Archive of articles - February 2002, page 11

Reader feedback: Make booze less available

Gazprom scraps pipeline

Bratislava is second richest EU hopeful

BRATISLAVA is the second richest region among the 12 EU candidate states, according to the EU's research house EuroStat.Figures released on January 29 show that the region has a per capita GDP that is 95 per cent of the EU's average, lagging only behind Prague, which has per capita GDP at 124 per cent of the Union average.But while the figures suggest the Slovak capital is performing well economically, EuroStat's data shows that 52 of 56 regions among the 12 states have GDP levels below 75 per cent of the EU average.

WWII soldiers get cash

Shipper sends half of workforce home

Traffickers caught in countrywide raid

FOLLOWING the first country-wide operation of its kind police say seven people have been charged in connection with alleged trafficking in women.Raids were carried out on 613 brothels across the country in January in an operation involving more than 1,500 officers.Police chiefs say this is the clearest warning yet to women-traffickers that their crimes will no longer be tolerated.

Mikloš to face confidence vote

Suppliers want payment

Asylum numbers rise

SAD announces 2001 results

Investigator hopes to charge officials

Hungarian Law debated in parliament

DESPITE Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda's appeal to members of parliament (MPs) to harness their emotions during debate on a parliamentary resolution on the controversial Law on Hungarians Living Abroad, strong words and insults echoed throughout the 12-hour discussion."Shut up, please, I'm speaking now," Hungarian Coalition MP Arpád Duka-Zólyomi shouted at a Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) MP Ján Cuper, who had been heckling Duka-Zólyomi as he explained the stance of his caucus towards the Hungarian status law.HZDS MPs were the most vocal throughout the debate. They strongly criticised Dzurinda and the cabinet for their "servile policies" towards Hungary. HZDS MP Ivan Hudec even compared the PM to a "dwarf with complexes and an IQ of minus 12".

Agri-assistance decreases

Fitch: Slovakia speculative

Dance centre offers clients way out of "virtual lives"

FEEL the ground under your bare feet. As the music continues, move your head slowly from left to right, then your neck and whole body. Then follow the movement of your arm and feel the air around you.The music dramatically changes after the first half hour and sensual John Lee Hooker-style tunes replace the rhythm and sound of drums.The Capoeira is about to begin.

Hockey team tries to forget Nagano '98

COACH Ján Filc of the Slovak Olympic ice hockey team swears the country's fans will have more to cheer about than four years ago, when the Slovak squad didn't even make it past the qualifying round."If we don't advance to the main round of the hockey competition I'll be very disappointed," the coach says, adding he's left 12-13 places open on the team roster to be filled by National Hockey League players."At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, the coach left only two free places," says Žigmund Pálffy, a 29-year-old Slovak centre with the Los Angeles Kings. "The rest of us from the NHL just sat in the audience. After we lost, we packed our belongings and flew back to America. This time we're being more cautious."

Reader feedback: Who's been sniffing the glue ?

Countrywide Events

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIA

Married women can keep their own surnames

MARRIED women may soon be able to use two surnames in a move aimed at making life easier for both the increasing number of international couples in Slovakia and partners who simply wish to keep their original surname.The Interior Ministry, which decided to back the amendment and presented it to cabinet, said it was common practice in European Union member states. If passed by parliament, the amendment will be effective as of July 1.Until now in Slovakia, a woman could keep her maiden name but was then not allowed to use the husband's name.