Archive of articles - February 2011, page 5
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Ryanair opens air route from Bratislava to Canary Islands
Air carrier Ryanair launched a route between Bratislava and the Canary Islands on February 18, the TASR newswire was told by the Bratislava Airport’s spokesperson, Dana Madunická. Flights will depart to Gran Canaria twice a week, departing from Bratislava at 12:25 on Mondays and at 19:45 on Fridays. The air carrier also offers links to other Spanish destinations such as Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, with new links to Gerona and Palma de Mallorca set to open in March.
Firms welcome innovative ideas
SOME COMPANIES understand that no one knows the production processes in their workplaces better than the workers themselves and for that reason they motivate their employees to come up with innovative ideas to improve production processes, to save energy or materials or to better protect the environment. Soliciting these good ideas does not only bring benefits such as a better working environment or higher productivity, some companies also offer financial rewards to their employees.
Slovakia's commemorative V4 stamp
SLOVAK Post issued a stamp on February 11 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Visegrad Group (V4) with a nominal value of €0.90. The stamp is also available with a numismatic cover that contains a memorial €2 coin issued by the National Bank of Slovakia.
SAV innovation centre opened
INOVAL, an innovation centre for aluminium processing technologies and aluminium products was ceremonially opened in Žiar nad Hronom in mid October 2010. The centre is a joint project of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and the company SAPA Profily, on whose premises the centre is located. The plan is to cooperate on development projects and their practical implementation.
Real change, or play-acting?
IGOR Matovič and his Ordinary People were identified as a potential source of trouble within the ruling coalition even before Matovič, soon after last year’s general election, entertained the media by suggesting that he had been offered millions of euros to destabilise the then-fragile coalition of centre-right forces. He later tossed aside his claim of possible corruption by explaining that it was just a joke by a friend of his.
New book analyses the 2010 V4 elections
ON FEBRUARY 15, the same day that the prime ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) held their summit celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary, the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) released its most recent publication, offering a comprehensive overview of the 2010 national elections held in each of the V4 countries while analysing the impacts that might flow from the changes in governments.
Swedish incubator firm visits SAV
REPRESENTATIVES of a Swedish private incubator called Serendipity Innovations visited the Slovak Academy of Sciences in mid October, the TASR newswire reported. The main aim of their visit was to become acquainted with opportunities for cooperation in Slovakia.
Deaflympics cancelled at last minute
THE DEAFLYMPIC Games have become yet another symbol of botched organisation of an event in Slovakia. Several dozen foreign athletes found themselves in the Slovak mountains this month with no opportunity to compete despite having spent large amounts of money to be there.
Old Town dogs get 30-day reprieve
THE OWNERS of dogs in the Old Town district of Bratislava were supposed to pay the annual dog tax before January 31 but the spokesman for the district, Tomáš Halán, told the SITA newswire that those who failed to register their dogs by the deadline can do so until the end of February without being fined.
Leasing market slowly revives
AFTER dealing with a steep 45-percent drop in business volume in 2009, Slovakia’s leasing sector began to revive in 2010. The aggregate volume of new deals increased by 6.9 percent over the course of 2010 and the outlook for 2011 is positive, with growth expected to reach 10 percent, according to industry sources.
Slovak and EU patents
LAST year individuals, businesses and institution lodged a total of 236 patent applications with the Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (ÚPV SR); the office has granted a total of 376 patents for inventions by Slovak and foreign applicants submitted between 1995 and 2008, Július Šípoš, the spokesperson forthe ÚPV SR told The Slovak Spectator. Most applicationslast year were submitted in the mechanical engineering and human necessities sectors, based on the international patent classification system.
President decries cuts in R&D
SLOVAK President Ivan Gašparovič is saddened by the decision of the Iveta Radičová government to re-allocate financial resources from the Research and Development Operational Programme and the Education Operational Programme to highway construction. President Gašparovič so commented in reaction to a petition drive initiated by representatives of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the TASR newswire wrote on February 13.
January price rise at 3 percent
THE DAYS when governments anxiously monitor rising prices for goods and services in their countries have returned. Inflationary pressures were almost nonexistent in most countries during the global economic downturn but recent price jumps for several commodities, particularly foodstuffs, and rising oil prices as well as higher taxes to reduce public deficits have raised concerns about higher inflation in 2011.
Charity ball to host auction of cartoons
THE BUSINESS Leaders Charity Gala Ball which will debut this year aspires to become a tradition in Slovakia and be a bright light within the country’s regular ball season.
Young wines blessed
TRNAVA Archbishop Róbert Bezák blessed a sampling of young wines offered by vintners from Trnava and its vicinity on January 28. This traditional event has become a way to thank those who grow Slovakia's grapes and the winemakers who turn the harvest into wine. It also symbolically opens the new viticulture season.
Economy delivers upbeat numbers
METAPHORS like ‘recovering patient’ or ‘convalescent Tatra tiger’ need no longer be employed when describing Slovakia’s economy: it has almost completely made up for the losses incurred during the global economic downturn, according to the Slovak Ministry of Finance. The ministry was responding to the latest flash estimate of growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the last quarter of 2010 as well as for the whole of last year, as reported by the national statistics authority.
'Politicians should ask us what we need'
‘LAGGING behind’ has become a label that Slovak academia, with the exception of some high-level departments, will have to go to some lengths to erase. Despite this year’s austerity budget, Slovakia’s current government says it is determined to lead Slovak universities towards better research results and greater competitiveness in the international environment. It is planning yet another big amendment to the Higher Education Act, the fifteenth so far. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Libor Vozár, the rector of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, who was elected as the head of the Slovak Rectors’ Conference (SRK) in June 2010, about the challenges that Slovak universities currently face and his vision of the changes they need to make.
Quote of the week
“I want to prove to all those who were accusing me of being glued to my chair that it’s not the case.”
Smer tops latest opinion poll
THE CURRENT ruling coalition would not have been able to form a government if parliamentary elections had been held in early February, according to a political survey carried out by the Focus polling agency.
Innovation recognised
THE WINNERS of the Innovate Act Awards for 2009 were announced on May 25, 2010, during the 17th International Engineering Trade Fair in Nitra. The aim of the competition is to promote innovative activities and to support business entities as well as private individuals in terms of innovation.
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- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- 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
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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 Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- 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 ›
