United Kingdom

Hungarian pensioners received a letter from Queen Elizabeth – here is why

Hungary Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II wrote a letter to the pensioner residents of a retirement house in Hungary.

According to hellovidek.hu, the residents of the retirement house were surprised to receive a letter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Never before has such an important letter arrived at Dóc, a small village of Southern Hungary, 162 km far from Budapest.

Hungary Dóc
PrtScr

The residents received a royal greeting from Queen Elizabeth written in the summer residence of the British Royal Family.

According to delmagyar.hu, the Ápolás Extra Egyesület (Extra Care Association) is operating a family-style residence home in Dóc. Nursing director Lili Bajusz and Norbert Rostás, chairman of the association, have been working in England in nursing homes. They created their own retirement home based on that experience, following the patterns they saw in England.

Apart from individual care, they organise many programs, but their opportunities narrowed during the coronavirus epidemic. As a result, for example, they were watching movies together. They watched The Crown, a series about the life of Elizabeth II.

Many of the residents fancied the beautifully decorated, handwritten letters showed in the series. That resulted in the idea that they would send a letter to the Queen. They sent it in early summer when they celebrated her becoming the longest-sitting monarch on the British throne and grieved for the loss of Prince Philip. Therefore, they not only greeted Elizabeth II, but offered their condolences, too.

The Queen received hundreds of letters every day. However, she only reads the ones that are handwritten and, in some way, unique. Therefore, they chose a special, pinkish, glittering paper. They attached a photo montage of the residents, too.

The reply came from the Balmoral Castle signed by Elizabeth Leeming, the first secretary of the Queen. She conveyed Her Majesty’s thanks for the letter and the photo.

Mr Rostás said they had sent their letter addressed to Buckingham Palace in June because then the Queen was there. However, it seems that it was worth sending it after her when she moved to her summer residence.

Elisabeth II
Read alsoHow is Elisabeth II 1/16 Hungarian? – photos, videos

Britain’s Football Association turns to FIFA over racist incidents in Budapest – UPDATED, VIDEO

Hungary England football

The British Football Association has asked international federation FIFA to launch an investigation into racist behaviours by Hungarian supporters during a Hungary-England World Cup qualifier played in Budapest on Thursday night.

After the match, which England won by 0-4, the British players complained about being loudly booed when they had taken the knee as a gesture against racism before starting, and said that after each goal plastic cups and other objects were thrown into the field, while racist slogans were chanted.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Facebook

“it is completely unacceptable that England football team players were racially abused in Hungary”

and called on FIFA to “take strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good”.

 
Speaking to Hungarian public media on the sidelines of a meeting of his European Union counterparts in Slovenia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that “Boris Johnson and I have a friendly relationship, since we were counterparts as foreign ministers for a relatively long time… therefore it is with all due respect that I say to the prime minister that we should finally stop applying double standards in issues as serious as this.”
 
Commenting on the complaints by English players, Szijjártó said: “Everyone could see how the English fans treated the Italian players in the Euro 2020 final.”

 

“The English fans were booing the Italian national anthem so loud that you could hardly hear it,

not to mention the insults that were flying during the match itself,” the minister said.

FIFA rejected all forms of racism and violence in a statement, and pledged zero tolerance for such behaviours. The federation also pledged to take appropriate action once they received reports on the events.

Hungarian association MLSZ said in a statement that “most of the 60,000 supporters stayed sportsmanlike even when the (Hungarian) team was losing”. They said that

the perpetrators were being identified and would be “strictly punished”.

MLSZ also said that it would sue the perpetrators for compensation should the federation be fined, and they would be banned from sports events for two years.

European federation UEFA condemned Hungarian fans for “discriminative behaviours” in July and ruled that the Hungarian team should play three European matches behind closed doors, with one of them suspended for two years.

Hungary England football
Read alsoBritain’s Football Association turns to FIFA over racist incidents in Budapest – UPDATED, VIDEO

Battling Hungary fall to impressive England – PHOTOS, VIDEO

Hungary-England-football

Second-half goals from Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice saw Euro 2020 finalists England eventually cruise to victory in Budapest tonight, but hosts Hungary made it difficult for their opponents for most of the first hour.

It was a feverish start in front of a packed Puskás Aréna crowd, as boisterous as ever in support of their heroes of this summer’s European Championship. However, the quality of the football in the first half of this latest FIFA World Cup qualifier didn’t quite match the intensity of the home support, neither side managing to create any clear chances as Hungary nullified an England team rich in possession but ponderous in attack. Indeed, the best chance of the half fell to Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai, his centrally-located 22-metre free-kick curling just over visiting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s crossbar.

