Archive of articles - October 2008, page 3
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Sharing views on visas
THE ANNOUNCEMENT by U.S. President George W. Bush on October 17 that the United States is rescinding the visa requirement for Slovakia and six other countries as of next month was the culmination of years of tough negotiations by a number of people from both countries. Two of those most closely involved were former ambassadors to the United States, Rastislav Káčer (2003-2008), who left his position in Washington this September, and Martin Bútora (1999-2003).
The damned and the saved
THE WAY foreigners enter a country speaks volumes about both their own homeland and the country they want to visit.
Raid snags illegal alcohol
THE CUSTOMS Office raided illegal alcohol production plants at housing estates in Košice on October 16 and 17, Zuzana Pavlíková, a spokesperson for the office, told the SITA newswire.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA Bratislava EXHIBITION: NINE BRANCHES of the Slovak National Museum have prepared a joint exhibition for all gourmets and admirers of Slovak lore. Through a number of historical documents and fascinating exhibits, The Tastes and Aromas of Slovakia display presents cuisines typical for the national population, as well as for the country’s minorities – Hungarians, Germans, Croatians, Ukrainians, Ruthenians, Roma, Jews and Czechs. The exhibition is available at the Podhradie exhibition hall at Žižkova 18 in Bratislava daily except Tuesdays from 10:00 to 17:00 until March 30, 2009. Tickets cost between Sk50 (€1.66) and Sk100 (€3.32). For more information, call 02/5934-9111 or go to www.snm.sk.
Advice from both sides of German politics
SINCE the beginning of the 1990s, several German political foundations have been active in Slovakia, focusing mainly on the development of civic society, pluralist democracy, freedom of speech, or racial and religious tolerance. The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) has ties to the German social democratic movement and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) is associated with the Christian democratic movement in Germany.
Divers fish out 400 kg of litter
A POWER-SAW blade, restaurant utensils, and silver earrings were among the items 45 scuba divers removed from lakes in the High Tatras while cleaning them on October 17.
Tunnel and water source to undergo renovations
THE BRATISLAVA water utility company Bratislavská Vodárenská Spoločnosť (BVS) has begun an extensive restoration of the water source on Sihoť, an island on the Danube, to turn it into a museum. The source will continue to contain the original equipment, but new roads and space for parking will be added.
Crisis in eurozone could mean pricier mortgages here
IT SEEMS that barely a leaf can fall on world markets, without an army of Slovak market watchers, central bank analysts and media commentators pondering the slightest impact it might have on Slovakia.
Private equity eyes crisis-hit opportunities
A POSSIBLE tightening of banks’ lending policies as a result of the financial crisis could lessen the investment activity of private equity investors; at the same time, the crisis is opening up new investment opportunities, say private equity firms in Slovakia.
U.S. visa–free travel arrives
U.S. President George W. Bush announced on October 17 that the United States is rescinding visa requirements for the citizens of six formerly communist European countries and South Korea.
MPs debate pensions and deposits
BILLS re-opening of the second, capitalisation pension pillar, and enhancing protection of deposits in Slovak banks are high on the agenda of the ongoing parliamentary session. Parliament is dealing with both bills in a shortened legislative dealing, meaning that they should be approved during the current session, the SITA newswire wrote.
State awards policies to SZP
A STATE-run health insurer emerged the winner of the battle for the remaining policyholders of Slovakia’s smallest health insurer, which closed up shop in May citing unfavourable legislation.
Changing of the guard at HZDS
ONE OF the junior members of the ruling coalition, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), elected several new members to its party leadership at an extraordinary party congress on October 18 in Banská Bystrica. New deputy chairpersons Jozef Habánik, Peter Sika and Barbora Straková, as well as new party secretary general Ivana Kapráliková, are all under 35 years old, the SITA newswire wrote.
PM toughens rhetoric over gas prices
PRIME Minister Robert Fico is sticking firmly to his widely-heralded ‘get tough’ approach to energy monopolies: in his latest move he has denounced the pricing policy of Slovakia’s major gas company, which has already had two requests to raise household gas prices blocked by the country’s network regulator.
In ten years it might be too late
MICHAEL Kern believes that any country which fails to invest in research and development and reform its education system will lose competitiveness and fall behind in the race for substantial investments. These moves need to be taken today because in ten years it could well be too late: by then there will be other countries with good locations, well-trained and affordable labour forces, and attractive tax incentives, according to the executive director of the German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DSIHK).
Reforms will keep Slovakia appealing
GERMANY is Slovakia’s strategic investor. It is also Slovakia’s strategic business partner as the EU country to which it exports and from which it imports the largest volume of goods.
Some aspects of Slovak law from the German point of view
Slovakia's good reputation as an investment location is based firstly on high-quality, high-value produc-tion with relatively low labour costs. The maintenance of this advantage will, however, be difficult. Other incentives are therefore required in order to compete with other EU states or low-wage states.
A cathedral that has survived
KOŠICE has experienced a number of disasters over the centuries. It has been beset by conflict, shaken by an earthquake in 1834, flooded by the Hornád River in 1845, and pummelled by a storm in 1875.
15 years No. 1 in the mail order business
For 15 years, the company Quelle has ranked among the top in the mail order business in Slovakia. Since its creation in March 1993, it has acquired many satisfied customers, for whom the brand Quelle has become the symbol for a quality range of goods for a good price.
Igniting interest in learning German
KNOWLEDGE of foreign languages has become vital as globalisation has taken hold. So German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has introduced Schools: Partners of the Future (PASCH), an initiative that supports teaching German as a foreign language.
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Last Week: Slovakia’s central bank governor still faces bribery case verdict
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
