Exhausted Viktor Orbán spends a three-week vacation at the Adriatic
The last few months, years has been difficult for everyone, and Viktor Orbán is no exception from that. Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, parliamentary elections, the Russian-Ukrainian war and the economic crisis proved to be exhausting for the Prime Minister. He also sacrifices his sleep, only getting 4-5 hours of shut-eye a day. This is the reason why he took his longest vacation since he has been in office. Here is what we know about the three weeks spent at the Adriatic Sea.
There was no official statement preceding his leave, the public only knew he was going on a one- or two-week vacation in the beginning of August. This is when he flew to the US, for the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he was an opening headliner on Thursday. He received a warm welcome from the American right-wing and was praised after his speech, which left the world with mixed opinions.
Read alsoOrbán: “Hungarians are not a mixed race and do not want to become one”
After the conference, Viktor Orbán started his vacation, to take a break from years long of hard work. He travelled to Croatia, where he spent about three weeks. He did not post any pictures of his holiday, but the public could follow him through the pictures civilians took with him. According to the posts about his journey, he also brought a bodyguard with him.
Seaside vacation
On 6 August, Orbán posed in a patterned white t-shirt with a restaurant owner on his side on the island of Brač. The owner was proud to serve him and even posted a picture with him on his Instagram account. However, a day after, the Hungarian PM got into trouble when his boat broke down near the island of Vis. He, along with his wife and bodyguard, was rescued by Boris Vrkić, a former journalist of Slobodna Dalmacija. He said they were in high spirits and he even invited Orbán for a meal. There, they did not recognize him, unlike in Brač.
Read alsoExhausted Viktor Orbán spends a three-week vacation at the Adriatic
Next time he was caught on camera, he shared dinner with Zoran Milanović, the President of Croatia. In the previous snaps, he already had a subtle stubble and was wearing casual summer clothes, but at his next appearance, he sported a grey beard (that, according to Blikk, 39% of Hungarians thought it looked good on him). Viktor Orbán is seen in the picture with Zsolt Németh, the head of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
During his leave, everything was planned and prepared, and the presence of the Prime Minister was not required. The government had already made the most important decisions, and all the discussions and programmes were led by a representative. He plans his return to the office during the second half of the week.
Read alsoPHOTO: What a change! Bearded Orbán in a Russia T-shirt in Croatia?
Fireworks will be cancelled again in Budapest? Here is the forecast
The fireworks on 20 August, the Hungarian national holiday, were cancelled due to a high chance of rain and storm. The evening could have ended very badly had storms interfered. The fireworks were postponed to the next Saturday, 27 August – today. What do forecasts say about today’s weather? Read our article to find out!
Weather forecast for Saturday
Clouds are gathering around the fireworks: the National Meteorological Service (OMSZ) is forecasting thunderstorms for Saturday again. The meteorological service has issued a first level warning for Pest county for Saturday, reports szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu.
As they write, during the day, mainly in the Transdanubian region, there will be a greater chance of scattered showers, but in the central part of the country and in the southern part of the Danube-Tisza basin, there is also a small chance of such precipitation. Strong or gusty winds may occur around thunderstorms. The OMSZ has therefore issued a first level warning for Saturday for several counties due to thunderstorms.
Previous events – the firing of weather officials
As we reported before, the head and the vice-head of the OMSZ was fired because of “wrong forecasting”. László Palkovics, minister of technology and innovation, decided to fire the top officials, chairwoman Kornélia Radics and vice-chair Gyula Horváth because the OMSZ said there would be thunderstorms on 20 August. Therefore, the government postponed the fireworks, but the rain did not arrive.
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András Bencsik, editor-in-chief of Hungarian news portal Demokrata, said that “in his opinion, this was a hasty decision”. According to him, “we should get out of this nonsense” of trying to support a hasty decision with some theory afterwards. He said that had PM Viktor Orbán been home at the time of the decision, this would not have happened. We have also written about Orbán’s vacation abroad, in Croatia.
Meteorologists from 42 countries show solidarity
By now, 65 meteorologists from 42 countries have expressed their solidarity with the dismissed leaders of the OMSZ. The open letter from Climate Without Borders, an international organisation, was signed by meteorologists from public broadcasters including Ghana, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Colombia, Taiwan, Spain and Kenya as well.
In a statement shared on their Facebook page, they begin:
“Normally, we share stories about extreme weather with each other and our viewers but this week our community was shocked to learn that two of our Hungarian colleagues had lost their jobs, simply because they did them properly.”
