Archive of articles - March 2010, page 15
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Broadband internet at home and on the road
The current trend in internet use is a combination of a fixed-line connection at home and mobile internet while on the road, which enables you to work or be entertained anywhere and at any time. An excellent example of this trend is the widespread use of Magio internet from T-Com in combination with Mobile internet from T-Mobile.
The 15th Annual National Career Days
AIESEC Slovakia Slovensko presents for 2010 the 15th Annual National Career Days. The job opportunities fair will take place on the 11th and 12th of March, 2010 in the Incheba Convention Center in Bratislava. This unique event showcases job offers from a number of leading Slovak companies in various industries which are participating. The event will run over two days. Last year, more than 4913 students came to see it.
Slovakia’s economy contracted 4.7% in 2009
Economic activity in Slovakia contracted by 4.7 percent last year and gross domestic product in constant prices ticked down 2.6 percent y-o-y in the last quarter, the Slovak Statistics Office stated on March 4, modestly revising down the figure for GDP from the previous 2.7 percent, the SITA newswire wrote.
Foreign Minister Lajčák meets Israeli leaders to discuss Iran and bilateral ties
Iran must not get hold of nuclear weapons, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák concurred with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meetings in Jerusalem on March 3, the spokesman for the Slovak ministry, Peter Stano, told the TASR newswire. Both Israeli officials appreciated the friendly Slovak-Israeli relations and Slovakia’s determined stance vis-à-vis anti-Semitism. Peres also praised the progress that Slovakia has made in the development of its statehood since 1993 as well as in economic and political reforms. Lajčák invited Peres to visit Bratislava and the trip is expected to take place later this year. The Slovak official also inquired about Israel’s view concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. Lajčák, Peres and Netanyahu agreed that Iran’s nuclear ambitions constitute the foremost threat not only for the Middle East but also in terms of global stability. Regarding the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Lajčák pledged Slovakia’s readiness to help if the parties find Slovakia’s involvement useful. While on his current trip to Israel, Lajčák is also slated to meet his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, as well as officials representing the Palestinian territory. TASR
Slovak parliament approves mobile courts for rowdies at sports arenas
Beginning in April, vandalism and crude behaviour at sports venues will be dealt with by so-called mobile courts that were introduced via an amendment to the Criminal Code passed by parliament on March 3, the TASR newswire wrote. “Scope has been created for decent fans to enjoy sports matches in a decent atmosphere,” explained Katarína Tóthová from the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) who proposed the legislation.
Court starts restructuring process for Air Slovakia
On February 26, the Bratislava District Court opened a restructuring of Air Slovakia and it has 30 days to study the restructuring opinion and either permit or reject the process. But it is unlikely that the court will say approve the plan as the airline company has had its operating licence suspended, the Sme daily wrote.
Law to be amended to increase fines under Slovakia’s Food Act
The State Food Inspectorate will have the right to impose penalties of up to €2 million for repeated violations of the Food Act, according to an amendment to the law that was approved by the government on March 3, the TASR newswire wrote. Until now, inspectors had been able to impose fines amounting to no more than €1.66 million.
Slovak Environment Minister says emissions contract with Interblue Group is terminated
The Environment Ministry regards the contract with the US-based company Interblue Group for the sale of the country’s excess emission quotas to be terminated, Environment Minister Jozef Medveď said at a press conference on March 3, the TASR newswire reported. Medveď explained that this company went out of business in December 2009 and that the ministry has received no documentation confirming any transfer of rights to a firm called Interblue Group Europe based in Switzerland. He intends to take legal action to obtain the additional €15 million that Interblue was supposed to pay for so-called green projects.
Slovakia loses friendly football match against Norway 0:1
Slovakia’s national football team lost in a friendly match against Norway 0:1 in Žilina on Wednesday evening, March 3. Nearly 10,000 fans came to support Slovakia’s team play the Norwegians, who did not qualify for World Cup 2010, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovakia’s Land Fund will operate without opposition representatives
The Slovak Land Fund (SPF) board will be able to carry out its duties even without representatives from the opposition parties based on legislation that was enacted by the Slovak Parliament on March 3, the TASR newswire reported. The initiative, as proposed by Smer MP Magda Košútová, was included in an amendment to the Act on Land Ownership Rights, following opposition reluctance to bring forward its nominees due to reservations about the SPF’s activities.
