Minas Basin, as it may be the home to the most breathtaking view of tides on the planet.

Whitehorse

Whitehorse is very scenic, with many sights to see. One of the best-known sights in Whitehorse is Whitehorse Falls, which is a waterfall on the Yukon River. Whitehorse Falls is a spectacular sight, and you’ll love the view from the highway bridge that runs above the falls.

If you’re in a more contemplative mood, then the Yukon Quest is a sight that you’ll love. The Yukon Quest is a 1,000-mile sled dog race that takes place every February. Sled dog races are an integral part of the Yukon’s history, and the Yukon Quest is the granddaddy of them all.

If you happen to visit Whitehorse in the first four months of the year, you will have the honor to witness one of the most beautiful sights in the world – Aurora, or Northern Lights. During the evening you can get out of the town full of city lights and find a peaceful place to watch it. You can also ask locals for tips, as the Northern Lights look different, depending on your location.

Tofino

The town of Tofino, which is also located in British Columbia is an amazing place, and it would be a shame to visit the area without taking part in some of the best activities that the area has to offer. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure, or a little bit of both, Tofino has an activity for you. You can choose between biking, hiking, visiting beaches, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, and many more.

Tofino is also the unofficial surfing capital of Canada. You can surf throughout the whole year, but a thick wetsuit is a must. But if you happen to visit during the fall or winter, you can go to the Storm Watch. You’ll be able to see waves with a height of up to six meters in the ocean. Watch the beauty of nature – from the Storm Watch in Tofino to Japan, there’s nothing except the ocean.

Canada becomes first country to allow Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12-15

Canada on Wednesday became the first nation in the world to authorize the use of Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15, describing the move as a light at the end of the tunnel.

Supriya Sharma, a senior adviser at the Canadian federal health ministry, said the Pfizer vaccine, produced with German partner BioNTech SE, was safe and effective in the younger age group. “We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she told reporters. A health ministry spokesman confirmed Canada was the first country to allow children of those ages to receive the Pfizer medicine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to take a similar step “very soon,” U.S. health officials said.

Separately, authorities reported the third death of a Canadian from a rare blood clot condition after receiving AstraZeneca PLC’s’s COVID-19 vaccine. The man, who was in his sixties, lived in the Atlantic province of New Brunswick.

Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health in New Brunswick, said the province would continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine. Alberta reported a death from clotting on Tuesday and Quebec announced one on April 27.

“There will be rare cases where thrombosis will occur.

However, the risks remain minimal compared to the risks, complications and potential consequences of COVID-19,” Russell told reporters.

Breaking – You can travel to Croatia with a Hungarian COVID certificate!

Canada’s federal government has bought tens of millions of doses of vaccines but critics complain the pace of inoculation is lagging due to bottlenecks in the 10 provinces, which are responsible for administering the doses.

Alberta will become the first province to offer COVID-19 vaccines to everyone aged 12 and over from May 10, Premier Jason Kenney said on Wednesday, a day after he introduced tighter public health measures to combat a third wave of the pandemic.

Alberta, home to Canada’s oil patch, has the highest rate per capita of COVID-19 in the country, with nearly 24,000 active cases and 150 people in intensive care.

Around 20% of the 1,249,950 cases of COVID-19 in Canada have been reported in people under the age of 19. Canada has recorded 24,396 deaths.

Featured image: illustration

Hungarian success at one of the most prestigious international wine competitions

Thummerer Wine Cellar

Recently, the 28th annual Chardonnay du Monde® wine competition was held, and Hungary has achieved quite good results in the international competition, which is very good news for the international assessment of Hungarian viticulture.

This is particularly good for the prestige of Hungarian wineries as the Chardonnay du Monde® international wine competition is considered to be one of the strictest wine competitions of its kind.

“Chardonnay du Monde® has progressively distinguished itself from other international competitions thanks to quality standards that are much stricter than the norm and by remaining faithful to its founding principles, which have driven its success over the years: diversity, quality and high standards,” – says the official press release of the competition.

