Archive of articles - February 2010, page 13
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Slovak VIPs support Chinese dissident
LIU XIAOBO, a Chinese dissident, has been given the public support of Czech and Slovak personalities as the candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Remaking Košice into a ‘creative city’
EUROPEAN capitals of culture, the largest cultural programme of the European Commission, at the beginning were mostly about year-long cultural festivals. Over the years – and after very successful efforts by cities such as Glasgow, Helsinki and Essen – it has evolved into longer-term urban regeneration and transformation of the chosen cities – through culture – and holding the designation has helped to reposition several of these cities on the European and world map. This is the vision leading the team behind Košice Interface 2013, a project of the city of Košice, which will be one of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) for 2013 and that is why Košice’s project is not only cultural but also very much business-oriented.
Prešov Region institutions
Prešov Self-Governing Region (Prešovský samosprávny kraj - PSK)
Truckers put the brakes on strike action
THE SLOVAK Union of Motor Carriers (UNAS) that organised a strike beginning February 1 to force the government to change the rules of the electronic toll collection system and its fees, and to postpone its launch, has decided to stop its strike due to nation-wide police intervention against the truck drivers, Jaroslav Polaček from UNAS wrote to media on February 3, the TASR newswire reported.
Košice rallies country’s tourism industry
LONG living in Bratislava’s shadow, the city of Košice in eastern Slovakia has started manoeuvring to take a leadership role in the country’s tourist industry.
Reshaping the wor(l)d
DO YOU BELIEVE that visual arts and literature cannot be combined? If so, check out the new exhibition by French artist Armelle Caron that has recently been brought to Košice by the local branch of Alliance Française (AFK).
Some of the companies and investors in Prešov Region
Bukóza Holding, Hencovce, www.bukoza.sk
Košice Region – ready for more responsibility
CITIZENS are not yet full accustomed to Slovakia’s higher territorial units, its self-governing regions. There is still much work to be done to explain to residents of the regions what the powers and authorities of these eight self-governments are, as well as their achievements. This low level of knowledge is partly attributable to the short existence of this level of government as well as to the somewhat limited powers they currently hold. But after eight years of work, leaders of the regional governments think they have enough experience and the ability to assume more powers and responsibilities, enabling citizens in the regions to decide more directly about issues that touch them on a regular basis.
Tatra marmot confirmed as unique
GENETIC analyses have confirmed the unique character of Slovakia’s Tatra marmots as distinct from other Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota latirostris). “We can be pleased to say that based on genetic analyses, the sub-species Tatra marmot is unique in the whole world,” Pavol Majko, the head of the Tatras National Park (TANAP) told the SITA newswire. Staff of the Technical University in Zvolen prepared the genetic analysis of the Tatra marmot population which had been requested by TANAP. Majko said that the Tatra marmot is “a close relative” to the Alpine marmot but it is definitely not the same animal.
Be happy! -42 degrees in 1929
THE MONTH of February is usually the coldest month in the mountains and this year it will really be true. Recently, 50 centimetres of new snow fell in the mountains and temperatures plummeted to -20 degrees. This week in 1929 was the coldest week in recorded history when temperatures across Slovakia sank below -30 degrees and Vígľaš, near Zvolen, recorded a temperature of -42 on February 11, 1929. But for us, in 2010, a milder week is expected with mountain temperatures during the day between -6 and -2 degrees accompanied with more or less intense snowfall.
Ex-NBS governor goes to OECD
IVAN Šramko, the former Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), has assumed the post of Slovakia's Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the SITA newswire reported.
Up In The Air
Director: Jason Reitman Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick “TO KNOW me is to fly with me,” says Ryan Bingham during an early monologue in Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air, recently landed in Bratislava. But in the soulless land of airline lounges, air miles programmes, hotel bathrobes and mini-bar miniatures, there’s not much to know about anyone — such is the point being made by a film that is part condemnation and part advertisement for the slick international brands of American Airlines, Hilton and George Clooney.
KDH seeks better outcome
THE FIRST political party to present its candidate list for the parliamentary elections – long ahead of the deadline and in fact even before the date for the elections was officially announced – was the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). Their candidate list features new faces – including a mayor, a lawyer and a former journalist – in the party’s efforts to improve its image under new leadership that took charge last year.
Bank profits nearly halved
SLOVAK bankers have been under a magnifying glass over the past two years with politicians pondering choices of regulation or trimming routines for what they consider as far too muscular banking houses in the country.
Trapped Slovaks rescued after days in Machu Picchu
TORRENTIAL rains and landslides trapped about 2,000 tourists, including Slovaks and Czechs, at Machu Picchu, the Inca fortress in the Peruvian part of the Andes Mountain range. No one was able to depart the popular tourist destination as the local railway was not functioning and that is normally the only means of transport between the ancient site and the nearest city, Cuzco.
Parliamentary elections set for June 12
SPEAKER of Parliament Pavol Paška has announced that parliamentary elections will be held on June 12, the SITA newswire reported on February 1. Political parties will re-divide the 150 seats in the Slovak parliament according to the elections results.
The ups and downs of Prešov
THIS postcard from the 1930s depicting Prešov gives the impression of a thriving community with nicely arranged streets, newly-planted avenues of trees and ornate coaches driving by.
SEPS stalls wind farm plans
MARTIFER Renewables plans to build a wind farm in the Galanta district in south-western Slovakia with an investment between €23 million and €45 million, depending upon the final alternative selected. According to the investment plans submitted by the company as part of the environmental impact assessment, the first variant would have 10 wind turbines and the second envisions 17 turbines. The company wants to start construction in 2012 as well as start operation of the wind park in the same year, but added that the actual launch of power generation depends on when a construction permit is approved and the timely acquisition of technology from suppliers.
Košice Region institutions
Košice Self-Governing Region (Košický samosprávny kraj - KSK) www.vucke.sk
Prešov Region general facts
Capital: Prešov
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- Employers outline €6.5 billion in spending cuts, but Fico fires back
- News digest: Parties push for constitutional changes as President urges focus on real issues Photo
- Irish outlet hails Slovak spa town as top European holiday spot
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Last Week: Central bank governor found guilty, but Fico accuses the judge
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
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- A bus now runs through it: Slovakia and Poland’s Tatras finally connect
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Irish outlet hails Slovak spa town as top European holiday spot
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Can Slovakia’s new public broadcaster chief stay independent?
- Iconic Slovenský Raj chairlift shuts down a week after opening Photo
- News digest: Parties push for constitutional changes as President urges focus on real issues Photo
- Bratislava Region simplifies transport zones, raises fares
- Neo-Nazi gang in Bratislava plotted armed attack and called their leader ‘Mr Führer’, court documents reveal
- The hidden costs of Slovakia’s complicated tax system
- Last Week: Central bank governor found guilty, but Fico accuses the judge
- News digest: Ex-judge Harabin cleared of charges over pro-Russian war comments More articles ›
