Latest news with #HungarianJews
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful EU city with £1.20 pints and free things to see just 2.5 hours from UK
Travellers can't stop raving about this cheap and cheerful city less than three hours from the UK, that is home to a slew of free attractions (and, more importantly, £1.20 pints) Escape the daily grind and explore this stunning EU city that won't break the bank. Renowned for its majestic architecture, ubiquitous history, and geothermal spas - Hungary has long shimmered under the tourist spotlight. In fact, a record-breaking six million holidaymakers flocked to the country's capital, Budapest, last year - a whopping 24 per cent increase compared to the year before. It's a great base for those wanting to inter-rail around Europe on their gap year - and make a perfect city break year-round. Unlike most European capitals, Budapest is an affordable city that won't wreak havoc on your finances. For example, the average pint costs £1.20, while dinner for two (without booze) in a 'moderately-priced' restaurant will set you back around £10. Keeping under budget in Budapest is also easy as many of its main attractions are free. You can hike Gellért Hill - which only takes 30 minutes - and get rewarded with sweeping views of the city, Here, you'll also find Citadella, a mighty fortress built after the 1848–49 War of Independence to defend the city from further insurrection. If you're not wanting to break a sweat, stroll along City Park with a coffee - or take advantage of the shade at Ervin Szabó Central Library. "Housed in a former 19th-century palace, the Ervin Szabó Central Library invites visitors to take a break from the dizzying pace of the Hungarian capital and unwind in regal surroundings," explains Lonely Planet. The guide continues: "Spaces that once functioned as grand dining rooms and living quarters have been converted into a number of truly dazzling public reading rooms. Giant chandeliers dangle above plush armchairs, enticing visitors to spend an afternoon flicking through one of the two million-plus texts that line the library's shelves." History buffs will need to head over to Pest and Óbuda to explore the Roman ruins. "Aquincum is the most complete Roman civilian town in Hungary and contains both a world-class museum and an open-air archeological park," Lonely Planet added. While there is an entrance charge for this attraction, you can get a glimpse of the ruins without paying. On the banks of the Danube River, close to the Hungarian Parliament building, you'll find sixty pairs of old-fashioned shoes made from iron. These are a sobering memorial to the Hungarian Jews who, during 1944-1945, were shot on the banks of the Danube River. Of course, no trip to Budapest is complete without making the most of its 'healing waters'. Often touted as the world's 'Spa Capital', Budapest is home to an array of geothermal pools, which are an integral part of Hungarian culture. Széchenyi Thermal Bath, one of the largest bath complexes in Europe, is by far the most popular - and tickets cost less than £20. If a jam-packed itinerary isn't your kind of style- don't worry. Budapest is a compact city filled with mouth-watering food markets, themed-bars, and beautiful architecture. It's the perfect place to roam around and just see what takes your fancy. You can fly directly to Budapest from most major UK airports, including Leeds, Norwich, Newcastle, Birmingham, London Stansted and Luton. Flights, which take an average of two and a half hours, can be bought for as little as £37 in June. Booze isn't the only cheap thing in Budapest, with a wide range of accommodation suiting different budgets. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, June 20-22) at the Chill & Stay - a two-bedroom apartment - costs just £135, based on two adults sharing. For those wanting a more luxurious city break, check out the Continental Hotel Budapest, which sits on the former site of Hungaria Bath. You can stay in a standard double or twin room on the exact same nights for £261.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
March of the Living in Hungary to remember Holocaust victims
Holocaust victims were commemorated during the March of the Living in the Hungarian capital on Sunday. Participants of the annual March of the Living in downtown Budapest paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis.
CNN
21-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
US Supreme Court blocks Holocaust victims from suing Hungary in American courts
A group of Holocaust victims may not sue Hungary in American courts to recover property stolen during World War II because their funds were comingled with other funds, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a long-running case about how much reach US courts should have to settle disputes abroad. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the opinion for a unanimous court. Sotomayor, quoting from a brief filed by the government, noted that 'the moral imperative has been and continues to be to provide some measure of justice to the victims of the Holocaust, and to do so in their remaining lifetimes.' But, she added, respecting the limits on people suing foreign governments in US courts 'aids in the United States' efforts to persuade foreign nations to establish appropriate redress and compensation mechanisms for human-rights violations.' The court stressed that the victims might be able to bring their claims some other way, just not based strictly on the theory they relied on in this case. More than a dozen Holocaust victims and their families have been fighting the Republic of Hungary and its national railway for nearly 15 years over whether they may continue their lawsuit in federal court. Such lawsuits aimed at foreign governments are generally prohibited, but the victims wanted the Supreme Court to apply an exception to the rule in their case. That exception allows such lawsuits to proceed when expropriated property is present in the United States. In this case, the survivors claimed that the artwork, jewelry and other possessions stripped from Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust was sold and that the proceeds wound up within the United States through the course of its trade with Hungary. 'It is true that, because money is fungible, it will likely be difficult to trace cash from the sale of expropriated property after it is commingled,' Sotomayor wrote. But, she said, the law requires tracing specific property. 'When a foreign sovereign is responsible for the expropriation, a suit may proceed only if the property is 'present in the United States.'' Throughout the oral arguments in December, several justices said they were concerned about the potential international fallout from allowing the case to proceed – specifically, that foreign nationals in other countries could bring lawsuits against the United States in foreign courts. That was precisely the concern raised by the Biden administration, which sided with Hungary in the dispute. The Justice Department warned that a ruling for the survivors would 'invite reciprocal actions against the United States in foreign courts.' The 1939 Society, an organization of Holocaust survivors, described that argument as a 'surprising abdication of America's historic leadership role in obtaining redress for Holocaust victims.' American courts, the group said, are the 'the only viable venue' to bring such claims. That argument found some purchase on the Supreme Court in December, particularly from Justice Samuel Alito, who suggested that any reciprocal claims against the United States in foreign courts would be limited. Others feared that blocking the lawsuit would provide a roadmap to a foreign government attempting to expropriate property and avoid accountability in US courts: Quickly sell the property and comingle the proceeds with other government funding. The victims filed their lawsuit in 2010, and the case has been bouncing around federal courts for so long that it previously reached the Supreme Court four years ago. In that instance, the justices ultimately sent the matter back to lower courts for additional review – tossing out a federal appeals court ruling for the families in the process. A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, sided with the victims last year, and Hungary appealed to the Supreme Court. This story has been updated with additional details.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Supreme Court blocks Holocaust victims from suing Hungary in American courts