“As forecasters, our first mission is to protect life and property. When Hungarian meteorologists saw danger in the forecast, they did what any of us would do – warned of the risk to life. For this, the head and deputy head of their national weather service have now been dismissed from their posts,”
they continue.
You can read the full post and the list of meteorologists from all around the world below:
Update
By now, the list has grown to include 83 persons from all 7 continents! See the update post below:
Read alsoDie Presse: without EU funds, Hungary will face much worse recession
PHOTO: What a change! Bearded Orbán in a Russia T-shirt in Croatia?
PM Viktor Orbán is spending his summer holiday in Croatia, where a great many things happened to him and his wife. First, they were rescued by a Croatian journalist after their motorboat broke down. Secondly, he was snapped together with the Croatian president on a dinner they ate in a seashore restaurant. A recent photo shows him in Croatia with the head of the parliament’s foreign affairs commitee. He has a beard and is wearing a T-shirt some think depicts the silhouette of Russia. Here is the explanation.
After the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, everybody knew that new waves would come. However, during the summer, all countries, including Hungary, eased the restrictions introduced to contain the aggressive spread of the virus. PM Viktor Orbán said that Hungarians would feel jailed if they could not visit the sea every year at least once. Orbán stuck to that statement: he is spending his holiday this year in Croatia and by the sea.
That is where Zsolt Németh, the head of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee, met him and took a photo. He wrote in his post: “Croatia, summer, recreation – meeting Viktor Orbán!”
The photo they shared is interesting because for at least two reasons. First, Viktor Orbán wore a beard on 16 June 1989 when he gave his famous speech on the reburial of Imre Nagy, the martyr Hungarian prime minister executed by the Communists in 1958. There he demanded the withdrawal of the Soviet-Russian troops from Hungary, which was very brave then. Comments under the photo show that some fans found Orbán’s new beard cute.
Here is a video of his speech:
The other reason why the photo shared by Mr Németh might be interesting is the T-shirt the prime minister wears. At first glimpse, it might happen that we mistakenly think it is the silhouette of Russia that the prime minister wears on his T-shirt. Vg.hu explained that it is the outline of the Lastovo island. The island is the biggest one of the Lastovo-islands in South Dalmatia.
- Read also: Photo: Croatian journalist saved PM Orbán on the Adriatic Sea!
As we reported before, PM Orbán’s holiday in Croatia was adventurous. At the beginning of August, the prime minister, his wife Anikó Lévai and one of their bodyguards were sitting in a motorboat that broke down in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. Hvg.hu reported then that the prime minister’s motorboat stopped working near the island of Vis. Fortunately, a former journalist of the Slobodna Dalmacija, Boris Vrkić, rushed to help them.
Later, he was snapped with the Croatian president enjoying dinner in a seashore restaurant.
First shipment of liquefied natural gas from Croatia arrives in Hungary!
The first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has arrived from the Croatian import terminal to Hungary, thus adding a new mode and route to the domestic gas supply chain, which currently serves mainly transport purposes. Soon, the route may be opened for industrial use as well, ARELGAS Ltd told MTI on Wednesday.
After ARELGAS Ltd became the first company in Hungary to put into operation its first LNG transport tanker train, the possibility opened for gas to arrive in Hungary not only by pipeline but also by transport vehicle, often referred to as a “virtual pipeline”, from the LNG FSRU (Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Storage Regasifier Unit) facility on the island of Krk, the closest LNG import terminal to Hungary.
The Krk terminal, which has been in operation since January 2021, will be primarily responsible for receiving and storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported by tanker vessels and, after regasification, transporting it by pipeline to the interior of the continent, including Hungary.
This spring, they said, additional activities could be launched at the terminal, with the possibility of loading road tankers. In addition to natural gas, this will enable the start of the liquefied natural gas from Krk to Hungary.
ARELGAS Ltd’s LNG carrier vehicle, after being tested and placed in service, was prepared in accordance with the terminal’s extremely complex technical and safety requirements.
“The arrival of the first Hungarian vehicle home from the Krk terminal and its subsequent transfer to the gas storage tank is a milestone in terms of security of supply, diversification of the transport route and, of course, the possibility of cost reduction. The shortening of the transport route to supply industrial customers and thus more accurate scheduling of the delivery is an important result of the process that has now been launched,” the company’s statement said.
