Archive of articles - December 2005, page 3

Goodbye to magical realism

THIS year Slovakia has had to worry about the adoption of two budgets. The first, Slovakia's state budget for 2006, has already been passed. The second still lingers in the purgatory of the draft proposal.

Unofficial airport bids published

FOREIGN strategic partners are willing to pay at least €400 million to buy a 66-percent stake in Slovakia's biggest two airports.

Microprocessors - the hearts of computers

FORTY years ago, a young technician by the name of Gordon Moore determined the early development of microelectronics, which even today defines the strategy of the semi-conductor industry, worth 200 billion dollars.

State warms to EU budget

THE UNITED Kingdom is trying once more to get European Union members to swallow its EU budget proposal for 2007-13. Britain's last attempt failed on December 7 when foreign ministers across Europe decided that the draft budget was tight fisted towards new EU members and failed to reflect the principle of solidarity.

Over two thirds support professional army

ALMOST two thirds of Slovaks support the idea of fully professional armed forces, something that the Defence Ministry is implementing as of January 2006, the SITA news agency reported.

Krušetnica

IF THERE is one region where people have known poverty, then it is certainly Orava. A good example is the village of Krušetnica, which is surrounded by rough, hostile countryside.

Reavis, Rodamco tie the knot at Aupark

HB REAVIS GROUP, the largest commercial real estate developer in Slovakia, has joined forces with the largest listed European retail sector property investor, Rodamco Europe N.V.

Gold issue returns to Kremnica

THE HISTORICAL town of Kremnica in Central Slovakia may return to the activity on which it built its reputation - gold mining. In the 14th century the town became famous for its gold as well as having the world's first mint, which is still operational today.

Insurer Allianz-SP takes over DSS

Christmas news

Neumann Services to build spinal centre

Voters virtually ignore regional election run-offs

SLOVAKIA scored a new record as far as low voter turnouts go. Roughly 11 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the December 10 run-off elections that determined who will head the country's higher territorial units (VÚCs).

Na Slovensku po slovensky

Fact: The women here are stunning. Tall, leggy, self-assured, they dress seductively and walk confidently in high heels through cobblestone streets and snow. Whether secretaries or executives, they dress more revealingly for the office than most American women would dress for a night out dancing. And the cheekbones!

READERS' reflections on 2005

2006 budget sails through

THE COALITION government can now relax. Despite expectations to the contrary, the Slovak parliament passed the 2006 state budget with the support of 79 out of the 142 MPs present.

And the winner is...

THE 2005 Grand Prix for Best Film went to German-Mongolian film, Die Höhle des gelben Hundes (The Cave of the Yellow Dog). The film, nominated for an Oscar in the foreign language film category, captures the "magical quality of life". Director Byambasuren Davaa came to Bratislava to personally accept the award.

ST enjoys domination on calls abroad

Power producer losing power

Holiday skiing, Slovak style

CHRISTMAS is here and with it comes the image of a snowy countryside, trees sagging under heavy masses of snow and narrow snow-trodden paths. Though those in towns can at the moment only dream of a white landscape, some places in the mountains in northern Slovakia have already had 50 to 100 centimetres of snow.