Archive of articles - December 2009, page 3
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Christmas book harvest
THE PERIOD before Christmas is, by tradition, when the Dajama publishing house launches a brace of new books about Slovakia. This year is no exception and, with Dajama focusing on promotion of Slovakia and its regions, it has published six new books in Slovak and – continuing another proud tradition – in English as well. The new titles are Hrady/Castles, World Cultural Heritage UNESCO, Romanesque Churches, Archaeological Monuments, Water and Most Beautiful Valleys. In its latest books Dajama confirms once again that Slovakia is a country rich in natural and cultural heritage.
Spanish-Slovak cluster
TO CLOSE a gap in the Spanish-Slovak business marketplace by creating an open forum for both foreign and local companies, Spanish business leaders launched a new chamber on September 23 – the Spanish-Slovak Chamber of Commerce. The chamber will serve as a forum for regular meetings and sharing of common interests and as a way to explore synergies and develop common business potential between the countries.
A round-up of the year in news
THE ECONOMIC crisis was far from being Slovak politicians’ only problem in 2009. The past year has been marked by conflicts over minority issues, particularly problems in relations with the Hungarian and Roma minorities living in Slovakia, but also by significant changes in the country’s judicial system and by several affairs bearing signs of corruption and cronyism within the ruling coalition.
Opposition parties meet to discuss 2010
BACK in 1998 the centre-right parties created a five-member coalition to put an end to the rule of Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar who, according to critics, was bringing Slovakia to the verge of international isolation and posing serious threats to the development of the country’s emerging democracy. After more than a decade, and two terms governing the country, the centre-right parties - now in opposition - met again to discuss possible cooperation for the 2010 elections in order to unseat the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Fico and his Smer party.
Train scanner fully functional again
FREIGHT trains arriving at the Ukrainian-Slovak railway border crossing in Maťovce are now undergoing complete x-ray scans. The restrictions that were in place up to December 15 have now been lifted, the SITA newswire reported.
Facts and legends about Liptov
THIS postcard from the 1920s shows a street that at first sight suggests it is part of a neat, wealthy town. Appearances, however, can sometimes be deceiving: in most Slovak towns, it was only the limited area of the centre that had such an urban look, while the immediate surroundings could hardly be distinguished from a village.
A review of Paranormal Activity and Zombieland
Fans and detractors of Paranormal Activity can at least agree on one point: this micro-budget, pseudo-realistic, amateur-hour horror film is a miracle of viral marketing. Set entirely in one house and featuring only four non-professional actors, the production cost a reported $15,000—about as much as most Hollywood efforts set aside for a day’s sushi. But after a low-key initial release, word spread across the internet—fuelled by chat-room gossip, “leaked” snippets and rumours of its supposed authenticity—and Paranormal Activity was let loose in 200 cinemas across the United States. It took $9.1 million in its first week and became the most profitable film in history. As the phenomenon now reaches Europe, this is the question that will haunt cinemagoers far more efficiently than the content of the film: have I been conned? Certainly there’s not much to the movie even to flesh out a review. A young woman named Katie (Katie Featherston) complains to her boyfriend that she is experiencing strange but intangible visitations during the night. Micah (Micah Stoat) is sceptical but believes enough to buy a video camera and wires it up at the foot of the bed. The amateur auteur also gets carried away sufficiently to record every other moment of their tedious lives, and what constitutes the finished film purports to be the couple’s unedited tapes, discovered by the police. That means time-stamped, wonkily-shot home video and inconsequential, improvised dialogue. Bring motion-sickness pills. And caffeine.
Revised nuclear energy law passed
AS OF May 2010 the holders of licences to operate nuclear facilities and handle nuclear material will pay higher contributions to the Nuclear Supervision Office (ÚJD) for the performance of state supervision. The move stems from a draft revision to the nuclear energy law passed by the cabinet.
SNS sues over flu vaccine deal claims
ONE of the junior ruling coalition members, the Slovak National Party (SNS), has filed a libel lawsuit against both the media and the head of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Viliam Novotný, a deputy for the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), the SITA newswire reported.
Vocational training in Switzerland
VOCATIONAL training has a long tradition in Switzerland. We are therefore following with interest the discussions about the improvement of the Slovak system of vocational education and training (VET). On September 1, 2009, the new law on VET came into force. This was indisputably an important milestone in the quest to introduce reforms. The law will have to be filled with content and its provisions have to be implemented in practice. Swiss experiences could serve as source of inspiration that might be useful not only for Slovakia but also for other countries.
War of words over Tokaj
SLOVAKIA’S State Language Act is not the only sore point between Slovakia and its neighbour Hungary. The two countries have also been unable – so far – to settle a disagreement over Tokaj, a unique wine region spread across the eastern parts of both countries.
Forest railways plan cooperation
NOVEMBER
NBS expects 2009 GDP to fall 4.8 percent
THE DEVELOPMENT of Slovakia's economy this year will be slightly better than predicted a few months ago, according to the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS). The central bank’s latest prognosis sees a 4.8 percent drop in GDP for all of 2009 while in September it was predicting a contraction of 5.6 percent, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia backs climate proposal
MOST news in the past several months about Slovakia’s Ministry of the Environment has revolved around disputes over last-year’s low-priced sale of the country's excess CO2 emissions quotas to Interblue Group, a firm whose registered office was a lock-up garage in the United States, rather than the ministry’s preparations for one of the most anticipated international gatherings of the year to discuss the environment – the UN’s Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen.
Roman artefacts found at Bratislava Castle
SEPTEMBER Bratislava Castle is currently undergoing renovation, and has been given new night-lighting and a new colour, the ČTK newswire wrote.
Bratislava’s wild animal hospital closes
SEPTEMBER Bratislava Zoo’s hospital for injured or sick wild animals will be closed down in September.
Cities plan to celebrate, despite crisis
THE CRISIS looms from behind every corner and, here and there, Slovak municipalities have also been forced to tighten their belts wherever they can. New Year celebrations are no exception, but organisers are promising that the programmes they have prepared will – in spite of the more limited resources – be as much fun as ever.
- 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
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- 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 ›
