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Obama greets Chára’s Boston Bruins

TASR/AP
Feature Photo US President Barack Obama welcomed the 2010/11 Stanley Cup-winning Boston Bruins ice hockey team to the White House on January 23. The team's Slovak captain, 206-cm tall Zdeno Chára (far left), received a special mention when President Obama said he was sure that the Stanley Cup had never been lifted higher. 26 Jan 2012 More Feature Photos
Sme - Tomáš Benedikovič
Spy boss can now talk about Gorilla SPY boss Karol Mitrík is now free to talk about – and possibly to shed more light on – Operation Gorilla, the name of an investigation that his agency, the Slovak Information Service (SIS), allegedly carried out into suspected high-level corruption in 2005-6. The so-called Gorilla file, an as-yet unverified document which purports to contain transcripts of conversations between ministers, officials and businesspeople covertly recorded as part of that operation, was leaked onto the internet in December and has dominated political debate in the lead up to the March 10 general election. On January 25, President Ivan Gašparovič released SIS head Mitrík from his oath of secrecy so that he can be interviewed by a special team of investigators looking into the file. 27 Jan 2012 Beata Balogová More from Politics & Society
TASR
Slovakia’s credit downgraded But sale of treasury bills still goes well THE COMFORT of markets often hinges on a single letter, or a plus or a minus sign: this is the name of the sovereign ratings game. And on January 13 nine eurozone countries lost a round of that game. Following through on its warning in December last year, the Standard & Poor’s international credit rating agency downgraded the long-term rating for nine European countries, including Slovakia. Slovakia’s rating fell one notch, from A+ to A, but unlike the other eight its future outlook was ranked as ‘stable’ rather than ‘negative’, meaning that a further credit downgrade in the near future is judged to be less likely. 23 Jan 2012 Beata Balogová More from Business
SITA
Gorilla continues its political rampage ONE thing political ethics watchdogs and senior politicians can agree on, just weeks ahead of Slovakia’s March 10 parliamentary elections, is that the Gorilla file, containing alleged transcripts of secret recordings of senior politicians, government officials and businesspeople made by the country’s main spy agency in 2005-6, must be thoroughly investigated. If authentic, the file would indicate that high-level state corruption was widespread at the time. 20 Jan 2012 Beata Balogová More from Politics & Society
Sme
Court ruling opens door to integration HUMAN rights watchdogs in Slovakia have long highlighted cases of segregation involving Roma children attending primary schools. They argue that being separated from their non-Roma peers disadvantages Roma children when it comes to reaching higher levels of education. However, some Slovak teachers have responded by arguing that the practice of special classes for Roma children is justified in order to maintain educational standards. Now, a ruling by the Prešov District Court, which recently found that a school applying the practice was in violation of the principle of equal treatment, could result in a breakthrough in the stand-off on the issue. 23 Jan 2012 Peter Bagin & Radka Minarechová More from Politics & Society
The Gorilla's deafening roar EDITORIAL ELECTION clichés, campaign promises endlessly repeated and catchy slogans on billboards are part of the game. The more disillusioned that society has become with its political elite, the more resistant people are to the campaign talk. If even a fraction of the promises that the parties are serving up to the electorate are fulfilled, Slovakia in four years will be a land of transparency and honesty where embarrassed public servants return bonuses they received in times of economic uncertainty and business reporters are able to erase the phrase ‘long-term unemployed’ from their lexicon and write only about green jobs and the country’s abundant surplus of skilled labour. Fat chance. 23 Jan 2012 Beata Balogová More from Opinion
Vazovova Slovak word of the week LUCKILY, Bratislava is not a city where the streets have no name, so you too can get to know some of the most notorious ones. Here is a short guide: 23 Jan 2012 Lukáš Fila More from Opinion
Courtesy of the Brazilian Embassy
Brazil's ambassador describes its ascent MARÍLIA Sardenberg Zelner Gonçalves remembers the times as a diplomat in her country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry when she was fearful of talking to journalists because she would have risked losing her job. That was in the 1970s, when Brazil was in the grip of a dictatorship. But now, more than 20 years later, Zelner Gonçalves, the Brazilian Ambassador to Slovakia, speaks freely and very optimistically about her homeland – explaining that Brazil, often described in the past as a “sleeping giant in a cradle”, has now become an important player in the global economy and a strong partner among democratic nations. 23 Jan 2012 Beata Balogová More from Foreigners in Slovakia
TASR
Countrywide Events Music, Theater, Exhibition... Western SLOVAKIA 23 Jan 2012 Zuzana Vilikovská More from Culture & Society
SITA
Migrants wanted – but will they help? Slovakia still lacks a qualified labour force, despite rising unemployment Foreigner-friendly is certainly not the first description to come to mind when thinking of Slovakia. But despite that, and despite the increasing unemployment rate, the country will soon need an inflow of migrant workers from abroad to patch up the holes in its labour market and sate the hunger of businesses for a larger qualified workforce. 14 Nov 2011 Michaela Terenzani - Stanková More from Business
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Most read articles
  1. Migrants wanted – but will they help?
  2. Schools still not providing the skills required
  3. Slovakia pursues energy security
  4. How do you make a successful entry into the Slovak labour market?
  5. Birdwatching Slovak style
  6. Slovak politics gripped by Gorilla file
  7. Former police officer confirms information contained in Gorilla document
  8. Gorilla continues its political rampage
  9. ‘Minerva strategy’ seeks to move Slovakia to the first league
  10. Passenger numbers fall at Bratislava Airport in 2011 but revenues increase
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Quote of the Week
“The proposal … arrived late yesterday after working hours, and to- day the president won’t have time to dedicate himself to this issue.” Spokesperson Marek Trubač explains that President Ivan Gašparovič has more important things to do than recall Anna Bubeníková as head of the FNM, despite the cabinet earlier voting for her to go.