Rolls-Royce makes another huge R+D investment in Hungary
Industrial technology company Rolls-Royce is investing 6.9 billion forints (EUR 18.6m) in a research and development project in Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Monday.
Rolls-Royce will plan the equipment for the future of transportation at its base in Budapest, including parts for hybrid and electric aircraft and systems based on high-speed generators, Szijjártó said.
The state is providing support of around 1.7 billion forints for the investment, which will create 20 jobs for engineers, he added.
British companies have invested around 6 billion forints in Hungary and provided jobs for over 50,000 people, he noted.
This is how King Charles spent his visit to Hungarian village in Transylvania
The ruler of the United Kingdom, King Charles III has recently visited the village of Zalánpatak, which is an ethnic Hungarian village in the region of Transylvania, Romania. The king’s visitation was once again a huge success.
As we previously reported, Charles was captured on camera wearing a short-sleeved shirt and sunglasses, carrying a walking stick as he stepped out of his house in Zalánpatak on Saturday. The locals greeted the ruler with flowers and applause. He shook hands with people and engaged in conversations with those present, writes Transtelex.
Transylvanian excursion
Zalánpatak has become a real pilgrimage site, attracting curious onlookers and fans from all over Romania. The locals organised a picnic for the British monarch. Besides traditional Szekler dishes, there was also music with Hungarian folk songs to entertain His Highness.
Charles also went on a hiking trip. He and his companions covered a distance of 18 kilometres on foot, taking about six hours, through the hills from Miklósvár to Zalánpatak. They allegedly even stopped at a shepherd’s hut where they were offered cheese. His friend, Count Kálnoky Tibor emphasised in previous interviews that Charles didn’t need any convincing; the place captivated him immediately.
On Kálnoky’s suggestion, Charles previously purchased an estate in Zalánpatak
“He felt so good that they sealed the purchase with the then-owner, an old lady, on the spot, with the condition that she could stay there until the end of her life.”
-recalled Mátyás Kálnoky, son of Tibor.
King and devoted conservationist
Charles’ annual visits generally follow the same script as this one. After a quick stop at Bucharest, where he shakes hands with officials such as the President, he travels to the Transylvanian region of Romania to spend his annual vacation there. This place holds a special place in Prince Charles’ heart. He has developed a deep connection with its natural beauty, culture and heritage over the years.
During his vacation, Prince Charles immerses himself in the local community and enjoys the tranquillity and simplicity of life in the countryside. In addition, he also takes part in various cultural events and engages with the local community. He has been known to attend traditional festivals, visit local artisans and even participate in traditional dances and music performances. His genuine appreciation for the local traditions and his efforts to promote them have earned him admiration and respect among the people of Transylvania.
Furthermore, Prince Charles uses his influence and platform to raise awareness about important issues affecting the region. These include, for example, biodiversity loss, rural development and sustainable agriculture. He often advocates for the preservation of Transylvania’s unique landscapes and the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and economic progress.
Overall, Prince Charles’ annual visits to Transylvania allow him to actively contribute to the well-being and preservation of the region. His genuine love for Transylvania and its people has made him a beloved figure in the area. All in all, his dedication to sustainable practices serves as an inspiration for environmentalists and conservationists worldwide.
Celebrate Transylvania and Hungary in Manchester this June! – PHOTOS
Góbéfest is back, transporting the sights, sounds and tastes of Transylvania and the Carpathian Basin to the centre of Manchester, UK!
Manchester’s free annual celebration of the music, dance, food and drink of the legendary Carpathian Basin region of Eastern Europe is back from Friday 23-Sunday 25 June 2023.
Góbéfest’s multiple stages, colourful traders’ stalls and family activity tents will transform Cathedral Gardens into a riotous melee of swirling skirts, spirited strings and stomping feet, all served up with steaming dishes of goulash and clinking glasses of palinka fruit brandy.
Established in 2017 to celebrate the little-known culture and traditions of the Székler people – a group of ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania, which is part of Romania – Góbéfest now also showcases the practices and folklores of other cultures from across Europe’s centre and east.
The festival takes its name from the Hungarian word góbé, which is a friendly word for a ‘crafty Székely’.
