Archive of articles - February 2010
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Slovak VIPs aghast at judges’ conduct
SEVERAL Slovak VIPs have expressed their disgust over the conduct of the judges who filed wage discrimination complaints against the state.
Renaissance history comes alive in Bratislava
AFTER wide-scale exhibitions presenting art from the Baroque and Gothic periods as well as the 20th century, the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) has opened an extensive and unique display of Renaissance art as part of its long-term programme on the History of Slovak Fine Art. Until almost the end of March, gallery visitors are able to view a comprehensive collection of fine art associated with this artistic era and how it was reflected in the geographical territory of present day Slovakia.
Solid business for sale
THE FRENCH-Belgian Dexia group is seeking a new majority shareholder for its subsidiary company in Slovakia, Dexia banka Slovensko (DBS), before October 2012 in order to comply with an agreement it reached with the European Commission regarding the reorganisation of the group and the improvement of Dexia Group’s balance sheet. Stefaan Depaepe, CEO of Dexia banka Slovensko, is convinced that the new majority shareholder will acquire a solid banking operation in Slovakia, one with a unique business model. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Depaepe about the developments that led up to the agreement between Dexia Group and the EC leading to the future divestiture of its Slovak banking business.
Burger King to open in Slovakia
THE BURGER King chain of fast food restaurants based in the US and operating worldwide will open its first facility in Slovakia at the end of March 2010 at the Eurovea complex along the Danube River, the web portal aktualne.sk wrote on February 20.
In Slovakia, life imitates hockey
GROWING up playing hockey in Canada, I learned that it doesn’t matter if the other guys are bigger or better, have more expensive equipment or wear fancier sweaters: the team that plays with more heart can win. I admit my belief was shaken by our team’s frequent, embarrassing defeats. But on the rare occasions it was confirmed, life was much sweeter and more just.
Anonym slams Olympic House
THE ELATION brought on by news of the Slovak ice hockey team’s success and the medals that have been collected since the start of the Olympics has been slightly dampened by an anonymous e-mail that literally flooded mailboxes and the Facebook walls of Slovaks, harshly criticising the Slovak Representative House in Vancouver.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Procurement office top job draws controversy
THE TOP post at the country’s procurement watchdog office should belong to opposition parties: one premise that both the ruling coalition and the opposition agree on. However, Prime Minister Robert Fico has clashed with the strongest opposition party, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), over when the top job at the Public Procurement Office (ÚVO) should be filled and by whom.
Fewer taxes collected in 2009
THE ECONOMIC crisis significantly cut state revenues from taxes. Revenues from taxes in 2009, which account for a high proportion of overall state income, were 11.1 percent lower than in 2008. Collection of value-added taxes particularly lagged behind, the SITA newswire wrote in early January, citing figures from the Slovak Finance Ministry.
Archbishop’s grave discovered
THE MORTAL remains of Peter Pázmány, a Roman Catholic Cardinal, the Archbishop of Esztergom, and a Jesuit priest will be ceremoniously re-interred in Bratislava’s St. Martin’s Cathedral and the site of his grave will be clearly marked, said Jozef Haľko, spokesman for the Bratislava Archdiocese, who also noted for the TASR newswire that Pázmány had asked in his last testament to be buried in this cathedral. However, the exact location of his grave site was unknown until just recently.
Quote of the week
I haven’t gotten and will not get vaccinated against the swine flu because, in my opinion, it’s just a big game on the part of pharmaceutical companies.
Protecting Banská Štiavnica
THIS postcard dating to 1920 shows Nový Zámok in Banská Štiavnica. It was drawn by Janko Alexy, an outstanding Slovak painter of this period. The postcard shows interesting evidence of certain euphoria and interest in Czechoslovakia as the country was marking its first years of existence. Many renowned artists travelled across the country painting historical monuments as well as interesting natural scenes. Many of them were later published in series on postcards.
Serbian drug trafficker left footprint in central Europe
AFTER misadventures like explosives left in civilian airline luggage or escapes by handcuffed prisoners, recent news that Serbian drug trafficker Darko Šarić was hiding out in Europe on a Slovak passport seemed like just another embarrassment for the Slovak police.
Need for auditing services remains strong
THE GLOBAL financial and economic crisis has brought the auditing profession face to face with some of the biggest challenges it has had to deal with during the relatively short history of Slovakia. The companies active in auditing face more demanding analytical tasks which they must fulfil in more effective and efficient ways because prices for their services have been under pressure from clients suffering during the crisis. On the other hand, the need for thorough and professional auditing of financial statements translates into a continuing strong demand for auditing services.
Workhorses and carriers compete in three disciplines
ONE OF this year’s first workhorse competitions has already taken place in the village of Vitanová in Orava region with 14 horses competing in three disciplines. In the first, the charioteers’ show-jumping course, the drivers showed their teamwork with the animals in this event on a half kilometre track. In the second event, the horses and humans completed a slalom course pulling a 10-metre tree trunk. In the third competition, called strongman, they pulled far heavier trunks in pairs.
Spring won't thaw jobless rate
JANUARY’S jobless figures have only confirmed that the instincts of those market watchers who advised Slovaks to keep their optimism – somewhat kindled by improving GDP figures – under check were correct as the recent reports on labour market developments were quite dismal.
Prešov’s Kino Scala lives again
LAST August Prešov’s Culture and Leisure Park (PKO) acquired the right to operate the former town cinema known as Panoráma and it is busy reviving this historical venue. The cinema has returned to its historical name, Scala, and PKO has been developing its design concept. The interior has been reconstructed using €20,000 of PKO funds and Emil Chlapeček, the head of the PKO, told the SITA newswire that it plans to organise musical evenings and social events in addition to movie screenings.
KDH says its priority is Smer in opposition
THE CHRISTIAN Democratic Movement (KDH) announced that a post-election partnership with the currently ruling Smer party will only come into consideration if other opposition parties join as well. The party’s announcement came after a long period of silence on the question of whether this opposition party would be willing to create a coalition with the left-leaning Smer after parliamentary elections this summer.
Activists protest against oil pipeline
ACTIVISTS grouped within a civil initiative called ‘No to The Oil Pipeline Through Žitný Ostrov’, which opposes the planned construction of an oil pipeline between Slovakia and Austria across Žitný ostrov, have met with Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek to discuss possible alternatives for the project, the TASR newswire reported. Žitný ostrov is an area in south-west Slovakia where important drinking-water reservoirs are located.
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
