Archive of articles - December 2008, page 3
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Mačaj: I was pressured
Parliament fired the boss of the Telecom Bureau thanks to pressure from wealthy speculator J&T, according to the bureau’s now former head, Branislav Mačaj (above).
Government gains upper hand against SPP
A new law increasing the government’s powers over utilities privatized under the previous administration will hurt Slovakia’s reputation among foreign investors, critics of the move have said.
Queen Elizabeth pays a visit
“Prince Philip and I are very pleased to be joining you here in recognition of what I hope will be an ever-deepening friendship for many years to come," said Queen Elizabeth II at a banquet in Bratislava held by President Ivan Gašparovič on the occasion of the royal couple’s first visit to Slovakia.
Removing the poison of race
At a luncheon with Slovak NGOs on November 27, Canada’s head of state, Michaelle Jean, wept as she talked about her childhood in Haiti.
Legend versus reality
According to legend, Johann Evangelist Hubert was a French soldier wounded during the Napoleonic wars in Russia. While returning to his homeland, he passed through Bratislava and had his wounds treated at the local military hospital. It was here that he met, fell in love with and married a nurse called Paulina. Knowing the secret of producing Champagne production and admiring the local wines he found in Bratislava, Johann Evangelist Hubert founded his own company, J. E. Hubert, in 1825. It was the first Champagne producer outside France to use the original French method. So much for legend; the real story is less romantic.
Paška speaks about Bratislava Castle reconstruction
Speaker of Parliament Pavol Pasška (Smer) defended the choice of Váhostav, a firm co-owned by billionaire Juraj Široký, for reconstructing Bratislava Castle, he told the TASR newswire on December 22.
Čaplovič: Slovakia not drawing all of 2004-2006 EU Funds
Slovakia's results in drawing the EU funds for the 2004-2006 period won't be 100 percent, said Dušan Čaplovič, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, a Knowledge-based Society, Human Rights and Minorities, on December 22.
IVO: Majority disturbed by tensions in Slovak-Hungarian relations
Most Slovaks are disturbed by the increase of tension in Slovak-Hungarian relations, according to the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO), Zora Bútorová and Oľga Gyárfasová from the institute told the TASR newswire on December 22.
Špidla: EU strives for flexible labour market
The goal of the European Union's employment policy is to create a flexible labour market, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimír Špidla said at a press conference in Bratislava on December 22.
Foreign exporters in Slovakia hail switchover to euro
The Slovak unit of Swedish firm SCA Hygiene Products in Gemerská Hôrka (Banská Bystrica region) is among the foreign-based export-oriented investors in Slovakia that welcome the country's upcoming changeover to the euro.
Slovak crown developing well
The Czech crown, the Hungarian forint and the Polish zloty have been easing for several months against the euro, which Slovakia will adopt as of January 1, the Sme daily reported. The Slovak crown, koruna, has fluctuated only slightly above its official changeover rate (Sk30.1260/€) since July. The other CEE currencies have been weakening against the euro due to the global financial crisis. Their stories are similar: initial optimism has been replaced by bigger problems with exports than expected, while Hungary has been swept by its own specific economic woes. These developments will be reversed over the course of time, however.
Polish hiker found by Polish and Slovak rescuers
A Polish tourist lost in the Western Tatra mountain range was found alive at 6:25 on December 21, thanks to the joint efforts of Polish and Slovak rescue teams, who conducted an intensive search lasting several hours.
Live Nativity scene enhances Christmas atmosphere in Trenčín
The town of Trenčín and the Wagus historical sword-fighting group have organised a 'live' Christmas nativity scene in the town's Peace Square. The nativity scene, in which the Christmas story is being acted out, includes some real lambs, which have proved very popular with children.
A look at the political year
THE YEAR 2008 was notable in Slovakia for its economic stability and corruption scandals, say political analysts. They also mentioned the worsening of Slovak-Hungarian relations, the ruling coalition’s enduring popularity among voters and the opposition’s inability to unify.
Christmas in Slovakia
Christmas is here again. Shiny, colorful, chintzy, and above all shockingly expensive. This year, impossible as it may have seemed, it arrived in Slovakia even earlier than last, at the end of September. It was heralded not by Advent, as it used to be in conservative and Catholic Slovakia, but by advertisers made frantic by the global panic.
No rosy predictions for GDP
NOT EVEN the warmth of the approaching holiday season has been enough to melt the frost affecting economic forecasts for the upcoming months - or even years. Politicians have been moderating their rhetoric when it comes to talking about economic growth, and dropping the optimistic adjectives.Slovakia’s Finance Ministry revised its macroeconomic prognosis for the forthcoming years on November 4, trimming the 6.5 percent prediction for growth in 2009 to 4.6 percent. A month later, the country’s central bank followed by trimming its forecast for real GDP growth for next year by 1.9 percentage points, to 4.7 percent.
Traditional Slovak Christmas movies
Perinbaba (Lady Winter) - dir. Juraj Jakubisko. This classic Slovak-German fairytale film from 1985 was based on the Brothers Grimm story Mother Winter. Mother Winter saves little Jakubko from Death and adopts him, because she needs someone to help shake her huge eiderdown and make it snow on earth. The magical Perinbaba loves Jakubo and helps him even after he leaves her and goes off in the world, drawn by his love for the beautiful Alžbětka. But before they can get married, Jakubko and Alžbětka must suffer at the hands of a cruel stepmother, her daughter Dora, and Death, who is still following Jakubko.
SNS leader's amazing elastic income
EXPENSIVE cars, yachts, planes and motorbikes, a luxury villa on the Mediterranean. Ján Slota, chairman of the ruling coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) lives like a rich man, and has done for years.
Divers fish out 400kg 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.
Court annuls building firms' cartel fine
THE BRATISLAVA Regional Court has annulled an Antitrust Office (PMÚ) decision from October 16, 2006 to fine six construction companies a record Sk1.349 billion (€44.78 million) for forming an illegal cartel.
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