Hungary currently has 3 LNG filling stations, two of which are operated by ARELGAS Ltd along the M0 motorway. The third, which is about to open, is located at Mosonmagyaróvár, along the M1 motorway. Next year, the number of filling points in Hungary will double to meet the needs of the growing number of LNG-powered vehicles.
According to public company data, in its first year of operation in 2021, ARELGAS Ltd. has generated HUF 35 million in revenue and HUF 2.5 million in profit since its establishment in March last year.
Read alsoRussian oil supplies to Hungary to restart within days!
Photo: Croatian journalist saved PM Orbán on the Adriatic Sea!
Viktor Orbán, his wife Anikó Lévai and one of their bodyguards were in a motorboat that broke down in the middle of the Adriatic Sea.
According to hvg.hu, the prime minister’s motorboat stopped working near the island of Vis. A former journalist of the Slobodna Dalmacija, Boris Vrkić, rushed to their help. According to the news site, the local man even recommended a nearby restaurant to Orbán after the “rescue operation”. The staff had no clue about the identity of their well-known guest. They only learned about it from the article in the local Jutarnji magazine and were pretty much surprised.
PM Viktor Orbán is spending his holiday in Croatia. On Sunday, he dined at the Gajeta restaurant on the island of Brac. The restaurant wrote in an Instagram post that they were honoured to welcome the Hungarian prime minister.
Read alsoPhoto: Croatian journalist saved PM Orbán on the Adriatic Sea!
Polish pilgrim bus coming from Hungary suffered deadly accident
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday sent an official message to Mateusz Morawiecki, his Polish counterpart, expressing his condolences over an accident involving a Polish bus in Croatia, the PM’s press chief said.
A bus carrying pilgrims from Poland to a holy site in Medugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, veered off the motorway and slammed into a wall in the early hours of Saturday in Croatia. Of those on the bus, 12 were killed and 32 injured, 19 of them seriously.
“I would like to express my condolences to you and the Polish nation on behalf of myself and the Hungarian people. We will pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and the families of the victims,” Orban said in the message.
Read alsoTerrible: foreign young man fell six metres from the quay
Hungary is one of the EU countries most interested in the dark web in 2022
According to Reboot SEO Company, Croatia is the country most interested in the dark web in 2022, with a dark web interest score of 97.1 out of 100. Dark web crimes in Croatia have increased by 31% in recent years, and there have been a total of 30,450 online searches so far this year — which is the equivalent of 1,083 internet users in Croatia looking up the dark web in 2022.
The Czech Republic comes in second with a dark web interest score of 94.1 out of 100. In the Czech Republic, there are over 8 million active internet users, with 1,027 users per 100,000 searching the dark web each month.
Ireland is the third most interested country in the dark web, with an interest score of 91.2 out of 100. So far this year, there have been 38,360 online searches in Ireland for the dark web, equating to 953 searches for every 100,000 internet users.
In fourth is Hungary with a dark web interest score of 88.2 out of 100 and completing the top five is Romania with a score of 85.3 out of 100.
|
Rank |
Country |
Searches per 100,000 users |
Dark web interest score (/100) |
|
1 |
Croatia |
1,083 |
97.1 |
|
2 |
Czech Republic |
1,027 |
94.1 |
|
3 |
Ireland |
953 |
91.2 |
|
4 |
Hungary |
920 |
88.2 |
|
5 |
Romania |
804 |
85.3 |
|
6 |
Slovakia |
756 |
82.4 |
|
7 |
Albania |
731 |
79.4 |
|
8 |
Greece |
718 |
76.5 |
|
9 |
Netherlands |
708 |
73.5 |
|
10 |
Italy |
697 |
70.6 |
|
11 |
Slovenia |
683 |
67.6 |
|
12 |
Norway |
648 |
64.7 |
|
13 |
United Kingdom |
641 |
61.8 |
|
14 |
Portugal |
625 |
58.8 |
|
15 |
Sweden |
618 |
55.9 |
5 ways to protect yourself from the dark web
1. Use a VPN
A VPN can protect your online activity from corporations, governments, and other prying eyes. By connecting to an external server and adopting its IP address, you can appear to be in the same country as the server you are using. For example, if you are in America and connected to a server in the United Kingdom, the website will believe you are in the United Kingdom. Although a VPN doesn’t make your online activities impossible to track, having that extra layer of protection gives you the best chance of keeping your data safe.