For three days in June, stages across Cathedral Gardens will play host to an array of bands, choirs, ensembles, orchestras, solo performers and dance groups in the Transylvanian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Romanian and Polish traditions.
The popular food and drink market will serve up infamous and lesser known dishes from around the region, including langos, paprikash, chimney cakes and goulash.
Free family activities will be centred around the children’s activity and dance tents in Cathedral Gardens and will include beginners’ dance classes in a variety of eastern European traditions, arts, crafts and zither workshops.
Music programme includes: the 150-strong Children’s Philharmonia of Szentegyháza (Transylvania), singer Koszika (Transylvania), Finom Zenekar (Transylvania), Yek Duy (UK), Folktone Trio (Hungary/UK), Manchester Zither Ensemble, Stacja Fanfara (Bulgaria/Poland/Macedonia/ UK), The Kalinka Balalaika Ensemble (UK), Michael Billington & Ildikó Csige (Hungary/UK), Michael Cretu Trio (Romania/UK), Manchester Youth String Orchestra and Berci Bíró (Transylvania)
Dance programme includes: Százlábú Caterpillar Dance Ensemble (Transylvania), Ansamblul Tezaur Romanian Dance Group (UK/Romania), Hunique Folk Ensemble (UK/Hungary), Polonez Polish Dance Ensemble (UK/Poland), Podilya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (UK/Ukraine), TK “Ripni-Ka” North-West Bulgarian Dance Group (UK/Bulgaria), Hungarian Folk Dance Group of Bristol (UK/ Hungary), Szép Arany Hungarian Folk Dance Group (UK/Hungary) and Manchester Hungarian Folk Youth Ensemble (UK/Hungary)
Free family workshops: zither, Ringató baby music, folk dance, Kodály music workshops, storytelling, singing, arts and crafts
Friday 23-Sunday 25 June 2023 12-11pm
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester
FREE ENTRY
About Góbéfest
Góbéfest was established in Manchester in 2017 to celebrate the little-known culture and traditions of the Székler people – a minority group of ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania, which is part of Romania.
Since 2017, Góbéfest has grown to include more cultures from around eastern and central Europe, particularly around the area known as the Carpathian Basin including Hungary, Romania and Poland.
PHOTOS: King Charles III arrived to his favourite Hungarian village!
King Charles III is already in Romania, where he met with President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest yesterday morning. But after the official programs ended, he went to Zalánpatak, a small Hungarian village in Transylvania, Romania, where he has a mansion and regularly spent time during the summers when he was the Prince of Wales. As king, he returns because, as he says, he loves Transylvania and Romania.
Formalities in Bucharest
According to Yahoo News, King Charles III arrived in Romania for his first foreign visit after his coronation on 6 May. He was welcomed with military honours yesterday by Romania’s German-born president, Klaus Iohannis, in Bucharest. Their meeting was followed by a reception with 300 partakers in the Romanian Presidential Cotroceni Palace.
“The King has begun his first overseas visit since his coronation, travelling to Romania for a private solo stay in the country’s Transylvanian region,” Buckingham Palace wrote. “It is not known how long Charles will spend in Romania,” they added.
“I’ve come to love Romania: your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity,” the king said at the reception.
The return of the king
Charles did not remain in the Romanian capital for long. After the official programs ended, he headed to Transylvania, to Zalánpatak (Valea Zălanului), a small Hungarian village (96 percent of the locals are Hungarians). There, the king owns a mansion. He regularly spent time there when he was the Prince of Wales. And it seems he plans to spend some time there even as king. Here are two photos of his arrival and how happily locals welcomed him. He was accompanied by his “local” Hungarian friend, Count Tibor Kálnoky.
We wrote HERE how Charles “fell in love” with the tiny Hungarian settlement and its astonishing environment 25 years ago. To sum up, the village is at the end of a side road, in the middle of some beautiful forests where only the barking of the shepherd dogs disturbs tranquillity. His local Hungarian cook, Aunt Eve, even shared some secrets about him: we also wrote about it in our article.
