The alternative rock group Quimby was formed in 1991 in the industrial new town Dunaújváros (which bore Stalin’s name until 1961) and quickly built up a loyal fan base. The band reached a broader audience with its 2005 song “Most múlik pontosan” (roughly “Now it’s really coming to an end”), a bittersweet ballad that has already become a Hungarian standard, covered by everyone from folk bands to barroom crooners.  Continue »

Hungarian-born French architect, sociologist, artist and forward thinker Yona Friedman is a phenomenon. With his “Ville spatiale” concept, Friedman stands for an entire generation of reflective, critical architecture aimed at adapting living spaces to a new social flexibility. In the post-war period he designed simple structures made of prefabricated elements intended to provide housing for those rendered homeless. Easy transportability, low-cost production and the greatest possible variability were the guiding principles. Continue »

Heir to five generations of traditional Chinese folk glove puppeteers, Yeung Fa? presents his new performance, Hand Stories, at Trafó next Friday and Saturday. Born in 1964 in China, Yeung Fa? started learning his art at the age of four from his father before touring the world with pieces handed down from his family, such as Scenes of Peking Opera.  Continue »

The number of registered jobless was essentially the same in the third quarter as 12 months ago, which resulted in an unemployment rate of 10.7 per cent, the Central Statistical Office announced last Friday. Continue »

Hungarian flag-carrier airline Malév has posted rising revenue for July-October, up by HUF 4.6 billion (EUR 14.99 million) year-on-year, daily Népszabad-ság reported on Wednesday. Continue »

The retail volume of foodstuff remained steady but in terms of value it increased 4 per cent between December 2010 and September 2011, a study released this week by researcher Nielsen revealed.  Continue »

Although Hungarian households remained net repayers of foreign-currency loans in September, due to the weak forint the total FX debt reached a record high of HUF 5.536 trillion (EUR 18.07 billion). Continue »

The State Financial Authority (PSZÁF) has fined Erste Bank HUF 10 million (EUR 32,750) and told it to end an unfair business practice involving the declarations that applicants for early mortgage repayment had to sign. Continue »

Magyar Telekom announced on Wednesday it is joining with Union Insurance Company to give its customers the option of bill-payment insurance. This provides coverage to those who face difficulties paying their TV, phone or internet bills following a permanent illness or job loss.  Continue »

Shares on Budapest Stock Exchange did not prove to be immune to the effects of Greece’s plan to hold a referendum on a bailout package offered by the European Union.  Continue »