Archive of articles - April 2010
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
South Koreans apologise for using melody of Slovak anthem on TV show
The organisers of a televised awards show in South Korea have apologised to Slovakia for mistakenly using the Slovak national anthem as background music on the show which was held in Seoul last September, the TASR newswire wrote. Dušan Bella, the Slovak Ambassador in Seoul, received a letter from the event’s organisers in which they apologised for the 'inappropriate' use of the Slovak national anthem, adding that this happened by mistake, TASR was told by Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano on April 29.
PM Fico comments on resources for D1 highway construction
If the European Investment Bank (EIB) does not lend the expected €1billion for the first PPP (public-private-partnership) package in order to help finance the construction of the D1 highway section, Slovakia will try to find the resources elsewhere, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on April 29, as reported by the TASR newswire. Speaking during a ceremony involving the raising of May poles in Bratislava on Thursday, Fico said: “If EIB won't provide the credit – which I hope won't happen – we will attempt to find the resources needed in private banks,” as quoted by TASR, adding that his government is “working miracles” to accumulate the necessary financial resources.
Job fair opens in Nitra
A two-day fair, JobExpo, which is expected to be the largest job bourse in Slovakia’s history, kicked off in Nitra on Thursday, April 29.
KOVO trade union declares strike alert in metal sector
The KOVO trade union has declared a strike alert in the metal sector and it has been in force since April 28, the TASR newswire was told by KOVO chairman Emil Machyňa. The alert was called due to the failure of the trade union and the Association of Metallurgy, Mining and Geology to agree to a new collective agreement.
Poll of voters shows Smer well ahead; SDKÚ, SaS and KDH nearly neck-to-neck
Ruling coalition Smer party would have won a general election with 35.1 percent of the votes had the election taken place in the latter half of April according to polling results released by the MVK agency on April 28, the TASR newswire reported. The Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) would have finished second with 11.7 percent support. The survey, conducted between April 16 and 23 on a sample of 1,022 respondents, had the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) party and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) very close behind with 11.6 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively. Fifth place would have gone to the Slovak National Party (SNS) at 6.2 percent, followed by the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) at 6 percent and the Movement for Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) at 5.2 percent. The 5-percent threshold needed to win representation in parliament would also have been surpassed by Most-Híd party, polling 5.1 percent. A total of 9.6 percent of those questioned said they would not vote while another 15.2 percent said they are undecided who to vote for or whether to take part, TASR wrote. If the results of the latest poll were extrapolated into the distribution of seats in parliament Smer would have 57 seats, SDKU, SaS and KDH each would have 19 MPs, SNS and SMK would have10 legislators each, and HZDS and Most-Hid would each have 8 MPs.
Results of national testing of nine-graders in Slovakia are presented
Ninth-graders at Slovak elementary schools have knowledge but lack the ability to use it in practical situations, said Romana Kanovská, director of the National Institute for Certified Educational Measurement (NUCEM), at a press conference on April 28, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Index of industrial confidence dips in April after two months of growth
Confidence in Slovak industry deteriorated in April after two months of growth, as the indicator prepared by the Slovak Statistics Office fell 4.4 points from March to negative 0.7 point in April, the SITA newswire wrote.
Feminist NGOs slam Slovak Labour Ministry’s gender equality action plan
Non-governmental organisations dealing with human rights of women announced that they oppose the draft National Gender Equality Action Plan for the 2010-2013 period tabled by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family, the SITA newswire wrote. The groups have sent government authorities an open letter and expressed their reasons for objecting to the draft at the April 27 session of the Government Council of the Slovak Republic for Gender Equality.
Slovak Finance Minister speaks about financial aid package to Greece
Slovakia will contribute 1.02 percent, or some €300 million, to the total financial aid package for Greece, Slovak Finance Minister Ján Počiatek told the Czech daily Lidové Noviny in an interview published on April 28 which was reported by the TASR newswire. When asked where the Slovak government will get the money, Počiatek replied that the government has some available resources that can be used for this purpose but added: “And if we don’t have it, we will need to borrow the money, too,” as quoted by TASR.
