Archive of articles - December 2008
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Poll: One-quarter of Slovaks planning to make New Year resolutions
Around one-quarter of the country's population (27.7 percent) - mainly the young, secondary-school and university students - are planning to make New Year resolutions, while as many as two-thirds (64.5 percent) don't intend to make any pledges for 2009 and 7.7 percent are undecided, indicates the latest poll. The survey, conducted in December by the TNS SK agency on a sample of 995 respondents, showed that most Slovaks want to take more care of their health in 2009. Of those planning New Year's resolutions, 25.7 percent want to quit smoking, 17.8 percent intend to lose weight and 11.2 percent are resolved to take more care of their health in general. Other respondents want to improve their academic results or successfully complete thier studies, pursue sports, or complete the reconstruction of their houses or apartments. Those planning to give up smoking are mainly men and people aged over 60, while diets are planned mainly by women and people over 40. TASR
Eurowallet: special euro postage stamp goes on sale January 1
The Slovak Post Office will begin selling its first euro commemorative postage stamp on New Year's Day, Juraj Danielis, head of its communications department, told the TASR newswire on December 31. The stamps will go on sale between 13-16:00 on January 1 at Bratislava's Head Post Office at Námestie Slobody. The Post Office will set aside a special window and will also provide a commemorative postmark. The post office at Námestie Slobody will be the only branch open in Slovakia on New Year's Day. TASR
More and more Slovaks see in New Year abroad
The number of Slovaks seeing in the New Year abroad has grown in recent years, the Pavol Komora, vice-chairman of the Slovak Travel Agency Association (SACKA), told the TASR newswire on New Year's Eve.
Jahnátek: Second V1 reactor at Jaslovské Bohunice shut down
Slovakia has decommissioned the second reactor of the V1 nuclear power plant at Jaslovské Bohunice (Trnava region) in compliance with its pledge to do so in its EU-accession agreement, said Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek during the shutdown, which was carried out by the Nuclear Decommissioning Company (JAVYS) on December 31.
MVK poll: Smer would have won election in December
The senior ruling coalition Smer party would have won parliamentary elections held in mid-December with 39.5-percent, suggests a MVK agency poll out on December 29. The poll, conducted on a sample of 1,015 respondents between December 12-18, further showed that the opposition Slovak Democratic-Christian Union (SDKÚ) would have come a distant second at 12.4 percent, ahead of the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) at 10.5 percent. Next came the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) at 9.1 percent, followed by the ethnic-Hungarian SMK at 8.2 percent and the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) at 6.5 percent. These six parties would have won the following number of parliamentary seats: Smer - 69, SDKÚ - 21, SNS - 18, KDH - 16, SMK - 15, and HZDS - 11. No other parties would have passed the 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament. TASR
Economic sentiment index fell in December
Slovakia's Index of Economic Sentiment (IES) continued to fall in December, recording a month-on-month drop of 6.2 points to 82.2, the Statistics Office announced on December 29.
IVO poll: Health care seen as deteriorating most since 2006
The Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) has released the results of a poll taken between November 4-11 concerning the public's view of the changes seen in Slovakia since the current government emerged from the general election in June 2006.
Čaplovič unveils plaque to mark Czechoslovak Army
On December 30, the Club of Generals of the Czechoslovak Republic ceremonially unveiled a plaque on the Slovak Academy of Sciences' (SAV) building in Bratislava to mark the 90th anniversary of the Czechoslovak Army's arrival in Bratislava, which took place on January 1, 1919. The event will be held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Knowledge-based Society, Human Rights and Minorities Dusan Čaplovič, who will deliver a speech to the participants of the ceremony, Ľubomír Šišák from Čaplovič's office told the TASR newswire on Monday. After the unveiling, Čaplovic will, at Ondrejský Cintorín (Ondrej's Cemetery), commemorate Vavro Šrobár, who was the prime minister of the temporary Slovak government 1918-1920. TASR
Fico: A 'back door' solution needed in times of crisis
If next year's expectations for the Slovak economy growth don't come to fruition, the Slovak Government has to have a 'back door' solution for the public finances, Prime Minister Robert Fico told the TASR newswire on December 28. The 'back door' solution, according to Fico, could either be across-the-board cutting of budget expenses, or an increase in the already passed budget deficit proposal. Due to the global economic crisis, the Finance Ministry already re-evaluated the economic growth prognoses earlier in 2008 - from initial 6.5 percent to 4.7 percent. The coalition decided to increase the public-finance deficit from 1.7 percent to 2.08 percent of GDP. Fico admitted, however, that the real development could be even worse.
