William Penn Life, 2008 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2008-07-01 / 7. szám
Magyar Matters Objections could delay or cancel U.S. plans to lift visa requirements from The Budapest Sun The International Air Transport Association (IATA), along with the ambassadors of 34 countries, have said they found U.S. plans to entrust airlines with collecting and handling biometric data, especially fingerprints, of those leaving the U.S., worrisome. The objections could prove a fatal hurdle for the lifting of the visarequirements for those going to the U.S.—including Hungarian citizensas the development and installation of the system collecting the data is a necessary step before any further proceedings. Representatives of U.S.-based airlines say they have spent $30 billion on security measures since 2001, and that these measures were from The Budapest Sun Daimler AG recently announced plans to build a Mercedes factory in Kecskemét, Hungary, an investment worth $1.25 billion. The German luxury auto-maker chose Kecskemét (located about 37 miles south of Budapest) over possible sites in regional competitors Romania, Poland and Serbia. Daimler AG, currently the second largest premium car manufacturer in the world, outranked only by BMW, is to build its factory by 2012, in what will be the company's first Central Eastern Europe. When completed, the factory will create some 2,500 jobs. Industry experts say that the factory, which will produce 100,000 vehicles a year, will create 10,000 workplaces through its component suppliers, and may boost Hungary's GDP by some 0.8 to 1.5 percent. Daimler will become the biggest employer in Bács-Kiskun county, ahead of the local hospital with its 1,800 employees. The factory, which will be the oftentimes redundant and excessively bureaucratic. Airlines also suspect that the new system will cost an additional $12.3 billion in the following years, compared with the $3.5 billion projected by U.S. authorities. The ambassadors, on the other hand, are protesting that private companies (the airlines) shouldn't be handling sensitive, private data, and that further negotiation is needed. The Hungarian Embassy in Washington told Népszabadság that it was not involved in the writing of the letter, and Hungary is not amongst the 34 protesting countries. U.S. officials said they still hope to introduce the visa-waiver for those countries complying with all the requirements before the end of December 2008. single greatest green field investment thus far in Hungary, is important not only in itself: the prestige of the brand is expected to generate further investments, and could well beef up the economy of the whole south-Alföld region of Hungary. According to calculations by business daily Világgazdaság, Mercedes' choice could trigger further investments in the excess of $3 billion in the following three years. Although the exact amount of Hungarian subsidies and benefits provided for Daimler will be disclosed only after the signing of the contract and the EU's approval of the deal, the central budget's contribution to the project may reach $260 million. Government officials claim tax revenues from the new factory will make up for the Hungarian contribution in not more than four years. It is not known yet what types of Mercedes cars will be manufactured in the Hungarian factory, but several sources concur that it will most likely be the new-generation models of the brand's A and B Klasse vehicles. Documentary about 1956 Hungarian Revolution receives more accolades Torn from the Flag, a feature-length, documentary about the fall of communism and the global effects of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, continues to receive awards and gain industry recognition. According to LA Weekly film critic Chuck Wilson, Torn from the Flag was one of the "Best Undistributed Films" at the 2007 American Film Institute Fest, where it had its world premiere in the "Milestones" section. At the Tiburon International Film Festival, the film and its cinematographers László Kovács, A.S.C., and Zoltán Honti, received the Golden Reel Award for Best Cinematography, unheard-of in the documentary genre. The film received a "Best of the Fest" award at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival and the "Best Documentary Audience Award - 3rd Place" at the Indianapolis International Film Festival. Additionally, nationwide theater chain Carmike Cinemas has become a major supporter of the project The industry accolades are expected to continue coming in, and Producer-Director-Writer Klaudia Kovács is currently seeking donors/partners for making a bid for an Oscar. Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, A.S.C., and multi-award-winning cinematographer László Kovács, A.S.C., acted as executive producers on the project. This was Kovács’ last film. Torn from the Flag is intended for international theatrical release and television distribution. For more information, log onto the Torn from the Flag newsletter on the web at www.klaudiainc.com/ pageslnewsarchive.html. Mercedes to be built in Hungary 11 William Penn Life, July 2008
