The departing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Hungary, Chung-Ha Suh has been given a high state distinction by the President of the Republic of Hungary for his three-year activity in deepening Hungarian-Korean relations.

Hungarian Airlines Malév is to get a HUF 8.5 billion (EUR 31.17 m) capital injection from the state that is re-channeling this sum in the budget as an extraordinary government measure. The carrier already got an injection in June.

The latest event organized by the Diplomacy and Trade Business Club took place on the national day of August 20th in the Budapest Marriott Hotel with the participation of diplomats, business people and their children.

For thousands of years the speed of communications was determined by the speed of the swiftest runner or the fastest horse. The development of the telephone was a major step towards speeding up communication worldwide.

Host nation Hungary took three of the eight gold medals up for grabs in the first day of finals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships taking place at the National Olympic Center canoeing and rowing course in Szeged, SE Hungary.

Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland sent a message, expressing her best wishes, to the President of the Republic of Hungary on the occasion of the Hungarian National Day of August 20.

Message from Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of Hungarian National Day

Her Majesty The Queen has congratulated His Excellency President Pál Schmitt on the occasion of the Hungarian National Day on 20 August.

"On the occasion of your National Day, it gives me much pleasure in sending Your Excellency my warmest greetings, together with my best wishes for every success for the people of the Republic of Hungary in the coming year."

Elizabeth R.

Wednesday evening saw the official opening of the 39th ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, southeast Hungary. The event that concludes this Sunday will have over a thousand competitors from 88 countries.

Forty members and friends of Democrats Abroad-Hungary have recently gathered in a vineyard on Csobánc near Lake Balaton to celebrate U.S. President Barack Obama’s 50th birthday with a luau in recognition of the President’s Hawaiian birthplace.

An internationally successful exhibition of replicas of China's first emperor’s famous ancient terracotta army arrived in Budapest this summer. The show features some 170 quality replicas of the most famous clay figures in the world.

Sziget Festival, one of Europe’s largest music festivals, has incurred losses this year, according to preliminary estimates, Est Media Holding, the listed owner of the event, has announced on Monday. In previous years the festival generated profit.

Gwen Jorgensen of the United States won the women’s and Brent McMahon of Canada the men’s race at the ITU Triathlon World Cup in Tiszaújváros, northeastern Hungary this Sunday. The event has been held for the 15th year.

The latest "State of the Internet Report" says Hungary is among the top countries in the world regarding the average connection speed, the proportion of broadband connections and penetration from mobile networks, as well.

Hungary condemns the brutal action against the Syrian population, calls upon Syria to stop the violence, and welcomes the statement by the chairman of the UN Security Council on behalf of the international community against the use of force.

In early 2012, a new retail format, a multi-level Outlet Plaza will open its doors in central Budapest. The 10,000-square-meter retail center is a new retail format in Hungary, as outlets are usually located outside of the city.