Hungary-England-football
MTI/Tibor Illyés

The second half started in contrasting fashion though. Firstly, Hungary escaped when Kalvin Phillips sent Harry Kane in on goal in the 49th minute, only for the Tottenham striker to scuff the ball weakly at Hungary goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi 14 metres from goal. England didn’t waste their next opportunity though, Jack Grealish releasing Mason Mount down the left and the Chelsea man’s cross from the byline being dispatched low into the far right of the goal by Raheem Sterling to give the away side the lead.

That broke Hungary’s stout resistance and further concessions were soon to come, Kabe heading in Sterling’s deflected cross and Harry Maguire getting enough power on his header from Luke Shaw’s left-wing corner for the ball to squirt off Gulácsi’s outstretched left hand and squirm inside the far right post.

Hungary-England-football
MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry

Kane was then denied by Gulacsi when clean through again 12 minutes from time, but finally Hungary also exerted some pressure, substitute Kevin Varga drawing a save from Pickford from a tight angle and the same player reaching the byline and seeing his pull-back cause momentary consternation in the England defence.

Hungary-England-football
MTI/Tibor Illyés

Declan Rice’s low, long-range drive deceived Gulàcsi and reasserted England’s authority though, a 4-0 margin of victory possibly a little harsh on the hosts, who will know they’ll need to recover quickly with three points in Albania on Sunday if their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification dream is to stay alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VnTTn91xjQ

Hungary-England-football
Read alsoBattling Hungary fall to impressive England – PHOTOS, VIDEO

England team prepared for hostile and even racist reactions in Budapest

Hungary football fans

England will face Hungary at the Puskás Aréna in the World Cup qualifier in Budapest on September 2. Even though Irish players were booed when they took the knee in Hungary in June, the England team intends to continue the protest against racism this way. British journalists expressed their concern about the “racist” reaction of Hungarian fans at the press conference.

UEFA has ordered Hungary to play their next three home matches behind closed doors due to the spectators’ discriminatory behaviour at Euro 2020. Nonetheless, on Thursday, a crowd of more than 60,000 fans will be present at the Puskás Aréna since the ban only applies to UEFA matches, and this World Cup qualifier falls under FIFA jurisdiction, writes Magyar Hang. When Sky Sport News asked Gareth Southgate about the England team’s possible reaction, the manager elegantly refused to talk about any speculations and claimed that

they are looking forward to the challenge of the match and ready to face the Hungarian crowd.

Southgate also added that the game on Thursday will be crucial, considering their World Cup qualification.

Kneeling is a symbolic gesture against racial violence and abuse that has triggered controversy in more cases. In June, Irish players were booed by Hungarian spectators at Szusza Ferenc Stadium, writes Daily Mail. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán argued that this kind of action has no place on the pitch, and he suggested that the Irish team had provoked their hosts and the fans.

“If you’re a guest in a country, then understand its culture and do not provoke its residents, […] We can only see this gesture system from our cultural vantage point as unintelligible, as a provocation,” explained the Hungarian Prime Minister at a press conference.

Many fans also booed England players after they took the knee in their two Euro 2020 warm-up games against Austria and Romania. Despite the controversy, central midfielder Kalvin Phillips is hopeful and believes that they are making progress: “I just know that, as a group, we’ll carry on taking the knee because it’s important to us, important to our country, and to fight racial abuse,” told the player to ESPN.

puskás
Read alsoMighty Magyars: football world cup final with Italy, and the legendary 6:3 defeat of England in Wembley – VIDEOS

Featured image: https://www.facebook.com/hungarianfans

Fraud ring leader returned from UK to Hungary

police arrest crime ring

A leader of a crime ring which committed many of the so-called “grandparent scams” in Hungary was transported from the United Kingdom to Hungary last week, the Hungarian police said on Wednesday.

Ernő H. was one of four people who coordinated the scams committed in Hungary from the UK.

The crime ring typically phoned elderly people and pretended to be a grandchild in distress, trying to scam them into giving their savings to a band member posing as the grandchild’s friend.

The ring was indetified in 2019, when an international arrest warrant was issued against Ernő H. He was arrested in the UK in late 2020 and transported to Hungary last Wednesday.

