Latest news with #Budapest
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HTEC Opened a New Office in Budapest, Signaling Further Expansion on the Hungarian Tech Scene
BUDAPEST, Hungary, June 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HTEC, a global AI-first company and a provider of technology design and engineering services, has opened a new office space in central Budapest, marking another step in the company's strategic expansion across the Hungarian market. Located at Erzsébet krt. 2, the new space will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, welcoming new employees eager to shape the future of technology. HTEC partners with leading global companies to solve complex business problems in Financial Services, MedTech, Advanced Technologies, Retail, Telecommunications, and Enterprise Software & Platforms. Its end-to-end expertise—from product strategy to design and delivery—positions the company as a true extension of its clients' teams. With a focus on strong partnerships and delivering measurable ROI fast, HTEC continues to invest in building deep industry knowledge and advancing technological capabilities through both talent acquisition and internal enablement programs. HTEC began its journey in Hungary with the opening of its first office in Szeged in 2022. Today, the company has a growing presence in four Hungarian cities: Budapest, Szeged, Debrecen, and Pécs. The company's expanding local footprint reflects its long-term commitment to creating value for both clients and tech communities in Hungary. To celebrate the new office opening, HTEC hosted an informal event on June 19 at the new location. The gathering brought together HTEC employees from around the country for an afternoon of connection, reflection, and celebration. CEO Aleksandar Cabrilo and President Dusan Kosic were both in attendance. Cabrilo addressed the team, sharing the company's vision for Hungary and outlining ambitious global growth plans. "I'm very thankful for the opportunity to welcome our team into this beautiful space in the heart of Budapest," said Aleksandar Cabrilo, CEO of HTEC. "After three successful years in Hungary, we continue to be amazed by the technical talent and dedication across all of our teams in the country, especially in embedded technologies, an area of strategic importance where skilled professionals are in high demand and play a critical role in driving success across industries. We've recognized the strategic importance of this region and are happy to offer local talent the chance to work on some of the world's most creative technological challenges and become part of our AI-first employee enablement program, which equips them with the essential AI skills for the future." One of the first employees to join HTEC Hungary, Zsolt Zalatnay, Senior Engineering and Delivery Lead, shared his experience: "I joined HTEC because I was drawn to the chance to work on real-world challenges while continuing to learn and grow. I'm delighted to have been part of the dynamic growth of the Budapest team from the early days—it's been exciting to contribute to something evolving and impactful. What stood out to me early on was how quickly I was given trust and ownership—there's a genuine culture of curiosity here." HTEC continues to scale globally in more than 30 locations with over 2,500 employees worldwide. With its new Budapest office, the company strengthens its position in Central Europe and deepens its commitment to building a strong, empowered, AI-ready workforce in Hungary. About HTEC HTEC Group Inc. is a global AI-first provider of strategic, software and hardware embedded design and engineering services, specializing in Advanced Technologies, Financial Services, MedTech, Automotive, Telco, and Enterprise Software & Platforms. HTEC has a proven track record of helping Fortune 500 and hyper-growth companies solve complex engineering challenges, drive efficiency, reduce risks, and accelerate time to market. HTEC prides itself on attracting top talent and has strategically chosen the locations of its 20+ excellence centers to enable this. View source version on Contacts For media inquiries please contact HTEC Media Relations, media@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Airline offers passengers vouchers in bid to tackle overbooked flights this summer
Wizz Air is inviting passengers to "pre-select" themselves as volunteers to be offloaded from overbooked Flights. Passengers who volunteer and are selected at the airport will receive a €100 (£85) voucher in Wizz credits for future travel. This scheme allows Wizz Air to manage Flights where more tickets are sold than seats available, anticipating typical passenger "no-shows." The compensation offered to volunteers is considerably less than the £220 to £520 airlines are legally required to pay for involuntarily denied boarding. Volunteers must still attend their original flight, and there is no guarantee of an immediate or convenient later flight, with rebooking dependent on capacity. Wizz Air asks passengers to 'pre-select' themselves for being offloaded from overbooked flights
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Judo: Kim strikes gold for Korea, Tasoev defends heavyweight crown on Day 7 in Budapest
Day 7 closes out the individual competition at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships and it's time for the heavyweights to take centre stage in Budapest. Before the finals, IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer awarded diplomas recognising achievements in judo. And the traditional flag-passing ceremony was held to commemorate the closing of the event, as Hungary passed the IJF flag to Azerbaijan — with Baku set to host the World Championships in 2026 where judo would return to the land of fire. At +78kg, Hayun KIM had been making her mark on the international stage, and in Budapest she delivered her best performance yet. Could she take the title? Facing her was Japan's Mao ARAI who had managed to secure her place in the final after a fantastic performance in the preliminaries. ARAI looked every bit a contender for the World final was a tight, tactical battle taken into Golden Score. It was Hayun KIM who would wear the red backpatch for the Republic of Korea's first gold medal! I'm so happy to win my first World Championship gold medal, especially after finishing fifth and third. OTP Bank Chairman & IJF Honorary President Dr Sandor CSANYI awarded the medals. At +100kg, Guram TUSHISHVILI was on fire — storming his way through the preliminaries with explosive throws and unstoppable momentum. The Georgian powerhouse looked focused and fearless. He was here to reclaim the title he first won in 2018. Facing him in the final was Inal TASOEV, the 2023 World Champion. TASOEV had delivered a solid performance and was aiming to add a second World title to his the final, TUSHISHVILI led with a yuko, but it was TASOEV who came back with a waza-ari and managed to keep the Georgian at bay, claiming his second World title! This is very cool, it's my second time in Budapest and both of them were successful, the first time I won a Grand Slam and the second time a World Championships. Only positive emotions. 5 time Olympic and 12 time World Champion, Mr Teddy RINER awarded the medals. Join us tomorrow in Budapest where the Mixed Team competition kicks off. 3 men 3 women, one team, one goal. Don't miss it!
