Archive of articles - December 2009, page 8
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Slovak MPs will retain full immunity following proposal’s withdrawal
Mandate and Immunity Parliamentary Committee chair Renáta Zmajkovičová (Smer) has withdrawn her proposal to restrict MPs' immunity, Parliament’s deputy chairman Miroslav Číž (Smer) said on Tuesday, December 8.
Inspection at Land Management Fund turns up conflicting findings
Lawmakers from the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Nature Conservation examined the books of Slovakia’s Land Management Fund (SPF) on Tuesday, December 8, to verify claims about an irregular transfer of land in the past during restitution procedures.
Smer MP will not face prosecution after Slovak Parliament votes down proposal
Parliament, at its session on Tuesday, December 8, rejected a request from the General Prosecutor’s Office to lift the immunity of Smer party MP Ján K. so that he can face criminal prosecution for allegedly using violence in an attempt to recover a debt.
SDKÚ proposes bill to tighten penalties for cruelty to animals
Lawmakers for the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) on December 7 defended their legislative proposal tightening penalties in the Criminal Code for cruelty to animals and said it should be voted on during the ongoing parliamentary session.
Four new ambassadors hand credentials to Slovak President Gašparovič
The designated ambassadors from South Korea, Canada and El Salvador and the Sovereign Order of Maltese Knights presented their credentials to Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič in Bratislava on December 7, the TASR newswire reported. Francis Martin O'Donnel from the Maltese Knights, Seo Seok-Soong from South Korea, Valerie Raymond from Canada and Vanessa Tobar from El Salvador visited the President's Office at the Grassalkovich Palace. O'Donnel extended greetings from the Maltese Order's Grand Master Matthew Festing to the Slovak head of state, expressing the desire to hold bilateral talks. In talks with Seo Seok-Soong from South Korea, Gašparovič voiced his wish to further enhance ties in the fields of culture, science, education and tourism as well as to bolster multilateral co-operation in international institutions, notably the United Nations.
Two more people infected with A(H1N1) flu have died
A 42-year-old man infected with A(H1N1) flu died in Myjava Hospital in Trenčín region on December 6, the TASR newswire was told by the senior consultant of the hospital’s anaesthetics and intensive care unit, Jaroslav Zongora. The man was admitted to hospital with double pneumonia on November 23.
Slovakia’s industrial output nears last year's levels
The year-on-year downswing in Slovakia's industrial output continues to soften. In October, it was the lowest in 2009, at 3.8 percent, the SITA newswire wrote.
Electricity prices in western Slovakia to drop by 3.5% on average
Households in western Slovakia should pay 3.5 percent less on average for electricity beginning next year, the head of the strategy and regulation department of the regional power distributor Západoslovenská Energetika (ZSE), Michal Puchel, told the SITA newswire.
Slovak nominees are picked for European Court of Human Rights
Slovakia’s Judicial Council on December 7 elected Ján Šikuta, Marica Pirošíková and Ján Drgonec as candidates for judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, the TASR newswire reported.
Slovakia will not become home for European energy regulator
The ambition of the Slovak government to host the seat of the European energy regulator failed. A vote by EU member states decided on December 6 that the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators will be seated in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, the SITA newswire reported.
Seagle Air will most likely lose its Slovak operational license
Slovak airline company Seagle Air will most likely lose its license, private television channel Markíza reported on its evening newscast on Monday, December 7. The airlines announced in October that it is in financial trouble, the TASR newswire wrote.
Trenčín University’s academic senate proposes recall of Rector Mečár
The academic senate of Trenčín's Alexander Dubček University (TnUAD) has proposed that Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič recall, via the education minister, TnUAD rector Miroslav Mečár, it was announced on December 7 and reported by the TASR newswire.
MP Urbáni is expelled from HZDS party and asked to renounce mandate
Legislator Milan Urbáni is no longer a member of the governing coalition Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), as members of the party's Republican Council at a session in Bratislava on December 5 decided unanimously to strip him of his party membership, the TASR newswire was told that day.
Slovakia announces position at the UN climate change summit
The European Union, including Slovakia, is prepared to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 2020 by 30 percent from the level of 1990, said Slovakia's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Peter Stano for the SITA newswire. This may be achieved if the biggest polluters also adopt the commitment. Together with other EU members, Slovakia is calling on the US and China to adopt such goals ahead of the upcoming talks at the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.
Slovakia’s car manufacturers to halt production during Christmas holidays
Car manufacturers in Slovakia plan to halt their operations over the Christmas holidays, it was reported on Sunday, December 6. Volkswagen Slovakia in Bratislava will close its production halls on Christmas Eve, December 24. “The all-facility winter holiday will last for two weeks as usual,” VW spokesman Vladimír Machalík told the TASR newswire.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lajčák heading for EU meetings in Brussels
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak is representing Slovakia at sessions of the EU's General Affairs Council (GAC) and Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on December 7 and 8, ministry spokesman Peter Stano told the TASR newswire on December 6. The two councils were created under the Lisbon Treaty following the division of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The GAC will discuss preparations for the European Council summit due later in the week. The EU's further moves concerning the bloc's enlargement will also be addressed, and programmes of the upcoming three EU presidencies - Spain (first half of 2010), Belgium (latter half of 2010) and Hungary (first half of 2011) will also be presented.
Advent spirit comes to Slovakia
Slovakia has been enjoying Advent, the pre-Christmas period marked by special markets offering traditional souvenirs, delicacies, and typical symbols of Christmas, for ten days already accompanied with tall, decorated Christmas trees that have been erected in the squares of all bigger towns and cities.
White Crows for courage awarded
White Crow awards are given to those rare people who change society for the better while showing courage, a better-than-average sense of justice and public good, and a persistent faith in personal principles. On November 17 at the Concert for the Aware held in Bratislava’s PKO cultural, the White Crow awards for 2009 were given to Judge Jana Dubovcová and several of her colleagues who have challenged suppression of independence in the judiciary, to psychiatrist Jozef Hašto and lawyer Roman Kvasnica, and to foresters-environmentalists from the Low Tatras National Park. The White Crow award program was initiated by the Fair-Play Alliance and the Centre for the Citizens Rights, Via Iuris, two NGOs, and this is the second time awards have been given.
Slovak and Czech women expats present a bit of home in Lebanon
An exotic exhibition and programme took place in the ancient town of Saida in southern Lebanon at the end of November. The historical Khan-al-Franj building built in the 17th century hosted an exhibition called “Slovak and Czech Women Present Their Skills” prepared by Slovak and Czech women living in Lebanon and sponsored by the Association of Graduates of Czech and Slovak Colleges in Lebanon. The event attracted hundreds of curious visitors.
Euro provides more help than Slovakia expected
Slovakia’s banking sector entered the eurozone with a heritage of over-liquidity. Adoption of the euro brought unparalleled exchange rate stability for exporters and consumers as well as unprecedented low interest rates. Selective recovery in several Slovak industries through the rest of 2009 could be supported by the ongoing availability of inexpensive new loans. The economic case outlining the benefits of euro adoption was built long ago in its preparatory phase. However, the merciful timing of the turbulence in the global financial market, which began literally weeks after Slovakia got the green light for euro adoption, brought an invaluable and better than expected positive twist to the Slovak economic experience with the new currency.
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- 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
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- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
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- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
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- 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
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- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- 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 ›