The ring is estimated to have defrauded people of some 47 million forints (EUR 135,000) altogether, the police said.

human traffic
Read alsoHungarian human trafficking boss captured in the UK – VIDEO

Nobody knows why a young Hungarian engineer died in a Peruvian hotel!

Hungary Peru death

Attila Eiler was expected to travel home to Harta this year. His family already set the date of his holiday in Hungary. However, local authorities discovered Mr Eiler’s dead body in a Peruvian hotel room. Nobody can explain why he went there, and now the family does not even know how to pay the cost of the body’s repatriation.

According to baon.hu, nobody knows why the 34-year-old Hungarian man travelled to Peru from his Reading home, near London. His mother said that they agreed in July that he would come to Hungary on August 4. On the previous Friday, they exchanged emails, in which he wrote that everything was right

and he prepared to travel home.

Afterwards, he disappeared, and his family could not reach him.

His room in London was closed, and one of his flatmates told the worried parents that he had not seen him for a week. That is the point when they called the police to announce their son’s disappearance.

Attila spoke three languages and worked as an IT engineer in the British capital. He moved there six years ago and worked for a global transport company. Based on what his parents say, he could not wait for the easing of the restrictions to visit Hungary after two years.

There is no explanation yet why he travelled to Peru.

However, they received a worrying email before his death, of which it became clear that he was in a local hotel. The parents asked for the help of the Hungarian embassy in Lima and wrote a letter to the hotel. They got the tragic news in the reply: their son was found dead in his room. Since the circumstances of his death are not clear, local police started an investigation. The family thinks he did not travel to Peru by his own decision.

The pensioner couple does not know how they will pay for the repatriation of their son’s corpse.

Based on calculations, it might reach even 10 thousand EUR.

Communist-persecuted Hungarian artist’s exhibition opened in London

Hungary exhibition London
An exhibition entitled Disciples of Dóra Maurer has opened to the public in London, according to a government statement on Friday.
 
During Hungary’s communist rule, Maurer, born in 1937, was a key figure among artists, poets and musicians working outside of the regime who showed their works in apartments and published in underground journals.
 
The exhibition first shown to the press in the Hungarian Embassy in London on June 29 is now open to the public at the Dávid Kováts Pop-up Gallery in Covent Garden
until September 19.
 

 Hinton Magazine said the show provided a clear and comprehensive picture of Hungarian contemporary art. The artists on show include Mária Chilf, Márton Cserny, Barbara Nagy, Zoltán Szegedy-Maszák and András Wolsky.

Two years ago Maurer’s solo exhibition opened at the Tate Modern with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the statement noted.
The current exhibition showcases Maurer as a teacher who “inspired contemporary Hungarian art”,
it added.
 
Art Market Budapest and Dávid Kováts’s gallery made a big impact in London since last year, Máté Vincze, the head of Hungary’s Cultural Institute in London said in the statement.
 

More than 150,000 Hungarians apply for permanent UK residence by the deadline

tourism-women-airport-info-travel

By the end-June deadline, 154,100 Hungarian citizens had applied for a permanent residence permit in the UK, fresh Home Office figures released on Thursday show.

The British government has said that in justified cases, it will accept applications submitted beyond the deadline for an indefinite period.

The UK authorities have said the fact that an application has been made, in the period leading up to the assessment, guarantees EU citizens in the UK the rights they acquired before Brexit under British EU membership, even if their application for established status is submitted late.

After Brexit, Britain became Hungary’s biggest non-EU trading partner, the ambassador said.

Further, the UK has the biggest Hungarian-born population outside the Carpathian Basin and is the second or third largest destination for Hungarian students, the ambassador said, adding that Britain wants to strengthen bilateral relations.

human traffic
Read alsoHungarian human trafficking boss captured in the UK – VIDEO

Hungarian human trafficking boss captured in the UK – VIDEO

human traffic

He smuggled men from Hungary to the United Kingdom and kept one of them as a slave. 

Some Hungarians think they are still living in the middle ages, where keeping slaves was not only acceptable but a sign of wealthiness. Some days ago, DNH reported on a Hungarian man who held a mother and her child captive in a small wooden hut in Budapest.

A very similar crime happened in the United Kingdom, where both the perpetrator and the victims were Hungarian. 

The 33-year-old János Sztojka from Braunstone in Leicestershire is charged with human trafficking and holding a Hungarian man captive as his slave.
He was exceptionally cruel to his 31-year-old victim, whom he disciplined with a stun gun apart from making the man sleep next to his dogs.