The British monarch owns several properties in Transylvania, where he is good friends with Count Tibor Kálnoky. He sent THIS message to Charles when Elizabeth II died last year. Interestingly, King Charles did not go to Transylvania by chance. He is 1/32 Hungarian since his great-great-great-granny was Hungarian. Klaudia Rhédey was born near Marosvásárhely in Transylvania and married Prince Louis Paul Alexander (1804-1885) of Württemberg. Klaudia Rhédey was the grandmother of George V’s wife, Mary of Teck (1867-1953).
Shame: Hungary has the strongest antisemitism in Europe
Bad news came out about Poland and Hungary’s antisemite sentiments. According to a recent survey of ten European countries, more than a third of the population in Hungary and Poland hold explicitly anti-Jewish views.
According to a survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in ten European countries, a significant percentage of the population agrees with certain anti-Semitic views and stereotypes, The Jerusalem Post reports. The ADL poll ran from November last year to January this year. It covered Belgium, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Spain and Ukraine, rtl.hu writes.
The questions that helped determine the populations’ antisemitism
The questions covered eleven commonly held anti-Jewish views, such as the following:
- Jews have too much power in business.
- Jews are the cause of most wars in the world.
- Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their homeland.
Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement with statements such as the above. If someone agreed to some extent with at least six of the 11 statements, they were classified as holding antisemitic views.
According to the survey, 37 percent of the population in Hungary hold anti-Semitic views.
What about the rest of the countries examined?
This figure is 35 percent in Poland, 29 percent in Ukraine, 26 percent in Russia and Spain. It is 24 percent in Belgium, 17 percent in France, 12 percent in Germany and 10 percent in the UK. According to the ADL, the Netherlands has the lowest level of antisemitism at just 8 percent.
The survey data show that while the proportion of people who hold antisemitic views is relatively high in Poland and Ukraine, around one third, the situation has improved since the last survey in 2019. Antisemitism fell from 48 to 35 percent in Poland and from 46 to 29 percent in Ukraine. In Hungary, antisemitism has fallen by a smaller amount, from 42 to 37 percent. Thus, the five-percent drop has seen Hungary jump to the top.
Emigration: where are Hungarians going? These are their target countries
Once again, more and more Hungarians are emigrating from Hungary. The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) has now published the countries to which people are going. Let’s take a look at the places that Hungarians choose as their new home.
More and more Hungarians are leaving Hungary
Last year, more Hungarians left the country than before. According to data just released by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, 44 percent of Hungarians who emigrated chose Austria, 25 percent Germany, 5-5 percent the Netherlands and Switzerland, and 4 percent the UK as their new home, Portfolio writes.
The United Kingdom used to be a key destination for people moving out of Hungary. While the number of migrants to the UK has fallen year on year, the number of migrants to Germany has increased slightly. When it comes to Austria, the number of migrants has increased significantly compared to the previous year, the KSH report highlighted.
The reversal of a positive trend
Back in April, Portfolio reported that 26,500 Hungarian citizens emigrated abroad last year. The last time we saw a higher number was in 2017, based on preliminary data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. This reverses the positive trend of 2021, when more people returned home than left Hungary. The good news is that the migration gap has not worsened significantly, with considerably more foreign-born Hungarians moving to Hungary than in previous years.
The last time we saw higher emigration was in 2017.
This breaks an important positive trend, as the balance between returnees and recent emigrants has gradually improved in recent years. In 2021, more people returned home than decided to emigrate, after a long period of time. Last year, however, for 21,900 returnees, there were 26,500 emigrants, a reversal of the trend.
The good news is that the overall balance of international migration of Hungarian citizens has still barely deteriorated, from a surplus of 96,702 in 2021 to 94,450. This was due to the fact that 14,000 more Hungarians born abroad moved to the country than before. This is the highest number we have seen in this indicator since 2015, Portfolio concludes.
London Court of Appeal rejects irrevocably the “WSCUK” petition against Morocco-UK Association Agreement
The London Court of Appeal rejected by its decision made on Thursday 25 May 2023 the request for appeal submitted by WSCUK (Western Sahara Campaign UK) against the Morocco-UK Association Agreement.
