Tag: Hungary

Hungary Backs US-Russia Deal While Facing EU ‘Threats’: F…

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Hungary‘s top diplomat told Newsweek that the only path to obtaining peace in Ukraine and ensuring Europe‘s security ran through a stable relationship between the United States and Russia, vowing Budapest would not back down in the face of pressure from EU and NATO allies on this front and others.

Speaking Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where his counterparts from Washington and Moscow were soon set to meet, Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto said his country would “welcome such an event, because we in Central Europe have a very clear historical experience.”

“And this experience says that in case the Americans and the Russians are able to maintain a civilized cooperation, then we in Central Europe enjoy a better security,” Szijjarto told Newsweek. “If the Americans and the Russians fail to maintain a civilized relationship, then we are concerned about the consequences on our security.”

But as President Donald Trump suddenly took aim at Russia in a remarkable shift Tuesday — promised ongoing U.S. military aid to NATO’s pro-Ukraine war effort and even suggesting Ukraine could take back territory it has lost — Szijjarto maintained only a deal between the U.S. leader and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could pave the path toward peace in Ukraine.

He argued such rapprochement, for which both Trump and Putin had previously called, could also make strides in stabilizing the region.

“I really do believe that the only solution for this war is a comprehensive American-Russian agreement,” Szijjarto said. “If there’s no Russian-American agreement, I see very limited hope for peace here. The Russians and Americans should come to a big agreement, part of which could end up in in peace returning to the central part of Europe, certainly.”

‘The Only Hope for Peace’

Yet many on the continent, including Poland, are calling for tougher measures toward the Kremlin and have expressed skepticism toward Trump’s diplomatic engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin—with whom Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also retained ties.

But if the White House’s overtures have failed to make sufficient progress, Szijjarto argues it may be Trump’s detractors who are to blame for adopting policies that have fueled the conflict rather than quell it.

“I have to tell you that we do consider President Trump as the only hope for peace in Ukraine,” Szijjarto said, “because during the time before him taking office, there had been no hope, because both the former American administration and the current European leaders are very much pro-war. They are more interested in prolonging the war than concluding it, and therefore it is only President Trump who can make the change here, who can give hope for a peaceful settlement.”

“So, I think that his efforts must be respected pretty much,” Szijjarto said. “And I can tell you that if European leaders had not put so many efforts in undermining the peace process, I would say he would have had a good chance to resolve the issue until now.”

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, a number of European countries have taken aim at Hungary over its efforts to maintain a neutral position. Orban, who has served as premier since 2010 after previously leading from 1998-2002, declared early on that his nation would not join efforts to send weapons to Ukraine, nor would it participate in economic sanctions against Russia.

On top of this, Szijjarto said, “we have a big Hungarian community in Ukraine, the right of which have been very heavily violated by the Ukrainian state.”

For these positions, and particularly for Hungary’s push for ceasefire and negotiations as “the only solution” to the war, he said “we have been accused of being the puppet of Putin and the spies of Russians by those who are now [calling for] the same ceasefire talks.”

Crude Geography

The latest showdown has erupted over Russian oil and gas shipments, which Trump is calling on all EU countries to suspend. Hungary has steadfastly refused, even in the face of reported plans by the European Commission to unlock more than $465 million in frozen funds as members seek to win over Budapest’s vote to tighten restrictions against Moscow.

Szijjarto says Hungary’s position is not rooted in politics or ideology, but rather geography.

“Being a landlocked country with a certain infrastructure, the biggest part of the energy supply is determined,” Szijjarto said. “We have two oil pipelines leading to Hungary, one from Russia, the other one from the Adriatic Sea through Croatia. Well, if you cut the Russian oil deliveries, then you rely on the on the very last and only remaining pipeline. But that pipeline has a lower capacity, way lower capacity compared to the demand of Hungary and Slovakia together.”

“So basically,” he added, “if someone would like to cut us from the Russian oil supplies, would end up in endangering the country’s energy supply simply because of physics.”

A similar situation exists as it relates to natural gas, the main supply of which now comes to Hungary from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline that connects Russia and Turkey. This route proved crucial in January as Kyiv refused to a renew a decades-long gas transit agreement with Moscow.

Ukraine has been tied to kinetic action as well, however, with Kyiv striking Russian infrastructure involved in carrying oil to European nations, such as Hungary, including in two incidents last month. Further complicating the situation, according to Szijjarto, have been added fees to the Croatia oil link and EU opposition to exploring alternative gas options in Qatar and Azerbaijan.

“So, the problem is that, on one hand, you are being pushed to get rid of the existing, reliable sources, but there’s no alternative,” Szijjarto said. “So, it would be totally different if they say, ‘Okay, guys, get out and you have option one, two, three,’ but there’s nothing.”

In fact, he explained, “the only Western politician whom I talked to in the last 11 years I’m in this position who said that, ‘Yes, geography must be respected,’ was Marco Rubio”—another sign of the robust ties between the Trump and Orban administrations.

Battle Between Budapest and Brussels

Divisions between Hungary and EU leadership run even deeper than opposing views on the war in Ukraine. The Brussels-based bloc has censured Budapest, freezing funds and demanding fines, over an array of domestic policies, including those relating to asylum-seekers and LGBTQ+ communities.

Here, too, Szijjarto sees an ally in Trump, referring to the Orban administration’s approach as “Hungary First” and “Make Hungary Great Again.” He calls the relationship between the nations, their leaders and outlooks “unique.”

“If you look at the major dilemmas facing the world and countries one by one, in all cases, basically we will look at the same way to solve them,” Szijjarto said, “so a very strong anti-migration policy, wall on the border, fence on the border, pro-family policies, pushing back this gender ideology, marriage between one man and one woman, mother is a woman, father is a man, supporting families, supporting peace to come, a patriotic, economic, political strategy, the role of Christianity to be respected.”

Through this lens, he said “the driving line of foreign policy is national interest.”

“And we always reject that intellectually pretty low approach, which says that you are pro-American, pro-Russian, pro-Chinese,” he said. “No, we are pro-Hungarian. And we have made it very clear that we are not ready to give up our specificities. We are not ready to give up our national identity. We are not ready to get rid of our history, culture, religious heritage. No way.”

“We are a Christian country for more than 1,000 years. We are proud of it, and we are not ready to melt this in a United States of Europe,” he added. “So, therefore, when it comes to the debates internally in the European Union, we are very clearly on the sovereignty side saying that, yes, the European Union must be strong, but it must be based on strong member states. So, we don’t want member states to be melted in a European Empire.”

Concerns over the emergence of such an “empire ruled from Brussels,” as Szijjarto phrased it, have also helped propel a number of conservative movements across the EU, including a rise of right-wing nationalist populist parties in the likes of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

Szijjarto refers to the historic wave of electoral victories of what he called “patriotic parties” across Europe as a natural reaction to a “very extremist liberal” agenda that had previously been taking root. At the same time, he felt established EU leaders were likely to take extreme measures to suppress the trend, including backing deals to sideline right-wing movements in countries like Austria and the Netherlands, or stirring up anti-government protests in Serbia.

In Hungary, too, Szijjarto said that “Brussels does everything in order to put a puppet government in our place in the next elections,” which are due to take place in April. He argued Hungary was paying the price for its independent stance.

“Hungary, as such, is an obstacle to this extreme liberal mainstream to overrule Europe,” Szijjarto said. “We are always the ones who say no. We are always the ones who put the spotlight on rationality and common sense, plus we prove that you can be successful while carrying out an anti-mainstream policy as well. And this is the most dangerous for this liberal mainstream, because what they say about themselves is that that’s the only progressive only successful way. “

“And with our existence that we are following a different strategy, but still being successful, that cannot be digested by them,” he added. “And therefore, they try to do everything in order to support those who are against us and who have a chance, they think at least, to throw us out from government.”