The poor man with learning difficulties was his slave for two years. 

Sztojka made his victim work at a food production factory on top of forcing him to carry out household chores.

He then took away all the money his victim earned, so he could “live like a king”, spending the salary on four other men he trafficked from Hungary. 

He offered well-paid jobs to all these men who spoke little English, but in the end, he controlled all their finances and escorted them to and from the factory. They were only given a fraction of what they earned, writes dailymail.co.uk.

The 31-year-old man, who Sztojka let live in his home, was treated dreadfully. He was never allowed to leave the house and was paid in food and cigarettes, and sometimes not even that. 

“If he refused to do something, he would be shouted at and slapped on the face, leaving him scared, stressed, and nervous”, said the Prosecutor. 

He was even threatened and humiliated with a prohibited stun gun on several occasions. 

The perpetrator had previously been convicted for burglary and money laundering and was even deported from the UK in 2017. Soon after, he managed to get back into the country and start this little business of his. 

The victims’ terrible situation was discovered when the factory’s management and the employment agency became concerned about the five Hungarian employees. That is how the investigation started. 

The four other victims had more luck. The police brought light to their horrible living circumstances four months after they entered the country. 

Sztojka is about to face proceeds of crime confiscation hearing later in the year, with the possibility to seize any assets and compensating the victims.

 

bódé
Read alsoHorror: A Hungarian couple locked up a 71-year-old French woman

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!

Fully vaccinated Hungarians can travel to the UK without quarantine!

London

A change will come into effect at 04:00 BST on Monday: EU and US citizens who have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine outside of the UK vaccination campaign will also be able to enter England, Scotland, and Wales without a quarantine obligation.

According to an earlier decree by the British government, people returning to Britain from countries in the yellow or high-risk category, including Hungary, who received both doses of the vaccine in the UK campaign do not have to be quarantined.

BBC reports that this restriction will be lifted by the UK government’s extension decision described on Wednesday. The new rule, which comes into effect on Monday, allows unrestricted travel from the EU and the US to those who have received vaccines accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Based on this, the Chinese Sinopharm and Russian Sputnik V vaccines are not accepted.

However, as Telex points out, one restriction remains. Anyone coming to England from a yellow category must have a fresh coronavirus test before their arrival and test themselves two days after entering the country.

The British government classifies the majority of the EU Member States, including Hungary, to be in the yellow category, with a few exceptions. The United States also falls into the yellow category.

The British tourism industry and the airlines have long called for the lifting of entry restrictions on foreigners vaccinated with both doses.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the British economy is losing £639 million a day due to restrictions on inbound tourism.

Szimonetta Zombori
Read alsoHungarian food sculptor success in the UK – PHOTOS

Hungarian food sculptor success in the UK – PHOTOS

Szimonetta Zombori

She makes mesmerising art using some unusual materials. 

 

Szimonetta Zombori discovered her artistic vein already at a young age. Most kids like to draw and paint, but not all of them build their own brand around it later. That is exactly what she did in the United Kingdom. 

The best-known Hungarian: BioNTech vice president Katalin Karikó awarded 

 

It was rather obvious that she needed to study in an artistic direction. That is how she moved to Szeged to finish high school as a stone sculptor. However, she felt that it was not exactly the right path for her.

 

“I tried to find a creative way to express myself through my art. It led me to get a professional food sculptor qualification.” 

This is her website, where she showcases her works. 

At the course, she learnt how to hold the knife, how to carve flowers and leaves. She mostly likes to work with melon and pumpkin, but

she mastered carving cheese, avocado, and even broccoli.

For the last seven years, she gained experience with many different materials and mastered her skills to become one of the leading professionals. Today, she can carve anything into fruits, let it be a flower or the face of a famous artist.

She is not only professional but getting more and more recognition, as well. 

“I managed to achieve that some big companies like L’Oréal come back to me each year”,

she told us. Szimonetta is the one who prepares the Halloween decoration in London for the internationally known company. 

She was also lucky enough to work with some big brands such as Google, Aldi, and Carlsberg. 

 

Last year, she discovered a new material, soap, that she learnt to love very much, so it became part of her portfolio. 

“It became prevalent because each soap is unique. You can not buy them anywhere because no one makes them.”