The London Court of Appeal irrevocably rejected the appeal made by the ally of Polisario, the NGO ” WSCUK” regarding the reconsideration of the Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom.
Several European media highlights the repeated failures of the instigators of the Sahara conflict to persuade the British judiciary to re-examine the post-Brexit trade Agreement concluded and supported by the two Kingdoms.
This dismissal comes after the London Administrative Court’s previous decision to reject the NGO’s application in December 05, 2022, as well as the decision of the High Court of New Zealand in March 2021, which refused to rule on the request for a judicial review initiated by the Polisario.
This judgement of London Court of Appeal provides further evidence of the legal validity and the effectiveness of the Association Agreement linking the two countries, which benefits also to the populations of the Sahara region.
The ruling confirms, also, the legitimacy of the Kingdom’s actions in Sahara, and the conformity of its use of natural resources in accordance with international law. It recognized, as well, that the Polisario has absolutely no mandate in the economic development and the governing of the region.
In its decision, the Court, has kept distance from any political involvement of the regional dispute over the Sahara, and thereby confirmed the exclusive competence on the issue of the UN Security Council. In the same time, the British judiciary consolidated the legal certainty of the above-mentioned Agreement which will contributes to the consolidation of the partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and United Kingdom, and provides further legal visibility to economic operators and investors concerned by the implementation of this Agreement as well.
This Agreement, which was signed in London on October 26, 2019, and has been in force since January 1, 2021, enabled also the two Kingdoms to establish a structured partnership on a long-term basis, with operational and institutionalized cooperation instruments, and driven by a shared ambition to strengthen the economic and commercial relations in all sectors of cooperation. The trade between the two countries has grown steadily since the agreement was signed, with bilateral flows peaking at £2.9 billion in Q3 2022, up £1 billion on the same period last year.
The Agreement restores, in the context of bilateral relations, all the effects that the two countries granted each other, mutually, within the framework of the Morocco-EU Association Agreement, ensuring the continuity of trade between Morocco and the UK after Brexit.
British monarch Charles III will pay a private visit to Romania and Szeklerland in June
The visit of the British monarch Charles III to Romania in June will be a private one, but the King will also meet with Romanian head of state Klaus Iohannis as a courtesy gesture, British Ambassador to Bucharest Andrew Noble said on Monday.
The diplomat told the Romanian news agency Agerpres that this is the first visit to Romania by a British monarch in the person of Charles III. But this visit will be as private as the King’s visits to Romania as Prince of Wales. He said that this year will mark the 25th anniversary of Charles III’s first visit to Romania in 1998.
The ambassador did not give details of the programme. He said that after a visit to the Cotroceni Palace, the residence of the Romanian head of state, the visit would be private. He reminded that the British monarch has a number of projects in Romania, which he is carrying out in cooperation with NGOs, and that he usually visits Romania to find out about them, which is also expected to happen this time.
Andrew Noble added that the British government also cooperates with NGOs in a number of areas and that as King Charles III, he could continue his activities in this area in consultation with the government.
However, this is a private visit, he stressed. He added that he would not give any more details, precisely in order not to compromise the private nature of the visit.
“One of Romania’s great advantages is its silence, so we treat (the king’s) private visits accordingly,”
Agerpres quoted the diplomat as saying.
Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca confirmed last Tuesday that Charles III, the monarch of the United Kingdom who was crowned in early May, will visit Romania on the second of June. He said that his cabinet, together with the presidential office and other institutions, would play a role in preparing for the visit.
As Prince Charles of Wales, he has been a regular visitor to Romania since 1998, buying several houses in Transylvania and a farm in Zalánpatac, Szeklerland, which he has visited almost every year.
The British royal family also has Hungarian roots in Transylvania: the king’s fair mother, Klaudia Rhédey, was born in 1812 in Erdőszentgyörgy in Mures County and was brought up in the Rhédey manor there.
As we wrote before, King Charles’s Hungarian cook shared secrets about his visits to Zalánpatak, details HERE.
54-year-old Hungarian man made 11-year-old girl a sex slave in Northern Ireland
An unbelievable story came from Northern Ireland concerning a Hungarian 54-year-old man allegedly offering an only 11-year-old girl for sex in return for money.
