Archive of articles - January 2011, page 14
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Programme director and news chief editor leaving STV
The newly-formed Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) led by its interim head Miloslava Zemková announced on Wednesday, January 5 that it will part ways with some people from the former Slovak Television's (STV) management, the TASR newswire reported. Following a mutual agreement, tenures of STV's programme director Roman Lipták, director for strategic development Jan Dianiška, news editor-in-chief Ján Šmihula and general director's division coordinator Lukáš Machala will be terminated, interim STV director Ľuboš Machaj told TASR.
Most-Híd will not support every KDH proposals on dual citizenship
Most-Híd party will support only some of the proposals drafted by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) contained in an amendment to the State Citizenship Act that is expected to be considered in parliament in February, Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár told the TASR newswire on Wednesday, January 5. Bugár said Most-Híd will vote in favour of preventing people with dual citizenship from holding posts that provide access to confidential information. The proposal to exclude those with dual citizenship from the police or army, however, does not sit well with Most-Hid.
Former STV head says deal on broadcasting rights for 2012-16 is legitimate
The contract for broadcasting rights for 2012-16 that will involve the ice hockey world championships, signed by the former head of Slovak Television (STV), Štefan Nižňanský, is on a par with a contract signed by the preceding STV director, Richard Rybníček, for 2007-11, Nižňanský told the TASR newswire on Wednesday, January 5. He spoke following the reporting of information that he had signed the contract on his last day in his post (December 31) and that the contract is somewhat unusual. "Negotiations on contract terms and conditions were ongoing for a longer period of time and I signed the contract before the last day of the year," said Nižňanský, dismissing notions that he ought to have signed the contract in question directly with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rather than with a mediator (a company called Pragosport).
Bungled drugs bust lands driver in prison
ONE YEAR after a Slovak citizen unwittingly carried explosives aboard a plane from Poprad to Dublin following a police exercise went wrong, the Slovak authorities have again found themselves facing international criticism after a failed operation landed an innocent truck driver in a Turkish prison.
NDS and SkyToll differ in assessment of 2010 e-toll system operation
The National Highway Company (NDS) is dissatisfied with lower revenues from Slovakia’s year-old e-toll collection because they have failed to meet initial plans. The first-year operation of the e-toll system was significantly affected by one-off factors such as temporary exemption of first-category roads from toll payment for a period of 1.5 months, and legislative changes. These events should not reoccur in the coming period and so the NDS expects no further shortfall in revenues. The gap between the actual collection and the plans represents about 9 percent.
Bus company plans to increase intercity fares
Bus operator Slovak Lines, a.s., based in Bratislava, is planning to increase fares between Slovak cities and towns. It cited higher diesel prices, the recent increase in VAT, as well as higher taxes on motor vehicles and other payments as lying behind the hikes.
Culture Ministry establishes a European contact point office
Slovakia’s Culture Ministry established a European contact point office in January, as part of the Theatre Institute of Bratislava, in line with the programme statement of the government.
Nitra plans combined-cycle power plant
Construction of a new power plant based on the steam-gas cycle, able to supply energy and heat to half the city, is planned in Nitra this year. The city consumes 90 megawatt hours per year; the new plant should generate 54 megawatt hours.
Miškov: Talks with 80 foreign investors are ongoing
The Economy Ministry is holding talks with around 80 foreign investors who are interested in Slovakia, Minister Juraj Miškov said on Tuesday, January 4, the TASR newswire reported.
University whistleblower gets government job
Zuzana Melicherčíková, a former Comenius University employee who lost her job after exposing apparently murky practices in the admission of students to the university’s Law Faculty has been hired by the Labour Ministry. It has offered her a job in the public procurement department.
SMK chairman submits request for Hungarian citizenship
The chairman of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), József Berényi, filed a request for Hungarian citizenship on Monday, January 3, the TASR newswire reported. The SMK is one of Slovakia’s main Hungarian parties, although it is not represented in the current parliament.
Prosecutor appeals against acquittal of Marian Kotleba
The public prosecutor has appealed against the verdict of the Banská Bystrica District Court in the case of objectionable text on election leaflets published by Marian Kotleba, former leader of the far-right nationalist organisation Slovenská Pospolitosť. The appeal will be heard by the Banská Bystrica Regional Court.
Minister promises more police patrols in high-crime areas
Areas with higher levels of crime will soon see more police officers on the beat, Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic announced on Tuesday, January 4, during a working trip to Jarovnice in Sabinov district (Prešov Region).
Economic think tank says higher Slovak taxes should not finance ineffective spending
Increasing the tax burden, which is supposed to help improve the situation of public finances, is not an appropriate instrument for solving the present situation, wrote the conservative economic think tank INESS, the Institute of Economic and Social Studies, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Energy prices for Slovak households to increase in 2011
Slovak households will pay higher energy bills in 2011, for electricity, natural gas, and central heating. Based on a decision by the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO), the price of electricity will rise by 4.82 percent on average this year, while the price of natural gas will increase by 4.47 percent from 2010. The price of central heat should go up an average of 6 percent according to information supplied by heating companies to the SITA newswire.
Haiti was the largest beneficiary of Slovak humanitarian aid in 2010
Haiti was the largest beneficiary of Slovak humanitarian aid in 2010 as after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January Slovakia sent humanitarian aid in two rounds with the first consignment worth €225,000 in January and aid worth €220,000 in February, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia’s Central Register of Contracts begins operation on January 1
Since the beginning of 2011 anyone with internet access can review contracts concluded by individual departments of the Slovak government, ministries, central state administration bodies, public institutions and subordinated organizations, the SITA newswire wrote.
IVO survey notes that public concerns have shifted since 2010 election
According to a survey released by the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) on January 3, several significant shifts in the opinions of Slovaks took place in 2010 which IVO stated may be related to the change in government following the parliamentary election in June, the TASR newswire wrote. In November 2010, IVO asked people what they thought the most serious problems faced by society were and compared the results with a similar survey from 2006.
Future meetings of Slovakia’s Judicial Council to be public
The public will be allowed to be present at meetings of the Judicial Council, the highest self-governing body of the judiciary in Slovakia, the SITA newswire reported.
Smer and coalition parties disagree on next steps for selection of General Prosecutor
The opposition Smer party is planning to initiate an extraordinary session of parliament to deal with the election of a new general prosecutor, party leader Robert Fico told reporters on Monday, January 3, adding that Smer will submit the proposal after January 15, the TASR newswire reported. The term of the current General Prosecutor, Dobroslav Trnka, expires in early February. According to Fico, it is "impossible" for parliament to let Trnka’s term expire and wait for the vote on his replacement. He also said that Smer MPs will propose one more candidate for the post apart from Trnka, who has been the opposition's candidate to date, and TASR reported that this will be the coalition's nominee, Jozef Čentéš. The Smer chairman stated "there's no reason to wait" and that the next attempt to elect a new prosecutor should take place before the end of January and under the current rules – in a secret ballot.
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