He referred to such actions as “threats,” that were being posed “very strongly” from Brussels to Budapest.

“Because this liberal mainstream and this extremist liberal approach have weakened Europe a lot recently,” Szijjarto said. “Just look at where Europe was when it comes to the political weigh and economic weight, and compared to that, we are very weak.”

“And this doesn’t happen out of scratch,” he added. “This happened because of bad decisions, because of mistakes, because of failures committed in and by Brussels.”

Looking East

But whereas Szijjarto emphasizes that Hungary remains a fully “committed” member of both the EU and NATO, he also says his nation could not ignore some of the opportunities emerging beyond the West.

“We see the reality,” Szijjarto said. “We see that when it comes to the global economy, the Eastern part of the world is dictating the speed in most of the critical industries, in most of the critical parts of the global economy. And we want to be part of the benefits. So, therefore, our strategy, economically speaking, is economic neutrality.”

The remarks are underscored by Orban’s “Eastern Opening” policy that has sought to channel Chinese and Russian investment, as well as historic roots in the East via Hungary’s observer status in the Organization of Turkic States. Orban was also one of two EU and NATO leaders, alongside Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, to attend China’s recent victory parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II.

In an increasingly multipolar world where the traditional order is beset by crises, however, Szijjarto, who is also the country’s top trade official, said Hungary was far from alone in this maneuvering — even if it ultimately faced some of the most criticism for it.

“When I compete for Chinese investments, for example, then my competitors are always Western European countries,” Szijjarto said. “And those Western European countries usually complain about the heavy presence of Chinese capital in Europe once they lose these competitions, which is very hypocritical in this regard.”

“So, economic neutrality is a key factor of our strategy,” he added, “and we have taken a lot of benefit out of it.”

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September 24, 2025
Queer Romance ‘Places Half Empty’ Explores Love and Belonging in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, With Béla Tarr as E.P.

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Hungarian filmmaker Dorka Vermes, whose debut feature “Árni” was nominated for a Queer Lion Award at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, is developing her sophomore effort, “Places Half Empty,” a film that’s billed as a controversial and intimate portrait of a queer relationship in the context of Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.

The film, which won the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award this week at the Sarajevo Film Festival’s CineLink industry strand, follows Noá, an independent but struggling thirtysomething working as an illegal cab driver. One night she picks up an affluent young suburban woman, Juli, who is desperately trying to break free of her overbearing family.

The two women quickly fall in love, but a range of circumstances — from growing financial stress to societal pressure to the expectations of Juli’s controlling family — complicate their romance. “Places Half Empty” poses the question of how to find one’s place in a society that offers no room to be different.

Speaking to Variety in Sarajevo, Vermes described the film as a “close-up of an intimate relationship” drawn from her own personal experiences and from her interest in “the subtle, everyday gestures that normalize exclusion.”

“The Hungarian context is not just a backdrop, but a structuring force: shaping choices, movement, speech,” she said. “This is not a film ‘about queerness,’ but an inquiry into how space and politics shape the very conditions of love.”

Directed by Vermes and written by Sára Törley-Havas, “Places Half Empty” is produced by Evelyn Balogh and Botond Lelkes for Budapest-based Non Lieu Film Productions, which takes its name from the French phrase for “non-place.” Lelkes, who founded the company in 2022, said the expression “represents our current situation,” with Hungarian filmmakers working in the places that are “in-between” and “non-existent.”

Lelkes launched the production outfit after the Hungarian government placed control of Budapest’s University of Theater and Film Arts — known by its Hungarian acronym, SZFE — into the hands of Orbán loyalists. That controversial decision sparked a movement among young filmmakers and artists who “wanted to continue the values and the legacy of the old institution,” according to Balogh.

Lelkes and Vermes were among the students who occupied university buildings and resisted the government takeover. That, in turn, led to the creation of the FreeSZFE Society, an association designed to support artistic freedom in a country where it’s increasingly under threat. The association was the first funding body to support “Places Half Empty,” which the filmmakers plan to finance independently.

That’s part of a growing trend in Hungary, where critics say the influence of the repressive Orbán regime has impacted funding decisions at the state-backed National Film Institute, which controls the purse strings for the local industry. Recent films such as Gábor Reisz’s Venice premiere “Explanation for Everything” and Bálint Szimler’s “Lesson Learned,” which bowed in Locarno, became festival breakouts despite being financed without government support.

Balogh credits the determination of a generation of filmmakers who refuse to “complain about money” with bolstering this new wave of Magyar movies. “The destruction of the institution and its values created such a void that the people who were there at the time felt the need to [respond],” she said. “To stick together, create, think outside the box, try to find other ways [to make movies].”

Despite the heavy political context in which they’re launching their film, Lelkes insists that “Places Half Empty” is “not just about the struggle of the Hungarian people,” describing the film as an “absurd melodrama” stocked with “interesting” characters and oddities, such as Juli’s family business raising chihuahuas. Vermes’ longtime mentor Béla Tarr, who served as creative producer on her debut, “Árni” (pictured), will join forces with the filmmaker once again, this time as executive producer.

Sarajevo’s CineLink Industry Days marked the first time the filmmakers presented “Places Half Empty” to an industry audience, and on the strength of its award-winning debut, Balogh saw the event as a rousing success.

“We had a great chance to connect with producers, sales agents and all kinds of industry professionals who were interested in our story and wanted to help us try to untangle this situation that we are in,” she said. Despite the challenges they face, she added, Hungarian filmmakers want to remind the world: “We are here.”

The Sarajevo Film Festival runs Aug. 15 – 22.

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August 23, 2025
Hungary: Indulge in Opulence in the Heart of Central Europe

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MIAMI, October 30, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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Hungary, nestled in the heart of Central Europe, is rapidly becoming a premier luxury destination, offering travelers an exquisite blend of history, culture, and indulgence. Whether it’s savoring Michelin-starred cuisine, staying in opulent castles, or immersing in vibrant local traditions, Hungary provides an experience that elevates luxury to a new level.

“Luxury in Hungary is more than opulence—it’s about embracing unique experiences,” says György Lendvai, Head of Business Development (North America) for Visit Hungary. “We invite visitors to explore our culinary delights, majestic accommodations, and cultural heritage, all of which reflect the soul of Hungarian hospitality.”

Where To Eat?

Hungary’s culinary scene blends tradition with modern innovation. Budapest’s Michelin-starred restaurants—such as Stand, Rumor, Babel, and SALT—deliver exceptional dining, while regional gems in Szeged and Pécs offer authentic Hungarian flavors. Be sure to try iconic dishes like goulash and chimney cake, complemented by wines from Hungary’s renowned vineyards, including those in the Tokaj region. Restaurants like Borkonyha, Múzsa, and Stand25 further highlight Hungary’s mastery in gastronomy.

Where To Stay?

Hungary’s accommodations offer unparalleled grandeur. In Budapest, experience the lavish Four Seasons Gresham Palace or the regal Matild Palace. For a unique retreat, stay in a historic castle like Castle of Tura or the elegant Anna Grand Hotel on Lake Balaton’s shores. Budapest will soon welcome the Mandarin Oriental, which will transform the iconic Gellért Hotel, currently under renovation, into another luxury haven.

Where To Immerse Yourself In Culture?