In total, 36 countries have competed against each other with a wide range of 604 unique Chardonnay wines. The competition lasted three days, within which period the 200 international expert judges awarded only 196 of the participants.

The judges gave out 51 gold medals and 145 silver medals. Luckily, or rather thanks to the devotion and hard work, Hungary has managed to achieve one gold medal and eight silver medals.

The gold medal winner Hungarian wine was the 2019 Egri Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) – Thummerer Chardonnay Battonage. The Thummerer winery is very proud to achieve such a high ranking in such a high prestige competition. The Thummerer winery is a family winery and has been around since 1984, producing quality wines, champagnes and pálinka.

The gold medal winner wine of the Thummerer winery is a medium intensity wine with a golden yellow appearance. Its aroma is a balanced mixture of tropical fruits, juicy grapes, elegant oak tones battonage spices.

“The Hungarian wine culture very much needed this recognition because, after a difficult year behind us, we were hungry for success. I think we can be rightly proud,” – said Vilmos Thummerer, the founder of the winery to Origo.

Vilmos also told Origo that Hungary had achieved an outstanding result. With a total of nine medals, Hungary has finished 4th in the competition overall, just behind France, Switzerland and Canada.

Hungary wine winery gastronomy
Read alsoThree Hungarian wineries with exciting contemporary design

12 countries’ military officers sign draft condemning Myanmar security force’s violence

Myanmar Mianmar Riots Tüntetések Protests Fire Felgyújtott Flame

The top military officer from the United States and nearly a dozen of his counterparts are set to condemn on Saturday the deadly use of force by Myanmar’s security forces and say the country’s military has lost credibility with its people.

The joint statement, obtained by Reuters ahead of its planned release this weekend, is a rare declaration by the most senior military commanders from countries around the world, including in Asia and Europe.

It came after news reports and witnesses said Myanmar security forces killed 114 people on Saturday, including some children, on Armed Forces Day – the bloodiest day of its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters since last month’s military coup.

“As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services,” read the draft statement.

It was signed by 12 chiefs of defense from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.

Diplomats from these countries have already condemned the bloodshed by Myanmar’s military, making the statement largely symbolic. Myanmar’s military has so far ignored criticism of its violent crackdown on dissent.

While the draft statement did not explicitly condemn the Feb. 1 coup, which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, it said that

a professional military must follow international standards for conduct “and is responsible for protecting – not harming – the people it serves.”

It said the country’s military must “cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions.”

Myanmar’s military has said it took power because November elections won by Suu Kyi’s party were fraudulent, an assertion dismissed by the country’s election commission. Suu Kyi remains in detention at an undisclosed location and many other figures in her National League for Democracy party are also in custody.

The deaths on Saturday, Myanmar’s annual Armed Forces Day, which commemorates the start of resistance to Japanese occupation in 1945, would take the number of civilians reported killed since the coup to more than 440.

New U.S. and European sanctions this week increased external pressure on the junta. But Myanmar’s generals have enjoyed some support from Russia and China, both veto-holding members of the U.N. Security Council that could block any potential U.N. action.

Russia’s deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin attended a parade in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw on Saturday, having met senior junta leaders a day earlier.

Diplomats said eight countries – Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand – sent representatives to the Armed Forces Day parade, but Russia was the only one to send a minister.

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Canadian-Hungarian national’s espionage trial in China ends, verdict due later

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The trial of Canadian Michael Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years on espionage charges, wrapped up in a closed Beijing courtroom on Monday with the verdict to be announced at an unspecified later date, according to state media.

According to Reuters, Kovrig is also a Hungarian national. He spent much of his 20s in Budapest, singing in a rock band, teaching English and writing for a city newspaper. His grandfather János Korvig, a Hungarian journalist, also went to China — and helped free his countrymen trapped a long way from home, source: Toronto Star.