2. Use a free dark web scan
If you suspect that one of your accounts, whether personal, email, or bank, has been compromised, one of the first things you should do is run a free dark web scan. A dark web scan will search the dark web for your personal information among all stolen data lists. A web scan will not reveal the entire amount of stolen information on the dark web, but it will notify you immediately if any of your information is discovered.
Read alsoHungary is one of the EU countries most interested in the dark web in 2022
3. Use a password manager
Another way to give yourself the best possible chance of protecting your personal information is to change your passwords and use a password manager. Many of us are guilty of using the same password for all of our accounts, but this can lead to your information being more easily accessed. Your passwords for online accounts should all be different, strong, and one-of-a-kind. Your Instagram password, for example, should not be the same as your Amazon or online banking password. Using a password manager is a simple way to avoid this. Password managers generate secure passwords for you, so you never have to worry about forgetting another password again.
4. Enable two factor authentication
One of the best ways you can try to protect your online accounts from the dark web is to use two-factor authentication. A second authentication step makes it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to your accounts because it combines two factors as a way of confirming authorization, either your username or password and then your phone number or possibly something physical like a fingerprint. If your username or email address has been compromised, this additional layer of security will protect you even further.
5. Close accounts and report evidence of identity theft
Identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the world, with an increasing number of victims each year. It is critical to act quickly if you notice any suspicious transactions on your financial statements or if you receive an email about a login attempt that was not made by you. By closing your account, reporting it to your bank, as well as filing an identity theft report with your relevant governmental authority you can prevent further financial harm.
“There is no single solution to data security. True security comes from a combination of the right software tools, increasing your knowledge of cyberthreats, and establishing safe online practices. Hackers are constantly devising new and innovative methods of gaining access to your data, which can then be uploaded to the dark web and sold. If you want to give yourself the best chance of preventing your information from ending up on the dark web, or if you want to explore the dark web out of curiosity, you should use a VPN because it will conceal your IP address, protecting your identity and location.”
Read alsoHungarian websites suffered defacing, political cyber-attacks!
You would never guess why PM Orbán sent a letter to the Croatian PM
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sent a letter to Andrej Plenkovic, his Croatian counterpart, congratulating him on the completion and opening of the Peljecas bridge which connects the Dalmatian mainland in the south and the Peljesac peninsula, his press chief told MTI on Wednesday morning.
In a letter sent to Plenkovic, Orbán said “I honestly believe that the completion of Croatia’s most significant infrastructural project which has been carried out in an effective cooperation with international partners is a historic milestone for the Republic of Croatia,” Bertalan Havasi quoted the prime minister as saying. “The new bridge which has brought an end to Croatia’s infrastructural fragmentation is an excellent example how a link can serve to better interconnect the region,” Orbán said in his letter.
“Croatia for us, Hungarians, is traditionally one of the most favourite summer holiday destinations. This is why I am glad that through the new Peljesac bridge, our tourists and other travelers coming from all over the world can now discover the exceptional beauties of South Dalmatia under much safer circumstances and in a lot faster way,” Orbán said.
Read alsoOrbán: “Hungarians are not a mixed race and do not want to become one”
Neo-nazi in Croatia could very well be Hungarian
It was rumoured that two neo-nazi men were Ukrainian refugees. In reality, it seems that one of them is Hungarian. The problem is, that there are multiple untied threads connecting a suspicious man to Hungary. Could such a nightmare really be true? Continue reading below for more details on the case.
Blikk, citing a Dutch fact-checking portal, reports that at least one of the Nazis who were previously spotted on the Croatian coast, tattooed all over the body, could be Hungarian. In early July, a photo of two men with Nazi symbols covering their bodies began circulating on Croatian-language social networking sites.
Roughly translated, the Twitter caption reads the following. “NAZI SHIT – It arrived in the inbox, so we cannot guarantee that the pictures are from today, but it is certain that they were taken at the beach bar Morski Prasac in Rijeka”
The Nazis in the picture were long thought to be Ukrainian citizens, but according to the Dutch fact-checking portal DPA, the taller, bald man is a Hungarian neo-Nazi musician who played bass in the band White Storm in 2018. After many reports, the Croatian police got a hold of the image.
Could this outrageous man be Hungarian?
The site has traced the photo to Rijeka, where police say they first visited 10 days earlier. First, an anti-fascist Croatian website “Antifasisticki Vjesnik” said that the men were not Ukrainians but Hungarians, but the article notes that the identity of the bearded man on the right has not yet been identified.