SaS party chairman says activist Hlina will not be on its slate
The chairman of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, Richard Sulík, has held talks with civil activist Alojz Hlina concerning a place for Hlina on SaS’s candidate slate for the upcoming general election, but no agreement was reached, Sulík told the TASR newswire on March 2.
Slovak daily newspaper Pravda gets a new owner
The daily newspaper Pravda has changed its owner. It announced on March 1 that it would change it owner for the second time since 2006, the Sme daily reported. The international press group Northclife International (owner of the Daily Mail, and others) sold the newspaper to Florena company and the deal was mediated by J & T Group of Slovakia.
Prosecutor files lawsuits three years after explosion in Nováky ammunition depot
The town of Nováky is commemorating the sad anniversary of the explosion in the local military maintenance company VOP Nováky on March 2, 2007, the SITA newswire wrote. The explosion in the ammunition dismantling hall resulted in eight fatalities.
Slovak parliament approves Patriotism Act
The Slovak Parliament passed the Patriotism Act on March 2 with the legislation set to come into effect as of April 2010, the TASR newswire reported. A total of 77 MPs out of 122 voted in favour of the proposal.
Solar power plants to be more tightly regulated by Slovak government
Construction of solar power plants in Slovakia will be regulated more tightly in the future based on an amendment to the Energy Act drafted by the Economy Ministry, according to the Sme daily. In it the ministry introduces a duty for all investors to get a certificate of compliance with the government’s long-term energy policy to build a solar power plant in Slovakia.
Air Slovakia’s license is temporarily suspended
Slovakia’s Aviation Bureau has temporarily suspended Air Slovakia's licence to operate flights, the spokesman for the Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, Stanislav Jurikovic, told the TASR newswire on Tuesday, March 2. The reason for the move is the ministry’s ongoing probe into whether the carrier is financially able to carry out flights. It emerged recently that Air Slovakia owes money to its business partners, employees, state-insurer Sociálna Poistovna and health insurance companies. Meanwhile, the police have launched a criminal investigation into its failure to pay taxes and social and health insurance payments. TASR
Efficiency and Cost Optimisation - Principles of optimisation
According to the Slovak Statistics Offi ce, the profits of Slovak businesses dropped by more than one-third in the second half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. This means that cost optimisation and effi ciency are urgent and important parts of managers’ decisionmaking processes in most companies.
PM Fico says Slovak judges have damaged their image with salary lawsuits
The judges that filed lawsuits requesting financial compensation for alleged salary discrimination in comparison with judges from Slovakia’s previous Special Court have damaged their image, Prime Minister Robert Fico told the TASR newswire after carrying out a review at the Justice Ministry on March 1. “It’s a pity,” said Fico, adding that the judges’ actions haven’t received a warm response from the public. While he understands their personal motives, he also asserts that the state does not have €100 million for compensating fictitious differences. Fico believes that many legal questions will still arise concerning the matter, such as the impartiality of judges that filed lawsuits.
Ukrainian electricity shutoff has no effect on Slovakia’s national grid
Halted electricity exports from Ukraine have had no significant effect on the Slovak electricity transmission network. Igor Gallo, the spokesman for the national electricity transmission network operator, Slovenská Elektrizačná Prenosová Sústava (SEPS) told the SITA newswire, “The situation has not changed; the shutoff does not have any influence on the management of the electricity transmission network.”
PSA Peugeot-Citroen is now the biggest producer of cars in Slovakia
PSA Peugeot-Citroen Slovakia produced 203,732 new cars in 2009, increasing its production by almost 10 percent year-on-year and thereby becoming the biggest car-producer in Slovakia, company spokesman Peter Švec told the TASR newswire on March 1. More than 112,000 Peugeot 207s and more than 91,000 Citroen C3 Picassos were sold last year. According to Švec, Peugeot-Citroen has proven its long-term focus on highly-ecological technologies, with almost 60 percent of its products last year represented by cars with emissions of 119-126g CO2/km.
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- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad More articles ›