China arrested Kovrig, a former diplomat, and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor in December 2018, soon after Canadian police detained Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies, on a U.S. warrant.

Beijing insists the detentions are not linked to the detention of Meng, who remains under house arrest in Vancouver as she fights extradition to the United States.

The trial came just days after the United States raised concerns over his case at tense talks with China in Alaska.

State media outlet CCTV reported that Kovrig and his lawyer were in court and that the verdict, like the one for Spavor, who was tried on Friday, would be announced at a later date.

“We’ve requested access to Michael Kovrig’s hearing repeatedly but that access is being denied” for national security reasons, Jim Nickel, charge d’affaires of the Canadian embassy in China, told reporters outside the Beijing court after the trial began. “Now we see that the court process itself is not transparent. We’re very troubled by this.”

Nickel said Canada would be registering its protest at the lack of access to China’s foreign ministry.

In a show of solidarity, 28 diplomats from 26 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Czech Republic, turned up outside the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court on Monday, where there was a heavy police presence.

“(U.S.) President (Joe) Biden and (Secretary of State Antony) Blinken have said that in dealing with the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the United States will treat these two individuals as if they were American citizens,” William Klein, charge d’affaires of the U.S. embassy in China, told reporters as he stood beside Nickel.

‘SOLIDARITY’

“We are here to show solidarity. Arbitrary detention is not the way,” another diplomat told Reuters, declining to be named as she was not authorized to speak on the record about the trial.

The Canadian side had assembled a group of diplomats to “point fingers” and was “wantonly interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty”, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

More than 50 countries signed a declaration in February to condemn the arbitrary detention of foreign citizens for political purposes.

Some diplomats took off their face masks as they posed for a group photo outside the court, with each shouting out which country they represented to help reporters identify them.

On Friday, Spavor, a businessman, also stood trial in a closed courtroom in the northeastern city of Dandong.

Canadian and other diplomats were not allowed to attend Spavor’s trial on what China said were national security grounds, a lack of transparency that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called “completely unacceptable”.

Observers have said the likely convictions of the two men could ultimately facilitate a diplomatic agreement in which they are released and sent back to Canada.

Chinese courts have a conviction rate of over 99%.

“Michael and Michael Spavor are innocent Canadians caught up in a bigger geopolitical dispute,” Kovrig’s wife, Vina Nadjibulla, told Reuters.

“Their detention is profoundly unjust and our focus must remain on securing their freedom.”

Spavor’s trial took place as the United States and China held rancorous high-level talks in Alaska. The United States raised the issue during the talks, a senior Biden administration official said, including its concerns that diplomats were barred from the courtroom in Spavor’s trial.

China's CanSino Biologics Inc (CanSinoBIO) said on Monday its COVID-19 vaccine has been authorised for emergency use in Hungary
Read alsoBREAKING – Hungary approves second Chinese COVID vaccine

He murdered ten people with a van because he was rejected by women

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Alek Minassian – the man who plowed a rented van into dozens of people in Toronto in 2018 – is guilty of murdering 10 people and attempting to murder 16, a judge ruled on Wednesday, dismissing a defense argument that the suspect’s mental disorder left him with no idea how horrific his actions were.

The man who plowed a rental van into dozens of people in Toronto, Canada in 2018 was found guilty of murder and attempted murder by a judge on Wednesday.

Ten people were killed, and 16 wounded by the driver – 28-year-old Alek Minassian.

Victims’ families – outside of court Wednesday – said they were relieved.

”Oh, well, it’s like you’re holding your breath for three years and you can finally breathe.”

Nick D’Amico’s sister was killed in the attack – which Minassian had said was motived by a desire to punish society for his perceived status as an “incel” – otherwise known as an involuntary celibate.

Minassian had pleaded ‘not criminally responsible.’

His lawyers argued his autism spectrum disorder left him with no idea how horrific his actions were.

But the judge dismissed that defense – and read a guilty verdict that was live-streamed on YouTube.

