Archive of articles - February 2002, page 17

Moravcová sets third world record

Reader feedback: I'll miss Matthew's gentle humour

Police getting called names

2001 trade deficit breaks record

Poštová banka tender pushed back

Reader feedback: Award to Mikuš no laughing matter

Capital expat bar shuts doors after three years in Old Town

THE DRAFT beer ran out at Bratislava's Grizzly bar at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night, but no one complained. Most of the 150-odd customers had come less to drink than to bid farewell to the owner of the popular saloon, Ky Didier, and to mourn the loss of a locally celebrated expat hangout.Grizzly officially shut its doors on January 26 after almost three years in business under Michael's Gate in the Slovak capital's Old Town district. Didier, 37, explained the closure as forced by low profit margins, high rent and utility costs and a changing expat community."It's real, real simple," drawled the Montana native. "When I got here in 1997 a tram ticket was six crowns, now it's twelve. Our costs keep going up, water and so on, whereas the price of imported and local beer hasn't changed that much. There just comes a point when what you're doing is no longer viable."

Review: At 3 hours, too short

Director Peter Jackson's 2001 version of the Lord of the Rings is an exciting, gripping, three-hour homage to a book that has enchanted generations of fans.Those who have read John Ronald Reuen Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, which was first published in 1949, need not fear an insult to their imaginations. Orcs and elves, ringwraiths and hobbits are portrayed in obedient and fascinating detail. The story unfolds virtually as expected (with minor concessions to film) and one is left panting for more.I would have gladly stuck around for another six hours if the rest of the trilogy - The Two Towers and Return of the King - were available. Alas, that won't be for a year or so.

Hamžík sees new man in Mečiar

Koncoš reveals subsidies list

Hantuchová takes another title

Wood processor claims new investor

Reader feedback: No surprise police are corrupt

Heads roll at central bank

US investor gains voice at Markíza

CENTRAL European Media Enterprises (CME), a US-based media buyer, has bought a 34 per cent stake in Markíza-Slovakia, a limited liability company which holds the broadcasting license for the popular private TV Markíza station.CME representatives said the share, approved by the Licence Council (RVR) on January 22, would enable them to have a more direct say in the station that they helped to build over six years ago. They added that their goal was to hold a 50 per cent stake in the license company in the future.Although CME, which currently operates in Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Romania, owns a 49 per cent stake in Slovenská televízna spoločnosť (STS) Blatné, which runs TV Markíza, until recently it had no stake in the licence company.

E-signatures maybe in a year

Audit watchdog urges better laws

The stunning collapse of US energy giant Enron last year, and the role played by prestigious auditing firm Andersen in hiding Enron's troubles from shareholders, have led to calls around the world for more transparent management and auditing of corporations.The case has also prompted debate on conflict of interest in auditing firms which, as in the case of Andersen and Enron, offer their clients paid financial advice.While US auditing standards and controls on auditors seem certain to be tightened in the wake of the Enron scandal, countries like Slovakia are also starting to consider stricter auditing rules to prevent catastrophic conflicts of interest.

Energy exports up

SPP with after-tax loss