Hungary’s cultural scene brings history and art to life. Attend a performance at the Hungarian State Opera House or explore the Hungarian National Museum’s extensive collections. Beyond Budapest, visit Eger, with its baroque architecture and famed castle, or explore Szentendre’s art galleries, where local crafts reflect Hungary’s creative spirit.

Where To Shop?

Shopping in Hungary is a treasure hunt of luxury and artisan finds. Andrassy Avenue in Budapest offers high-end boutiques such as Paloma Artspace, while the Great Market Hall showcases gourmet products. Explore the Balaton region for handcrafted pottery in Herend, the natural thermal lake of Hevíz, and wander Tihany’s lavender fields for fragrant souvenirs.

Hungary offers a seamless blend of luxury, culture, and history, making it an exceptional destination for travelers seeking refined, authentic experiences. For more information, please visit www.visithungary.com.

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About Visit Hungary

The Hungarian Tourism Agency operates in international markets under the brand name Visit Hungary. Visit Hungary performs domestic and international sales and marketing communication tasks related to tourism, manages the international tourism representation, executes image and product campaigns both in Hungary and abroad, produces tourism and image publications, conducts research and analysis in support of marketing communication activities, and participates in fairs and tourism trade fairs to promote domestic and foreign tourism. For more information, please visit www.visithungary.com.

Source: Visit Hungary

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October 30, 2024
Flooding in Central Europe blamed for 24 deaths as EU promises $11 billion in emergency repair funding

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Parts of Europe experiencing heavy rainfall, flooding

Parts of Europe experiencing heavy rainfall, flooding

00:45

Warsaw, Poland — European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday pledged billions of euros in aid for Central European countries that suffered enormous damage to infrastructure and housing during the massive flooding that has so far claimed 24 lives in the region. Von der Leyen paid a quick visit to a flood-damaged area in southeast Poland and met with heads of the governments of the affected countries — Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

She said funds will be made available quickly for infrastructure repair from the EU’s solidarity fund, as well as 10 billion euros ($11 billion) from what is called the cohesion fund — for the most urgent repairs. In a special approach, no co-financing will be required from these countries for the money to be released.

“Here we say it’s 100% European money, no co-financing,” von der Leyen told a news briefing. “These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times need extraordinary measures.”

A man stands next to sandbags placed along the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 20, 2024.

Marton Monus/REUTERS

Meanwhile, a massive flood wave threatened new areas and heavy rains also caused flooding and forced the evacuation of some 1,000 people in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. In Central Europe, the receding waters revealed the scale of the destruction caused by exceptionally heavy rains that began a week ago.

Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakušan said one more person was reported killed on Thursday in the country’s hard-hit northeast, bringing the death toll there to five. There were also seven deaths each in Poland and Romania, and five in Austria — with the overall death toll now at 24.

Authorities deployed troops to help. In the northeast Czech Republic, soldiers joined firefighters and other emergency crews to help with the recovery efforts. Army helicopters distributed humanitarian aid while soldiers were building temporary bridges in place of those that were swept away.

Some 400 people remained evacuated from the homes in the regional capital of Ostrava. In the southwest, the level of the Luznice River reached an extreme high but the evacuation of 1,000 people in the town of Veseli nad Luznici was not necessary for the moment, officials said.

Firefighters walk across a flooded street, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jesenik, Czech Republic.

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Cleanup efforts were underway in Austria, where flooding washed away roads and led to landslides and bridge damage. Firefighters and soldiers pumped water and mud out of houses and disposed of damaged furniture, broadcaster ORF quoted fire department spokesperson Klaus Stebal as saying.

The governor of Lower Austria province, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, said reconstruction was expected to take years, according to the Austria Press Agency.

The Vienna public transport company has had to pump almost 1 million liters (260,000 gallons) of water since last weekend. Ten towns and areas were still inaccessible on Thursday, APA reported.

In Hungary, flood waters continued to rise as authorities closed roads and rail stations. Ferries along the Danube River halted.

The parliament building is pictured in the background as the Danube River floods its banks in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 18, 2024.

ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty

In the capital, Budapest, water spilled over the city’s lower quays and threatened to reach tram and metro lines. Some transport services were suspended. Remarkable images showed the water of the Danube creeping up perilously close to the ground floor of Hungary’s Parliament building, which sits directly on its bank.

Further upriver, in a region known as the Danube Bend, homes and restaurants near the riverbanks were inundated.

Nearly 6,000 professionals, including members of Hungary’s water authority and military, were mobilized, and prison inmates were involved in filling sandbags, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a news conference Thursday.

The Danube stood at over 25 feet, approaching the 29.2-foot record set during major flooding in 2013.

In southwestern Poland, the high waters reached the city of Wroclaw and an extended wave was expected to take many hours, even days to pass, exerting pressure on the embankments.

The water level on the Oder River just before Wroclaw was 21 feet, some 6.5 feet above alarm levels but still lower compared to the disastrous flooding in 1997.

A car damaged by the flooding of the Biała Ladecka river is seen in Ladek Zdroj, Poland, Sept. 19, 2024.

Kacper Pempel/REUTERS

In the two most-affected towns, Stronie Slaskie and Ladek-Zdroj, tap water and power were restored, said Gen. Michal Kamieniecki, who was put in charge of the recovery operations there after an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Donald Tusk for help the day before by a young woman identified only as Katarzyna.

As concerns mounted, Tusk invited von der Leyen to Wroclaw to see the situation first hand. Government leaders from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria were also there.

In Italy, rivers flooded in the provinces of Ravenna, Bologna and Forlì-Cesena, as local mayors asked people to stay on the upper floors or leave their houses. Those areas were hit by devastating floods in 2023, when more than 20 rivers overflowed, killing 17 people.

Italy’s vice minister for transport and infrastructure, Galeazzo Bignami, said Thursday that two people were reported missing in Bagnocavallo, in Ravenna province.

At least 800 residents in Ravenna and almost 200 in Bologna province spent the night in shelters, schools and sports centers. Trains were suspended and schools closed while residents were advised to avoid travel.

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September 20, 2024
Hungary birth rate falls to record monthly low despite €30,000 offer to 3 child families

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Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, has several populist policies, one of which has been to grow Hungary’s native population.

But early successes appear to be running out of steam in Hungary, as its birth rate is still falling despite huge incentives being offered to new parents.

Populations across Western Europe are struggling with falling birth rates, which threaten long-term economic growth and could create a healthcare crisis as fewer young people are forced to care for and subsidize an increasingly older population.

However, financial barriers, such as rising accommodation prices, are a major obstacle to childbearing, which has been compounded by the cost of living crisis. Changing workplace dynamics, with more women enjoying meaningful careers, also push back the average age for couples to have their first child.

Immigration is regarded as the most realistic way of maintaining an optimal average population age, but that has become highly politically contentious since the global financial crash.

Hungary’s fight to increase childbirth

Hungary is particularly sensitive to immigration, which Orbán has repeatedly argued would harm the country’s cultural fabric. From 2025, immigrants from non-EU countries will have to pass a Hungarian history and culture test to become residents of the country.

Instead, it is championing the classic populist policy of increased childbirth among natives.

“We do not need numbers, but Hungarian children,” Orbán said in his State of the Nation address in 2019 as he rolled out childbirth incentives.

To do so, Hungary is offering weighty financial incentives to up appearances in its hospital’s midwifery units.

In 2019, Hungary offered parents a €30,000 interest-free loan to spend on anything they wanted. The loan would be forgiven if they had three children.

Mothers of four children or more are exempt from paying income taxes under Orbán’s policy, which could be extended to those with fewer children.

