Archive of articles - December 2009, page 11
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Bears, pits and lightning
THIS postcard from the 1920s shows a village in the Záhorie region with an interesting name: Pernek. There are several theories explaining the origin of the word. Of those most likely to be true, two are worth mentioning.
My story
I joined SkyEurope in May 2007 backed by my airline industry experience with easyJet, where I was one of the founding members. EasyJet was a huge success while its business principle was very simple: for short, point to point air travel, consumers basically want a very good price, onvenience and safety. By eliminating unnecessary costs and simplification, easyJet was able to attract millions of new passengers, stimulate the market and be very profitable.
Key business leaders keep a focus on the future
Decent communication between business organisations and all levels of government, predictable, transparent and non-discriminatory legislation, a flexible and well-trained labour force and prompt and fair enforcement of laws are imperatives required for investors to maintain their confidence in the country’s business environment, say leading business representatives in Slovakia. They also believe that these factors have even more importance in times of economic hardship. Business leaders admit that 2009 has posed immense challenges to all kinds of firms but they are keeping a positive outlook and suggest that those companies which produce the best quality products at lower costs will be the winners in the future.
Slovakia to support 30% reduction in emissions at UN Summit
At the upcoming UN climate summit in Copenhagen Slovakia will support reduction of emissions by 30 percent by 2020 in comparison with their 1990 levels, Environment Minister Jozef Medveď said at a press conference in Bratislava on December 3, the TASR newswire reported. Medveď said Slovakia will bind itself to this commitment if the developed and third world countries will make similar commitments. Slovakia originally promoted a 20-percent reduction, also preferred by Germany, but Medveď said that EU environment ministers in November agreed that they will support the 30-percent target. He also said that Slovakia will insist on transferring the AAU emission quota to the post-Kyoto Protocol period.
Talks on termination of emissions quota contract to ensue
The American company Interblue Group, which bought Slovakia's carbon-dioxide emission quotas in 2008, wants to hold negotiations with the Slovak environment ministry about mutual termination of the sales contract by the end of this year, Environment Minister Jozef Medveď announced at a press conference on Thursday, December 3.
All members of the Slovak Land Fund are dismissed
Slovakia’s parliament dismissed six members of the council of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) on December 3 who were nominated for their posts by the Government as well as another three members nominated by the governing coalition in parliament, the TASR newswire reported.
Gašparovič holds talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic
Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič met his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic on Thursday, December 3, during his three-day visit to Serbia, the TASR newswire wrote. The meeting was followed by the signing of a protocol between the Serbian Mining and Energy Ministry and the Slovak Economy Ministry to strengthen economic ties in the energy sector. Gašparovič also met Serbian Premier Mirko Cvetkovic before both gave speeches at a Serbian-Slovak Enterprise Forum. The Slovak president arrived in Serbia on December 2 accompanied by Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek and a business delegation.
PM Fico says Slovak restituents want land, not compensation
A proposal to give only financial compensation to land restituents (i.e. people who get their property back after it had been seized by the former communist regime and made public property) in order to prevent shady transactions has met with great disapproval from restitutents, said Prime Minister Robert Fico at the session of the government on December 2, the TASR newswire wrote.
Environment Minister says €15 million isn’t lost, just not received
According to Environment Minister Jozef Medveď, Slovakia could not have lost €15 million from the sale of its carbon-dioxide emissions quotas it just has not actually gotten the money yet, the TASR newswire wrote.
Siamese twins are born in Bratislava
In Bratislava’s University Hospital, connate twins were born on December 3. Immediately after their birth, they were taken for care at the Children’s Hospital. The caesarean delivery was made by doctors of the First Obstetric Clinic of the Slovak Medical University. The mother signed a statement that she does not wish media attention or media coverage of the births, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovak economy minister says state won’t manage chemical firm for long
Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek said on December 2 that the state should not manage the chemical company Novácke Chemické Závody (NCHZ), now undergoing bankruptcy, in the long term. He told the TASR newswire that the company should be restructured so it can “stand on its own”, and then be sold via a public tender.
Parliament to conduct MPs’ inquiry into Slovak Land Fund
The parliamentary committee for agriculture and the environment on Wednesday, December 2, approved a proposal submitted by opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MP Pavol Frešo to conduct a parliamentary inquiry into the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) on December 8, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovakia brings focus on energy security at OSCE summit
Slovakia succeeded on December 2 in highlighting energy security at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Athens, with attendees of the ministerial session approving a decision on strengthening energy security as brought forward by Slovakia, Greece and the United States, the spokesman for the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry, Peter Stano, told the TASR newswire. He added that the move lays the groundwork for extended involvement of OSCE in this area, with Slovakia aiming to employ OSCE’s possible measures and mechanisms to boost trust among member states.
Only 11 Slovak MPs attend session to discuss property declarations
Only 11 legislators, including parliament’s Vice-Chair Anna Belousovová, were present in the body towards the end of the session on Wednesday, December 2 during discussions on property disclosure by public officials, the TASR newswire reported.
A(H1N1) virus was primary cause of death to Banská Bystrica woman
According to an autopsy, the cause of death of a 33-year-old pregnant woman who died on Monday, November 30, in Banská Bystrica was the A(H1N1) flu virus, the TASR newswire was told by Banská Bystrica regional Public Health Office (RÚVZ) spokesperson Mária Tolnayová on Wednesday, December 2. “The woman was taken to hospital in the 32nd week of pregnancy due to a virus and A(H1N1) flu virus was diagnosed. The resultant breathing changes and major bacterial infections culminated in respiratory failure,” the spokesperson of the Health Care Supervisory Authority, Milan Michalič, said.
Slovak cabinet sacks SPF management and board
Prime Minister Robert Fico on December 1 asked Agriculture Minister Vladimír Chovan to submit a proposal to dismiss the head of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF), Miroslav Mihálik (a nominee of Fico’s own Smer party) and his deputy Adrian Sandorčin (an appointee of the Movement for Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), the agriculture minister’s party).
Slovak government announces first expropriation under strategic company law
The Slovak government has named Novácke chemické závody (NChZ), a bankrupt chemicals firm, as the first company which it intends to take over under the terms of the controversial new Act on Strategic Enterprises.
Tesco to offer mobile services
Retailer Tesco has announced it will start offering mobile telephony services in Slovakia under the Tesco Mobile brand from December 2.
Several bills proceed to second reading
A plenary session of the Slovak Parliament on December 2 moved several bills to their second reading. Under a revision to the Penal Code submitted by the Justice Ministry and backed by MPs, financing terrorism will become a separate crime in Slovakia. The legislation, which would take effect as of January 2010, stipulates that funding terrorism can be punished with 20 to 25 years behind bars, or in some circumstance a life sentence. The revision is being debated in fast-track legislative proceedings.
Slovak opposition MPs will reluctantly vote for amendment limiting immunity
A new Constitutional Act amendment drafted by Renáta Zmajkovičová, an MP for the ruling Smer party, aimed at restricting parliamentary immunity is regarded by the opposition as “steeped in hypocrisy”, the chairmen of the opposition Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH), Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ-DS) and Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) agreed after a joint meeting on December 1. However, the opposition will still vote in favour of the amendment since the parties have themselves sponsored such a bill on several occasions.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- 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
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence 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
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF 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 ›
