Archive of articles - March 2009, page 5
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Analyst says candidates' personal traits now come into play
Ivan Gašparovič's and Iveta Radičová's personal profiles will come into play during the second round of the presidential election, political analyst Grigorij Mesežnikov told the TASR newswire on March 22.
Government considering training support for auto employees
During her meeting this week with PSA Peugeot Citroen Slovakia general director Jean Mouro, the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family, Viera Tomanová, told the TASR newswire on March 22 that the government is ready to look at systematic assistance to car makers in the form of partial financing of education programmes and specialised training for employees. The meeting, initiated by the French Ambassador to Slovakia Henry Cuny, was held at the French Embassy in Bratislava. According to Tomanová, instead of forced holidays for workers during suspensions of production, car makers would utilise the time for internal and external professional training of their employees.
Prisoners voted more than other citizens, but less than 5 years ago
The participation of prisoners in the presidential election on March 21 was 58.64 percent, higher than the rate of citizens who are not incarcerated but much lower than in the previous election. Five years ago, 84.9 percent of prisoners and suspects in custody took part in the vote for president.
Election turnout highest in Bratislava region, lowest in Košice region
Bratislava region saw the highest voter turnout in the first round of the presidential election at 47.91 percent, while the lowest turnout was in Kosice region at 38.86 percent, Statistics Office head Ľudmila Benkovičová said during the official announcement of the results on Sunday, March 22. A total of 45.99 percent of voters took part in the election in Trenčín region, closely followed by Žilina region (45.63 percent), Banská Bystrica region (44.32 percent), Trnava region (42.98 percent), Nitra region (42.56 percent) and Prešov region (41.88 percent), the TASR newswire wrote.
Economic downturn expected to hit the telecom sector
UNDER the influence of the global economic crisis, the general business climate has significantly worsened in countries such as Slovakia and this is expected to be reflected in the telecommunications sector. According to an analysis conducted by Deloitte Slovensko, a slowing in the growth of telecom revenues is expected for 2009 in comparison to the 3.7 percent overall growth of the Slovak telecommunications market and the 5.3 percent growth of its mobile services segment recorded in 2008.
Tatarka Award gets two new laureates
HUMANISM and resistance against the regime he lived in – those were the main features of Dominik Tatarka’s literary works. The award that carries his name has, since 1995, been bestowed on Slovak authors for exceptional works that follow in his tradition of humanism.
TELECOMS ASSOCIATIONS and ORGANISATIONS IN SLOVAKIA
Association of Internet Providers (API)API was founded in 1999 as an association of legal persons with five founding members. Among its main aims is creating better conditions for the development of internet usage in Slovakia.
Bratislavans vote for the best café in town
THE SLOVAK capital boasts about 2,200 places where folks can enjoy a cup of coffee. Now Bratislava’s inhabitants are again choosing their favourite café. Residents had until March 20 to nominate, via the capital city’s website, their most beloved café in this 4th year of the contest Café of the City.
Media freedom: a few problems noted
NO SERIOUS problems are found in Slovakia when it comes to media freedom, Colin Peters, the aide to the director of the International Press Institute (IPI) for Freedom of Press and Media in Europe, said during a visit to Bratislava. His stopover was the first in a series of visits that IPI is continuing in other countries of this region, the TASR newswire reported.
Inflation is under control
A YEAR ago inflation was something to be feared, and at all costs tamed in order to secure Slovakia’s entry to the eurozone. Today, its meekness appears to be one of the few upsides to the global economic downturn. The growth of consumer prices in Slovakia has been slowing for the past five months. Market watchers attribute this to falling demand, lower oil and food prices and the high comparison base from last year.
EC demands answers over tender
AFTER keeping the headline writers of Slovak newspapers busy for the past few months, the fame of Slovakia’s controversial ‘bulletin-board’ tender, with its cool €120 million price tag, has now made it to Brussels. However, the fame risks turning into infamy for Slovakia unless the government can provide the European Commission with a convincing explanation for the apparently non-transparent way in which the tender – which was for the provision of services linked to drawing of European Union funds - was awarded by the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development.The European commissioner for regional policy, Danuta Hübner, arrived in person on March 13 to give Slovak state officials a simple message: the commission expects the results of two long-awaited inquiries, by the country’s procurement authority and its Supreme Audit Office, to be delivered – and soon.
Pupils put together improvement ideas
A SUBSIDY programme called Rajská Rajecká Lesná (Paradisal Rajecká Lesná) gave the pupils of the local elementary school a chance to develop and implement unusual ideas to improve the life of both students and local citizens. A clubroom for eighth-graders within the school’s interior and a classroom for third-graders in the open air on the school’s property, which can also be used as a relaxation area for mothers with children and visitors to the village, were chosen as the winning projects.
Slovak collector buys teddy bear for €30,000
VISITORS to this year's Furniture and Housing Fair that opened in Nitra on March 20 can admire one of the most expensive toys in the world. A teddy bear, sold for €29,750, is one of a limited-edition series brought to the market by the Steiff company for its 125th anniversary. The world-famous company is producing only 125 of such ‘toy’ teddy bears, each of which has sapphire eyes lined with 125 diamond fragments, the TASR newswire wrote.
Telecoms sector to be hit by the crisis
UNDER the influence of the global economic crisis, the general business climate has significantly worsened in countries such as Slovakia and this is expected to be reflected in the telecommunications sector. According to an analysis conducted by Deloitte Slovensko, a slowing in the growth of telecoms revenues is expected for 2009 in comparison to the 3.7 percent overall growth of the Slovak telecommunications market and the 5.3 percent growth of its mobile services segment recorded in 2008.The expected drop in revenues is directly linked to customers’ reduced willingness and greater caution in subscribing to new services or extending existing contracts.
Alternative telecoms providers surveyed
TO REMAIN efficient, to help their clients to be effective and to increase the penetration of broadband internet are the main challenges Slovak alternative telecoms operators face. And even though the global economic downturn is affecting the telecoms segment, alternative operators see flexibility as their main weapon when fighting its impacts.
The multi-ethnic history of Spišské Vlachy
WHEN LOOKING at the picturesque historical centre of Spišské Vlachy, very few observers would probably guess that the first telephone line within the Spiš region was set up in this town.
Myths surround the history of the first Slovak State
THE ANNIVERSARY of the founding of the Slovak wartime state is now seen by ultra-right extremist groups as an opportunity to present their beliefs in public. This year marked 70 years since the state was established in 1939.
Mobile telephony thrives in Slovakia
NOT VERY long ago it was possible to see some businessmen on the streets or in a car bearing large boxes outfitted with earphones. These were the first mobile phones, but heavy to carry and expensive to operate as they were, they enabled their possessors to be accessible by phone when out of reach of a landline. At this pre-mobile time in society, only a few people could imagine that just a few years later a mobile phone would become an everyday necessity for most people and that life without a mobile would be unimaginable.
Postcards in village office
VISITORS to the Municipal Office in the village of Kalonda in the Lučenec district can see an unusual display of more than 200 postcards from all over the world.
Slovak telecoms market grew 3.7%
THE SLOVAK telecommunications market reported a year-on-year (y-o-y) revenue increase of 3.7 percent in 2008, to €2.3 billion. The dominant landline operator in Slovakia, Slovak Telekom (ST), released this estimate on March 3, the SITA newswire wrote.
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- What were the most popular baby names in Slovakia in 2023?
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
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- 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 disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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 Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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 ›
