Archive of articles - December 2009, page 5
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Health official becomes first person in Slovakia to get new vaccine
The head of the Public Health Office, Ivan Rovný, has become the first Slovak to be vaccinated against the novel flu virus in Slovakia.
President confirms Slovakia to double its troops in Afghanistan
Slovakia plans to double its troops in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan in the future, said the Slovak president, who is also the chief commander of the Armed Forces of Slovakia, at a briefing on December 15, the SITA newswire reported.
SNS sues media for reports of party links to flu vaccine deal
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 Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), the SITA newswire reported.
Bratislava Regional Court cancels €10 million fine against Slovnaft
Bratislava-based crude oil refiner Slovnaft will not be required to pay a fine of almost €10 million (Sk300 million) issued by the Antitrust Office of the Slovak Republic for abusing its dominant market position. On December 15 the Bratislava Regional Court overruled the Antitrust Office’s decision from December 2007 as well as the fine and returned the issue to the office for further proceedings, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovak police join international hunt for child porn distributors
In almost 20 house searches across Slovakia, large volumes of child pornography and 29 suspects have been detained, thought to be part of an international child pornography ring, the SITA newswire reported.
Economic crisis will significantly increase government deficit for 2009
The economic crisis will contribute to the widening of the general government deficit by a total of by 4.2 percent to 4.6 percent of GDP, said Viktor Novysedlák of the Finance Ministry’s Financial Policy Institute in a discussion forum organized by the INESS non-governmental institute. According to the ministry’s prognoses, the general government deficit is expected to reach 6.34 percent of GDP this year, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovaks troops in KFOR to decrease significantly
Slovakia plans to decrease the number of its troops in the KFOR mission in Kosovo from 140 to about 20 by the end of 2010, said Chief of Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Ľubomír Bulík on December 14 during his visit in Šajkovac, Kosovo, as reported by the TASR newswire. He added that those Slovak troops that will remain in the mission should have special capabilities especially in the reconnaissance area.
Courts are perceived as corrupt by half of surveyed Slovaks
Half of Slovakia’s citizens perceive courts in Slovakia as corrupt, based on a survey undertaken by the non-governmental organization Transparency International Slovakia, the SITA newswire wrote.
Slovak scouts deliver the Bethlehem Light to President Gašparovič
President Ivan Gašparovic received the Bethlehem Light from Slovak scouts in the presidential palace on the early evening of Sunday, December 13.
Business environment is worsening, warns Slovak Chamber of Commerce
The business environment in Slovakia is worsening according to the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry whose survey shows that a total of 71 percent of 170 contacted companies consider that the business environment is adverse, the SITA newswire reported.
Conference analyses ‘One Year of Euro’ in Slovakia
Prime Minister Robert Fico believes that the timing of Slovakia’s adoption of the euro at the beginning of 2009 was absolutely correct. He said that Slovakia introduced the new currency in the ideal moment from the political as well as social point of view, with regard to the impacts of the economic crisis, the SITA newswire wrote.
PSA Peugeot Citroen to temporarily increase production in 2010
Carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen, based in Trnava, plans to temporarily increase its output beginning in 2010. PSA spokesman Peter Švec informed that the afternoon shifts will be prolonged by one hour which means that the car plant will produce 900 vehicles each day instead of the usual 850, the SITA newswire reported.
MPs' immunity remains unchanged
THE CHAIR of the mandate and immunity committee of Slovakia’s parliament, Renáta Zmajkovičová (Smer), has withdrawn her proposal to modify the immunity from criminal prosecution that MPs currently enjoy.
Japan: General facts
Political system: Parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchy
Rays of the rising sun shine bright
THERE can hardly be two more different countries than Slovakia and Japan: the former a landlocked tiny young republic in central Europe, the latter a constitutional monarchy on an archipelago in the Pacific with a population of almost 130 million people and a per capita GDP twice as high. But still and all, the two nations do have things in common and, if joint efforts continue as successfully as they have so far, the countries might discover further similarities, perhaps many more than they would have expected.
Liechtenstein-Slovak ties established
SLOVAKIA will establish diplomatic ties with the Principality of Liechtenstein – the last European country with which Slovakia did not have diplomatic relations. The cabinet endorsed the document prepared by Slovakia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry at its December 9 session, the SITA newswire reported.
Caution urged despite third quarter growth
‘ONE SWALLOW does not a summer make – nor two’, would perhaps be the most fitting proverb to describe the responses of market watchers to Slovakia’s revised gross domestic product (GDP) numbers. Though the country’s economy contracted by 4.8 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, it grew by 1.6 percent when compared with the second quarter of 2009. Market watchers say that the revised Q3 numbers should be looked at with some caution since the results might turn less positive once the effects of government stimulus programmes evaporate.
Korean firms explore new opportunities in Slovakia
A DECADE ago many Koreans confused Slovakia and Slovenia. But South Korea’s new ambassador to Slovakia Seok-soong Seo says this is no longer true and now not only do many Koreans know where Slovakia is, the country has become one of its most important trading partners and destinations for Korean investments.
Preparing for another gas spat
HAVING in mind last January’s gas crisis when natural gas flowing from Ukraine was halted completely, after being a dependable source for about 40 years, Slovakia is looking more carefully at its options for the upcoming winter season when domestic gas consumption increases dramatically.
No rejoicing over rankings
THE QUALITY of Slovak universities and their faculties is stagnating or, in some cases, improving very slowly. That is the conclusion drawn from the rankings of Slovak universities recently published by the non-governmental Academic Ranking and Rating Agency (ARRA). Experts continue to find that, as in the previous years, not only teaching but also particularly research capacities remain significant problems for local universities.
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Kyogen speaks to Slovaks
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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 ›