Hungary’s birth rate rose through the 2010s, rising from a record low of 1.25 in 2011 to 1.61 in 2021. But in recent years, growth has halted. In June, Hungary registered a record-low number of 6,000 births.

Wolfgang Lutz, founding director of the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital in Vienna, told the Financial Times that the policies had merely pushed forward births among women who had intended to have children at some stage in their lives anyway.

Those on lower incomes complained to the publication that the subsidies weren’t adequate to incentivize having more children, which became increasingly expensive to manage more children. The removal of income tax does little for self-employed workers, for example.

Permeating the debate has been an encouragement for the growth of “traditional,” heterosexual family units.

Hungary’s policies are focused on incentives for new mothers, while in 2021 the country introduced laws that banned LGBT content from being shown in schools, something the U.S. and EU labeled as “discriminatory.”

Populist swing

Increasing childbirth has long been a critical policy anchor of right-leaning populist governments, allowing them to solidify their stance as self-proclaimed protectors of traditional family values while offering them an anti-immigration platform.

While Orbán’s birthing policy looks to be on the ropes, the playbook does have one high profile proponent: U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance.

Vance suggested in 2021 that Americans with children should get more votes than their childless peers. While on the campaign trail at the same time, Vance also hailed Orbán’s push for more births.

“Viktor Orbán, who is, of course, the bugaboo of nearly every liberal in the mainstream American media, has implemented a couple of policies that I think are really interesting.

“They offer loans to new married couples that are forgiven at some point later if those couples eventually stay together and have children. Why can’t we do that here? Why can’t we actually promote family formation here in our country?”

Vance recently walked back his comments on giving more votes to parents, describing them as a “thought experiment” amid heavy backlash.

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August 19, 2024

2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Formula 1 Odds, Time, and Prediction

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The defending Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen failed to win his last two races. Will we see him lose a third race in a row for the first time since 2021? Judging by the 2024 Hungarian GP odds, we won’t. The Red Bull driver is seen as a big favorite to win on July 21. Still, the same was the case last time around.

2024 Hungarian GP Odds

Driver	Odds
Max Verstappen	-140
Lando Norris	+450
George Russell	+800
Lewis Hamilton	+800
Oscar Piastri	+1600
Charles Leclerc	+1600
Carlos Sainz	+1800
Sergio Perez	+6600
Daniel Ricciardo	+25000
Esteban Ocon	+25000
Fernando Alonso	+25000
Lance Stroll	+25000
Pierre Gasly	+25000
Yuki Tsunoda	+25000
Kevin Magnussen	+50000
Nico Hulkenberg	+50000
Alex Albon	+50000
Guanyu Zhou	+50000
Logan Sargeant	+50000
Valtteri Bottas	+50000

102 players claimed the offer this month

When, Where, and How to Watch?

Place: Hungaroring in Mogyorod, Hungary
Date: Sunday, July 21, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN

Reasons Why Odds Favor Max Verstappen

Despite not being as dominant as last season, Max Verstappen remains on the throne of Formula 1. He’s the No. 1 driver in the 2024 Formula One Standings, with 255 points, which is 84 points more than second-placed Lando Norris.

What this means is that even if he wins no points in Hungary, he will stay at the top of the leaderboard. But Verstappen wants to win points. In fact, he wants to win as many as possible on July 21.

He’s determined to get back to the winning track after a couple of disappointing results. He’s won seven of this season’s 12 races, but he’s without a win since June when he won the race in Spain. Since then, we saw him finish 5^th in Austria and second in the UK.

Verstappen’s Main Rivals in Hungary

Lando Norris is sitting just behind Verstappen in the Formula One standings. However, the point gap is significant and it’s mainly because he had a couple of poor performances recently. In Austria, for example, he had a collision with Verstappen while the two were battling to win the race. Instead of winning, he ended up in 20^th place.

In the previous race, Norris finished third, which isn’t too bad, but the McLaren driver wants to do even better. Another driver who’s desperate to improve his form is Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver is third in the standings, but his recent stats are horrendous.

Everything went downhill for this guy after winning the Monaco GP. He had to retire from the Canada race, after which he finished 5^th in Spain. In his last two races, he finished 11^th and 14^th.

Can Lewis Hamilton Keep His Momentum?

Lewis Hamilton won the British GP on July 7, thus ending his winless run that lasted since 2021. Another win could get the British motorsports superstar all the way to the No. 5 position in the F1 standings.

Despite not being near the top of the standings, he’s actually been pretty good this season, finishing in the Top 10 in each race he finished. In his last four races, his worst finish was the No. 4 position. This is why we think he’s got every right to hope to get to the podium once again.

2024 Hungarian GP Prediction

Max Verstappen is the driver who won the previous two editions of this race, and our prediction is that he’s gonna win another one. He’s the best driver in the world, but more importantly, he’s determined to get back to his winning ways.

Pick: Max Verstappen

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July 10, 2024

Uncover Hungary’s Natural Wonders: A Journey Beyond the Ordinary

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MIAMI, June 18, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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Hungary, renowned for its historic cities and cultural heritage, invites travelers to delve deeper into its rich natural tapestry. The nation’s stunning biodiversity, expansive national parks, and exceptional stargazing opportunities make it a hidden gem for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

Hungary’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage is showcased by its impressive biodiversity. With over 2,200 plant species and 45,000 animal species, Hungary is a wildlife sanctuary. This rich biodiversity is protected and celebrated across the country’s 10 national parks, which span over 480,000 hectares. These parks offer diverse landscapes, from the rugged peaks of the Bükk Mountains to the serene wetlands of Hortobágy, each providing unique habitats for various species.

“Discovering Hungary’s natural beauty is like unveiling a hidden gem. Our national parks, diverse wildlife, and incredible stargazing opportunities provide a unique and enriching experience for travelers,” said György Lendvai, Head of Business Development (North America) for Visit Hungary. “We are committed to preserving our natural heritage and inviting the world to explore and appreciate Hungary’s wonders.”

One of Hungary’s standout natural offerings is its network of dark sky parks, providing unparalleled stargazing experiences. Hungary’s efforts in reducing light pollution have earned the country recognition as one of Europe’s premier destinations for astronomy enthusiasts. The Zselic Starry Sky Park and the Hortobágy Starry Sky Park, in particular, are havens for those looking to explore the cosmos and marvel at the Milky Way’s splendor.

For adventure seekers who prefer exploring on foot, Hungary offers over 11,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails. These trails traverse the country’s varied terrain, providing hikers with breathtaking views and a chance to encounter Hungary’s rich flora and fauna up close. The National Blue Trail, one of the oldest long-distance hiking routes in Europe, offers an unforgettable journey through Hungary’s picturesque landscapes, from verdant forests to charming villages.

Hungary’s national parks are also a haven for birdwatching. The Kiskunság and Hortobágy National Parks are recognized as important bird areas, hosting thousands of migratory birds annually. These parks provide unique opportunities for bird enthusiasts to observe rare species in their natural habitats, contributing to Hungary’s reputation as a premier bird-watching destination.

Visit Hungary invites nature lovers, adventure enthusiasts, and curious travelers to uncover Hungary’s natural world. Whether it’s hiking through ancient forests, observing rare wildlife or gazing at the starry night sky, Hungary promises an unforgettable adventure.

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About Visit Hungary

The Hungarian Tourism Agency operates in international markets under the brand name Visit Hungary. Visit Hungary performs domestic and international sales and marketing communication tasks related to tourism, manages the international tourism representation, executes image and product campaigns both in Hungary and abroad, produces tourism and image publications, conducts research and analysis in support of marketing communication activities, and participates in fairs and tourism trade fairs to promote domestic and foreign tourism. For more information, please visit www.visithungary.com.