While the coronavirus pandemic destroyed many businesses, the lockdown situation brought a new challenge, and together with it, a new business into her life. She received more and more enquiries to prepare special gift and hamper boxes. It gave her the idea to

expand her services and led to the creation of her very own brand: Rosegold & Grey artisan gifting. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRIqu3OpuNh/

The idea behind her own business is the combination of her love for chocolate and the enjoyment it brings to her to make and paint artisan chocolate bars. Her 3D, painted chocolate bars are unique both in Hungary and in England. She started to create bespoke gift boxes for her products, as the appropriate packaging that her carvings and her customers deserve. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3_053Jv3v/

Szimonetta never stops dreaming big; she always has a plan to execute. The next step for her is to open a chocolate and gift shop. 

 

“I want to create a place where women in business can meet and have a perfect spot with a great atmosphere, coffee, and chocolate. “

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPJPVhRB_Gf/

Richter Gedeon Pharmacist
Read alsoThe story of Gedeon Richter, the founder of the world-famous Hungarian pharmaceutical corporation

Have financial advisers and banks abandoned British expats because of Brexit rules?

brexit

British expats living across Europe are being “routinely abandoned” by financial firms due to Brexit red-tape and complications, it has been revealed.

According to deVere Group, many UK banks and financial advisory companies are now unable or unwilling to work with British nationals, many of them pensioners, who live in the EU as industry rules have changed following the UK’s exit from the bloc, causing “distress, anguish and potential financial loss.”

There are more than 1.3 million British expats in Europe, according to official estimates.  However, the true figure is likely to be considerably higher as many do not always register with their new country of residence.

“Most British expats in Europe maintain strong financial links with the UK, but in the wake of the implementation of new Brexit rules and regulations, tens of thousands have been routinely abandoned by their financial services providers, such as advisers and banks,”

says James Green, Regional Manager of deVere Europe, part of one of the world’s leading financial advisory and fintech organisations, deVere Group.

He explains: “Pre-Brexit, UK-based financial advisers were legally allowed to advise expat clients in Europe through a system known as ‘passporting.’  But since the UK’s exit, those legal rights for UK-based companies have been revoked. 

“Following a transition period, since 1 July 2021, only those advisory firms that comply with local laws and regulations in each EU nation in which they operate are able to give financial advice to people resident in those countries. 

“This has meant that many UK-based advisory firms have been forced to ditch their expat clients as they are not now legally compliant to give advice in European Economic Area countries.”

Where does this leave clients?

“Clients typically build-up a long-term relationship based on trust and rapport with their financial advisers. They work closely so the client can reach their long-term financial goals for themselves and their loved ones. 

“The cutting of these ties has caused many to experience, distress, anguish and potential financial loss as their financial strategies might change too.”

James Green goes on to say that the issue extends to UK banks too.

Most of the major UK banks have already informed clients that they will no longer be able to provide them with banking services, unless they have a UK address.

“To operate without passporting becomes hugely complicated, incredibly time-consuming and very costly for banks. This is why they are unwilling to work with customers across Europe – even if they have been with them for decades and regardless of the size of their bank accounts.

“This has caused considerable disruption for many individuals, families, businesses and other organisations, especially where there are larger deposits, standing orders, regular payments and credit facilities to another bank.”

Many expats who have been affected by the changes to advisory and banking rules have sought alternatives with providers that already operate under pan-European rules in order to have a continuity of service and to sidestep avoidable problems.

Earlier this year, deVere Europe, which has 11 different regulatory licenses including for asset management, insurance and investment, forecast that demand for financial advice in Europe will increase by more than 20% this year as it surpassed more than £1bn of assets under management (AUM) in Europe alone for the first time. Globally, deVere Group has $12bn AUM.

Mr Green concludes:

“New Brexit-triggered rules for UK banks and financial advisory firms have left many British expats across Europe feeling worried.

“However, there are solutions. I would urge them to seek financial advice with a cross-border expert to discuss the many legitimate international opportunities available to them – especially as they can often capitalise on their expat status for their financial benefit.”

Breaking – British teacher went missing in Budapest! – UPDATED

Hungary British teacher

Swaine Kevin Philip (45) went missing in the 8th district of Budapest (Józsefváros/Josephtown), and the local headquarters started to search for him yesterday.

According to police.hu, the British man working as an English language teacher and co-curricular coordinator was last seen on July 12, 4.30 pm at his place in the 8th district. Since then, no one has heard from him. He is approximately 180 cm tall, average build, he has grey-streaked brown hair, and his eyes are greenish-blue.