Catherine Riddell was among those injured in the attack:

“Oh, it was the best I could hope for. I think it was a fair decision. And he can spend the rest of his life in jail because he deserves it. I’m sorry he took lives and he didn’t care. And you know what? You just have to be accountable for what you do. And he’s going to have to be.”

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled and – according to criminal lawyers following the case – Minassian is likely to get a life sentence.

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Read alsoGunman kills at least 16 in Canada’s worst mass shooting

Hungary-Canada ties getting stronger, says foreign minister

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Hungary and Canada have further strengthened their ties this year, particularly through continuing investments by Canadian businesses, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Friday.

Szijjártó said on Facebook that he spoke by phone with François-Philippe Champagne, his Canadian counterpart, to review bilateral relations in absence of the possibility of an in-person meeting.

He said the fact that Canadian businesses today employ 6,000 people in Hungary was proof that bilateral relations were getting stronger.

“We have purchased our airborne reconnaissance radars from a Canadian firm and will open Hungary’s next consulate general in Montreal next year,” the minister said.

He noted excellent cooperation within the United Nations which is well illustrated by the fact that Montreal and Budapest are both aspirant cities for a new location for UN central functions.

In addition, Hungary has earmarked 30 million forints (EUR 84,400) for erecting a monument in honour of the victims of communism in Ottawa, Szijjártó said.

Read alsoA contemporary history of cordial relations between Canada and Hungary

The Continuous Growth of Canadian Gambling

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For centuries gambling has been a popular pastime, but in the past couple of decades its growth has been unparalleled. Since the turn of the millennium, Europe has been leading the way when it comes to gambling growth.

However, in recent years North America has begun to catch up as strict gambling laws have been relaxed, allowing the industry to flourish. Whilst the United States as the home to the gambling hub of Las Vegas may steal all the headlines, Canada has more right to call itself the home of gambling in North America.

Read on to find out how and why the Canadian gambling industry is flourishing and why the future is bright for the industry.

Canadian Gambling: The Current State of Play

Las Vegas may post the biggest gambling revenues of any city in North America, but Canadian cities like Quebec and Montreal are not far behind. In the last financial year Quebec’s casino’s posted combined revenues of $963.7 million with Montreal posting similar figures.

However, land-based casinos are no longer the driving force of the gambling industry here in Canada or indeed, anywhere else in the world. The online sector is now one of the major revenue drivers in the Canadian gambling market.

Last year Canada’s total gambling revenues were $2.65 billion and over $1.2 billion of that revenue came from the online sector. However, according to a government survey over $1 billion of potential revenues is being lost by the Canadian gambling industry each year.

The reason for this is the government’s bizarre and confusing stance on online gambling. By law every online gambling provider in Canada must be licensed or run by the provincial government.

As a result of this, the Canadian online gambling market is not nearly as diverse as it should be, causing many players to register with foreign providers for better deals, offers and variety.

If the government were to adopt the same approach as their British counterparts, gambling in this country could well be posting annual revenues closer to $4 billion.

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According to industry statistics, Canadians are spending less money with land-based casinos year on year. Photo: Illustration/Pixabay

Canadian Gambling Habits

Whilst the amount of money leaving the country through online gambling may be startling, it is important to remember that despite this, gambling in Canada is still in pretty good shape.

Per capita Canadians spent $824.68 a year on gambling, which is significantly more than gamblers in the UK and the US. What is more interesting than how much Canadians are spending on gambling is how they are spending their cash.

Money spent in land-based casinos is dropping and was falling even before the chaotic events of 2020 began. Almost all of Canada’s super casinos have been reporting decreases in revenues and profits in recent years as more and more people opt to gamble online.

Alberta provides the perfect example of this trend in action. The latest gambling statistics in the province showed a 24% decrease in land-based casino revenues from 2018 to 2019.

