Archive of articles - March 2009, page 13
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Petit Press publishing house has a new shareholder
The publishing group Media Group Rheinische Post – the publisher of the Czech newspaper Mladá fronta DNES – has become one of the shareholders of the publishing house Petit Press which publishes the Sme daily, regional newspapers, weekly newspapers such as The Slovak Spectator, a news internet server and other media products.
Industrial production falls in January to lowest level since 1999
The fall in industrial production that began in Slovakia in October continued into January, with the figure dropping by 27 percent year-on-year to its lowest level since the new industrial production index was introduced in 1999, the Slovak Statistics Office announced on Monday, March 9. There were cuts in manufacturing production of 32.7 percent y-o-y, and in mining and quarrying by 6 percent, the TASR newswire wrote. Conversely, production of electricity, gas, steam and cold-air supplies rose by 3.5 percent y-o-y. All branches of industry saw y-o-y falls in production, with the most significant being the following decreases from last year: transport vehicles - 47.7 percent; electrical devices - 44.2 percent; metal and metallic products, excluding machines and devices - 42.4 percent; chemicals and machines and devices - both 33.6 percent; rubber plastics, and other non-metallic mineral products - both 33.3 percent; textiles, clothing, leather and related products - 23.1 percent; and in other manufacturing, repairs and the installation of machinery and equipment - 21.7 percent. TASR
New flights from Poprad-Tatry Airport coming soon
After an absence of six years, the Poprad-Tatry airport will again have direct flight connections with Bratislava, airport director Ivana Herkelová told the TASR newswire on March 9.
MP accused of plagiarism in drafting parliamentary proposal on Euro cents
The vice-chairman of the non-parliamentary Civil Conservative Party (OKS), Ondrej Dostál, on Monday, March 9, accused MP Jozef Ďuračka, of the governing coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) of plagiarism in preparing his proposal to round off shopping bills to the nearest ten cents, the TASR newswire wrote. Dostál claims that SNS has copied entire paragraphs from OKS materials without citing them as a source. According to Dostál, there are only two differences between the two drafts: OKS proposed rounding off figures to the nearest five cents, according to arithmetic rules, while SNS wants to round figures to the nearest ten cents, while rounding down figures ending in five.
Flood threats lessen as Slovak rivers’ peak over weekend
The level of the Morava River, which has been under a third-degree flood alert since Friday, March 6, has now begun to drop and the prospects for a further drop are good, water officials said on March 8. Deputy Director of the Bratislava Water Company Peter Minárik attributed the favourable situation to the cooler and fair weather, the TASR newswire wrote. He said that water company staff is busy clearing up trees and other debris that has washed ashore. The Morava River level, according to him, peaked earlier on Saturday, March 7 and there has been no property damage.
Part of an apartment building collapses in Svidník
A part of an apartment building collapsed on the morning of March 9 leaving huge damage but no casualties thus far in the eastern Slovak town of Svidník, the Sme daily wrote. The four-story building in Goldberger Street is owned by the town and housed mainly Roma citizens. The ČTK newswire was told by Pavol Palša of the fire brigade that they searched for victims, but none had been found so far.
Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry releases survey results
The most recent survey by Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK) has found that businesses envisage 2009 as a year which will see domestic sales falling and exports stagnating, said SOPK Chairman Peter Mihók.
Scottish-style golf course to be built near Prievidza
DEVELOPING around the village of Sebedražie, near Prievidza, a golf course with Scottish characteristics will be constructed on an area of 33 hectares between 2009 and 2012, the first of its kind in Slovakia. A Scottish golf course, unlike those of an American or English type, needs neither extensive surface adaptations nor special lawn plantings as it will use natural terrain, surfaces and barriers, explained Slavomír Pavle, the developer of the project, to the Sme daily.
Banská Bystrica invests in its fountains
OVER the next two years, Banská Bystrica city council will invest €558,000 in the reconstruction and alteration of its three main fountains. The fountains are among the city’s dominant features and the mayor, Ivan Saktor, does not intend to skimp on the investment, although some citizens have said they consider it to be excessive, the Sme daily wrote.
State to grease Cargo’s wheels
THE STATE is to grease the wheels of the country’s rail freight company, which has been sagging under the weight of the global economic crisis.
Bronze lion moves to the theatre
BIG preparations are underway to uncover the new-but-old memorial of Milan Rastislav Štefánik, one of the most important and famous individuals of modern Slovak history. A huge bronze lion, which will form part of the memorial, was transported from its previous location in front of the Slovak National Museum, where it had been since 1988, to a workshop, the Sme daily wrote.
Slovak Post issues fragrant stamps
THE SLOVAK post office has issued a postal stamp picturing a folk symbol of the Easter holiday – a decorated Easter egg.
Europe needs creative and innovative people
European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth Ján Figeľ believes that education in the right skills can provide an insurance policy against turbulence on the labour market. Figeľ also advocates reform of universities Europe-wide. According to the commissioner, most universities in the European Union still have to improve their cooperation with businesses by opening up to new types of students, especially adults, and modernising their curricula. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Figeľ about lifelong learning, mobility within academia and the need to focus on research and innovation.
Banská Bystrica Region General Facts
Capital: Banská Bystrica
Bridging rivers - and minds - helps cooperation bloom
NOBODY is an island and this is true for a country too. Cooperation by Slovakia with its neighbouring countries dates far back into the past in the areas of tourism, nature protection, and culture, as well as in business. As a small country, each of Slovakia’s regions shares borders with at least one other country. This has resulted in rich cross-border cooperation, energised by the pan-European spirit cherished by the European Union and by the countries of the Visegrad Four and their citizens.
Slovakia kicks off competition for eHealth study
SLOVAKIA’S Finance Ministry has placed a notice in the EU Official Journal announcing a competition for feasibility studies covering the architectural framework and implementation of the eHealth Programme. The studies should include evaluation and characteristics of the basic technological and security components involved in informatisation of the health sector, as well as the definition of short-term priorities within the programme, the SITA newswire reported.
Quote of the Week
“This is something that could only have happened in some southern African country 50 years ago, not in the centre of Europe.”
Criticism in US report
SEVERAL human rights problems in Slovakia were noted in the 2008 Human Rights Report prepared by the US Department of State, “including some continuing reports of police mistreatment of Romani suspects and lengthy pre-trial detentions…” as well as “corruption in the judiciary, in local government, and in government health services.” The introduction to the report noted that “social discrimination and unprovoked violence against Roma and other minorities” was a continuing problem.
ŠtB
LESS MIGHTY than the Russian KGB, less notorious than the East German Stasi, and less feared than the Romanian Securitate, Štátna Bezpečnosť (ŠtB) was nonetheless a cornerstone of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Its archives are open and anyone can check whether their neighbour, teacher, local councillor, or a member of the government served the cause of totalitarianism. And not all the former spies like it.
OECD: Slovakia still lags behind
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on March 3 urged Slovakia to step up its reform programme, as it still lags far behind the club’s best-performing members in GDP per capita terms.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- Hockey legend with Slovak roots started playing without knowing any English Video
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Young British boxing star who quit Slovakia over racism is now aiming for the top
- 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
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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
- 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
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- 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 More articles ›