On the day of his disappearance, he wore a dark blue collared T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers.

The police headquarters of the 8th district ask anybody who knows anything about the current location of the British teacher working in Budapest to report it. Of course, they can remain anonymous. If you have any information, call 06-80-555-111 or 112. Both numbers are free of charge.

London police searching for the body of a Hungarian woman – they expect the worst

According to the website of the British International School of Budapest, Kevin started his teaching career in 2000 after three successful years working in multilingual sales and service for BA Aeronautical & Maritime in London. His first position was at a large comprehensive school with Language College status near Oxford, after which he returned to London to lead the development of a new languages department in a new academy. While in London, Kevin completed the Middle Leadership Development Programme with NCSL, as well as a CELTA course with Hammersmith and West London College. Following his position in London, Kevin took up his first international post with BISB, and he has been here ever since.

The school writes that in his spare time,

Kevin enjoys sports, particularly football, cycling, and swimming.

He also enjoys travelling, where he relishes the opportunity to practise his existing linguistic skills or to rise to the challenge of learning new languages.

Sadly, people disappear in Hungary daily, and nobody writes about them, except for the police. But this news was shared on many Hungarian news sites already. One of them, ripost.hu, wrote that

“a handsome English man went missing in Hungary.“

Police keep searching for him.

UPDATE – 16. 07.

We received several comments that Mr Philip has been found, and the police’s announcement about his missing is not available anymore, either.

Mighty Magyars: football world cup final with Italy, and the legendary 6:3 defeat of England in Wembley – VIDEOS

puskás

Hungarian football was at the top of the world decades ago. In 1938 and 1954, the country was only a heartbeat away from sitting on the throne of world football. Furthermore, in 1964, the team won a bronze medal in the European Championship.

The last time the Hungarian national team took part in the football world cup was in Mexico in 1986. Despite the great expectations, the Hungarian team was easily knocked out in the group stage. They suffered a 6-0 defeat from the Soviet Union and were beaten 3-0 by France.

In the second half of the 2010s, Hungarian football seemed to recover.

Thanks to an increased number of countries able to take part in the EURO championships, they managed to take part in the EURO2016 in France, as well as the EURO2020.

In the former, the team performed miraculously. For example, it drew with the team later winning the championship, Ronaldo’s Portugal. In the EURO2020, Hungary was knocked out in the group stage, but

the team played very well

in the so-called “death group” containing former WC2018 champion France, EURO2016 winner Portugal, and the ever-favourite Germany.

However, in 1938, the situation was quite different. The Hungarian team qualified easily to the third world cup held in France. They started the tournament well with a 6-0 against the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). This was followed by Switzerland’s 2-0 knockout, which enabled Hungary to progress into the semi-finals. There, the Hungarian team played against Sweden who suffered a 5-1 defeat in Paris, Parc des Princes stadium.

The final took place in the Olympique stadium where Hungary’s national team was up against Italy, the titleholder.

The Italian team scored the first goal, after which Pál Titkos managed to equalise. However, Italy quickly regained the lead eight minutes later with a goal from Silvio Piola. This was upped again to 3-1 in the 35th minute. Even though Captain György Sárosi scored a second goal for Hungary, it was only enough to reduce the goal difference. Finally, in the 82nd minute, Silvio Piola advanced Italy to 4-2. This meant that Italy retained the world cup.

The two football world cups Hungary could have won – Video

Almost everybody knows in Hungary how the Ferenc Puskás-led Hungarian team defeated England first 3 to 6 in Wembley in November 1953. That victory meant that Hungary became the first overseas country to win there. As a result, England’s invincibility broke in Europe after 90 years. The next year, in May 1954, they played in Budapest where the Hungarian team won 7 to 1.

Here is a video about the highlights in Wembley Stadium:

And here you can watch the highlights of the Budapest match (from 7:00):

Expensive dental treatment? Have it done in Hungary for half the price!

Hungary France dental tourism

Dental care is quite expensive, regardless of the country in which you would like to get it done. Still, there is good news: It is significantly cheaper in Hungary!

We have many reasons as to why you should visit Hungary. Beautiful landscape, delicious foods, tasty wines, over a 1000-year-long history. These are just some of those things that draw your attention when choosing a destination. The list could go on. 