The left-wing man, with both a SpongeBob SquarePants and a Hitler tattoo, attended an event in 2020, officially billed as a “family and sports day” by the far-right Nordic Sun Records, to celebrate the 63rd birthday of Ian Stuart, the British neo-Nazi musician who died in 1993. According to the portal, there were fewer facial tattoos on his face at the time, but he is recognizable because of the tear under his right eye and the tattoo on his right arm.
The tall, bald man also appears in a 2018 concert recording, playing bass. According to DPA, White Storm is linked to a Hungarian neo-Nazi organisation, Blood and Honour Hungary. On 2 July, Blood and Honour Hungary posted on their Telegram channel that they were taking part in a commemoration in Croatia.
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Visiting Croatia? Here Are A Few Things You Should Know
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It is no wonder that Croatia has become quite a tourist attraction in recent years. The ancient land of Croatia is one of the most beautiful coastal countries in Europe. It is the birthplace of Nikola Tesla, and home to what Alfred Hitchcock described as the most beautiful sunset in the world.
Big-budget tv productions and movies have also been filmed here for their breathtaking landscapes and well-preserved medieval landmarks. But to make the most of your travels to this Adriatic paradise, here are a few things you should know when visiting Croatia.
Rent A Sailboat
Croatia is known throughout the world as the country of a thousand islands. But there are, in fact, 1244 of them. Most of these little islands are uninhabited. And the only way to see all the magnificent islands in the region is by renting a yacht or sailboat.
Rent a sailboat in Croatia and you’ll get to discover all the jewels of the Adriatic. For fans of the wilderness, the island of Mljet is untamed and green, with Mljet National Park occupying most of the isle. The waters here are excellent for canoeing, kayaking, and scuba diving.
But if diverse landscapes are what you’re after, head for the island of Rab. The ancient rulers of this island, the Illyrians, are the most likely origin for the name Rab. The Illyrian word Arb meant dark, green, or forested.
Sail along the deep blue waters bordered by white pebbles, while you gaze up at the cliffs graced by pine forests.
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The Beaches Are Rocky
Hungary’s coastal neighbor, Croatia has many fine beaches. But instead of sinking your feet into soft sand, you’ll mostly be carefully traversing stretches of pebbles.
So you may want to pack a pair of aqua shoes for those walks along the beaches. But pebble beaches are, in many ways, superior to sandy beaches. Unlike sand, the pebbles won’t get into everything, and won’t make you itch if you have sensitive skin.
Best of all, pebbles don’t move about as much as sand and this means that underwater visibility is far better. This is good news for all you snorkelers and divers.
- Read also:
Travel In Off-Peak Season
The peak tourist season is not the best time to go. The marinas are bustling, the hotels are full and the streets are crowded with tourists. Traveling in off-peak times will mean fewer crowds and more opportunities.
From June to August, port towns like Dubrovnik and Split, in particular, are swallowed up by tourists. Try to visit Croatia in the month just before or right after this busy season.
Visit Lesser-Known Gems
When considering a trip to Croatia, everyone thinks of Dubrovnik. But this means that it can become crowded with tourists. There are lesser-known towns that are well worth a visit.
The most remote of the central Dalmatian Islands, Vis is less developed than other towns in Croatia. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find plenty to see and do here. The ‘Blue Caves’ off the coast of Komiźa, on the west side of the island, will be a highlight of your itinerary.
Another gem is the historic coastal town of Sibenik. Several museums and landmarks can be found here, as well as the Cathedral St James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 15th century. Don’t choose between a beach holiday and a cultural one. With its beaches and medieval architecture, Sibenik offers both.
Three Different Climates
You may be surprised to learn that there are three types of climate in Croatia.
In Istria, along the coast and on the islands, it is mild and often rainy. The Dinaric Alps are cold and snowy in the winter and cool even in the summer. Thunderstorms can even occur here on summer afternoons. And then there’s the interior’s continental climate.
When island hopping or walking along the beach, so be sure to wear sunscreen and don a sunhat. Remember that when enjoying yourself on vacation, hours could pass with much of your skin exposed to the sun’s UV rays. And sunscreen also wears off during a day of watersports. So be careful out there.
ICSID decides in favour of MOL in Croatia arbitration case
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has decided in favour of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL in an arbitration case involving the state of Croatia over breach of contract.
MOL notified the market of the verdict, delivered on Tuesday, in an announcement posted on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange on Wednesday. MOL noted that it had filed a request for arbitration against Croatia in 2013 for breach of contract related to agreements concerning Croatian energy company INA signed in 2009.
