Archive of articles - May 2009, page 8
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Muses go under one roof
IF THERE is a cousin of the Phantom of the Opera living in the underground world of the Slovak National Theatre (SND) he will have to limit himself to just one-half of the space, at least for the next two years. The reason is that the theatre’s historical building situated in Hviezdoslavovo Square in Bratislava will be housing, in addition to the SND, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (SF) whose own premises will be undergoing restoration until 2011.
Tapping to the end
DURING the period of socialism, one of the best-known songs taught to children at elementary schools was “Vstávaj, Jano, hore, na baňu klopajú” (Wake Up, Johnny, They Are Already Knocking on the Door of the Mine). Most of us did not have the foggiest notion why someone would “knock on our door” but we hardly worried about that.
Crisis delays PPP highway projects
AFTER Robert Fico’s cabinet took power in 2006, it promised to join Slovakia’s rich west to its less fortunate east with a highway by 2010. Its ambition was to build more than 150 kilometres of highways, by making use of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. It is now apparent that this ambitious goal will not be met as the global financial and economic downturn has led to a series of project postponements.
The craftsman’s golden underside
THE REVIVAL, support and popularisation of traditional crafts in the Slovak-Czech border regions is the goal of an international project called Crafts Have a Golden Underside. It is one of the top activities of the Orava Cultural Centre (OKS) in Dolný Kubín, in Žilina Region. The project is meant not just for folk artists and craftsmen but for anyone interested in traditional crafts and technologies.
PM floats plan for slimmer government
THE CURRENT economic crisis is threatening Slovakia and its future, Robert Fico, the prime minister and chairman of the government’s largest coalition party Smer, said at a recent party conference, the SITA newswire reported.
PAS suggests simplification of health and social insurance payments
THE BUSINESS Alliance of Slovakia (PAS), which represents businessmen and entrepreneurs, has proposed simplifying the system of paying compulsory health and social insurance contributions, arguing that the present system is a barrier to the development of Slovakia’s business sector.
MEPs' activity monitored
SLOVAKIA'S representatives in the European Parliament (EP) have been ranked fourth in being present for votes during plenary sessions of the EP, according to statistics from a recently launched website, www.votewatch.eu.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA Bratislava FESITVAL: SUSTAINABILITY, energy, design, creativity and corporate responsibility will be among the topics of the upcoming festival titled Re:Made in Holland that will be held in Bratislava between May 16 and 23. This interesting event, organised by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Slovakia, aims to familiarise the Slovak public with the values of the Dutch people and will feature, for example, a benefit bike tour, a traditional Dutch market as well as several film screenings and exhibitions. One of the highlights is three performances by the renowned Nederlands Dans Theater. Further details about prices and venues can be found at www.remadeinholland.sk.
Five stars in the High Tatras
AFTER four years of extensive reconstruction, the Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras, the first hotel in Slovakia bearing the Kempinski hotel brand, opened its doors to guests earlier in May. The luxurious facility aims to provide services to a demanding clientele, the TASR newswire wrote.
Heart surgeons saved a woman in labour
IN EARLY May, doctors saved the life of an eight-months pregnant woman and her baby.The woman, who had suffered an acute heart attack, underwent complex surgery in the Eastern-Slovak Institute of Heart and Arterial Diseases in Košice (VÚSCH). The surgery lasted more than eight hours and resulted in the survival of the woman, 31, and her baby, the general director of the VÚSCH and the head of its heart surgery clinic František Sabol, told the TASR newswire.
Fitch confirms Slovakia’s rating
INTERNATIONAL rating agency Fitch has confirmed Slovakia’s long-term rating outlook as stable, the SITA newswire reported.
Real estate portals in Slovakia
www.reality.sk www.reality.server.sk www.living.spectator.sk www.katasterportal.sk (also available in English)
Slower fall is not a trend
THE GRADIENT of Slovak industry’s descent grew slightly shallower in March, at least according to the latest statistical data. However, analysts have been cautious about heralding the March results as the beginning of better times for the country’s industrial output and say that the soonest any real relief might come is the end of the year. Industrial output fell by 18 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) in March, after posting a 25.6 percent y-o-y dip in February and a 25.4 percent y-o-y decline in January, according to the Slovak Statistics Office.
More housing units
LAST year Slovakia experienced a boom in housing construction with 28,321 housing units started. This is the highest figure for the last 18 years, the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development wrote on its website in early May.
Real estate consultancy services in Slovakia
CB Richard Elliswww.cbre.skCB Richard Ellis is one of the world’s leading commercial real estate advisers, with over 300 offices across more than 50 countries. The firm has been active in Slovakia since 2005.
EC targets mobile phone rates
THE EUROPEAN Commission (EC) is now crusading against high termination rates charged by mobile operators and is pressing on national telecom regulators to more effectively regulate wholesale tariffs which phone operators charge each other for connecting calls to subscribers on their networks. The commission’s efforts are fuelled by what it calls a “serious inconsistency between national approaches concerning the regulation of termination rates”.
Lucrative project attracted mafia
ACCORDING to police information, entrepreneur Ján Daniš was asked to help finance the Royal Golf Resort project near Veľký Biel. Daniš was a business partner of Bratislava mobster Peter Steinhübel, who was murdered in 1999.
Downturn forces tenants to optimise
CUSHMAN & Wakefield’s latest European Landlord & Tenant Survey, conducted with a total of 750 tenants and landlords across Europe, revealed that more than half the tenants have changed the way they are utilising their office space, with both desk-sharing and flexible working becoming increasingly popular.
Real estate market returns to earth
AFTER the steep escalation in the volume of construction of residential properties, and in their prices, during the last few years in Slovakia, the current market situation is much calmer. The global economic downturn has chilled the Slovak real estate market and developers and bankers as well as those interested in purchasing residential property are being much more cautious.
Bulletin-board affair refuses to die
THERE is not much reason for Igor Štefanov to feel too comfortable in his new ministerial post. The pressure on Prime Minister Robert Fico to sack the recently-appointed minister of construction and regional development has been mounting. Political ethics watchdogs and the opposition parties claim that Štefanov bears direct personal responsibility for the infamous bulletin-board tender, which has even raised eyebrows at the European Commission.
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- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
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- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
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- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- 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
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- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