The best reasons for visiting Hungary

It is a well-known fact that Hungary is relatively cheaper than most of the European Union’s countries. When we state this, we think about the costs of living, buying groceries, renting an apartment, leisure activities. On very few occasions we tend to think about health care or dental care. Depending on the country, the latter is usually not included in the general health care system, which of course, will make it rather pricy. Even though in Hungary dental care is indeed included in the universal health care system, we find more and more private clinics popping up all over the country. For an average Hungarian living on the average Hungarian salary, a private dentist causes a headache. But if you are a foreigner living and working abroad, it is more than probable that even the most expensive dental procedure will cost you less than what it would in your country. 

Average Hungarian salary at EUR 833?

Telegraph journalist Anthony McGowen wrote about his own experience. According to him, he is more of a mouth person rather than an eyes person. He is very conscious about the health and the state of his teeth, with which he has not been satisfied for a long time. So he decided to do something about it and saw his dentist. It turned out that if he wanted to fix everything that bothered him and went for the safest and surest method, he would have paid close to £7000 (over €8000). He took a deep breath and decided to do it. Then he heard that the implant surgeon used by his dentist came from Hungary. It got him thinking and googling. He very soon found out that

in Hungary, the whole procedure would cost him half of what he had been told in London.

He booked an appointment with a Hungarian clinic that has an outpost in London. After taking an x-ray, it turned out that the whole dental work would cost him a little over £3000. Half of what he had been previously told at the English clinic.

His case was not a simple procedure, since he needed an implant which takes a very long time, due to the number of stages involved and the healing time between them. It was especially frustrating for him, as he travelled to Budapest during the second lockdown, so there was a lot of paperwork involved. Now that the country is finally safe, open, and accepts tourists, especially with the EU immunity certificate, you do not need to worry about this part. 

Everything to know about how the EU immunity certificate works

All went well and smooth for him. Based on his writing, he might even have been a bit surprised about it. Probably, because he did not know that this process, travelling to Hungary to fix your smile, is actually not a new thing at all.

Many dentists have this option for foreigners and have had it for quite a long time now.

  • Leading Hungarian dental clinics such as Freedom Dental in Dublin, offer similar affordable Hungarian dental treatments in Ireland.

And we are not only talking about big, Budapest dental clinics. There are several of them around the country, in bigger cities, offering the same treatment. These clinics deal with all the necessary paperwork, they even help you find accommodation. It can be a hotel room if you come for only a couple of days, but in case your treatment is slower and longer, especially clinics in Budapest, have whole apartments to be rented during your stay and treatment. 

So, what do you get for a much lower price? Nice new teeth, in case this is what you need. A short trip to a breathtaking European capital. A complete experience of Hungarian hospitality. All this, for quite a little money. In case you are not sure, here are the words of Anthony McGowan himself:

“Would I recommend doing it abroad? Once again, yes. My experience, despite the Covid complications, was excellent.”

  • Not everyone has the means to travel to the dentist, therefore companies like Byte and Candid have created home teeth straightening devices. They save the patients money as well as enable them with the luxury of doing oral care at home. Read this Smile Prep guide for more information on how home teeth straightening works.
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Jobbik MEP Gyöngyösi: How could Hungary and Europe actually get rid of Orbán?

pm orbán

Remarks from Jobbik MEP Márton Gyöngyösi:

Viktor Orbán’s policies have sparked yet another heated debate recently. We have heard many thunderous statements on how we should get rid of Orbán eventually. The growing outrage caused by

Europe’s most corrupt prime minister

is clearly shown by the progressive warnings: a few years ago, his colleagues just wanted to chat with him, then they drew red lines for him and nowadays they are openly talking about Hungary having no place in the European Union. Meanwhile we, Hungarians just keep sighing: will it ever end? How could Hungary and Europe actually get rid of Orbán?

Sorry if I am raining on your parade, but if you thought it’s going to happen the way it went with the Brits, you are about to be bitterly disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I am not downplaying the complications caused by the Brexit. However, there are a few differences that I should like to point out to anyone who is sick and tired of Viktor Orbán and his party for one reason or another.

Although Europe would certainly have been better off without the Brexit (and as it later turned out, the UK would, too), but even if the ties between London and the continent weakened,

the United Kingdom still remains a democratic country and our close partner both politically and economically.

While our relations will inevitably weaken due to the UK’s departure from the European Union, we don’t need to worry about the present and future British governments acting as the vanguard of counter-interested powers, trolling international politics or trying to convince others to follow their example and leave the EU, too.