Source: Visit Hungary

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June 18, 2024
Step Back in Time: Embark on Enchanting Day Trips From Budapest to Hungary’s UNESCO Marvels

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Discover Hungary’s Rich Heritage Through Captivating Excursions to World-Famous Cultural and Natural Landmarks

MIAMI, May 29, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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Hungary, a central European country renowned for its rich history, architectural splendor, and unique landscapes, is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Scattered across the nation, these sites underscore Hungary’s commitment to preserving its diverse heritage. From the historic Buda Castle Quarter in Budapest to the ancient Pannonhalma Archabbey in western Hungary, these landmarks reflect the nation’s storied past and cultural achievements.

“Our UNESCO World Heritage Sites are not just significant landmarks but also vital pieces of our national identity and heritage,” said György Lendvai, Head of Business Development (North America) for Visit Hungary. “They offer a profound glimpse into our rich history and cultural achievements, serving as a bridge between the past and present. We invite visitors to experience the grandeur and historical significance of these sites, each telling a unique story that contributes to our nation’s vibrant aura.”

Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is home to the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue, declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987. Formed by the unification of Buda, Pest, and Old Buda in 1873, the city celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. Today, Budapest is a rapidly developing metropolis with impressive market halls, thermal baths, literary cafés, grand architecture, and vibrant nightlife.

The scenic banks of the Danube offer views of Gellért Hill, the Citadel, and the Buda Hills, highlighting the interplay between architecture and natural features. The Buda Castle Quarter showcases medieval and Baroque architecture while Andrássy Avenue, including Heroes’ Square and the City Park, features grand public buildings and historic districts, illustrating urban principles and architectural innovation.

Beyond Budapest, Hungary’s regions offer UNESCO World Heritage Sites ideal for day trips. Hollókő Village, developed during the 17th and 18th centuries, exemplifies rural life before the agricultural revolution. Hortobágy National Park in eastern Hungary consists of plains and wetlands with traditional land use practices over two millennia. Pannonhalma Archabbey, founded in 996, includes the Basilica, educational buildings, and botanical gardens, playing a key role in spreading Christianity in Central Europe. The Tokaj Wine Region, known for its “aszú” wine, spans over 217,000 acres and has a history of grape cultivation dating back to 1561.

Hungary’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites offer insights into the nation’s cultural and historical heritage, highlighting its architectural and natural beauty and enduring traditions.

About Visit Hungary

The Hungarian Tourism Agency operates in international markets under the brand name Visit Hungary. Visit Hungary performs domestic and international sales and marketing communication tasks related to tourism, manages the International Tourism Representation, executes image and product campaigns both in Hungary and abroad, produces tourism and image publications, conducts research and analysis in support of marketing communication activities, and participates in fairs and tourism trade fairs to promote domestic and foreign tourism. For more information, visit www.visithungary.com.

Source: Visit Hungary

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May 29, 2024
Filming in Hungary Comes With a 20-Year-Old Tax Rebate – and Thermal Baths

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Filming in Hungary offers everything from a massive amount of production space and a 20-year strong tax rebate to eight symphony orchestras and thermal baths.

On a panel during the Cannes Film Festival at the Marche du Film, film commissionaire Csaba Kael, and producers Ildikó Kemeny, Robert Lantos, and Mike Goodridge spoke about the experiences of filming in Hungary.

Kael noted that commercial film production began in the country in the early 1900s. “It is built into our DNA,” said Kael of filmmaking. Only the U.K. has more film production than Hungary, he said. This year, Hungary is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its offered tax rebate program, which offers films produced in Hungary a 30 percent rebate based on their expenditure.

Lantos, who has been filming in the country since the 1990s prior to the tax credits, said, “Whenever I have a project that needs a European-looking city, my direct path is to Budapest.” He added: “I can say that of all the places in the world where I have made films where the rebate is most guaranteed to function smoothly is in Hungary.”

According to NFI, the total spending on production hit a record high in 2023 in Hungary, reaching $910 million, almost 4 times more than in 2018’s $183 million. As for production capabilities, the National Film Institute is undergoing an expansion at their studio complex, adding four new 2500 sq. meters soundstages, increasing total studio capacity to 12,670 sq meters.

Kemeny served as a producer on Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things that shot in Hungary, building out everything from a fantastical Lisbon town to a luxury cruise liner. “We had hundreds of Hungarians working on that film. There was a big competition amongst many countries of where they would be filming [Poor Things] and we won out because of the economics.” Said Kemeny of the pace of production in the country: “Now, we are up to four or five production this year, just our company.”

And the Hungarian film industry has been building up its local talent. Big-budgeted international productions would often fly in talent but that has changed. Now, more than 80 percent of the production crews on large international features are formed by Hungarian talent. Notably, Hungarian production designer Zsuzsa Mihalek took home the production design Oscar at this year’s Academy Award for Poor Things.

The Nation Film Institute is currently hosting a below-the-line training program so that pool of local talent can continue to expand. The series includes practice-oriented workshops and free open lectures for junior industry professionals, as well as internship opportunities. NFI is also working with film schools, to help train students on the latest in LED wall technology, which was used in the Poor Things.

Lantos’ production Rise of the Raven, a massive middle ages-set epic 10-hour series, shot entirely in the country despite the story taking place everywhere from Serbia to Turkey. “Any production that needs castles or a fort in the 15th, 16th, and 17th century, it’s there now,” he said of the built sets. “The construction and carpentry in Hungary is unlike any place I’ve ever work. So, we made the decision to build and, boy, did we build.” Kael also noted that for any production in need of a castle, there is a larger country-wide initiative to restore and preserve old castles in the region.

Then, there is post-production. Kael shared that Francis Ford Coppola traveled to the country to record part of the score for Megalopolis (the country boasts eight symphony orchestras), while Lanthimos processed his 35mm celluloid locally at the Hungarian Film Lab/Magyar Film Labor in Budapest.

Goodridge, who will soon begin filming in the country on Son of Saul director Laszló Nemes’s next film, also noted the importance of the country’s easy access to the rest of Europe and larger hospitality industry. The panelists offered their favorite local attractions, including the food, wine and thermal baths.

Said Goodridge: “Look at the big stars and talent that have worked in Hungary. They are comfortable there and that is an important thing. You can have all the tax incentives you like but you also have to have a base of comfort for demanding foreigners.”

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Mia Galuppo

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May 19, 2024
Bruce Willis’ Wife Emma Heming Shares Touching Throwback Photos Showcasing Their ‘Cellular’ Level Of Love! – Perez Hilton

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Emma Heming has undying love for Bruce Willis.

On Saturday, the Die Hard star’s wife took to Instagram to share some old throwback pics amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia. She wrote in a selfie video set to SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s All The Stars:

“Caught in the old photo and video vortex. Send help! #GoodGrief”

Related: Sofia Vergara Declares Love For Her ‘Handsome Doctor’ BF!

(c) Emma Heming/Instagram

She then posted three photos with the Pulp Fiction star from throughout the years. The first appeared to be from the set of one of Bruce’s action movies, in Budapest, Hungary in 2012. Emma wrapped her arms around the 69-year-old, who was dripping in prop blood. The two posed next to his middle daughter Scout with ex-wife Demi Moore.

The second photo saw Bruce strolling down the street with his and Emma’s daughter Mabel on his shoulders reading a book. See (below):

(c) Emma Heming/Instagram

Awww.