MOL owns a little over 49 percent of INA and has management rights in the company. The state of Croatia is the other big owner in INA. “The ICSID award clearly states that Croatia’s bribery related allegations are unfounded,” MOL said. “The three-member council unanimously rejected Croatia’s objection that the 2009 agreements are a result of criminal conduct,” it added.
ICSID characterised the story of the witness testifying against accomplices in the Croatian criminal proceedings as “weak and full of contradictions” and expressed “strong doubts” about the truthfulness and reliability of both the arbitral and criminal proceedings in Zagreb, MOL said.
ICSID ruled that Croatia caused “substantial damages” to INA for failing to take over the energy company’s gas trading business as well as for breaching contractual obligations concerning gas pricing and royalties and awarded MOL 167.8 million dollars. The tribunal also awarded MOL 16.1 million dollars in damages caused by Croatia for forcing the sale of gas stored at INA subsidiary Prirodni Plin. Together with interest, MOL was awarded a total of around 236 million dollars.
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Croatian restaurant could be fined for “insulting Hungarians”
From a tasteless joke to a severe crime, Croatian captain and restaurant owner Jakov Jakša Begović could now be facing severe fines. Although the restaurant has already stated that the message seemingly against Hungarians was actually a joke, that does not mean he will not face repercussions. Continue reading below to find out more about the situation.
From insult to injury
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“We do not serve Hungarians. You are not welcome at your seaside. But if you bring Hernadi with you, you are welcome,” a sign outside a bar in Pelješec, Croatia, read a few weeks ago. The restaurant was responding to Viktor Orbán’s remarks about the Hungarians having their sea taken away from them.
Our website wrote several articles discussing the issue. We have come to the conclusion that the message could not pass through the cultural barrier. In fact, Croatian restaurants have been known to write seemingly hurtful comments on their signs. What many fail to realise, is that these are meant as complete jokes, even if they appear blatantly hurtful.
Tuna Bar restaurant is owned by captain Jakov Jakša Begović and he has run the establishment for 30 years. The establishment has become known for its various satirical signs in the past. Begović now became a suspect for violating the dignity of Hungarians according to the Croatian Anti-Discrimination Act. This law prescribes much larger fines for establishments than natural persons. Seeing as the sign was in front of Begović’s establishment, Tuna Bar, he could be facing severe consequences for his actions.
Comments from the Croatian
The restaurant owner has now spoken out about the case, reports Azonnali. He said he had received thousands of threatening emails and phone calls in a single day. Furthermore, his restaurant’s rating had been pulled down on the internet and the joke could now lead to a fine of up to HRK 200,000 (EUR 26,570; HUF 10,650,996).
“Several times the police came to my house and told me that they were going to press charges against me. I asked for the report, but I didn’t get it straight away. Later, my lawyer called me and offered to represent me for free,” the restaurateur told RTL.hr.
The punishment could be upwards of HRK 30,000 (EUR 3,985; HUF 1,597,650) if the offense was made by a natural person. Unfortunately, in his interview, the restaurant owner says that due to the severity of his action, he could actually be fined HRK 10,000 to HRK 200,000. As reported, Begović is suspected of insulting the dignity of Hungarians.
- Read Also: Get to know the national symbols of Hungary!
Croatian mother’s newborn found in a Hungarian vineyard! – VIDEO
Hungarian police found a newborn in the Márfa vineyard, not far from Pécs, Southeastern Hungary.
Hungarian police started an investigation against a Croatian woman for attempted murder. The authorities suspect that the woman abandoned her newborn baby on purpose.
Croatian police notified their Hungarian colleagues last midnight that the hospital of Eszék provided medical care for a 31-year-old local woman who gave birth to her child the previous afternoon and went home afterwards.
She could not tell where the birth happened, but Hungarian police found the baby in the vineyard of Márfa – 444.hu reported.
A police officer with a medical decree took part in the operation so he could provide immediate care for the baby before the ambulance arrived. Afterwards, they transferred the newborn to a local hospital. However, later the baby died despite all efforts of the healthcare professionals – origo.hu reported.
Here is a video of what happened:
MEP Gyöngyösi: Growing contrast between Croatia and Hungary
Jobbik MEP Márton Gyöngyösi’s thoughts via press release:
The context for this post is given by the news that Croatia is going to adopt the EURO as of 1 January 2023 and, if everything goes according to the plans, the country will join the Schengen zone as well. It is in stark contrast with my homeland, Hungary, which is taking long strides on the way out of the European Union.
