Archive of articles - September 2009, page 3
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Slovak firm seeks annulment of EC fine
NOVÁCKE Chemické Závody, one of nine chemical companies fined by the European Commission for creating a cartel, has filed for bankruptcy to shield itself from creditors. It is also seeking to annul a fine of almost €20 million levied by the EC.
Recession and how to get out of the problems (resist usual, use the logic of uniqueness)
Critical to successful navigation of today's uncertain economic outlook is the prioritization, de-prioritization and, when possible, deferral of key activities. Our conceptual and consulting services concentrate on finding, developing and implementing new, forward-thinking solutions and strategies. We provide sustainable, systematic answers to the central questions of what it takes to run a successful company. The goal at IMP is to enable innovative breakthroughs, competitive advantages and ultimately sustainable added value for our customers.
Film review
Director: Darren AronofskyStarring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood; More than a year after its premiere at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, and seven months since its star was controversially overlooked for an Oscar, Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler finally hits Slovak cinemas this week, a welcome extension to the life of a movie about human frailty and the ravages of time.
Revised GDP yields hope
THE FINANCE Ministry and the National Bank of Slovakia have revised their predictions for the dip in the country’s gross domestic product for 2009, with both estimating around the same level. While the ministry raised its previous estimate of -6.2 percent to -5.7 percent, the central bank reduced its last prediction of -4.2 percent to -5.6 percent. Most analysts see these similar prognoses as realistic.
Slovaks and Americans exchanging knowledge, experience and opportunities
FOR 15 YEARS the US and Slovakia have been using the knowledge and experience of their academicians and students through exchange programmes administered by the J.W. Fulbright Commission in Slovakia.
EC representative leaves post for KDH chair
SLOVAKIA’S Christian Democrats have a new leader. With little surprise, but with high expectations for the future, Slovakia’s first representative in the European Commission (EC), Ján Figeľ, was elected as chairman of the Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) party. His successor in the European Commission will most likely remain in the next term and Slovakia’s government hopes to elevate the Slovak Commissioner’s portfolio.
Linking the lace of history
THIS interesting postcard depicting a lacemaker at work in the central Slovak village of Poniky was released in 1911 by Pavol Socháň, one of the major Slovak postcard publishers.
American willingness to engage
KEITH Eddins is one of the many who share the opinion of Thomas Jefferson when he said: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” The Slovak Spectator spoke to the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Bratislava not only about press freedom but also about the recently announced change in the US missile defence plans, foreign aid and its outcomes, visa-free travel, and the widely discussed fee for US-bound travellers that the US is considering.
Smer declines, or has it?
A RECENT poll on political party preferences among the Slovak electorate will make at least one party a bit nervous whereas another party might feel slightly more secure on the national stage. However, the survey taken by the Focus agency in September might be of nervous concern to Smer only if this strongest political party in Slovakia ignores an earlier poll showing its preference among voters to still be standing firmly over 40 percent, as in its best times.
Slovakia must build on its success
MORE practical training in school curricula, priority to e-government, investment in hiring and retaining highly qualified teachers, and an online procurement system to increase both transparency and efficiency would all be vitamins to help business in Slovakia retain its vigour and refine its operational environment, suggests the Executive Director of AmCham Slovakia, Jake Slegers, in an interview with The Slovak Spectator. Slegers also spoke about prospects for building a knowledge-based society, bridges between the business world and academia and the fate of CSR in times of economic downturn.
Slovakia supports EU visa for Canadians
SLOVAKIA will support the European Union’s introduction of a visa duty for Canadian diplomats if bilateral talks between the EU and Canada are not successful and the EU decides that unified measures should be taken against Canada, the Slovak Ambassador to the EU, Maroš Šefčovič, told the TASR newswire on September 21.
Visegrad Donors Look to Serbia
Coordinating donor assistance is no easy job. When representatives of the Visegrad Four (V4) official development agencies met last week at a workshop in Bratislava, significant discussions made their attempts to synergise aid to their southern neighbour come ever closer to reality.
Western breeze sways local cultural scene
ACCORDING to US diplomatic representatives to Slovakia, cooperation in the domain of culture is as important as the links in business and industry. The American embassy’s cultural calendar suggests these words are not just idle talk.
SDKÚ: Emissions contract broke the law
THE CHAIRMAN of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Mikuláš Dzurinda, along with his party colleagues Pavol Frešo and Lucia Žitňanská, filed a complaint with Slovakia’s Prosecutor General’s Office on September 21 seeking the complete cancellation of the contractual agreement between the Slovak Environment Ministry and the Interblue Group on the sale of Slovakia’s excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas, the TASR newswire reported.
US sculptor helps restore a Slovak monument
AN AMERICAN sculptor who specialises in crafting war memorials has helped restore a monument to US airmen downed over Slovakia during WWII.
Political simulacra or a plan?
POLITICIANS either condemn them as manipulative snapshots of the fleeting moods of the public or they cherish them as small but important confirmations of the public’s devotion to the values they claim to stand for: public opinion polls. While neither extreme view corresponds to the reality of opinion polling, the approach of politicians towards the polls still depends on how their political band is doing on the charts.
We call Slovakia home
We talked to General Manager Mike Smyth about both the business and volunteer activities of Dell in Slovakia.
Slovak Foreign Minister Lajčák meets Hungarian counterpart in New York
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák met his Hungarian counterpart Péter Balázs mid-day in New York on Thursday, September 24, ministry spokesman Peter Stano told the TASR newswire.
SDKÚ accuses government of unprecedented growth in debt
Former Finance Minister and deputy chairman of the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) Ivan Mikloš gave a news conference on Thursday, September 24, accusing the government of Robert Fico of causing unprecedented growth in the country's debt, the SITA newswire wrote.
EC envoys plan to visit Roma settlements in Slovakia
Slovakia’s Deputy Premier for a Knowledge-based Society, European Affairs, Human Rights and Minorities, Dušan Čaplovič, is scheduled to welcome a delegation of the European Commission on Friday, September 25 that will visit Roma settlements in Košice, Prešov and Banská Bystrica regions, Ľubomír Šišák from Čaplovič's office told the TASR newswire.
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- 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
- Last Week: Slovakia’s central bank governor still faces bribery case verdict
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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 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 ›