Lastly, Emma shared a black-and-white photo of her planting a smooch on Bruce’s cheek as he smiled at the camera. She captioned it:

“A cellular level kinda love”

So sweet.

As we’ve been following, Bruce has been battling frontotemporal dementia for over a year now. It’s been a tough challenge for Emma amid social media speculation regarding his condition, but we admire how positive she always remains. The two also share daughter Evelyn together.

Reactions? Let us know in the comments down below.

[Images via Emma Heming/Instagram & FayesVision/WENN]

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Perez Hilton

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April 14, 2024
Brussels spyware bombshell: Surveillance software found on officials’ phones

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The European Parliament is on high alert for cyberattacks and foreign interference in the run-up to the EU election in June.

POLITICO reported in December that an internal review showed that the institution’s cybersecurity “has not yet met industry standards” and is “not fully in-line with the threat level” posed by state-sponsored hackers and other threat groups.

One member of the security and defense subcommittee went in for a routine check on Tuesday, which resulted in a discovery of traces of spyware on their phone. The member told POLITICO it wasn’t immediately clear why they were targeted with hacking software.

Parliament’s Deputy Spokesperson Delphine Colard said in a statement that “traces found in two devices” prompted the email calling on members to have their phones checked.

“In the given geopolitical context and given the nature of the files followed by the subcommittee on security and defence, a special attention is dedicated to the devices of the members of this subcommittee and the staff supporting its work,” the statement said.

The new revelations follow previous incidents with other European Parliament members targeted with spyware. Researchers revealed in 2022 that the phones of members of the Catalan independence movement, including EU politicians, were infected with Pegasus and Candiru, two types of hacking tools. That same year, Greek member of the EU Parliament and opposition leader Nikos Androulakis was among a list of Greek political and public figures found to have been targeted with Predator, another spyware tool. Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola previously also faced an attempted hacking using spyware.

European Parliament members in 2022 set up a special inquiry committee to investigate the issue. It investigated a series of scandals in countries including Spain, Greece, Hungary and Poland and said at least four governments in the EU had abused the hacking tools for political gain.

Parliament’s IT service launched a system to check members’ phones for spyware in April last year. It had run “hundreds of operations” since the program started, the statement said.

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Antoaneta Roussi

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February 21, 2024
Former Finland PM Alexander Stubb wins presidential election

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After attending school in Finland and later the U.S., Belgium and the U.K., Stubb entered politics in 2004 as a member of the European Parliament. He hit the Finnish big time in 2008 when — to his own surprise — he was named foreign minister.

Praised by allies for his high-energy approach to politics, he was also criticized during his time in government for his occasionally hasty statements, and was forced to apologize after being accused of swearing at a meeting of the Nordic Council, a regional cooperation body.

During a difficult year as prime minister in 2014 he failed to reverse his NCP’s declining popularity, and lost a parliamentary election in 2015 amid an economic slump. After a subsequent spell as finance minister he quit Finnish politics in 2017, vowing never to return.

During the five-month presidential election campaign, observers say, Stubb earned the support of voters by demonstrating a calmer and more thoughtful demeanor during debates than had been his custom, and for being at pains to show respect for his rivals.

“However this election goes, it will be good for Finland,” he said in a debate with Haavisto earlier last week.

Stubb has said he intends to be a unifying force in Finnish society, something the country appears to need after a series of racism scandals involving government ministers and, more recently, strikes over work conditions and wages that paralyzed public services.

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Charles Duxbury

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February 11, 2024
Hungary’s president resigns over a pardon of man convicted in child sexual abuse case

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Hungary’s conservative president has resigned amid public outcry over a pardon she granted to a man convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case, a decision that unleashed an unprecedented political scandal for the long-serving nationalist government.

Katalin Novák, 46, announced in a televised message on Saturday that she would step down from the presidency, an office she has held since 2022. Her decision came after more than a week of public outrage after it was revealed that she issued a presidential pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of hiding a string of child sexual abuses in a state-run children’s home.

“I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people,” Novák said on Saturday. “I made a mistake.”

Novák’s resignation came as a rare piece of political turmoil for Hungary’s nationalist governing party Fidesz, which has ruled with a constitutional majority since 2010. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fidesz has been accused of dismantling democratic institutions and rigging the electoral system and media in its favor.

Hungarian President Katalin Novàk in April 2023.

Andrew Medichini / AP

Novák, a key Orbán ally and a former vice president of Fidesz, served as Hungary’s minister for families until her appointment to the presidency. She has been outspoken in advocating for traditional family values and the protection of children.

She was the first female president in Hungary’s history, and the youngest person to ever hold the office.

But her term came to an end after she pardoned a man sentenced to more than three years in prison in 2018 for pressuring victims to retract their claims of sexual abuse by the institution’s director, who was sentenced to eight years for abusing at least 10 children between 2004 and 2016.

People march during a protest after Hungarian president Katalin Novák issued a pardon in a child sexual abuse case in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 9, 2024.

Denes Erdos / AP

“Based on the request for clemency and the information available, I decided in April last year in favor of clemency in the belief that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of the children entrusted to him,” Novák said Saturday. “I made a mistake, because the decision to pardon and the lack of justification were apt to raise doubts about zero tolerance for pedophilia. But here, there is not and nor can there be any doubt.”

Also implicated in the pardon was Judit Varga, another key Fidesz figure who endorsed the pardon as Hungary’s then minister of justice. Varga was expected to lead the list of European Parliament candidates from Fidesz when elections are held this summer.

But in a Facebook post on Saturday, Varga announced that she would take political responsibility for endorsing the pardon, and “retire from public life, resigning my seat as a member of parliament and also as leader of the EP list.”

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February 10, 2024
Russia turns Sweden’s Home Guard into a recruitment triumph

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During the first two weeks of January some 1,200 people applied to the force, four times as many as during the same period in 2023.

“Fifteen years ago many people viewed the Home Guard as a hobby, like hiking or hunting,” Raaum said. “Now they realize that it’s a crucial part of our security.”

Konrad Lindblad, who joined the Home Guard seven years ago after completing his military service in 2004, said friends and acquaintances had suddenly begun asking him how to join. Lindblad has also seen his own motivation evolve.

“When I joined, I wanted to do something different than what I do during the workday in the office, and I since I had enjoyed doing military service, I knew the Home Guard suited me,” he said. “But once I was part of it, I realized that that the Home Guard is also a serious undertaking, aligned with the rest of the armed forces. And I started thinking about why I was doing it. I do it because I’m able to contribute to our defense. If people like me don’t do it, who will? We can’t take for granted that Sweden will have freedom and democracy.”

So many people now want to join, in fact, that the Home Guard is having trouble keeping up.

Applicants must be assessed, and if they haven’t done military service (which many haven’t, although Sweden reinstated the draft on a limited basis in 2018), they have to undergo a military crash course. And then space must be found for them in nearby units.

“Our vacancies are not so numerous that we can accommodate lots of people,” Lindblad said. “We’d need new units in order to accommodate a significant number of new members, but that takes time, especially since you can’t stand up new units consisting only of new people. On the other hand, if you keep people waiting they lose interest.”

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Elisabeth Braw

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February 6, 2024
EU approves €50B Ukraine aid as Viktor Orbán folds

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The key bit of the text emphasizes the European Commission should be “objective, fair, impartial and fact-based” and guarantee “non-discrimination” when triggering the mechanism to block EU funding for national capitals.