Rather than providing their land-based casinos with a financial stimulus, the Provincial government decided to open their own online casino to fill the void in revenues. Albertan politicians and lawmakers recognised that gamblers in the province were more likely to spend their time gambling with on an online live casino platform than at the table in a land-based casino. This is due to the increase in popularity of online casinos in the country, with more Canadians opting for this method due to the availability and convenience of an online casino site.

What Does the Future Hold For Canadian Gambling?

As has already been discussed, current trends in gambling both here in Canada and across the world highlight the publics desire to gamble online rather than in land-based casinos. Currently the Canadian government is looking to take advantage of this by stepping up their plans to open more provincially licensed online casinos.

However, there are limitations to this approach and as such many are calling for a relaxation on the laws surrounding online gambling in the country. The UK – one of the world’s leading online gambling markets – is often cited as an example of how Canada could run its own gambling industry.

Whilst strict licensing laws regulate the British industry, there are no restrictions on how many companies can offer their services to British gamblers. As a result, British gamblers are spoiled for choice and have no need to seek out offshore providers.

Whilst replicating this approach would be unquestionably beneficial to the Canadian government in reclaiming the 1 billion gambling dollars leaving the country each year, there are no plans afoot to do so. Until then, Canada will continue to not realise its full gambling potential.

Rubik’s Cube sold for $50 million to Canadian toymaker

Rubik's Cube Hungarian invention

Canadian toymaker Spin Master Corp. is taking the legendary Hungarian invention, the Rubik’s Cube for $50 million to join the brand in Toronto, Canada. The Rubik’s Cube will join a family of brands including Paw Patrol, Hatchimals and Gund.

HuffPost reported that Hungarian puzzle enthusiast and teacher Ernő Rubik invented the multi-coloured cube in 1974 and the toy became a commercial success after it launched globally in 1980. Since then, everyone is familiar with the legendary Hungarian invention that became so popular that even international competitions are held where people from all around the world compete to complete the cube the quickest way. 

The Toronto-based Spin Master ― which includes Paw Patrol, Hatchimals and Gund among its toy brands ― stated on Tuesday to pay USD 50 million for Rubik’s Brand Ltd. “The Rubik’s Cube is an iconic puzzle that has permeated pop culture and captivated fans for more than 40 years,” Spin-Master vice-president Elizabeth LoVecchio said in a statement.

Ernő Rubik said that he is excited that Spin Master will “fulfil my vision of nurturing smarter future generations through play.” According to “Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All,” a book published in 2018, Rubik says the cube has attracted more attention than he ever imagined.

“It is a curious fact ― one that surprises me as much as anyone ― that for so many decades during a time of an unprecedented technological revolution, fascination with such a simple, low-tech object has survived,” Rubik writes.

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Read alsoRubik’s Cube sold for $50 million to Canadian toymaker

A contemporary history of cordial relations between Canada and Hungary

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Canada and Hungary have enjoyed an enduring relationship over time, and state leaders continue to strengthen ties across multiple frontiers. Other than diplomatic, commercial, and political relations, the two friendly states have deep cultural bonds. In the most recent census report, the Canadian population that can trace its ancestry to Hungary has grown to 348,085, making the minority group 24th largest among the 250 Canadian ethnic groups. From Hungary’s side, Canada is among the top five states with the largest Hungarian diaspora.

Canadians living in Hungary also tell a similar story of cordial relationships and finding acceptance in a foreign land. Factors motivating migration of the population between the two regions have changed over the years. In the modern-day, it is all about seeking better opportunities to improve one’s quality of life. Well, opportunities take different dimensions in our current day and age. The important thing is that whether one is Canadian or Hungarian, the friendly environment between the two factions presents an equal chance to everyone. What’s even more reassuring is that such opportunities seem to incline towards digital spaces with the current wave of modernization. Presently, even the millennial generation of vibrant Canadians and Hungarians, who often find it hard to penetrate the competitive job market, can easily cultivate a successful online career with in favor recreational activities like professional online gaming. This is the convenience offered by digital technology complemented by a friendly e-commerce environment promoted in the two regions. It’s a bright new world of opportunities, and as we enter a new decade, the Canada-Hungary relations can only get better with time. So, what set in motion the current diplomatic goodwill between the two countries?