According to the Northern Irish daily, Irish prosecutors accuse a Hungarian man of selling an underage girl for sex in the country. The event was uncovered by the victim, who told the police what happened. Meanwhile, the man is the subject of six extradition warrants due to criminal activity in Hungary. The case is at the Omagh Magistrates’ Court, which started the process yesterday with the hearing of Zoltán Markó (54), the alleged perpetrator.
According to the indictment, the Northern Irish prosecutors have multiple charges against Mr Markó. First, he is accused of “child sexual communication between January and Marc 2023 … for his own gratification”. Furthermore, he allegedly possessed a knife and ammunition without firearm permission. Finally, it was reported in March that he offered an 11-year-old girl for sexual services in return for money. Moreover, the indictment says he sexually exploited and abused the child before. He even established contact with the victim after the start of the process, despite her being under protection.
Hungarian authorities also want to question Mr Markó. He is the subject of six extradition warrants concerning armed robbery, assault and weapon possession.
Sex slave of an 11-year-old?
“He also confirmed to police that he has been slaughtering pigs at a farm and selling the meat against environmental health standards. He has previously been convicted of this and dealt with, but has continued with this activity”, Belfast Telegraph wrote. His attorney said Markó denies the sexual relationship with the girl “vehemently”, but acknowledged that he did not reside at the required address for extradition, so he broke his bail requirements.
The judge said the “six extradition warrants show a history of failing to attend courts to answer for alleged criminal activity. He has a history of breaching bail and there are allegations of further offences being committed while on bail. He has made contact with the injured party.” Markó replied: “I didn’t do anything like that.” Judge Kelly responded: “Didn’t breach bail? Of course you did.” Since the judge refused his bail application, Markó needed to remain in custody. The next round of his hearing will be on 20 June via video link.
Guy Verhofstadt: Europe is not the problem, Orbán is
Guy Verhofstadt MEP, former ALDE group leader and former Prime Minister of Belgium, was the guest of honour at Hungarian opposition party Momentum’s conference in Budapest on Friday. Mr Verhofstadt spoke about EU member states, Brexit and Orbán, among others.
No EU Member State is strong enough to be a global political actor
The opposition party Momentum issued a statement after the conference. According to the statement, Verhofstadt said, among other things, that although no EU member state is strong enough to act as a global political actor, the European Union and the European continent together can already compete with China, Russia, the US and India. “We must regain European sovereignty,” the Belgian MEP said.
He also reacted to Viktor Orbán’s comparison of the European Union to Hitler’s empire-building ambitions last week (Orbán said, when talking about European unity, that “Byzantium, Charlemagne, Otto, Napoleon, Hitler all dreamed of European unity on different bases”). Verhofstadt said the European project was precisely to bring peace to the continent after centuries of bloodshed, Telex writes.
Straying away from the EU has never ended well
He also said that those states that are on the periphery of the EU have never fared well; recession and inflation follow a move away from the EU. According to Verhofstadt, the British have learned this lesson, having “realised since the referendum that they were stupid”. Hungary must stay in the EU because “the problem is not Europe, it is Orbán”, he said.
Momentum MEP Anna Donáth told the conference that Hungary must regain the diplomatic influence it gained during the regime change, and “as a truly sovereign country, we must put our own ideas on the table when reforming the EU”. Greater integration is needed in areas such as foreign policy and the military, energy security, the green transition, ensuring European prosperity, and European funding for education and health.
Europe is Europe because of its diversity
At the same time, she expects national autonomy for the culture and way of life of nation states. “Europe is Europe because it is diverse, multilingual and multi-ethnic. It is a heterogeneous federation in terms of its traditions, history and culture. Therefore, Europe must respect and even strengthen the autonomy of nation states in shaping their culture and way of life,” said the Momentum MEP.
PHOTOS: Hollywood star visits Budapest’s attractions one after the other
British Hollywood celebrity portraying Doctor Strange and Sherlock in the Marvel Universe, Benedict Cumberbatch, is currently in Budapest. And since he is spending extended time in the heart of Central Europe known as the hub of European culture, music and history, he must have thought why not explore the capital’s world-famous attractions?