The concessions are seen in Brussels as minor, as leaders have avoided a scenario in which Orbán would have the possibility of a yearly veto on the financial lifeline for Ukraine. But this way, Orbán can proclaim victory at home by saying Hungary obtained a review.

Orbán’s first public reaction to the deal came in a Facebook post in which said: “We fought it out! Hungarians can’t give money to Ukrainians! We do not participate in the war, we do not send weapons, we are still on the side of peace!”

The deal comes after meetings with small groups of leaders on Thursday. Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, held a closed-door meeting with the Hungarian prime minister. The meeting was then widened to other leaders, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Several diplomats denied other concessions were given to Orbán, and that the increased pressure from leaders made clear to Budapest that there was no alternative than giving in on the money to Ukraine. A key element was rebuilding trust between Hungary and the European Commission, for which the extra line on the conditionality mechanism was key.

Ketrin Jochecová contributed reporting to this story.

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Gregorio Sorgi

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February 1, 2024
Turkey’s Erdoğan signs off on Sweden’s NATO bid

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Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today signed into law Sweden’s accession to NATO.

“Welcome Türkiye’s approval of the ratification of Sweden’s NATO accession,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted. “With this, a key milestone has been reached in Sweden’s path towards NATO membership.”

All NATO members, except Hungary, have ratified Sweden’s application to join the military alliance, prompted by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Shortly before Erdoğan’s move, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake said he expected the rapid sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

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January 25, 2024
Sziget Festival Drops Phase 1 Lineup For 2024 Edition Featuring Fred Again.., Martin Garrix and Sam Smith | Your EDM

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The first couple months of the year are like the offseason for sports. There’s no actual events happening, but there’s all sorts of speculation and waiting for lineups to drop. Although they were early in dropping their Stage 1 lineup, we would be remiss to not mention Sziget Festival taking place in Budapest, Hungary from August 7-12.

Featuring Fred Again.., Martin Garrix, Sam Smith and Stormzy as headliners, Sziget is one of the premiere European festivals to visit, not just because of its stellar lineup, which ventures outside the dance music realm, but also because of its magical location on Budapest’s Óbuda Island. Other dance music highlights include Four Tet, Richie Hawtin, Dom Dolla and ARTBAT. For non-EDM fans, two names that stand out on the lineup are former One Direction-er Louis Tomlinson and indie-rock faves Big Thief.

Secure your tickets for Sziget here. If you can afford the plane ticket, Sziget is truly one of the best values for any European festival. Check out the after-movie for last year’s edition of Sziget to see what you’re missing out on. Announced lineup is below as well.

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Mark Fabrick

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January 19, 2024
How the Rubik’s Cube has lived to 50 years—and continues to be a rage among Gen Z and beyond

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If you’ve ever dabbled with a Rubik’s Cube, you know it isn’t the easiest puzzle to crack. But despite the challenging nature of the game, it’s endured longer than most other toys of its generation—think Tamagotchis and Game Boys.

The Cube has seen enormous growth and success in its relatively long lifespan in the world of games, selling roughly 500 million units as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year since architecture professor Erno Rubik discovered it—something he says has defied his expectations.

“It is a curious fact—one that surprises me as much as anyone—that for so many decades, during a time of an unprecedented technology revolution, fascination with such a simple, ‘low-tech’ object has survived. And, in fact, this fascination has evolved,” Rubik wrote in his book Cubed, published in 2020.

How Rubix’s Cube cracked the code for success

The Hungarian professor founded the colorful Cube—whose basic configuration involves a three-dimensional 3×3 grid that’s twisted and turned so each of its surfaces has the same color—in 1974, when he was just 29.

Rubik, now 79 years old, always had a proclivity for puzzles, and his academic background in art and sculpting became helpful instruments in creating the first prototype of the Cube we know today.

“I got an interest from [a] young age about problem-solving, challenges, chess problems and so on,” Rubik told Fortune in an interview.

Although he had created something that intrigued him, he couldn’t solve it for a month.

But once he did, it marked the beginning of the Cube’s journey—first, to shops in Hungary and soon after, the rest of the world.

“At first, it was important to prove to myself that it’s possible to solve. So, I thought well, if I can do it, somebody else can,” Rubik said, referring to the Cube philosophically as a reflection of life itself.

“The question is, how do you find your way between so many possible positions and how can you find your way back?”

The complexity and paradoxical nature of the Cube makes it more than just a game (that was solved by a 21-year-old in a record time of 3.13 seconds last year).

The Cube’s earliest boost in sales came in the 1980s, when Rubik took his creation to a fair in New York—in the three years that followed, roughly 100 million Cubes were sold, creating a frenzy that Rubik had never expected or seen before.

Rubik describes the Cube as a tool that’s helped him understand people.

Other academics also regarded it as such, including cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter, who wrote of the Cube in 1981 that “it is an ingenious mechanical invention, a pastime, a learning tool, a source of metaphors, an inspiration.”

With 43 quintillion solutions for the Cube, it can initially feel like an impossible task to tackle. But the Cube’s ability to confound people is also what’s drawn enthusiasts over the years, creating an entire universe of its own.

People have now solved the Cube blindfolded, competed in international championships for it, used it to demonstrate AI breakthroughs and much more.

It’s also earned a spot in pop culture, from featuring in a Spice Girls music video to appearing in Will Smith’s The Pursuit of Happyness.

All that has helped keep the Rubik’s Cube fresh in people’s minds.

The Cube’s success over the years has exceeded Rubik’s expectations.
COURTESY OF SPIN MASTER

How Rubik’s Cube is staying relevant in a digital world

The Rubik’s Cube, in tune with its shape-shifting ability, has managed through the decades to adapt and create a niche for itself despite other tech-driven forms of entertainment.

It’s this everlasting quality of the Rubik’s Cube that made its acquisition in 2021 a “no brainer” for Spin Master, the company’s senior director of games Sam Suzs told Fortune.

However, the company also realizes the importance of catering to the digitally-savvy younger audience.

“It’s a challenge for the brand because it’s been around for 50 years. There’s been so many ways it’s been tried to be reinvented,” Suzs said. “They [Spin Master] were trying to find ways to keep the iconic form and shape, but introduce new ways of play and new ways to interact with the Cube.”

Spin Master launched the Rubik’s Phantom Cube, which reacts to the user’s touch to temporarily reveal the color of a tile, adding a new challenge to the Cube by testing the player’s memory.

This variation, Suzs said, appeals to cubers who want to up their skills, and to gift-givers who recognize the brainteaser in its original form with the added novelty.

The popularity of the Cube is reflected in its strong sales—in 2022, 5.75 million units of the official Rubik’s Cube were sold globally and that figure was up 14% year-to-date, according to figures from data firm Circana shared with Fortune by Spin Master in December.

The iconic Cube also occupied the lion’s share of the brain-teaser games market, with a total of 42%.

The realm of digital cubing is also growing, Suzs pointed out, with new advancements in Bluetooth-enabled cubing allowing players to compete against one another from different parts of the world.

The Cube also has its own app for those wanting to solve it on their personal devices.

Spin Master has leveraged collaborations to keep the brand relevant and in demand—for instance, it recently launched a special line of Rubik’s Cubes in honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary.

The company has new launches through 2024 to make the 50th-year milestone for the Rubik’s brand, including partnerships with Marvel and Hello Kitty.

“We’re doing all sorts of unique collaborations that we think will appeal to kids and adult collectors,” Suzs said.

As a brand that just hit its golden jubilee, it still feels young, vibrant and alive as it transforms to new times, while staying true to its roots. That’s perhaps why its founder doesn’t like talking about the Cube in the past tense.