Despite sharing most of their history in Central Europe, Croatia and Hungary don’t show such a huge difference for the first time: when the region’s Socialist regimes collapsed one after the other around 1990, Hungary was still considered as the honour student of the area, while Croatia was entangled in a home defence war to establish and/or protect its mere existence as a state.
Back then, who would have thought that the “ranking” of the two countries will be reversed?
After the difficulties of the 1990s, Croatia could only join the EU in 2013, with a significant backlog compared to the rest of the region. However, the country has been able to demonstrate its ability to utilize the opportunities lying in European integration. Taking no more than ten years after its accession, Croatia will be able to join the EU’s “innermost circles”, i.e., Schengen and the Eurozone. I think the latter appears to be an even larger achievement as EU member states are required to meet famously strict economic conditions to adopt the common currency. After lapping several countries that had joined earlier, Croatia was able to meet all those requirements.
It’s natural to compare the country’s performance to that of Hungary which was Central Europe’s proud leader in terms of living standards back in the 1990s, but is now considered as one of the stragglers.
Although Hungary became an EU member as early as in 2004, the accession to the Eurozone is nowhere in sight. In fact, the Fidesz government stipulated in the Constitution that the Forint will remain Hungary’s currency. We are talking about the same Forint that has been sinking to historical lows over the past 6 months compared to the Euro. Our currency is being devalued at an astonishing rate while the government regulates food and fuel prices in a feeble attempt to hide the problem from the citizens. If you look at the economy, you see an increasingly gloomy picture with devalued money and an impending commodity shortage resulting from the regulated prices. As far as the political environment is concerned, the Hungarian government, having realized its complete isolation in Europe, is now making ever larger gestures to Moscow, to the point where PM Viktor Orbán used his usual Friday radio interview to joke about how little chance Ukraine has in the war.
This doesn’t mean that the people of Hungary are against the European Union or the adoption of the Euro, in fact.
Under the current circumstances however, when Orbán’s regime uses the Hungarian authorities to block opposition parties so he doesn’t even need to commit electoral fraud to win the elections due to the government’s huge dominance in resources and media, pro-Europe opinions are hardly heard in the public discourse. I hope that the European Union’s institutions soon realize the importance of holding member state governments accountable for European values and the democratic rule of law, since not all countries seem to function as well as Croatia.
Until they come to that realization however, we can do nothing but envy our south western neighbours…
Read alsoMEP Gyöngyösi: Can Hungarian citizens still rely on the EU?
Croatian PM: Hungary’s dual pricing is a clear breach of obligations
The Hungarian government imposes an official price cap on petrol. They created a dual pricing system since large flocks of foreigners came to Hungary to fill up. However, the new regulation is widely criticised. Experts say the dual pricing is against EU rules. The Croatian Prime Minister supports that view too. Andrej Plenković criticised the Hungarian government’s decision in a statement to Euronews.
Criticism from the Croatian Prime Minister
Andrej Plenković, Croatian Prime Minister, says the Hungarian dual pricing is discriminatory and against the EU laws.
“Hungary cannot discriminate against citizens of other member states who want to fill up their petrol tanks in Hungary,”
said Plenković. He added that Hungary buys cheap Russian oil, while everyone else purchases more expensive Mediterranean or Brent oil, mandiner.hu reports. European institutions, such as the EU or the European Commission, have not objected to the Hungarian government’s decree so far.
- Read also: Chaos at petrol stations over dual pricing
How long will the dual pricing last?
The European Consumer Organisation has given an interview to euronews.com. “There is no reason why we should discriminate against people from other countries regarding the price of petrol. We expect the European Commission to investigate the situation as soon as possible and as thoroughly as possible,” the ETUC said.
Euronews reports that the European Commission has opened an investigation into the case.
The organisation added that the EU’s great strength is the free movement of goods and services within its internal market, where any restrictions can be imposed only in justified cases. Under EU rules, a member state must ensure that it does not discriminate against service users from other member states.
Previously, German legislation has also been challenged for discriminatory pricing.
Germany would have had a similar regulation for motorway use. Foreign buyers would have been charged a higher sticker price. Austria sued Germany. The European Commission condemned Germany in June 2019.
Gergely Gulyás admitted that the most controversial part of the fiscal adjustment package was the introduction of the dual petrol price but he thinks there are good arguments for keeping it.
