Archive of articles - February 2002, page 7

Review: Monster mayhem at the movies appeals to all ages

MONSTERS Inc (2001) is a family comedy in every sense of the word. For adults, it's about the monsters who stalked their childhood nightmares; for 21st century kid sitting in a dark theatre it's a two-hour fantasy that provokes smiles and fears at the same time.Two funny but loveable monsters - the giant, hairy and good-hearted James P. Sullivan and his green, one-eyed and vertically challenged colleague Mike Wazovski - live in the city of Monstropolis which is threatened by a serious energy shortage. Energy, in Monster world, is produced from the screams of children scared by monsters who visit their rooms in the night and wake them up.James P. Sullivan (Sulley) has always had the greatest success of any monster in scaring kids and producing energy from their screams. Until the day a little girl named Mary, or Boo, enters his life and changes it.

Around Slovakia

Mothers of crimeHungry hooligansMafia faces own acid test

SDĽ gives in, Mikloš keeps seat

RULING coalition parties that had threatened to support a February 13 motion of non-confidence in Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Ivan Mikloš backed down at the last moment, allowing the right wing reformer to keep his seat.Lawmakers cast only 60 votes in favour of the motion, well below the 76 needed for it to pass, after the national council of the Democratic Left Party recommended that members of parliament (MPs) representing the party abstain from voting. In the ballot, held after 1 a.m. February 14, 51 were against the motion and 24 abstained.The SDĽ council's decision ended a week of political uncertainty concerning the future of Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda's government as well as the sale of a 49 per cent state share in gas utility Slovenský plynárenský priemysel (SPP). Politicians and diplomats had warned before the vote that if Mikloš lost his seat Slovakia's chances of joining the European Union and Nato could be spoiled.

GDP to grow strongly

Priests' mistresses break long silence

TWO WOMEN belonging to a little-known support group for the lovers of Roman Catholic clergy in Slovakia have spoken out against what they call "bullying" from Church leaders.Renáta, who founded the Love and Celibacy club years ago, told the Pravda paper that the group's several dozen members lived in constant fear of their secret liaisons being discovered."Our members mostly fear that their partners will be bullied by the church hierarchy. If a bishop discovers the truth he will immediately suspend the sinning priest or post him to a distant diocese so he can't meet his partner," she said.

Murky VSŽ share sale goes ahead

THE CONTROVERSIAL sale of a 21 per cent stake in the VSŽ steel firm has finally been approved by the Bratislava stock exchange, with the shares on February 11 ending up on the books of Poštová banka and brokerage SMD.However the deal, which had been held up for a month amid concerns over transparency, remains under investigation by the Attorney General's Office for possible insider trading.It also continues to rankle with foreign investors, particularly US Steel Košice, which had declared an interest in the shares but had not been told they were to be sold during the final two hours of trading on December 21, the last business day on the stock exchange in 2001.

Top anti-fraud cop refuses to resign

A BITTER row has broken out between top police officials after the head of the financial police refused to resign his post.Jozef Stieranka has been backed by police unions in his refusal to step down after being told by the National Security Office (NBÚ) that he was unfit to handle confidential documents.The NBÚ's ruling, announced February 6, meant that Stieranka, a former communist secret police agent, would have to step down immediately or lodge a formal protest within two days.

ŽSR rail accused of clientelism

Reader Feedback: Reducing boozing a big job

Reader Feedback: Crying for Montana's

Ministry wants one in three politicians a woman

THE INTERIOR Ministry is working on a proposal aimed at achieving greater representation of women in top politics.The ministry proposes a change in the country's election law that would force political parties to make one out of every three nominees on their candidate lists a woman. Voters use party candidate lists during elections to select representatives to the legislature.Although all political parties are currently dominated by men, the proposal, if approved in parliament, would effectively introduce a 33.3 per cent quota system for women.

Top Pick: War photographer offers up-close look at tragedy

FOR Jan Šibík, a 39-year-old photo reporter with the Czech weekly Reflex, war photography documents human tragedy in an artistic way."I began to work and to travel during communism when nobody was interested in reporting on the 'unpleasant events' happening in the countries of the former socialist block. Everybody was just covering summits, meetings between Reagan and Gorbachev. My first journeys stemmed from desire to be praised, but some moments I spent with the people had a really strong emotional impact on me," he says.

Parliament okays 'Cuper' law

Another drunk cop causes crash

New carrier Sky Europe opens Bratislava-Košice link

BRATISLAVA'S usually sedate M.R. Štefáník airport was somewhat busier February 13 as low-cost air carrier Sky Europe opened its domestic air service to eastern Slovakia's Košice.Sky's 30-seat Embraer 120 aircraft now make three daily flights between Slovakia's two largest cities with one-way tickets starting at Sk980 ($20) not including airport taxes; the final ticket price is currently Sk1,298.The service is significantly cheaper than flights offered by domestic carrier Slovenské aerolínie, which after a recent price cut start at Sk2,390 one-way before taxes. First class train travel between the cities costs up to Sk750 one way, but can take over six hours compared to the 20-minute flight.

Drugs makers talk fusion

Leoni triples turnover to Sk1.5 bn

Danube river development hits snag

THE WORLD Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is warning of serious ecological problems in areas along the Danube in Slovakia if plans for developing shipping on the river go ahead.In a report to be delivered to the European Commission and the governments of countries through which the river runs, the environmental group says that "vital wetland ecosystems" will be threatened if plans are approved to construct new canals, dams and the deepening of parts of the river.It also claims that there will be even greater pressure on species, a decrease in the availability of drinking water, and increased levels of chemicals in the river.

ST opens Košice call centre