According to Telex, Cumberbatch visited the Opera House, where he watched the Don Quijote performed by the Hungarian National Ballet. He was very pleased with the performance, praised the actors and actresses and gave a standing ovation after the end of the show.
Afterwards, the actor went for dinner at Budapest’s Babel Restaurant. We collected the favourite Budapest restaurants of Hollywood stars in THIS article.
However, Cumberbatch didn’t stop there but kept exploring the Hungarian capital and its numerous picturesque landmarks. Yesterday he visited the Museum of Fine Arts, located next to Budapest’s iconic Heroes’ Square and City Park. One of the museum employees said the actor showed great interest in the art of Italian Renaissance painters. Talking about the world of art, we reported HERE on the release of a new cinematic production introducing Hungary’s Parliament that will be starring the celebrated actress of the Lord of the Rings prequel series, The Rings of Power.
Here is a photo of Benedict Cumberbatch in the Museum of Fine Arts:
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
And in the Babel restaurant:
PHOTOS: Hungarian President’s gifts to King Charles III
President Katalin Novák on Saturday attended the coronation of Charles III of the United Kingdom. And she did not go without gifts. We present them below.
Novak was the first sitting Hungarian president to attend the coronation of a British monarch. Charles was anointed by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning, in front of 2,300 guests. Novák greeted King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a tweet later on Saturday. “On behalf of Hungary, I wish God to bless King Charles III and Queen Camilla on this memorable day for your family and nations. I am confident that British-Hungarian relations will continue to strengthen under your reign. God save the king! Long may you reign,” Novák said.
On behalf of 🇭🇺, I wish God to bless King Charles III and Queen Camilla on this memorable day for your family and nations. I am confident that British-Hungarian relations will continue to strengthen under your reign. God save the king! Long may you reign.🇬🇧
📸:AFP/Jonathan Brady pic.twitter.com/DjoJUpANW2— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) May 6, 2023
Coronation gifts I. – László Márton – Horse statuette
Representing Hungary, I will attend the coronation ceremony of the British Royal Couple tomorrow. In accordance with customs, I am preparing for the occasion with several gifts. It is generally known that King Charles III has a passion for horses. The late Laszlo Márton, one of the greatest figures of 20th century Hungarian sculpture, was a good friend to King Charles. Márton even visited the then heir to the throne, who opened one of Márton’s exhibitions in the UK. This is why I decided in favour of one of Márton’s statuettes, Novák wrote on her Facebook page.
Coronation gifts II – Hiking boots bearing the monograms of the Royal Couple
“The Royal Couple have a real love for the natural world and enjoy hiking very much. Being a Blue Trail hiker, I know that good hiking boots are indispensible for the proper hiking experience. That is why I will gift hiking boots to the Royal Couple, made special by the engraved monograms of King Charles and Queen Camilla”, the Hungarian President wrote.
BREAKING: King Charles III and the Hungarian President are relatives!
Nobody knew about that surprising relationship until a Hungarian media outlet, index.hu, found out. King Charles III and President Katalin Novák share a common ancestor, Erzsébet Fekete of Nagyivány, from the 17th century.
President Novák was the first Hungarian president attending the coronation ceremony of a British monarch. The reason is quite simple. When Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953, Hungary was under the rule of the most hardline Communist dictatorship ever led by Mátyás Rákosi. It was out of the question to be invited to such an occasion to the West even though Hungary had a President, his title was the Presidential Council’s President. At that time, István Dobi was that president, a cryptocommunist sitting in the Kisgazdapárt, Hungary’s biggest democratic party after WWII, winning the 1945 semi-democratic elections. Dobi helped the Communist takeover in Hungary from within the Kisgazdapárt. When Elizabeth’s father, George VI, was anointed, Hungary was a kingdom but did not have a monarch. Miklós Horthy ruled as governor in 1937.
The Hungarian President and King Charles III are relatives
Anyway, President Novák attended today’s ceremony not only as a head of state but also as a “secret” relative, though the latter information seems to have been kept secret. At least nobody mentioned that until now. Index.hu revealed that Novák and Charles III are distant relatives.
