A nation is judged by the way it treats its weakest members – so wrote Aristotle in the third century BC. One wonders what he would make of last Thursday’s conviction and sentencing of five Roma and one Hungarian to a total of 29 years in prison for what prosecutors said was a racially motivated attack on a Hungarian student. Four of the six suspects had been held in detention since their arrest on 23 October 2009 even though their victim did not sustain any permanent or life-threatening injuries. If their conviction is upheld on appeal, most of them will serve out the balance of their sentences in prisons usually reserved for murderers and repeat violent offenders. Continue »

A nation is judged by the way it treats its weakest members – so wrote Aristotle in the third century BC. One wonders what he would make of last Thursday’s conviction and sentencing of five Roma and one Hungarian to a total of 29 years in prison for what prosecutors said was a racially motivated attack on a Hungarian student. Four of the six suspects had been held in detention since their arrest on 23 October 2009 even though their victim did not sustain any permanent or life-threatening injuries. If their conviction is upheld on appeal, most of them will serve out the balance of their sentences in prisons usually reserved for murderers and repeat violent offenders. Continue »

Andrej Tóth’s paintings take a playfully humorous rather than erotic approach to the Parisian “Crazy Horse” cabaret by giving its nude dancers chicken heads and thick calves. Tóth’s works can be viewed in the new exhibition space of the A38 Ship until 19 March. Continue »

Organisers of the annual Sziget festival have followed up their agreement with Budapest City Council over renting a site on Óbuda Island by announcing last week that Central Europe’s biggest gathering of bands will take place from 10-15 August.  Continue »

The 42nd annual Hungarian Film Festival (Magyar Filmszemle) will take place in May, the organisers announced last week to the relief of filmmakers and movie fans after reports that the most important event in Hungary’s cinematic calendar, usually held in February, would be cancelled this year.  Continue »

Restaurant-goers should get in fast to book tables for this year’s “Gluttonous Thursday” (Torkos Csütörtök) on 10 March, when participating restaurants throughout Hungary will offer 50 per cent off all food and drink on their menus. Continue »

The organisers of the Budapest Motor Festival want to follow up the success of last year’s event with more sweet smells of burnt rubber, leather and petrol this time around.  Continue »

Hungary’s trade surplus was EUR 5.525 billion last year, the national statistical office KSH reported last Friday. Continue »

The consolidated revenue of Spar Hungary fell 4.04 per cent in 2010 but the company expects to finish this year with moderate growth, managing director Péter Feiner announced last Wednesday.  Continue »

Train manufacturer Stadler Rail is planning to further strengthen its position in Hungary by enlarging the company’s plant in Szolnok, CEO Peter Spuhler said last week.  Continue »