Archive of articles - January 2002, page 4

Schuster is right: Trains are better

A FRIEND recently offered to drive me from Spišská Nová Ves to Bratislava. Thinking of the money I'd save on a train ticket, I gladly accepted.But no more than five minutes into the ride, regret set in. As we flew down ice-covered highways, dodging Škodas and passing delivery trucks at obscene speeds, I ached for the calm of a train. In Žilina, I begged out of the car and finished my journey by rail.I'm with President Schuster, who after surviving a car crash outside Nitra two weeks ago swore off driving in Slovakia during the winter. Car travel is just too dicey.

Drugs workers jailed for trafficking plan

THREE EMPLOYEES at Slovak pharmaceuticals firm Slovakofarma, one a senior manager, have been charged in connection with a planned attempt to sell millions of euros of drugs illicitly in the EU.Following a 10-month joint operation between Czech and Slovak customs forces, the offices of Slovakofarma's daughter company Intercaps, based in Zlín, Czech Republic, were raided on January 16.Three Slovaks and two Czechs were arrested and more than two kilos of pure temazepam with a market value of two million euros was seized.

Drunk-driving police kill again

Mobile penetration increases

Public STV gets ready for election year

THE NEWS department of state-run Slovak Television (STV) has adopted an internal charter to secure balance, objectivity and independence from political forces in the run-up to September's general elections.As of December 1, 2001, the charter, largely modelled on ethical standards adhered to by the British BBC, became binding for all STV news staff. Repeated and intentional breaches of the charter may cost reporters their jobs, said the head of the news department, Viera Krúpová."We chose the BBC because we consider the station to be objective and widely credited in this respect," Krúpová said.

Domestic murder

Budget beats target

Insurer sells bank stake

McDonald's operation booming

Letter to the Editor: Close shops on Sundays

VW Lozorno supplier park filling up

SLOVAKIA'S newest and largest industrial park, a facility near western Slovakia's Lozorno owned by Volkswagen Slovakia, is nearing completion.While the park became a maelstrom of digging and grading machines after construction began in July 2001, six months later the first four tenants - all VW suppliers - have already moved in. Makers of car parts such as Johnson Controls, Brose, Hella Behr and Lear Corporation (see fact box) have set up shop in two production halls that sprawl over 60,000 square metres; space remains for three more VW suppliers which have yet to be identified.

Property declarations delayed

Phare deal signed by Deputy PM

Countrywide Events

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIA

No more borrowing: NBS

State hoping elections won't kill FDI

FOREIGN businesses are likely to adopt a more cautious approach to investing in Slovakia this year because of the upcoming parliamentary elections, government officials have said.However, there are hopes that established investors could attract some of their foreign suppliers to set up in Slovakia soon.Investment experts at the Economy Ministry said that the government would like to finish the partial privatisation of its energy utilities such as gas industry SPP and three regional electricity utilities before the September elections.

NBS report released

Top Pick: Theatre awakens Sleeping Beauty after 35-year slumber

THE BALLET 'Sleeping Beauty' is one of the world's most famous classical works. Composed by Russian Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky and and choreographed by Frenchman Marius Petipa, it is also one of the most difficult ballets to perform. Permanently included in repertoires at the world's largest theatres, this visual and musical treat is getting its first outing in Slovakia in 35 years.The current show's grand premiere was at the Slovak National Theatre (SND) on January 25. Tchaikovsky's ballet is directed by Russian choreographer Bacram M. Juldashev and Slovak Jozef Dolinský Sr, according to Marius Petipa's conception. The SND's ballet dancers will perform the work this week on January 30.

Nato security tasks met by office