Daily Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Review: APT Solara, a river ship that stands out from the crowd
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. To be or not to be a river ship – that is the question. When Australian-owned travel company APT approached the ambitious build of its new twin ships the Solara and Ostara, the brief was to create something dramatically different and see Europe through an Australian's eyes. Designed for the continent's busiest route from Amsterdam to Budapest, the luxurious Solara certainly stands out from the crowd. Despite having to adhere to the Danube's strict ship dimensions – there are 68 locks to navigate along the Rhine-Main-Danube route – the Solara offers surprising variety, and is contemporary and stylish with subtle nautical touches, including a chic French-navy exterior. Set the scene Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. High ceilings and a skylight open up the all-white space. There is a marble water station, a circular marble table and a tiled floor centrepiece in the dimensions of a compass. A dramatic macramé-like hanging rope sculpture descends from the ceiling into the softly curved stairwell, and the walls showcase original landscapes by artist Greg Wood and pieces curated by Melbourne gallery Otomys. The design was conceived by renowned Melbourne firm Hecker Guthrie (their first project on a ship), and influenced by APT's co-owners and siblings Lou Tandy and Rob McGeary. The designer furniture is whimsical and elegant but comfortable – think Gervasoni and Casini – and it has instant wow factor. If money was no object, this is how I'd love my home to look. We took a canal tour through Amsterdam. The itinerary While the Solara's 15-day itinerary will traverse the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, I'm only on board for four nights for the christening and 'shakedown' cruise. This is a test run of sorts, and we embark at Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge before sailing past green pastures and fields of wild yellow canola flowers to Kinderdijk to tour the idyllic working windmills (dating back to the 16th century). We dock overnight at quaint Dordrecht (one of the oldest cities in Holland), visit Lisse to catch the vivid annual spring tulip festival Keukenhof, and take a canal tour through Amsterdam, which is celebrating 750 years. Although the friendly crew is busily readying the final touches to the ship, and pumping out countless espressos from the shiny new La Marzocco coffee machine in The Salon, the whole thing feels flawless. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Picture: Supplied. The cabins There are three categories of suites: the plush Owner's Suites, the Balcony Suites and the wood-panelled Twin Window Suites, and each has a colour scheme inspired by the seasons. Thick carpets range from sage green for spring to dusky pink for autumn. Original prints of signature European shore excursions by Australian photographer Nick Wilkins (available to buy) adorn the walls and lend an antipodean lens. The bathrooms have an abundance of storage, enormous shower heads, floor-to-ceiling tiling and marble sink tops. Toiletries by sustainable Amsterdam brand Marie-Stella-Maris were sourced by Tandy herself. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Picture: Supplied. Food and drink Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Catering to Australian travellers who have curious palates and want variety and quality, APT engaged hospitality guru Monique Lane of Fellow Hospitality (collaborating with chef Stephen Seckold of House Made Hospitality). From the fare at Bistro Saison, to the degustation paired with top-notch wine in the Owner's Cellar, and the laid-back eats at Annie's Table (named for the owners' mother), the offerings are impressive. The Grüner Bar & Dining, which rises on hydraulics so it elevates above other ships in dock, is a surprising hit, with dishes such as pretzels with whipped ricotta and moreish focaccia with butter that melts in your mouth. All bread and pastries are baked on board daily, and the delicious ice-cream and gelato are handmade. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. Picture: Supplied. The extras Along with a jewel-coloured spa/salon, gym, and daily shore excursions that are included, e-bikes for guests who want to explore independently are provided. The roof has a small circular heated pool and two levels for guests to enjoy, and the Daystar Deck is a standout. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. A marble cooktop space functions as an outdoor bar and barbecue, lending an Australian touch. The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. Picture: Supplied. What's hot The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu (the fish finger sambo is the hot ticket) and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. What's not The square pillows on my bed were uncomfortable, although I learned later they were delivered by mistake and had been replaced before the first guests arrived. Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. Picture: Supplied. The verdict - 10/10 While I didn't sail the full itinerary, it's impossible to fault Solara. It's the most stylish river ship I've set foot on – the combination of Australian design, food and thoughtful inclusions is impeccable. The writer was a guest of APT Luxury Travel. Its 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise on Solara and Ostara, sailing Budapest to Amsterdam, starts at around $8495 twin share. Originally published as Review: APT Solara stands out from the crowd
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Orbán's anti-Ukraine campaign targets political rival as Hungary's elections loom