We wrote before that Elizabeth II was 1/16 Hungarian because her great-great-grandmother was a Hungarian countess, Klaudia Zsuzsanna Rhédey. That means Charles III is at least 1/32 Hungarian. And blood is thicker than water. We presented HERE how and why he loves a tiny village populated by Hungarians in Transylvania. He bought a house back when he was the Prince of Wales in Zalánpatak. Charles regularly highlighted he loved Transylvania because people live in harmony with nature there. “This is the last corner of Europe where you see true sustainability and complete resilience”, Charles said in an interview about Transylvania.
However, Charles III is also a distant relative of Erzsébet Fekete of Nagyivány, who lived at the end of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. He is the great-great-grandson of Erzsébet Fekete, who is also on the family tree of Katalin Novák, index.hu wrote.
VIDEO: Who is the Hungarian king? Here is what the Londoners believe
Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, sent a team to the British capital to follow the coronation of Charles III. They asked Londoners what they think who the Hungarian king was. The answers were surprising.
Of course, you should know that Hungary is not a kingdom. It was until 1946, but today it is a republic, and the parliament elects the president. Currently, Katalin Novák fills that position, elected in March 2022 by Orbán’s 2/3 legislative majority. She will remain in her office until at least 2027, but the parliament may prolong her presidential term with one more 5-year-long period.
However, Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, asked tourists and residents of London who the Hungarian king was. The question was tricky, and most people replied they did not know. But two Polish tourists knew Hungary does not have a king or queen. They also knew that the prime minister of Hungary was Viktor Orbán. Interestingly, many Londoners and tourists knew who Orbán was. One of them even added she would not like to share her opinion about him.
HERE you may watch the video (at the top of the article), most of it is in English.
New British airline comes to Budapest
TUI Airways, a British charter airline, offering scheduled and charter flights from the United Kingdom and Ireland to destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, announced 1.1 million extra flight seats. The expansion includes Budapest.
According to tui.co.uk, TUI, the leading global travel and leisure company, has added a further 1.1 million flight seats for UK holidaymakers departing in the summer of 2024. They also said they were to introduce new and exclusive routes giving holidaymakers more flexibility.
The new timetable includes two flights to Budapest. One will commute between Manchester and the Hungarian capital, while the other will be between London Gatwick and Budapest. The first planes will take off in May 2024.
TUI plans with 10 million seats in the 2024 summer holiday season. They would like 2.3 million seats for Manchester with an additional aircraft. From London Gatwick they plan to have two million seats, including the new routes to Budapest and Marsa Alam. The decision shows that Budapest and Hungary are becoming more popular among British tourists and holidaymakers.
Read also:
British nurse suffers heart attack, falls into coma in Hungary
A British nurse, the fiancée of a Hungarian musician, has suffered a heart attack in Pécs. The incident happened on Easter Monday and the woman has been in a coma since then.
Ákos Hasznos, bassist, gave a concert in a nightclub in Pécs. The musician’s fiancée, Kerstie Metcalf, a British national, suddenly collapsed in the crowd, metropol.hu writes.
Kerstie suffered a heart attack in Pécs
51-year-old Kerstie Metcalf and her fiancé travelled to Hungary on Good Friday. They came to visit the man’s family in Pécs. On Easter Monday, after an enjoyable family weekend, the man gave a concert at a nightclub in the town. During the performance, Kerstie fell ill and collapsed in the crowd. Her heart had stopped.
The woman was resuscitated and taken to a nearby hospital. “She has been in the hospital for the last 12 days in a ‘coma-like state’ after her brain was starved of oxygen,” walesonline.co.uk reports.
She’s disabled herself but she remained working during the pandemic to save lives
A nurse in England, her job wanted to exempt her from her work during the COVID pandemic because of her specific underlying condition. However, Kerstie refused to stay at home. She said that at a time like this, she could not stand by and let others work for her, and that it was her duty to help.
The woman had a heart attack at the concert and had to be resuscitated on the spot by the paramedics. The resulting complications led to an epileptic seizure. After successful resuscitation, she was taken to the Pécs clinic where she was put into an induced coma.
