Budapest

October 4, 2008

Various civil groups decided to organize a demonstration called "Tarka Magyar" ("Diverse Hungarian") to commemorate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the International Day of Non-Violence. Organizers hoped the demonstration would be the "biggest non-partisan demonstration since the fall of communism", but turn-out fell far short of the expected 100,000 people. Eventually, some 4,000-5,000 people joined the march that ran through downtown Budapest on Saturday afternoon to protest against discrimination and violence and support tolerance.

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September 30, 2008

Despite the changes in leadership at the Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water Protection the bilateral negotiations regarding the foaming of the river Raba, which has for long been a dispute between Hungary and Austria, are seems to remain on the right track.

The first comprehensive test initiated by Hungary and conducted jointly by Hungarian and Austrian experts on the water quality of the river Raba has been completed and shows that the concentration of pollutants is higher on the Austrian side due to the activities of local tanning facilities.

A Hungarian folk music band, Muzsikás has won this year the Womex’s prize, one of the most important international awards for world music. It is the first occasion during the past 9 years of the award’s existence when a European band receives such a high honourable mention. The prize will be handed over ceremonially to members of the 35 year old music group in course of the World Music Expo taking place in Sevilla on 2 November 2008. The success of Muzsikás will no doubt contribute to the growing popularity of folk music in Hungary. But what are the bands that tries to brake into the music market with the help of folk music elements?

August 26, 2008

Minister of Defense Imre Szekeres was on hand in Szolnok, Hungary for the August 18 ceremonial send-off of the next rotation of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) operated by Hungary in Afghanistan. The Hungarian Defense Forces have been represented in northern Afghanistan’s Baghlan province since 2006; Hungary’s PRT troops have participated in a variety of tasks including the training of law enforcement personnel, the (re)construction of roads, schools and hospitals as well as other activities to improve the general security of the province.