Nestled amongst the stunning scenery of the Austrian Alps, Hotel Hochschober is renowned for its all-weather activities and facilities featuring unique attractions like a heated lake, a Chinese pagoda or even a Hamam bath.

The European Union in 2011 will face the most difficult year for the past two decades. This view was expressed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Qatar Airways operate four Airbus A320 aircraft a week on a route between Budapest and Doha International Airport with a short stopover in Bucharest as of this January. Direct flights will start in September.

The series of concerts and other cultural events dedicated to the birth bicentenary of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt in France opened in Paris on Tuesday. 2011 is the Year of Ferenc (Franz) Liszt in Hungary.

At their recent meeting in Budapest, the Secretaries of State for EU Affairs of the EU trio presidencies – Spain, Belgium, Hungary – presented an evaluation of their joint efforts aimed at the smooth transition between the presidencies.

Three young women died at a club in downtown Budapest late Saturday night after panic broke out and guests were trying to leave. No other injuries were reported. Police detained five people in connection with the incident.

University of Omniscience (Mindentudás Egyeteme) 2.0, a popular science lecture series has been re-launched founders, Magyar Telecom and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences launched the program’s website and Facebook profile.

Hungary's New Széchenyi Plan, an economic development plan, will invest HUF 7,000 billion (EUR 25.5bn) between 2011 and 2014 in various business projects and infrastructure, boosting the investment rate by an annual 5 percentage points.

Melting snow and rainfall have aggravated the already serious inland water situation in Hungary where close to 400,000 hectares are affected. The country has not seen such inland flooding in 11 years.

Hungary is mulling plans to build new blocks at its sole nuclear power plant in Paks, south of Budapest, to satisfy a large portion of domestic demand for electricity after 2030, business daily Világgazdaság said on Thursday.

The President of the Republic of Hungary, Pál Schmitt gave a reception to the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Budapest. The event took place in the Sándor Palace housing the President’s Office in the Buda Castle of the Hungarian capital.

The popularity of the European Union has increased in Hungary with 46 percent of people stating in early January that Hungary's accession has been beneficial to the country as against 38 percent last July. The figures are quoted from a survey by Szonda Ipsos.

The Hungarian Cultural Institute in Brussels presents a series of events organised by the International Opera Festival of Miskolc during the first month of Hungary's European Union presidency as a contribution from Hungary's third largest city.

The European Union's '2011 European Year of Volunteering' program series was opened this past week-end in Budapest by the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding

Former Foreign Minister of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajèák has been appointed as the head of department at the External Action Service of the European Union on a territory that is of significant importance for Hungary and its EU Presidency.