Viktor Orbán, on the other hand, is a horse of a different colour. That’s why the pleas, demands and even “red line” warnings aimed at him from European capitals have remained ineffective over the years. As a matter of fact, we only wish they had remained ineffective, but the bad news is that Orbán have used every criticism to his advantage in domestic politics, thus driving his fans into the illusion of a permanent “freedom fight” in which the enemy is the whole of Europe. He was able to do so because Hungary has hardly any independent media outlets left, while the supposedly independent bodies of the Hungarian state are openly serving the now authoritarian Fidesz, just like they served the Communist regime before 1990.

So let me use this opportunity to inform my European colleagues how useless this approach is.

They will never force Orbán to back down by any warnings or ideological issues, because he has had no real ideology for a long-long time.

Neither will they stop him by withholding the EU funds from Hungary, because Orbán would not suffer from that. On the contrary, it would only cause suffering to the Hungarian people who would be told by Fidesz’ propaganda machine that the EU wants to harm Hungary.

Europe won’t get rid of Orbán even if they perhaps show him the door sooner or later (although he likely pulls Hungary out of the EU before letting them kick him out), because Hungary is a part of Europe both geographically and economically. If they push Hungary out of the EU, all they can achieve is that Moscow’s and Beijing’s sphere of interest expands that much closer to Europe, since Orbán will obviously run to those powers for help.

So what’s the solution then? Orbán must be ousted from the government.

That’s the only way, and that’s where Hungarian people expect help from Europe, for example, in the form of establishing a European public media that is accessible for everyone and provides objective information.

At present, Fidesz’ propaganda channel is the only accessible media outlet in a significant part of Hungary…

Hungarian people are no fools, and neither do they like being tyrannized over by crazy dictators. It’s just that many of them don’t even know that things could be done differently. So let’s bring the news to them! It would be worth more than a hundred tough communiqués and warnings.

Hungarian business news from previous week – 25th week, 2021

Hungary worker

See below main business and financial news from the previous week:

MVM GETS INVESTMENT-GRADE RATINGS FROM S+P, FITCH

Wholly state-owned Hungarian energy company MVM was assigned investment-grade ratings by S+P Global Ratings and Fitch. MVM chairman-CEO György Kóbor said the ratings would further strengthen MVM group’s ties as a borrower and a business partner as well as clear the way for drawing resources on international markets.

Fitch said the ‘BBB’ rating reflects “MVM’s high market share and an integrated position across the various segments of the Hungarian electricity and gas markets”.

Read alsoSurvey reveals that Hungarian standard of living is at the bottom of the EU

MAGYAR SUZUKI REVENUE FALLS 31 PC IN 2020

Net revenue of the local unit of Japanese car maker Suzuki fell by 31 percent to 1.656 billion forints (EUR 4.7bn) last year, Magyar Suzuki director of operations Róbert Krisztián said.

Magyar Suzuki turned out 112,475 vehicles at its plant in Esztergom, in northern Hungary) last year, and 111,044 of those cars were sold.

In 2019, around 185,000 of the cars produced at the plant were sold. Magyar Suzuki shut down production for six weeks in the spring of 2020 because of the pandemic. Krisztián said Suzuki plans to make around 143,000 vehicles in Esztergom this year.

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VITESCO INVESTS HUF 36 BN IN CAPACITY EXPANSION IN HUNGARY

Plans were announced for Vitesco Technologies, a business of Germany’s Continental, to invest 36 billion forints (EUR 10.3mn) to expand capacity at its base in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary. The government is supporting the investment, which will create 450 jobs, with a 10.5 billion forint grant.

HUNGARY WEIGHS ROLE AS TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR GAS FROM KRK LNG TERMINAL

A top official of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH) proposed the establishment of a working group to consider a closer cooperation with Croatia’s gas market at an international conference of gas industry insiders in the coastal town of Opatija.

MEKH VP for international relations Pál Ságvári said Hungary’s gas network, connected to nearly all of its neighbours, could serve as a delivery mechanism for gas from Croatia’s recently inaugurated LNG terminal off the island of Krk to countries such as Ukraine.

CORDIA INVESTS IN UK AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER

Cordia, the residential property business of Hungarian developer Futureal, said it partnered with Matter Real Estate on an investment in Auxesia Homes, a registered provider of social housing in the UK. Auxesia Homes’ main customers are British Armed Forces, National Health Service and Emergency Service personnel.

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