Breaking NewsHungary’s national airline ceases operationsAs of Friday morning no Malév flights are taking off from the Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport. Without prior warning, the airline grounded its aircraft on 3 February after 66 years of operations. Hundreds of passengers only learned that Malév was no longer flying when they reached the airport. The Budapest Times was informed of the development by stranded readers. more
NewsChoking & sputtering more than usualGovernment ‘ready’ to save city’s beleaguered public transportBudapest public transport company BKV was granted the hope of a reprieve on Tuesday after weeks of teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and talks of last-minute measures including a city-wide congestion fee. more
Political AnalysesProtesters clash as controversial theatre director takes stage“Dirty Jews” and “Dirty Nazis” were the most popular chants when two groups clashed in front of Új Színház this week, with anti-fascists and other left-wing organisations confronting sympathisers of the nationalist right (pictured) over the appointment of the theatre’s new director, György Dörner. more
BusinessLEGO building EUR 125 mn factory, workforceDanish toymaker says it’s committed to Hungarian operationThe LEGO Group’s large-scale investment in Hungary can get fully under way with the final papers signed last week. The toymaker intends to build a new production facility in Nyíregyháza by the end of 2014 to the tune of EUR 125 million. The energy-efficient plant will have usable floor space of 80,000 square metres and is set to create 250 jobs. more
CultureSeven heavenIndian and Hungarian dancers perform to a medley of traditional and modern Indian music in Chakra Mala, a dance play on the theme of “seven” at the National Dance Theatre next Wednesday. more
Eating OutHigh splendour, commensurate costReview: New York Café, District VII New York Café, on the stretch of Erzsébet körút closest to Blaha Lujza tér, takes its name from the New York Insurance Company in whose building the Café once occupied the ground floor. It has gone down in Budapest lore as the haunt of artists and writers, to whom staff doled out platters of cold cuts and cheese whose pricing reflected the recipients’ impecunious state. more
CommunityBudapest Burns Supper raises HUF 5 millionThe 15th anniversary Budapest Burns Supper, held at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest on Saturday, raised almost HUF 5 million (EUR 16,960) for children’s hospitals in Hungary, the organisers say. more
Corporate Finance / M&A CornerMergers as an alternative to acquisitionsBusinessmen frequently talk of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), but the emphasis is usually on acquisitions, with relatively little thought given to mergers. Yet in today’s financial markets, it may make even more sense to consider mergers. more
Letters to the EditorVIKTOR We are with you!Dear Editor,In the interests of impartial, professional journalism, may I suggest you publish the other side of the Pep Rally (I mean Peace March) sign highlighted in your glorious last issue? more
Faith MattersThe little universe around the cornerWhat is really real?The wonder and beauty of Budapest is so beguiling. Even though I have only been here for just under half a year, I keep thinking that I will come to a point where I'm bored with the architecture or the city vistas or the cuisine or all the different people I meet from all over the world. But the truth is, every day I have to pinch myself to remind myself that I'm not in some wonderful dream, but that I am really here and that this city is just an amazing place. more
EducationHigher education lags despite clear plussesA smaller proportion of Hungarian students enters higher education than is the average in advanced economies. Only 25 per cent of the 25-34 age group enters uni-versity-level programmes, below the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 37 per cent and European Union of 34 per cent. This compares with 63 per cent for the same group in Korea, 56 per cent in Canada and Japan, and close to half of the age group in Ireland, Australia or Denmark. more
