Archive of articles - April 2010, page 2
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Stalemate in Slovak parliament caused by absence of SNS and opposition deputies
Disputes within Slovakia’s ruling coalition on April 27 obstructed parliament as lawmakers could not approve the agenda for their last-before-elections session as an insufficient number of deputies were registered for a vote, twice, the SITA newswire reported.
Philippine ambassador is leaving Slovakia
The Ambassador of the Philippines to Slovakia, Linglingay F. Lacanle, is finishing her mission to Slovakia. She bid an official farewell to the representatives of the Foreign Ministry on April 26, the Foreign Ministry stated, as reported by TASR.
Almost all Slovak police officers will receive extra compensation
Most members of Slovakia’s Police Corps are soon to get extraordinary extra compensation, the TASR newswire reported, adding that there are some 23,000 persons employed in the police force.
Transparency International ranks Slovak political parties in fight against corruption
The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) contributed to the fight against corruption the most from among all the parliamentary parties, according to an evaluation conducted by the NGO Transparency International Slovensko (TIS), the TASR newswire reported.
Thousands of Chinese visit trial run of the Slovak pavilion at EXPO Shanghai
The Slovak pavilion at the EXPO Shanghai 2010 world exhibition was very popular during a trial run held over the past weekend, Ivana Magátová, general commissioner of Slovakia’s pavilion, told the TASR newswire on April 26. “More than 10,000 people visited the pavilion. We were overwhelmed both by the number of people and their level of interest, and we expect some more visitors today, as well, Magátová told TASR.
Low achievement of Slovak children in international literacy tests is discussed
The underachievement of Slovak children in the international PISA and PIRLS literacy tests – in which Slovak youngsters up to age 10 ranked 26th and those up to age 15 came in at 23rd among children living in OECD countries – was discussed by dozens of educators at a two-day conference in Tatranská Lomnica in the High Tatra mountains that ended on April 23, the TASR newswire wrote. “This is serious; we’ve finished below the average of OECD countries. We need to look for solutions so that we can perform better in future,” said Miron Zelina, sponsor of the event entitled “The Development of Literacy in the Context of PISA and PIRLS Studies” to TASR.
Survey finds that two-thirds of Slovaks do not see Patriotism Act as useful
Two out of three Slovak citizens view the widely-discussed Patriotism Act, which was approved by parliament in March but later vetoed by President Ivan Gašparovič, as a useless piece of legislation, the TASR newswire reported.
Government sends amendment to State Symbols Act to fast-track parliamentary action
Children in public, religious and private schools should listen to the Slovak national anthem twice a year - at the beginning and end of the school year, according to an amendment to the State Symbols Act proposed by Prime Minister Robert Fico and approved by the government at its session on Monday, April 26, the TASR newswire reported. The proposal is now heading for fast-tracked legislative proceedings in parliament and if approved would come into effect in September. According to the amendment, the Slovak flag, the lyrics of the anthem and the preamble to the Slovak Constitution will have to be placed in every classroom. The document also includes a requirement submitted by Education Minister Ján Mikolaj from the Slovak National Party (SNS) that patriotic education should become a part of the curricula at each level of the school system. The flag and preamble would also be placed in rooms in which sessions of local councils and Regional Self-Governments are held. The state anthem would be played or sung before every local council, Regional, state government and parliamentary session. Slovak Radio and Slovak Television would be obliged to include the national anthem in their schedules every day between 23.30-00.30. The anthem would be broadcast between two programmes, but not as a part of a commercial break. In addition, the anthem should be played at the beginning of every sporting event.
Evangelical Church in Slovakia collects more than €37,000 for Haiti
The amount of money collected by the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (ECAV) in Slovakia to help people affected by the earthquake that hit Haiti in January reached €37,185 as of March 31, the TASR newswire was told on April 24. The money was sent to ECAV’s fellow organisations in Germany which are providing aid to Haiti in a variety of ways, said ECAV general bishop Miloš Klátik. Resources from the Slovak fund-raising campaign have been used to buy medicines, medical instruments and food for the Haitian people.
The week in Slovakia
Content of programme: Cabinet cooks books on freeway project; Language police not laughing at Hungarian comedy; Scientists appeal to cabinet to save Tatras; New public attractions in Bratislava
Košice wins Slovak Champion title (video included)
The team of the eastern Slovak city has been under a great pressure since last year’s championship match. Coach Rostislav Čada, who replaced Anton Tomko, had been in a difficult position, especially after several failures and losses. New encouragement came in December when goalkeeper Ján Laššák arrived but in January several players were forced to leave the team after being caught drinking beer in checkrooms.
Foreign Affairs ministry is checking whether Koreans misused the Slovak national anthem (video included)
The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs is checking whether and why the Slovak national anthem was used in an awards programme in Korea, according to information published by the Nový čas daily on April 23.
Tent protesters gather 1,200 petition signatures against rezoning of Tatras National Park
Activists from environmental NGOs, who began camping out in tents on Bratislava’s SNP Square on Friday, April 23, in protest against the newly proposed zoning scheme for the High Tatras National Park (TANAP), wound up their stay in the city centre on the evening of April 24, the TASR newswire reported. According to the organisers of the protest, they have been able to address a large number of people. “On Friday night we had some 400 people here in around 80 tents. The petition against the zoning scheme was signed by 1,200 people within 24 hours,” said Juraj Lukáč, one of the activists from the environmental NGO named Vlk.
New Riverside Square and promenade is turned over to Bratislava (video included)
After construction work lasting more than three years, a public square and riverside promenade at Bratislava’s new Eurovea shopping district on the north bank of the Danube River was officially handed over to the capital city on the evening of April 24 by Sean Mulryan, a representative of the developer – Ballymore Group of Ireland, the TASR newswire reported. The ceremonial opening programme culminated in a fireworks display.
Institutions and organisations covering transport and logistics in Slovakia
Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications
Slovak firm starts making hybrid STB
A KOŠICE-based company, Antik Computers & Communications, has started producing a hybrid set-top box (STB) at its Chinese production facility that will enable parallel watching of television programmes via the internet as well as via digital terrestrial and cable broadcasting, the SITA newswire reported.
Being a professional tourist
For six months in 2002, I had the best job in the world: As editor of the Spectacular Slovakia travel magazine, I got paid to travel around the country, soak in natural hot springs, hike (and stumble) down snow- and mud-covered trails, scale mountain tops and explore castle ruins, talk to friendly locals in every region, hike from one obscure village to another … and then write about it.
Anti-Corruption Office faces its own accusations
THE INTERIOR Ministry has recently received a complaint about alleged corrupt behaviour by some highly-positioned employees of the government’s Office for the Fight against Corruption, usually called the Anti-Corruption Office. The Pravda daily broke the story on April 15 and reported that several criminal complaints have already been filed and the ministry’s internal inspection unit has launched an investigation of the allegations.
Rail companies’ re-merger planned
AFTER Slovakia’s railway giant was split into three entities in 2002 and 2005, a plan to reverse the process has now emerged. The government argues that establishing a holding company to bring the railway infrastructure operator and the passenger and cargo railway companies back under one roof would ensure the optimal functioning and competitiveness of the firms. The Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications estimates that losses in the railway sector in 2010 will amount to €290 million, after subsidies are taken into consideration.
Cabinet is not required to release tape
THE GOVERNMENT Office is not obliged to make available the audio recording of one of the first meetings of Robert Fico’s cabinet, according to a Supreme Court ruling announced on April 21, the ČTK newswire reported.
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- 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
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- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
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- 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 More articles ›