BUDAPEST, Hungary — As Hungary heads toward national elections next spring and the populist government's popularity slumps, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has zeroed in on a central theme he hopes will sway voters: an alleged threat posed by neighboring Ukraine. While most European Union countries have offered political, financial, and military support to Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Hungary under Orbán has charted a starkly different course — refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons or allow their transit through Hungarian territory, demanding sanctions relief and rapprochement with Russia, and adopting a combative stance toward both Kyiv and its EU backers. With his ruling Fidesz party slipping in the polls and a new opposition force gaining momentum, Orbán has escalated a sweeping anti-Ukraine campaign — presenting the upcoming election as a referendum on peace or war. Going further, he has accused his leading political opponent of entering into a treasonous pact with Kyiv to overthrow his government and install a pro-Western, pro-Ukraine administration. Some of his ideas mirror the growing anti-Ukraine messaging coming from right-wing populists in the West, including from President Donald Trump. 'Let's be under no illusions: Brussels and Ukraine are jointly building up a puppet government (in Hungary),' Orbán said on June 6 in comments to state radio. 'They want to change Hungary's policy toward Ukraine after the next elections, or even sooner.' At the heart of Orbán's claims is Ukraine's ambition to join the EU, something Kyiv believes would place it firmly within the embrace of the West and provide a measure of security against potential Russian attacks in the future. While Orbán was a firm supporter of Ukraine's eventual EU accession shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, he now argues that its membership — which will likely take many years — would flood Hungary with crime, cheap labor, and low-quality agricultural products, threatening national sovereignty and economic stability. He has also spuriously claimed that Brussels and Kyiv intend to force Hungarians to fight Russia on the front lines. On Monday, Orbán posted a video to his social media page depicting animated, artificial intelligence-generated scenes of bloodied, machine-gun wielding Hungarian soldiers engaged in armed conflict, and rows of caskets lined beneath Hungarian flags. 'We don't want our children, in the form of the Hungarian army, to be deployed to the Ukrainian front lines or to Ukrainian territory and to come back in coffins,' he said in the video. Central to Orbán's life-or-death narrative of the Hungarian election is his growing campaign against his main political rival, Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider whose new Tisza party has surged in popularity. Once married to Hungary's former justice minister, Magyar has become the most formidable challenger to Orbán's rule since the EU's longest-serving leader took office in 2010. With Tisza leading Fidesz in most independent polls, some analysts and domestic critics believe Orbán may be laying the groundwork to discredit or even disqualify Magyar ahead of the 2026 election. Péter Krekó, director of the Budapest-based Political Capital think tank, said Orbán's attempt to link Magyar and Tisza to the image of a dangerous Ukraine is aimed at neutralizing his domestic opposition as popular sentiment appears to be turning against him. 'There is an ongoing campaign against any critical voices in Hungary saying that they are agents of Ukraine, and this can be used also against the Tisza party,' he told The Associated Press. 'If you can't win back public opinion anymore, then you can try to use a more authoritarian toolkit.' Beyond political rhetoric, such accusations have reached the highest levels of diplomacy. In May, Ukraine's main security agency said that it had arrested two people on suspicion of spying for Hungary by gathering intelligence on Ukraine's military defenses in the west of the country. That set off a tit-for-tat series of diplomatic expulsions, and accusations from Hungary's government that the affair was part of a concerted Ukrainian campaign involving Magyar and his party to undermine Orbán. The prime minister accused Magyar and Tisza of being 'pro-Ukrainian' and supporting Ukraine's EU bid, and alleging that a prominent Tisza member, the former chief of staff of the Hungarian military, has 'deep ties with Ukrainian intelligence.' No evidence has been provided to support the claims, which Magyar has dismissed outright. 'It is outrageous and blood-boiling when a patriot who trained and prepared to be a soldier since the age of 14 and who took a military oath ... is accused of treason by people who would sell their country out,' Magyar told a news conference on June 5. To reinforce its message, the Hungarian government launched a state-funded communication blitz in March, accompanied by a non-binding 'national consultation' on Ukraine's EU membership. Billboards, television ads, and social media posts have flooded the country, portraying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the architects of a plot to undermine, or even destroy Hungary. 'They would bring Ukraine into the EU, but we would pay the price!' reads one poster. 'Let's vote no!' Ukrainian officials have been restrained in reacting to the Hungarian campaign. But in an interview published last week in Hungarian outlet Válasz Online, Zelenskyy criticized the government's use of his face as part of its media barrage, and accused Orbán of being 'anti-Ukrainian and anti-European.' 'He is using this in his domestic policy: he wants to turn the war in Ukraine to his own advantage in the elections. That is dishonest,' Zelenskyy said. In a post on X on Tuesday, Ukraine's foreign ministry also pushed back on Hungary's accusations. 'The Hungarian government's communication line, which demonizes Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, has gone off the rails,' the ministry's spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, wrote. 'We don't see Hungary demanding that Russia accept a ceasefire ... They remain silent when principled action is needed and make baseless accusations when diplomacy is required.'