It took a lot of money to take her home
Her family would have to pay GBP 30 000 to fly her home and put her in the care of the NHS, where she worked as a surgical nurse for 30 years. Her son Sam Metcalf said: “We just want her home and safe, surrounded by all of us that love her.” “Doctors keep her under anaesthesia to protect her brain. They believe she has suffered irreversible damage,” the boy told Metropol.
The hospital in Pécs immediately contacted the Southend University Hospital in England, where the woman and her family lives. The family contacted the British Foreign Ministry, where they were advised to speak to the British Embassy in Hungary. “At the embassy, they said there was nothing they could do. They cannot help bring her home unless she is dead,” Sam said.
With the help of donaters, she is finally recovering at home
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise enough money as soon as possible to help Kerstie recover at home. The money raised from donations will cover Kerstie’s medical bills in Hungary, as well as her repatriation by air ambulance.
Kerstie has since arrived safely in the UK, where her loved ones are eagerly awaiting her and are confident that she will recover.
Click HERE and HERE to see photos of Kerstie.
Featured image: illustration
One of the most wanted Hungarian criminals arrested in Scotland
A Hungarian drug dealer on the TOP 50 list of most wanted criminals has been detained in Scotland, the Hungarian police said on its website on Monday.
An international warrant was issued against the 49-year-old defendant last year after he had failed to turn up to start serving a five-year and six months prison sentence, police.hu said.
During the coordinated operation, the police found that the 49-year-old man was hiding in the town of Dunfermline and was apprehended during a roadside check. An extradition hearing was held and the man was taken into custody by the foreign authorities.
Wizz Air is the worst in a particular indicator for the second year in a row
A recent study has ranked the Hungarian low-cost airline as the worst large airline in terms of delays at UK airports. For the second year in a row, Wizz Air has won this less than honourable recognition.
Wizz Air delays in the UK
According to a recent survey, Hungarian airline Wizz Air had an average delay of 46 minutes, 6 seconds in 2022. The data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was researched by the Press Association. Wizz Air is the worst performing of the major airlines.
The Hungarian airline already won this less than honourable distinction last year. It’s not a good sign that the airline’s figures have worsened compared to 2021, with delays of more than 46 minutes almost three times as bad as the year before.
A consumer group called Which? described the data as “worrying”. They also believe it demonstrates the need for the CAA to be given stricter powers.
The full list
TUI came in second with an average delay of 40 minutes, while Qatar Airways came in third with an average delay of 31 minutes and 48 seconds. Norwegian Air Shuttle is on the other side, with an average delay of just 13 minutes 42 seconds.
Interestingly, most delays occurred in May and June. The Daily Mail explains this by the fact that the airline industry was unable to cope with the sudden surge in demand for travel after the lifting of the coronavirus restrictions.
‘These figures are worrying, but will be no surprise to passengers who’ve had to endure shoddy treatment from airlines for years” said Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel magazine.
Boland says stricter regulation is needed. “To better protect passengers, the Government must give the CAA effective powers to clamp down on poor airline behaviour, which includes the ability to hand out hefty fines when they continually flout the law” said Boland.
Another problem is that court cases can drag on for years. The UK government consulted on greater powers for the authorities in early 2022, but no decision was taken.
CAA consumer director Paul Smith said “[w]e’ve already raised concerns about Wizz Air and are working closely with the airline to improve outcomes for consumers”.
The CAA already indicated in 2022 that Wizz Air was often late in paying refunds. While travel demand is not decreasing, everyone hopes that the delays are a thing of the past, but strikes can still cause disruption for tourists.
Major airlines based on flight punctuality from UK airports in 2022
- Wizz Air: 46 minutes and 6 seconds
- Tui: 40 minutes and 18 seconds
- Qatar Airways: 31 minutes and 48 seconds
- Turkish Airlines: 29 minutes and 30 seconds
- Pegasus Airlines: 27 minutes and 18 seconds
- Flybe: 26 minutes and 6 seconds
- Air Portugal: 25 minutes and 48 seconds
- Air Canada: 25 minutes and 18 seconds
- British Airways: 23 minutes
- Vueling: 22 minutes and 12 seconds
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