HZDS: Controversial donations removed from account
ĽS-HZDS vice-chair Miroslav Urbáni has removed the money that the party received from disabled pensioner Rudolf Trávniček and entrepreneur Jozef Ocel, who donated a total of Sk11 million (€365,000) under controversial circumstances, the Sme daily reported. But Urbáni declined to comment further, leaving the fate of the money a mystery. HZDS spokesperson Monika Zakariášová also declined to comment. Sme
Finetuning of preparations for euro adoption continues at National Bank
Slovakia's central bank (NBS) has reaffirmed January 1, 2009 as the date of introducing the euro coins and banknotes for the country's legal tender and that private individuals and corporations will be obliged to accept the euro as a means of payment. The January 1-16 period will be used to serve for the replacement of cash crowns with euros. During this period entrepreneurs and state authorities shall accept payments in both crowns and euros but return extra cash in euros, except in cases of mutual agreement on an alternative method of payment. To safeguard shops from becoming receptacles for small change, payments in Slovak korunas during this dual-currency phase may be rejected if more than 30 coins of different face value, or more than 20 coins of the same face value, are proffered. TASR
Slovaks sent more than 30 million text messages on Christmas Eve
Slovaks sent more than 30 million text messages (SMSs) on December 24 alone. The peak time for sending SMSs was between 14-16:00, according to the statistics of three mobile-phone operators in Slovakia - Orange, T-Mobile and Telefonica O2.
Spies in our midst
Communism ended in Slovakia 19 years ago this fall, but anguish remains over what to do with the regime’s most dedicated servants – agents and collaborators with the State Security service, or ŠtB. Should they be pardoned and allowed to live as normal citizens, or should they be ‘outed’ and reviled, barred from holding public office?
Dogsled racing
Donovaly, a prominent center of winter and summer sports, holds the third edition of International Sprint Dogsled Racing Championship from February 6 to 8, 2009.
Agents in Fico’s inner circle
Despite his claims to the contrary, Prime Minister Robert Fico is more likely to find a former agent for the ŠtB secret service among his own closest associates than among media owners.
Coming Events
Gypsy DevilsProbably the most popular Romany music ensemble tour Slovakia to present their new album Good Times. Apart from traditional gypsy rhythms, the eight virtuoso musicians will perform classical compositions by Liszt and Vivaldi as well as a few Christmas carols.When: December 15, 20:00Where: PKO (Culture and Leisure Park), Nábrežie Ľ. Svobodu 3, Bratislava
SND’s Christmas gifts for ballet and opera fans
The Slovak National Theater (SND) has prepared a number of gifts for all ballet and opera lovers. Shortly before Christmas, it will, for example, extend its repertoire with The Nutcracker, famous ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Birmingham and back
The trouble began even before Ryan Air flight FR 735 left Bratislava for Birmingham. Football fans on their way to support Žilina against Aston Villa in a December UEFA Cup match were in a rowdy mood, openly drinking slivovica and brandy and shouting at each other across the tiny departure hall. Once embarked, one aggressive man had to be removed by police and airport security for slapping a stewardess on the rear. As he was led out, he told a security guard: Don’t worry, I’ll find you.
Christmas at Slovak castles
Those who wish to meet a “ghost of Christmas” can try luck at one of Slovak castles, which invite children as well as adults to spend an afternoon in their premises.
From Tudor to Locusta
The Museum of Transport has opened a new exhibition of various automobiles produced in the former Czechoslovakia, outlining the evolution of car-making industry from the Second World War to late 1980s.
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