Archive of articles - January 2011, page 10
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Slovak parachute inventor forgotten
THE SLOVAK inventor of the parachute, Štefan Banič, died 70 years ago this month in his native town of Smolenice, but the municipality failed to organise any event to commemorate its most famous native and citizen.
Špekáčky to get EC designation
SLOVAKIA and the Czech Republic are jointly seeking protection from the European Commission for a traditional sausage which is known as špekáčky in Slovakia and špekačky in the Czech Republic. There is a good chance that this heat-processed sausage product will receive the highly desirable “Traditional Speciality Guaranteed” label since the European Commission has not received any objections which could have reversed the success of the proceeding before its deadline, the ČTK newswire wrote last October.
Eset reshuffles its management
THE BEGINNING of 2011 witnessed a reshuffle of the top positions at one of Slovakia’s most internationally well-known companies, Eset. As of January 1, most of the co-owners of Eset, which develops and sells IT security software, left the company’s top management. The departing managers were Miroslav Trnka, Rudolf Hrubý, Maroš Grund and Anton Zajac. Another co-owner, Richard Marko, who previously worked as chief technology officer, became director-general, the SITA newswire reported.
Family’s holiday home is torched by their own New Year's Eve fireworks
A FAMILY from Čadca who celebrated the arrival of 2011 at their vacation cottage in Olešná-Potôčky in Kysuce may recall the just past New Year’s Eve with less than fond memories. During their celebration, they placed an array of pyrotechnics about ten metres away from the cottage. But soon after the first rockets were lighted, the launch platform toppled over and instead of firing the rockets high into the sky, the rockets flew straight at the cottage attic.
SSN and IPI Slovensko concerned about new Hungarian press code
The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSN) on Thursday, January 13, expressed concern about Hungary's new press code, the TASR newswire wrote.
Mayor of Košice announces state of emergency due to local mudslides
Following incidents involving rain-related mudslides in one of the city's local boroughs, Košice Mayor Richard Raši on Thursday, January 13, announced a state of emergency in the eastern Slovak metropolis, the country's second largest city.
Minister announces 'biggest reform of Police Corps for decades'
The leadership of the Slovak Police Corps wants to fight crime and reduce traffic accidents by changing the methods used to assess police officers, Police Corps President Jaroslav Spišiak announced at a press conference on Thursday, January 13.
Bratislava mayor opens city's stall at tourism fair in Vienna
Slovakia's capital is presenting itself for the first time at Austria's biggest tourism fair. Its exhibition stand at the Ferien-Messe Wien trade fair being held at Vienna's expo arena was officially opened by Mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftáčnik on Thursday, January 13, the TASR newswire reported.
Dzurinda delivers President Gašparovič's invitation for papal visit to Slovakia
Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mikuláš Dzurinda, upon visiting the Vatican on January 12, delievered an invitation from President Ivan Gašparovič for Pope Benedict XVI to pay an official visit to Slovakia, the TASR reported. Dzurinda also gave the Pope two crystal candleholders as a gift from Slovakia. Next year Slovakia will mark the 1,150th anniversary of St. Cyril's and Methodius's arrival in the territory of present-day Slovakia. According to Dzurinda, this will provide a unique opportunity for a papal visit. While holding the post of prime minister between 1998 and 2006, Dzurinda met Pope Benedict XVI upon his assuming the papacy in April 2005.
Agriculture Minister Simon says lab tests for dioxin are negative in Slovakia
Results of laboratory testing on eggs, poultry and pork that had been imported from Germany and raised concerns over possible dioxin contamination are negative, said Zsolt Simon, the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, following a government session on January 12, the TASR newswire reported. "The temporary ban on selling high-risk foodstuffs has been lifted now, as all results were negative," he said, as quoted by TASR, adding that this does not mean that the ministry will cease conducting checks.
Economy Ministry halts business subsidies saying new law is required
The Slovak Economy Ministry has put future approval of state subsidies to businesses on ice, saying that according to the law on the public administration budget, subsidies can be provided only on the basis of a new law effective as of January 1, 2011, but this has not yet been approved, the SITA newswire reported.
Consumers will pay €117 million in electricity bills to support solar energy
The Regulatory Office for Network Industries has estimated that consumers will support solar energy with nearly €117 million in the final prices they pay for electricity in 2011 though the analysis prepared by the regulatory office reported that the contribution by consumers last year was only around €10 million, the SITA newswire wrote.
Slovakia and New Zealand to issue temporary visas for work and study
Slovakia and New Zealand will issue temporary holiday visas to each other's citizens who intend to work or study in the other country, the Slovak government agreed on January 12, the TASR newswire reported. The maximum number of such visas to be issued by each country per year has been set at 100. The applicants must meet several conditions. They must be between age 18 and 35 and hold a valid passport, they must have a travel ticket for the journey or show that they have enough money to buy one, along with sufficient financial means to cover their stay.
Minister Lipšic reacts to Turkish statement on botched police action
Turkey's stance concerning the botched police action states nothing concrete, according to Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic who said after the government’s meeting on January 12, as reported by the TASR newswire: "It's formulated in general terms, there's no specific objection." He stated that Eurojust, as well as all other countries involved in the police action, have stated that the agreement was clear but that the "Turks violated it", Lipšic said, adding that he will request cancellation of the one-year entry ban for the Czech lorry driver issued by Turkey.
Minister Figeľ says Fico's government finished a third of its highway plan
The former government headed by Robert Fico did not complete even half of the 250.9 kilometres of planned highway and express roads after four years in power, Transport Minister Ján Figeľ (KDH) said following a government session on January 12, the TASR newswire reported. He said that even less impressive figures were the case for the amount of newly-launched infrastructure construction. A total of 360 kilometres of highways and express roads were projected to be built but in reality construction was started on a 120 kilometres.
Education Ministry to propose changes in universities' financing
The Education Ministry plans to submit another amendment to the Universities Act designed to change the way public universities and colleges are financed, Education Minister Eugen Jurzyca said after the government session on January 12, as reported by the TASR newswire. "We'd like to increase the amount of subsidies in 2011 paid to individual schools based on the number of publications published in internationally recognised publications," said Jurzyca, adding that the amount of money allocated for this purpose will increase year-on-year by 3.5 times.
Ladislav Tichý named as interim head of General Prosecutor's Office
The General Prosecutor's Office will be headed by Deputy General Prosecutor Ladislav Tichý on an interim basis as of Thursday, January 13, the incumbent General Prosecutor, Dobroslav Trnka, told the TASR newswire on January 12. Tichý will replace Trnka whose term in office ends on Wednesday. Tichý will hold the post until a new general prosecutor is elected by parliament.
Foxconn plans to increase production of LCD screens in Nitra by 50%
Electronics producer Foxconn has begun implementing an investment plan drawn up last year and is hiring new staff. According to the Wednesday, January 12, edition of the Hospodárske Noviny financial daily, employment at the Nitra plant, which was bought by Foxconn from Sony, will increase from 3,000 to 3,900 people.
Polish president’s visit postponed
Polish President Bronisław Komorowski, who had been due to visit Slovakia on Thursday, January 13, and Friday, January 14, has postponed his trip after falling ill.
Education Minister introduces PIAAC tests of Slovak adults’ skills
Following the PISA tests, which assess 15-year-olds in the fields of science, reading and mathematics, the Slovak Ministry of Education is preparing to participate in the PIAAC international tests of adult skills.
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