A group of Holocaust victims may not sue Hungary in American courts to recover property stolen during World War II because their funds were comingled with other funds, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a long-running case about how much reach US courts should have to settle disputes abroad. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the opinion for a unanimous court. Sotomayor, quoting from a brief filed by the government, noted that 'the moral imperative has been and continues to be to provide some measure of justice to the victims of the Holocaust, and to do so in their remaining lifetimes.' But, she added, respecting the limits on people suing foreign governments in US courts 'aids in the United States' efforts to persuade foreign nations to establish appropriate redress and compensation mechanisms for human-rights violations.' The court stressed that the victims might be able to bring their claims some other way, just not based strictly on the theory they relied on in this case. More than a dozen Holocaust victims and their families have been fighting the Republic of Hungary and its national railway for nearly 15 years over whether they may continue their lawsuit in federal court. Such lawsuits aimed at foreign governments are generally prohibited, but the victims wanted the Supreme Court to apply an exception to the rule in their case. That exception allows such lawsuits to proceed when expropriated property is present in the United States. In this case, the survivors claimed that the artwork, jewelry and other possessions stripped from Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust was sold and that the proceeds wound up within the United States through the course of its trade with Hungary. 'It is true that, because money is fungible, it will likely be difficult to trace cash from the sale of expropriated property after it is commingled,' Sotomayor wrote. But, she said, the law requires tracing specific property. 'When a foreign sovereign is responsible for the expropriation, a suit may proceed only if the property is 'present in the United States.'' Throughout the oral arguments in December, several justices said they were concerned about the potential international fallout from allowing the case to proceed – specifically, that foreign nationals in other countries could bring lawsuits against the United States in foreign courts. That was precisely the concern raised by the Biden administration, which sided with Hungary in the dispute. The Justice Department warned that a ruling for the survivors would 'invite reciprocal actions against the United States in foreign courts.' The 1939 Society, an organization of Holocaust survivors, described that argument as a 'surprising abdication of America's historic leadership role in obtaining redress for Holocaust victims.' American courts, the group said, are the 'the only viable venue' to bring such claims. That argument found some purchase on the Supreme Court in December, particularly from Justice Samuel Alito, who suggested that any reciprocal claims against the United States in foreign courts would be limited. Others feared that blocking the lawsuit would provide a roadmap to a foreign government attempting to expropriate property and avoid accountability in US courts: Quickly sell the property and comingle the proceeds with other government funding. The victims filed their lawsuit in 2010, and the case has been bouncing around federal courts for so long that it previously reached the Supreme Court four years ago. In that instance, the justices ultimately sent the matter back to lower courts for additional review – tossing out a federal appeals court ruling for the families in the process. A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, sided with the victims last year, and Hungary appealed to the Supreme Court. CNN's Devan Cole contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN
21-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
US Supreme Court blocks Holocaust victims from suing Hungary in American courts
A group of Holocaust victims may not sue Hungary in American courts to recover property stolen during World War II because their funds were comingled with other funds, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a long-running case about how much reach US courts should have to settle disputes abroad. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the opinion for a unanimous court. More than a dozen Holocaust victims and their families have been fighting the Republic of Hungary and its national railway for nearly 15 years over whether they may continue their lawsuit in federal court. Such lawsuits aimed at foreign governments are generally prohibited, but the victims wanted the Supreme Court to apply an exception to the rule in their case. That exception allows such lawsuits to proceed when expropriated property is present in the United States. In this case, the survivors claimed that the artwork, jewelry and other possessions stripped from Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust was sold and that the proceeds wound up within the United States through the course of its trade with Hungary. Throughout the oral arguments in December, several justices said they were concerned about the potential international fallout from allowing the case to proceed – specifically, that foreign nationals in other countries could bring lawsuits against the United States in foreign courts. That was precisely the concern raised by the Biden administration, which sided with Hungary in the dispute. The Justice Department warned that a ruling for the survivors would 'invite reciprocal actions against the United States in foreign courts.' The 1939 Society, an organization of Holocaust survivors, described that argument as a 'surprising abdication of America's historic leadership role in obtaining redress for Holocaust victims.' American courts, the group said, are the 'the only viable venue' to bring such claims. That argument found some purchase on the Supreme Court in December, particularly from Justice Samuel Alito, who suggested that any reciprocal claims against the United States in foreign courts would be limited. Others feared that blocking the lawsuit would provide a roadmap to a foreign government attempting to expropriate property and avoid accountability in US courts: Quickly sell the property and comingle the proceeds with other government funding. The victims filed their lawsuit in 2010, and the case has been bouncing around federal courts for so long that it previously reached the Supreme Court four years ago. In that instance, the justices ultimately sent the matter back to lower courts for additional review – tossing out a federal appeals court ruling for the families in the process. A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, sided with the victims last year, and Hungary appealed to the Supreme Court.
