Archive of articles - June 2010, page 10
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Opening the window to Italian culture
INTRODUCING the culture of one nation to different nations is a very abstract concept which can take many forms: from lengthy academic discourses through one-time exhibitions or concerts, to cultural exchange programmes. Yet, none of these guarantee that one is able to make a good selection across history, architecture, arts and entertainment to come up with the perfect cocktail of everything that represents Italian culture. Perhaps this is the reason why I am so pleased to see a tradition growing from our Dolce Vitaj festival which has now lived to see its 3rd annual offering. Of course, we will be able to talk about a true tradition only after the festival lives on for another couple of years, but I see a very strong heart beating in the body of this festival.
Vote 2010: The election results
Listed by official ballot number, unofficial results after 100 percent of the votes had been counted:
Tax freedom day arrives four days later
TAX FREEDOM day is the symbolic day that marks the last day that taxpayers must work to cover their income tax and other mandatory obligations to the state for the year. This year the date has been calculated to be June 7, four days later than last year, the ČTK newswire reported. After June 8, in theory, income begins remaining with those who earn it.
New Slovak institute to open in Rome
SLOVAKIA will have a Historical Institute in Rome as of 2011. The Slovak parliament greenlighted the launch of the institute, which will be engaged in research, publishing and cooperation with scientific institutions, on March 10, the TASR newswire wrote. The initiative was drafted by Slovak National Party (SNS) MPs, who pointed to the importance of historical archives in Rome.
Floods cause immense damage
FLOODS on a scale previously unseen in Slovakia have put even more pressure on the already tight state budget and have prompted the government and the Slovak parliament to take action only a few days before the general election.
Fiat plans R&D centre in Nitra
NITRA could become a centre for electric-car development for Italian carmaker Fiat. The company wants to launch a research and development (R&D) centre at the Technical Faculty of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, to work on electric-car technology. Representatives of the Italian technology developer Mare Engineering have already discussed the plan to establish an R&D centre with the university’s management, the SITA newswire wrote in April.
Vote 2010: Fico outraged by Sme audio
SHORTLY before the parliamentary election, a leading Slovak daily received an audio recording featuring a voice strongly resembling that of Smer leader Robert Fico. The recording suggested that Smer had accepted undeclared campaign contributions from off-the-books sponsors. On the same day that the Sme daily posted the recording on its website, Smer boss and Prime Minister Fico said he would sue Sme’s editor-in-chief, referring to what he called an “anti-campaign”.
Disciplinary court demotes Benešová
ANNA Benešová, a judge from the Bratislava Regional Court, will be demoted to a court of a lower instance after the appellate panel of the disciplinary senate of Slovakia’s Supreme Court found Benešová guilty of refusing to allow a recording of court proceedings in two cases, the SITA newswire wrote.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIABratislava> EXHIBITION: THE EXHIBITION and information point SATELIT in Bratislava offers both children and playful adults a collection of toys from a competition among secondary schools and colleges along with works by professionals. The contest was held in 2009 by the Slovak Centre of Design and the exhibition includes more than 70 different kinds of toys, books by graphic designer K. Prudil, and a children’s corner where visitors can play. The exhibition called Čas na hru/Time for Play was successfully presented at the International Book Fair in Bologna, Italy. For more info, call 0918/110-247 or visit www.sdc.sk.
Employers warn about changes in laws
MAJOR CHANGES to business legislation by the Fico government often caused negative consequences in the areas of protection of ownership rights, contractual freedom, and entrepreneurial initiative, according to the National Union of Employers (RÚZ). The RÚZ further claimed that the excessive scale and frequent changes to the laws dissuaded potential investors, the SITA newswire reported.
Monitors scrutinise Slovakia's vote
THE ELECTION held on June 12 was the seventh democratic balloting to choose members of parliament since the fall of communism in November 1989. For a second time, Slovak citizens living abroad were allowed to vote via mail, and over 6,900 of them asked to do so.
Slovak-Italian trade in 2009
Machinery and vehicles constituted the largest category of goods among Slovakia’s exports to Italy, making up 58.2 percent of total exports in 2009. This was followed by market products (17.9 percent), industrial products (9 percent) and chemicals (5.5 percent).
Living la dolce vitaj in June
THE BEACHES along the Adriatic Sea, the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the canals of Venice, pasta and prosciutto are perhaps the things that define Italy in the minds of many Slovaks, who often view Italy as one of the closest places for a sunny holiday by the sea. To show that Italy has much more than sun and sand to offer, the Dolce Vitaj festival invites Slovaks to sample Italian culture in several Slovak cities throughout the entire month of June. This is the third year of the festival.
Beckovské Skalice reserve unveils educational trail
A NEW educational trail that aims to provide information on rare plant and animal species and their protection has been opened in the Beckovské Skalice nature reserve at the foot of Považský Inovec.
Brezová’s 'beggar woman'
CZECH painter Aleš Krátký made a whole series of interesting works around 1920 in which he depicted the period image of Slovak towns and villages. Many of them were also issued as postcards. In the Myjava region, Krátký painted a peculiar but typical town – Brezová pod Bradlom.
Clowns bring joy to patients
SINCE 2006, the Červený nos/ Red Nose civic association has regularly brought clowns, clown doctors as they are called, to hospitals in 11 locations in major cities across Slovakia. Currently, 26 people are participating as clown doctors across the country.
Slovak expat organisations in Italy
Association of Expats and Friends of Slovakia in Milan (Združenie krajanov a priateľov Slovenska v Miláne / Associazione dei Connazionali e degli Amici della Slovacchia a Milano)
Italian investors continue to eye Slovakia
SLOVAKIA and Italy enjoy an active trading relationship. A number of Italian businesses have planted investments across Slovakia, while many more projects are in the pipeline. One of them is a planned investment by a Naples businessman who has already bought land in Poltár, in an unemployment-blighted area of Banská Bystrica Region, to build factories and create jobs.
Wine waiters vie for more than tips
THIRTEEN sommeliers (wine waiters) from around Slovakia recently gathered in the Devín Hotel in Bratislava for the third annual competition to demonstrate the best skills in the art and nuances of serving wines and spirits on May 25. The contest for sommeliers and bartenders is called the Trophée Hubert 2010. The competition is organised by the J.E. Hubert company and the Association of Sommeliers of Slovakia.
Italy: General facts
Political system: republic Capital: Rome Total area: 301,263 square kilometres Population: about 60 million Official language: Italian Currency: euro Source: EU website: http://europa.eu
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