Slovak Film and Television Academy announces awards
The Slovak Film and Television Academy (SFTA) held a gala evening at the historic building of the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava on April 27, honouring domestic actors and films with its annual awards, the TASR newswire wrote. The Sun in the Net Award (Slnko v sieti) for exceptional achievement in Slovak cinematography went to actor Ladislav Chudík and script editor Albert Marenčin, who received the most applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
Transport Minister Vážny says EBRD is ready with €250 million loan for motorways
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will take part in funding the first package of PPP projects for building motorways in Slovakia with a loan reaching €250 million, Transport Minister Ľubomír Vážny told the media on April 28, the TASR newswire reported. The bank made the decision to provide the loan for construction of the D1 motorway on April 27.
Slovak absence at Council of Europe assembly draws criticism
Jean-Claude Mignon, head of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg stated on April 28 that the failure of most of the Slovak delegation to attend a session earlier in the week was “regrettable”, the TASR newswire reported. Mignon stated that he thinks the President of the Assembly, Mevlut Cavusoglu, should call on the Slovak side to explain why and to prevent future no-shows, TASR wrote. Only one Slovak delegate attended, József Berényi, who is a MP from the opposition Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK).
Slovak parliamentary committee takes action against Slota
Parliament’s Mandate and Immunity Committee on Tuesday, April 27, started a disciplinary proceeding against Ján Slota, chairman of one of the ruling coalition parties, the Slovak National Party (SNS), the SITA newswire wrote.
Bear attacks forestry worker in northern Slovakia
A forestry worker was attacked by a brown bear in a forest near Lysá Poľana, a border crossing between Slovakia and Poland, on Tuesday, April 27. The 39-year old man, from the village of Podhorany (Prešov Region), tried to run away but was caught by the bear, which bit him several times, the SITA newswire wrote.
Slovak transport minister rejects opposition claims about ‘overpriced’ PPP projects
Following strong criticism by opposition parties regarding the apparently imminent financial close of the first package of public-private partnership (PPP) projects for construction of the D1 highway, Slovak Transport Minister Ľubomír Vážny has rushed to label their statements "pre-election demagogy and a scarecrow."
Slovak winemakers can use the term
Wine-makers from southeastern Slovakia are to be allowed to use the name "Tokaj" again, an issue that has long been subject to a dispute with neighbouring Hungary. On Tuesday, April 27, members of parliament supported the cabinet's draft amendment to the Act on Viniculture proposed by the Agriculture Ministry in a fast-tracked legislative procedure.
Profesia.sk: Number of job vacancies highest since crisis began
The total number of job vacancies in Slovakia rose by 9 percent month-on-month in February, the Profesia.sk employment website’s spokesperson Lucia Burianová said on Tuesday, April 27, the TASR newswire reported.
Slovak Parliament passes State Symbols Act amendment to second reading
The Slovak Parliament passed an amendment to the State Symbols Act to its second reading on Tuesday, April 27, with 81 legislators backing the initiative, the TASR newswire reported.
SDKÚ vows action if Slovak PM doesn't halt PPP project by Friday
The largest opposition party in the Slovak Parliament, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) said on April 27 that if Robert Fico's Government did not halt the first package of private-public partnership (PPP) projects for motorway construction by Friday (April 30), it would file a criminal complaint.
SNS initiative fizzles as Patriot Act fails to secure support in parliament
Parliament on Tuesday, April 27, failed to back the Slovak National Party (SNS)-drafted Patriot Act, which it had approved earlier this year but which was subsequently vetoed President Ivan Gašparovič. As a result, the proposal will lapse. The TASR newswire wrote that while a total of 77 MPs backed the bill in March, a mere 29 out of 89 legislators present in the house on Tuesday voted in favour of the initiative.
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- 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
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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 compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- 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
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava More articles ›