Read alsoCroatian PM: Hungary’s dual pricing is a clear breach of obligations
Hungary, Croatia to expand energy cooperation, pipeline capacity
The Croatian government is ready to expand the capacity of the Adria pipeline to ensure that energy resources reach Hungary in emergency situations, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Tuesday. The deal is part of an agreement to expand long-term energy security cooperation between the countries, he added.
After talks with Croatian energy minister Davor Filipovic, Szijjártó said that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had successfully ensured the exemption of pipeline deliveries from the European Union’s sanctions against Russian crude oil. Hungary’s supplies are now secure, but a diversity of resources remains key to maintaining full energy security, the minister said.
Oil for the most part is delivered to Hungary via the Friendship pipeline which passes through Ukraine. Szijjártó said
Hungary must prepare for the “impossibility” of these deliveries, noting that “we have heard that the Ukrainians are threatening to stop transits”.
Expanding the capacity of the Adria pipeline would guarantee Hungary and Slovakia secure supplies, he said.
He welcomed Croatia’s readiness to do this as part of a long-term energy cooperation agreement.
Tariffs and capacity commissions will be discussed by Hungarian and Croatian companies later on Tuesday, he said.
“The point is that the Croatian and Hungarian governments are both ready to ensure, in the framework of long-term energy security cooperation, that the capacity needed to deliver the crude supplies … is provided,” he said.
“Hungary’s energy supplies are secure today … but we have to be prepared for emergencies,” he said.
Read alsoWill Croatian restaurants not serve Hungarians?! – Here is the answer
Night MÁV train from Budapest to the Croatian coast starts again
The Adria Intercity will run between Budapest and Split. Trains will run 3 times a week in high season and 2 times a week in low season.
The Croatian train returns
From 10 June, Adria Intercity will resume its service between Budapest and the Croatian coast. The high season runs from 10 June to 24 September.
During high season, trains run three times a week.
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During the low season, trains run twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. All trains are air-conditioned, quiet, have sleepers and arrive in the city centre, according to sokszinuvidek.24.hu. The train station is in the immediate vicinity of the old town and the port, MÁV says. According to the high season timetable, trains depart from Budapest every week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. From Split they depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The train journey time is 14 hours, most of which is at night.
The dining car is open throughout the journey. This is a great place to chat without disturbing sleeping passengers. Coaches with 4 or 6 berths are available for families and groups of friends.
Tickets for a single journey are available from €43.
All trains have air conditioning and power sockets. Couples and small families can enjoy a special rolling hotel room experience in the 1-3 berth sleeper carriages.
Read alsoBREAKING! — Only Hungarians to buy fuel at capped prices
Will Croatian restaurants not serve Hungarians?! – Here is the answer
Not long ago, several Hungarian news websites reported on a Croatian restaurant that allegedly would not serve customers from Hungary. A more cautious look, provided by an expert, at the event will reveal the truth. Continue reading to find out more.
Past events
Our website also reported on the news about a notorious restaurant. Following a comment from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about the coastline of Croatia, things got out of hand. Hungary’s ambassador had to explain what Orbán meant by his words.
On 6 May, Viktor Orbán discussed the transport of oil. In his monologue, he mentions that nations with seaside ports are at an advantage compared to those who do not have them, reported 24.hu.
“If they wouldn’t have taken it, Hungary would have a coastline as well,” said Orbán, his comment causing an uproar.
The Hungarian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade wrote in a Facebook post that “the Prime Minister only noted a historical fact” and said the Croatian Foreign Ministry might have misunderstood something.
Recent updates
The news which reported on how Hungarians are not welcome in Croatia and how they will not receive service is false, according to experts.
Pénzcentrum contacted the Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Ivana Herceg. “The assumption that Croatian restaurants refuse to serve Hungarians is false. The case is that restaurants in Croatia have a strange habit. On the chalkboards in front of their entrance, they write humorous remarks, their way of entertaining potential guests – remarks such as “one for the price of two” or “we wouldn’t recommend you our amazing chef”. Regardless, it is completely understandable why Hungarians would be insulted by such remarks. After all, humour differs greatly by region,” explains Herceg.
Herceg goes on to say that “Croatia welcomes all Hungarians with open arms for them to make wonderful vacation memories there. The news about Hungarian customers who did not receive service is simply not true. We should not let that get in the way of the connection Croatia and Hungary have: they are both strong and have a shared history.”