ON THE RECORD

POSTPONED FIREWORKS TAKE PLACE IN BUDAPEST

The traditional August 20th national holiday fireworks display – claimed by the Hungarian government to be the largest on the continent – that had been postponed a week before by the government-appointed operative board in charge of the event took place on August 27. This time, the operative board gave the go ahead while the government introduced a special HUF 2,000 return ticket for those who wished to come to the capital to watch the spectacle. At 18.00 hours, barges took up their positions on the Danube for the pyrotechnics to be launched from them at 21:00 hours. This year's fireworks show, called the ‘Game of Fire and Lights’, ran for more than four kilometers from Margaret Bridge to Petőfi Bridge. The 40,000 pyrotechnic effects were complemented by easily recognizable, spectacular motifs and shapes, and the event included a drone show with 600 drones, light painting and a light show.

THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY PROFESSION IN HUNGARY IS SCIENCE

Hungarians consider scientists the most trustworthy and politicians the most untrustworthy of all professions, according to a global survey published by Ipsos early August. Across 28 countries around the world, a Global Country Average of 59% rate doctors as trustworthy, while 57% say the same about scientists, with teachers in third place at 52%. As in previous years, politicians are considered the least trustworthy with just 12% considering them trusted. They are followed by government ministers (16%) and advertising executives (18%). In most of the countries surveyed, doctors were ranked first when asked which profession they considered most trustworthy. Scientists came in second, followed by teachers and the military, although there were some countries where two professions were ranked first. Politicians scored the lowest number of good marks in Hungary, Peru, Chile, Japan and Poland (7%), and the highest number of bad marks in Peru, Argentina and Chile. However, compared to the others, politicians in Denmark and India scored exceptionally well, with 21% and 28% of their residents giving them a good mark, respectively. When comparing the results of the two Visegrád Four countries participating in the survey, Hungary and Poland, there is no difference in the top two places for the professions considered most untrustworthy, with politicians and government officials in both countries receiving this title. In third place, however, were journalists in Hungary and priests in Poland. The survey was conducted in 28 countries around the world, via the Ipsos Online Panel system in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States.

BRITISH CHARITY GIFTS FOR HUNGARIAN CHILDREN

A convoy of 60 special cars arrived in Budapest on August 13. The ‘Rally for Heroes’ has been on the road since 2010, collecting donations of some GBP half a million since. This time, they stopped in the Hungarian capital and brought donations for Hungarian children. On that Saturday afternoon, the special vehicles lined up at Heroes' Square in Budapest, where visitors had the opportunity to see them up close, take photos alongside them or even get inside one of the wonder cars. The event also served to support children in need in Hungary, as part of the ‘Operation Shoe Box’ campaign. This year's Rally for Heroes shoebox donation is delivered to disadvantaged children in this country by the International Children’s Safety Service, in partnership with the British Embassy in Budapest. The 65 shoe-boxes contain a variety of gifts, separately for girls and boys, including age-specific gifts. The Rally for Heroes is a bi-annual charity rally, organized by British soldiers, with a convoy of 60 luxury and vintage cars travelling through ten countries across Europe, including Hungary. The charity’s primary aim is to help the families of British military heroes. The organizers believe that every five miles driven represents the life of a soldier who has died in combat since the start of the war in Afghanistan. Since 2010, Rally for Heroes participants have covered more than 18,000 miles. This year's ride is the last of its kind.

UPCOMING NATIONAL DAYS September 2 Vietnam

National day 7 Brazil Independence day 8 North Macedonia Independence day 16 Mexico Independence day 18 Chile National day 21 Malta National day 21 Armenia National day 23 Saudi Arabia National day

October 1 Cyprus 1 China 1 Nigeria 3 Germany 3 Iraq 10 Taiwan National day Independence day Independence day Independence day National day National day

10 Cuba National day

12 Spain National day

18 Azerbaijan 23 Hungary 24 Zambia

Independence day National day Independence day 26 Austria National day 28 Czech Republic Independence day 29 Turkey National day

JUDIT POLGÁR, AN INTERNATIONAL CHESS FEDERATION ICON

Hungary's Judit Polgár, the strongest female chess player of all time, has received the ICON award, given out by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) at its 'Year of the Woman in Chess Awards' gala as part of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. This was the first time that the FIDE ICON Award was presented, given to Judit Polgár in recognition of “her work over the decades, inspiring millions.” "It is a great honor to receive the FIDE ICON Award. This award is a recognition of my decades-long career as a chess player and my work promoting chess and encouraging women's orientation towards chess. We must continue to work to ensure that more girls experience this ancient game's beauty, knowledge and benefits. I take every opportunity to convey the message to girls and people around them: strive to make the most of their talents. Because if we do not limit girls, if we encourage and inspire them to persevere and build their confidence, they will succeed in any field of life," the Hungarian chess legend said after receiving the award.

HUNGARIAN RESCUE DOG BECOMES WORLD CHAMPION

Karma, a Hungarian rescue dog, stood on the top step of the medal podium at the 1st FCI World Individual Rescue Dog Championships, held between August 16-21 in the northern Italian town of Provaglio d’Iseo, the news site 24.hu reported.As the National Directorate General for Disaster Management at the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior announced on a social media page, Karma achieved the highest overall score, ahead of her Austrian and Danish competitors. The dog teams from 18 countries competed in three phases – tracking or area search or debris search. The master of the seven-year-old Malinois rescue dog is Sarolta Leczki, a senior firefighter working in the Budapest Fire Brigade. Members of the Hungarian team were delegated to the world competition by the Association of National Associations of Hungarian E-breeders (MEOESZ), while the professional management of the team was coordinated by the Pest County Research and Rescue Service, a member organization of MEOESZ. The Rescue Dog Association of Pécs and the Budapest Emergency Services Directorate participated in the preparation of the competitors, the social media report adds.