“I think we can speak about the Cube not in the past. The Cube is in the present,” Rubik said.

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Prarthana Prakash

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January 14, 2024
2024 is the ‘year of globetrotting,’ travel expert says. Here are some of the hot spots

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Tokyo, Japan.

Matteo Colombo | DigitalVision | Getty Images

When it comes to travel abroad, popular destinations like London, Paris and Rome always seem to top the wish list for Americans.

But many travelers are looking beyond those mainstay cities for trips in 2024. Interest in major Asian hubs, off-the-beaten-path locales in Europe and other areas has surged, experts said.

“It’s clear that 2024 is shaping up to be the year of globetrotting,” Airbnb wrote last month.

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A controversial hack to save on plane tickets carries a ‘super big risk’

Broadly, overseas travel is hot: Searches for international flights are up 13% year-over-year, even though prices are about 10% higher, according to Steve Hafner, CEO of Kayak, a travel website.

“Americans are looking to go abroad,” Hafner said. “They’ve done the domestic stuff the last couple years.”

Here are the trending destinations for Americans in 2024.

1. Asia takes the crown again

Hong Kong

Kanchisa Thitisukthanapong | Moment | Getty Images

Americans flocked to the Asia-Pacific region in 2023 — and that love affair is poised to continue in the new year.

Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, respectively rank as the No. 1 and 2 trending international hot spots next year among U.S.-based travelers, according to travel app Hopper.

Kayak data shows a similar trend. Its top five hot spots are in Asia: Hong Kong; Shanghai; Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan; Tokyo; and Osaka, Japan, respectively.

For example, searches for Hong Kong and Shanghai are up 355% and 216%, respectively, year-over-year, according to Kayak. (The travel site analyzed search traffic among Americans from March 16 to Sept. 15 this year, for travel planned in 2024, and compared it to the same period last year.)

Kyoto, Japan

Sw Photography | Stone | Getty Images

Japan also ranks highly among non-U.S. travelers: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo are among the top 24 worldwide destinations next year, according to Airbnb data.

Asian nations were among the slowest to ease border closures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that they’re open again, tourists are unleashing a pent-up wanderlust, experts said.

“People couldn’t travel there, and now they are making it up,” said Sofia Markovich, a travel advisor and founder of Sofia’s Travel.

China reopened its borders in January 2023, “one of the last places” to do so, Hafner said.

Japan reopened to tourists starting in June 2022. There are other factors driving increased interest to that nation, like a historically strong U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen (and other currencies), which gives Americans additional buying power, and more flights from budget airlines, Hafner said.

Search traffic for Japan has more than tripled for trips during the first nine months of 2024 relative to the same period in 2023 — a larger increase than any other nation, Airbnb said.

Americans are looking to go abroad. They’ve done the domestic stuff the last couple years.

Historically, Tokyo has “hands down” been the most popular city for Americans to visit in Asia, said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. Now, demand is “even greater” than usual, she said.

Tourists may also pay a hefty premium to fly to Asia next year: “Good deal” prices for airfare to the continent is $1,204 for 2024, on average — 45% more than 2019, a much larger increase relative to other continents, according to Hopper.

2. Going off the beaten path in Europe

Stockholm, Sweden.

Leonardo Patrizi | E+ | Getty Images

Overcrowding in the traditional European hubs is driving an influx of tourists to generally less-frequented areas, experts said.

For example, Stockholm, Sweden; Budapest, Hungary; Helsinki, Finland; and Prague, Czech Republic, respectively rank seventh to 10th on Kayak’s list of trending destinations abroad.

Copenhagen, Denmark, is No. 4 on Hopper’s 2024 hot spot ranking. Prague and Edinburgh, Scotland, are No. 7 and No. 8, respectively.

“People are really discovering the off-the-beaten path places,” Markovich said. “Because your Paris and your Rome and London and Barcelona are just too crowded. And experienced travelers want to get away from that.”

She recommends “a lot” of Scandinavian travel since it’s “so unspoiled by overtourism.”

The Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Andrew Merry | Moment | Getty Images

Additionally, Finland became a member of the NATO military alliance in 2023, driving more awareness of the nation among Americans, Kayak’s Hafner said.

Cities like Budapest and Prague have always been popular but not to the extent of some European tourist magnets, Markovich said.

One of those typical magnets — Paris — is poised for an additional burst this year: The City of Light is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Demand for flights to Paris — and for nearby cities — during the Olympics has more than doubled versus this time last year, according to Hopper data.

Lower relative prices for some lesser-known spots in Europe are also likely attracting people, Berg said, especially since average flights to Europe overall are 5% more expensive in 2024 versus 2023, at $717, Hopper data shows.

3. The Atlantic tropics over the Caribbean

Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands.

Faba-photograhpy | Moment | Getty Images

Although places like Cancun, Mexico, remain popular as warm-weather beach destinations, Americans are increasingly turning to Atlantic tropical vacations over the Caribbean, said Hopper’s Berg.

“This is something new this year that we started seeing emerge” and the trend “will definitely continue” in 2024, she said.

For example, Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, and Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago, ranked No. 9 and 10, respectively, on Hopper’s international trend list. Both are located off the West African coast.

People are really discovering the off-the-beaten path places.

Sofia Markovich

travel advisor

Though not on the Atlantic, Málaga, a Mediterranean port city on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, ranked sixth on Kayak’s list. The Andalusian city gets about 300 days of sunshine a year, on average, and, according to one recent report, is the No. 1 city in the world for expats.

Search interest there is up 60% year-over-year, Kayak data shows. And that’s following a year in which Málaga was already “overrun,” Hafner said.

“I think that word has gotten out,” he said.

4. Canada’s ski mountains are having a ‘renaissance’

A ski slope at Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, Canada.

Daisuke Kishi | Moment Open | Getty Images

Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal in Canada ranked third, fifth and sixth, respectively, on Hopper’s international trend list for 2024.

Winter tourism likely plays a big role, Berg said.

“We’ve seen a real renaissance of Canadian ski destinations,” she said. “They’re rivaling a lot of European ski destinations.”

Plus, air travel to Canada is generally about a third of the price of a trip to Europe, Berg added.

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December 30, 2023
Viktor Orbán: The EU is blackmailing Hungary

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Thursday the European Commission is blackmailing Hungary by withholding billions in frozen funds over rule-of-law concerns.

Orbán said the blackmail is “a fact,” even admitted by the blackmailers themselves — members of the European Parliament.

“In our view, Hungary fulfils all the qualities of the rule of law, and when the European Commission has specific needs, we implement everything from them, and we are also cooperative,” Orbán told reporters in Budapest during a press conference. “You cannot blame me for doing everything I can to promote Hungary’s interests in such a blackmailed situation.”

Orbán’s government has been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with Brussels, which has frozen billions of EU funds intended for Hungary over concerns about human rights and the rule of law in the country.

Last week, the European Commission unblocked €10.2 billion in frozen EU cohesion funds earmarked for Hungary.

The commission said the timing of the funding release — which came just a day before the European Council, where Orbán was threatening to block the start of Ukraine’s accession talks to the EU and a further aid package to Kyiv — was coincidental. But many EU politicians have warned Brussels not to give in to what they perceive as blackmail from the Hungarian leader.

In the end, Orbán did a U-turn and allowed EU leaders to approve the start of negotiations for Ukraine to join the bloc.

There is more money at stake for Budapest and Orbán is still blocking a €50 billion aid package for Kyiv, which leaders are set to discuss early next year.

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Claudia Chiappa

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December 21, 2023