Archive of articles - March 2009, page 10
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Slovak ‘brains’ return home
THE GLOBAL economic downturn is sending home not only waitresses and construction workers but also IT experts.
Software piracy grows in Slovakia
N SPITE of a decline among businesses, Slovakia continues to suffer from a high level of software piracy. The industry’s anti-piracy organisation, the Business Software Alliance (BSA), estimates that almost half of the software used in Slovakia is illegal and that prospects are not bright either.
Self-employed payroll tax change likely
THE GOVERNMENT has backed proposed amendments to the social insurance law and the health insurance law. Both proposals deal with the calculation of payroll taxes. If they are approved by parliament, these taxes will no longer be linked to the minimum wage. Instead, from January 1, 2010, the basis for their calculation should be 44.2 percent of the average wage, SITA reported.
Customs seize 1kg of amphetamine
A CZECH citizen who was transporting one kilogram of amphetamine was detained at Petržalka train station in Bratislava on March 5. According to the customs officers, it is the second largest amount of this drug ever seized in Slovakia. The street value of the drug would be around €75,000 - €300,000, according to the spokeswoman of the customs office, Martina Kereková, the ČTK newswire reported.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA Bratislava EXHIBITION: WORKS BY Patrik Illo, an outstanding glass designer, are on show at Bratislava’s Slovak Design Centre until April 8. The award-winning artist, known for his ability to find beauty in pleasantly simple forms and details, has cooperated with the famous Lednické Rovne glassworks and also with various companies in Poland and the Czech Republic. All visitors to the display will be entered into a draw to win an original set of glassware. The exhibition, entitled Patrik Illo for in Rona +, can be seen at the Satelit Exhibition Hall at Dobrovičova 3 daily, except Mondays, from 13:00 to 18:00. No admission is charged. For more information, call 02/2047-7311 or visit www.sdc.sk.
NDS partially publishes toll contract
THE NATIONAL Highway Company (NDS) has partially published its agreement with SkyToll, the contractor for Slovakia’s electronic toll collection tender, three months after the controversial deal was signed, the Sme daily reported on March 9. The contract’s appendix, which contained the original tender proposal made by the winning consortium, was not published along with the contract since the consortium did not agree to do so.
IT school project plans to produce IT experts
IT EXPERTS are one of the few professions still in high demand in today’s labour market, in spite of the current global economic downturn.
IT firms in Slovakia
For a detailed list of IT firms in Slovakia please see the following links to our Green Pages:Hardware FirmsTelecom Services CompaniesSystem IntegratorsSoftware Firms
Prezidentská kampaň
ANY ENGLISH-SPEAKER has a fairly good chance of understanding the meaning of the term “prezidentská kampaň”. Getting your head around the way local campaigns actually work, however, is a much tougher task - even for Slovaks.
Radvaň Cemetery
THIS IS how the Radvaň cemetery in Banská Bystrica looked in 1920.
EU drowns in milk
MILK prices keep falling and farmers say they are no longer able to cope with the consequences. The crisis in the market for milk is one of the reasons why they organised a protest march in the streets of Prague on March 12, as the Czech capital hosted a meeting between Marianne Fischer-Boel, the European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development, and agriculture ministers from EU member states. Farmers see the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy as the source of their problems.
Small Carpathian cellars open for a tipple
AMONG THE biggest events on the Small Carpathian Wine Route (MVC) is traditionally the Days of Open Cellars. This year, for the first time, wine cellars on the route will open on May 23, the day of the Feast of St. Urban – the patron saint of winemakers. During the May 2009 event, more than one hundred vintners and viticulturists will open their cellars from Bratislava to Trnava, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovak IT companies drop in Deloitte ranking
THE LATEST Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2008 ranking by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu indicates that Slovakia is gradually falling behind in terms of fast-growing technology companies, the Sme daily reported in mid December.
Plan a visit to exotic Asia via the National Museum
THE SLOVAK National Museum (SNM) in Bratislava is giving Slovak audiences an opportunity to travel to several exotic countries of the Far East - India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan - through its exhibition called Shangri-la, which runs until July 12.
On the crossing of Judaism and Christianity
JESHUA Meshiacha is an exhibition project from a Trnava team of authors known as GloriaDei, consisting of Peter Čambál, Sr. and his son Peter Čambál, Jr. Their latest project, which is being exhibited in the Synagogue – the Centre for Contemporary Art in Trnava until March 22, delves into the interrelationships between Christian and Jewish culture.
European Commission acts to preserve jobs in turbulent times
Europe is facing difficult economic times, people are worried about their jobs and their concerns are fully understandable, says European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimír Špidla. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Špidla explains that the commission has already taken much action to ease the impacts of the economic crisis on the real economy and especially to preserve jobs. But the commissioner agrees that there are many challenges ahead.
Quote of the Week
“On billboards in southern Slovakia she smirks and appeals to the Slovak nation in Hungarian. That would be a tragedy,”
Taxes go under Visegrad 4 magnifying glass
WHAT is the right response of tax administrations around the central and eastern European (CEE) region to the economic downturn, which is putting immense pressure on both the public and private sectors? This was one of the questions that resonated during the 4th regional tax conference organised by the American chambers of commerce of the Visegrad region, held in Bratislava on March 10.
Winter still rules
MARCH has already jumped into its second half, but winter still rules in the mountains. In ski centres 800 metres above sea level or higher, the snow blanket is growing thicker as more snow is falling practically every day.
Leased cars not eligible for car-scrapping bonus
The car-scrapping bonus, which the Economy Ministry has been granting to persons who scrap a car older than nine years and buy a new one, will not apply to cars bought through leasing.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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 More articles ›