A Welcoming Home Away from Home

Canada and Hungary marked 50 years of successful diplomatic ties in 2014. The current international system is less anarchic than it used to be a few decades ago. With the newly found stability, more actors in the system, even previous adversaries, are continually becoming interdependent. Under globalization, an international citizenry is coming forth. At an earlier period, Hungary was a volatile state, more so after the second world war when the Hungarian revolution of 1956 began. The revolution was geared against communism, and the violence that ensued turned a significant portion of the Hungarian population into refugees.

In the heat of the crisis and amid the unresponsiveness expressed towards refugees by many European states, an unlikely ally surfaced coming to the aid of Hungarian refugees. Over 100,000 immigrants were ushered to Canada. The Canadian government was proactive in facilitating the population influx to their territories and actively encouraged refugees to settle in Canada. To illustrate their commitment to the noble course, the Canadian minister of immigration, Alastair Gillespie, personally traveled to Austria. This is where many escapees had sojourned, and his sole objective was to create a direct channel for immigration to Canada. According to the 2016 census reports, the modern generations of Hungarian Canadians are well settled in thriving communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. Canada’s cultural diversity makes it easier for immigrants to settle in and find ways to make a livelihood.

Cementing Canada-Hungary Ties

Over the years, the two nations have worked to solidify their ties with high-level state visits from both governments as well as setting up embassies in Budapest and Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto. Canadian dignitaries have made state visits to Hungary starting from 1993 by Governor Ray, in 2004 by Prime Minister Paul, and in 2008 by Governor-General Jean. The Hungarian government reciprocated with high-level visits by President Árpád Göncz in 1991, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in 1999, and most recently in 2007 by President László Sólyom.

The two have come to favorable bilateral agreements, such as the 1991 Enhancement and Protection of Foreign Investments agreement, the 1992 Elimination of Double Taxation, the 1995 Criminal Legal Aid Treaty, and the 1998 Agreement on Aviation. The two also established direct flights from Toronto to Budapest, making it easy for their citizens to travel. Another notable achievement is the growing trade volume, which was recorded at $871 million in 2018. Canada sells a surplus of motor vehicles, electrical machinery, plastics, and medical paraphernalia, where else Hungary exports medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, machinery, and cars to Canada. The Hungarian business landscape has been friendly to Canadian firms, which in return, has created thousands of job positions for the Hungarian population. In Canada, the Hungarian culture is openly celebrated, and most Canadian Hungarians are still strongly embedded in their heritage. The Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto is an excellent illustration of this. Other independent institutions also organize annual interactive cultural events for immigrants who trace a common Hungarian ancestry.

We cannot wait to see the direction that this relationship takes in the future and the new opportunities to the esteemed citizenry.

Coronavirus – Inbound travel restrictions in Hungary eased for these two country

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Hungary has updated the classification of two countries in terms of travel restrictions linked to the novel coronavirus pandemic and eased restrictions for inbound travellers from Canada and Portugal, the government website koronavirus.gov.hu reported on Saturday.

The classification of Canada has been changed from “red” to “yellow” and the classification of Portugal from “yellow” to “green”, the public health authority NNK said on the website.

The state of health emergency and travel restrictions affecting various countries remain in force, NNK added.

The aim is to prevent the import of the virus and a flare-up of the epidemic in Hungary, as well as to avoid having to introduce further restrictions, it said.

Restrictions affecting inbound travellers from countries classified as “yellow” and “red” include random health checks for those travelling on public road and at airports.

They must fill in questionnaires and stay in home quarantine. Persons selected for home quarantine must stay in their homes for 14 days unless they have PCR screening done which shows negative results.

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Read alsoNew travel restrictions introduced in Hungary: contradictory decisions were made